ChangChun newsletter 3 is here. Laura Beth will be home in 11 days. :-)

The 2nd ChangChun newsletter has been published. Talked with Laura Beth this morning and she has eaten frog and a "disgustingly wonderful" chicken neck. She misses cold milk the most. Their language studies classes are hard and they are tested on a regular basis but she is now able to have small snippets of conversation in Chinese.  The Mom


ChangChun newsletter #2

Laura Beth is not able to access her blog while in China but here is a link to the first newsletter published for her group in ChangChun. Hope you enjoy reading about her activities so far! It's a big file so it may take a couple of minutes to download. Laura Beth is in the martial arts picture, daily exercise pic, middle classroom pic, and Vivian Lam's pic.

Linda

My Great Adventure - China 2012

Nǐhǎo! 
Since about last September or so I've been independently studying the Chinese language, and I was recently selected to receive a National Security Language Initiative for Youth Scholarship. This means I will be studying abroad in China for 6 weeks this summer! :D There are a total of 80 high school students traveling with the same program as me (American Councils), but I'll be part of a group of only 20 within my host city.


After a two day orientation in Washington DC starting on Monday, I will fly to Chángchūn, China and arrive on June 28. Chángchūn is the capital and largest city of Jílín province. The name Chángchūn means "Long Spring" in Chinese. It's located in northeast China, and the summer will be relatively cool. While I'm there, the temperature will only range from an average of 73 degrees to no higher than 86 degrees.

During my 6 weeks in Chángchūn, I will study at High School Affiliated with Jílín University (yes, that is its actual name). It was founded in 1989, and it is the number one ranked school in Jílín Province. Monday through Friday I will attend 4 hours of language instruction, and I've been told to expect 2-3 hours of homework every night. This trip is definitely not going to be a walk in the park, but I'm up for a challenge! Afternoons in China will consist of culture activities or classes. Examples might include traditional dance or martial arts, local cuisine, calligraphy, tours of the city, visits to museums and places of worship, and volunteer work!


Obviously, I will be way out of my element during my stay in China and things are sure to get interesting. Activities will keep me pretty busy, but I'll try to blog and keep people in the know as things unfold. Until then, keep me in your prayers, and I will see you in 6 weeks!

Look Around

Nestled at the foot of the Alps, on the shores of Lake Geneva, lies the enchanting city of Montreux, Switzerland. Long celebrated for its beauty, Montreux is set against the backdrop of snow-covered mountains and the crystal clear waters of the lake locally known as Lac Leman. The mountains stretch their peaks into the heavens and the lake extends as far as the eye can see. It is this sight that leaves me breathless when I first lay eyes on the lakeside city, but I could not have imagined the beauty that awaited me along the shore.

The lakeside walkway I travel starts at the magical Chateau de Chillon, on the eastern end of Lake Geneva. Beautifully located on a rocky islet, it is one of the most well preserved castles in Switzerland. With tall stone walls and an air of mystery about it, it is the perfect start to an unforgettable afternoon. Committing this impressive image to memory, I turn my back on the magnificent castle and head north to discover all Montreux has to offer.

As the sun-warmed walkway slopes downward, I come ever closer to the waters of Lake Geneva. The lake is crystal clear and oh so inviting. With clear blue skies and the hot sun beating down on my neck, the urge to jump in the pure water fully clothed is almost irrepressible. The sounds of the water lapping and spraying at the shore add to this irrational desire. The clarity of the water is mesmerizing. Imagining the cool, inviting water on my skin is almost too much to bear. Never in my life have I known water could be so radiant and alluring.

Soon I become aware of other sounds penetrating my consciousness; the wind whispering through the palm trees, the distant growl of boat engines on the lake, the water spraying upwards from the hulls of the boats, the birds calling to one another, and the constant chatter of locals and tourists alike. I am not alone on this journey; I am joined by many people enjoying the warm summer day. There are children playing and couples relaxing in the shade, taking great pleasure in God's creation.

Yet people are not my only company on this stroll. I am joined by other life all around me. Flowers of every color line the shore: purple, red, yellow, and pink. The flowers grow in the shade of palm trees, an unexpected surprise. I never would have expected to see palm trees growing in the shadows of mountains. Along with the alluring flora, I am blessed to be accompanied by elegant swans gliding all along the shore to my left. Their feathers are as pure and white as fresh mountain snow.

At the end of my journey, I discover the bustling street market on the edge of Montreux. Although not as relaxing as my shoreline walk, the market has a beauty of its own. Vendors sell everything from brightly colored hats and scarves to fresh strawberries. Children play in the cool water to escape the summer heat as their parents peruse the various shops. Since I cannot jump in the water to escape the heat, I buy a small cup of cold Movenpick ice cream. The ice cream is better than any I have tasted before. Sweet and creamy, the lemon-lime dessert is the perfect way to end my walk along the shore of Lake Geneva.

Breathing in the floral scent and fresh air of Lake Geneva gives one a sense of being alive. Your senses become awakened like never before. You feel the cool mountain air, hear the gentle waves, smell the fresh strawberries, taste the purest water, and see one of God's most glorious creations, all at once.

Trapped in my own little corner of the earth for so long, I never realized just how big and wondrous the world is. It had never crossed my mind that you could see all the way to the bottom of a lake or that palm trees and mountains could co-exist in the same environment. My eyes were opened to how little I knew of the outside world.

Before my journey along the shore of Lac Leman, I was woefully ignorant of what the world had to offer. St. Augustine once said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” My experience in Montreux added another page to my book, but there are so many more pages to fill. It would be foolish to assume that one has seen all one can see. The world is vast and limitless, with endless possibilities. God did not create this boundless beauty for naught. It was created for us to discover, savor, and cherish.