Climbing Mountains…

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Marcia Stehouwer

Sometimes we think that climbing mountains is best left to those who are younger, fitter, weigh less…or at least I do.  But during my trip to Korea I managed to explore two mountains, one near Sokcho ( Mount Seoraksan) and the other in Seoul (Namsan Mountain) and learned a little about life and myself in the process.  But first some pictures of Mount Seoraksan!

Balancing
Crossing bridges
Fellow Travellers
Beauty
Signposts
Destination

The climb was a reminder of some important realities in life:

  • It is possible to balance more than one thing in your life, but the most important things need to come first – they are the base for everything else.  The trail is lined with balanced rock piles, made by others who have passed this way.
  • When challenges come there are ways across.  Not all of them as convenient as a bridge, but we don’t have to be stuck.  We can find a way forward, even if that sometimes means going back.
  • People come along side us as we journey, just like these folks who offered me a cup of coffee.  It was fun to be a part of their journey as well.   We don’t travel alone.
  • There are also signposts letting us how far we’ve come and where the next spot is. Sometimes there are many, sometimes only a few.  But they are there!
  • And then there is the thing we came to find – the purpose of our journey.  I made it to the first rock.
  • There is another rock, and a beautiful view only one more kilometer away from this point.  But I knew I could NOT climb so high.  The path was icy and I was shaky.  A fall in this place, a broken ankle (again perhaps?)…there was no way I was going to risk that.  So I turned back, grateful for the climb I had made and able to enjoy the scenery going down. We need to know our limits!
Hanook village
An easy road…for a while
It’s getting steeper
and steeper
Love locks and a geocache!
Sunset!

Namsan Mountain is in the middle of Seoul, South Korea and a popular destination.  I spent some time exploring Hanook Village, which was very interesting – especially the baskets!  The climb reaffirmed the lessons, but I felt much safer as I climbed to the top.  My destination was a geocache in the middle of all those locks – the most favourited cache in South Korea.  The terrain was much easier, and less slippery. Just before Valentine’s Day it was a busy place as people put their love-locks wherever they could find room, or came looking for the lock they had placed in the past.

The bonus for me was being in time to catch the sunset over Seoul.  It was beautiful.  I was also relieved to discover that there was a bus that I could take back to the subway station.  It’s a long way down again!

Here’s to the next mountain…wherever it might be!

Take care,

Marcia

 

 

 

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You Can’t Do it All…

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Marcia Stehouwer

Today marks day 7 of my Korean explorations.  I came with many plans and ideas, only to find that there just isn’t enough time to do everything on my list – and they aren’t long lists.

Here are some things to keep in mind, so that you don’t start beating yourself up about missed opportunities:

  • Travelling is tiring work, especially in a new country.  Everything is different and your eyes and brain are busy processing a lot of new information.
  • Age and health make a difference.  I am closer to 60 and still overweight.  I can’t do as much as others can, especially those that write travel blogs!
  • What matters to you…living in Beijing and visiting Korea makes me realize that I like poking in little shops to see what they have that we don’t in North America.  Poking takes time – a lot of time.
  • Rest matters, and you should schedule it into your travel plans, especially when you are experiencing so many new sights, sounds, smells and tastes.

Today is my last day in Sokcho, so I’m going to take a morning trip to the mountains and then do some geocaching around a lake.  I have walked by the sea, picked sea glass and looked at birds.  I went to the Abai Village and had sundae.  I like the squid version better. (Lesson learned…you can buy it from a vendor in the market and it’s much cheaper than in a restaurant!)  I rode the Gaetbae and even helped to move it along.  The Bimimbap here was good, and I had leftovers from both meals for suppers.  This link gives you some ideas of what I could have done.  But I’m glad I found the market!

Don’t forget your kettle
Korean Sundae
Filled doughnuts, hot and yumy
The market
Working my way across.
Harbour view
Herbology happens here!

 

The market was the best part of the day for me and I enjoyed poking around and seeing what was available.  Every seaweed vendor had samples.  I never really thought about having so many options in seaweed before.  They all look the same to me.

Thanks for sharing the journey with me and I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am!

Marcia

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Getting Lost… And Found again.

Posted on February 4, 2017 by Marcia Stehouwer

When I thought about blogging about my trip to Korea, I had in mind to post something day by day, tracking expenses and all that stuff.  But it’s Saturday night and I’m tired and all my good intentions have fallen away.

My destination was a Dakgalbi restaurant recommended by Zak, the proprietor of the guesthouse that I’m calling home until Sunday.  One of the reasons he suggested it is because most restaurants serve this meal for two people, but here they will make it for just one – especially if you are a foreigner.  He also thinks this is the best!

But, even with the map, I got lost.  I seemed to have missed a street to turn from, and had no idea of how to get to where I was going.  This is what I worry about most when adventuring – getting lost.  Suffice it to say that I always get lost.  My first day in Amsterdam I got lost.  My first foray into Beijing I got lost (and soaked to the skin).  In Xian I got confused about where to catch the bus…Face it, getting lost is part of the travelling experience and I need to relish the experience.

Keep in mind, however, that it is easier to find yourself in a place where you know the language or at least the alphabet (and I don’t know Korean) and you have an idea of where north is – and I still don’t.  What does help is that I speak English and many people know at least a little.  Asking helps a lot.  It also helps if you can get lost with someone, but I’m kind of alone.

“Kind of” because I know that God sets His angels round about me to keep me safe and I do experience this as I travel.  This time it was a youngish Korean gentleman who helped me out.  His English was better than my Korean but we couldn’t really talk much.  I showed him the picture on my phone (good idea to have a picture of where you want to go!) And he pointed me back the way I’d come.  While I thought he would point me in the right direction, he went the extra mile and took my right to the door!  I do not travel alone!

Dakgalbi is cooked on a flat pan at the table.  They start with chopped cabbage, chicken and lots of red sauce – hot red sauce and it just gets tossed around.  There are side dishes of garlic, chili peppers, kimchi and sauce, as well as a pickled radish soup, which wasn’t hot and spicy, so I really liked that.  Once everything is cooked, you take the mixture and put it on either a sesame leaf or a lettuce leaf and eat it like a burrito.  I’m glad I tried it, glad I took the leftovers home and I’ve enjoyed it twice now with Ramen noodles.  Even with the noodles the spice levels were outside my comfort zone — but I survived.

The restaurant is right by the river that runs through this area of Chuncheon and I took the opportunity to get close and walk along the path provided.  It is a well maintained path in a very natural setting.  Yet at various intervals you can find stepping stones across to the other side, as well as basketball nets, badminton courts and gym equipment.  There’s even a small climbing wall.  I walked and walked and walked until I got tired, but I wasn’t near my destination.  Instead I found little stores to check out, picked up some groceries and came home via the train station.

I’ll end with some of the sights from my walk in Chuncheon and save Nami Island for another day!

Enjoy – Marcia

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Airport Adventures…

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Marcia Stehouwer

On February 1, I woke up to the first of two alarms, set almost a week ago, to ensure that I would not miss the first train out of Yizhuang in my quest to get to the Beijing airport on time.  Which I did, but it was not without its challenges.

Yizhuang Culture Park Station is accessed from my apartment complex by a bridge.  Usually the elevator works, and I was counting on this as I had a large suitcase to get up and over. (Jay walking is deterred by a fence running between the lanes of traffic, or you can be sure I would have!)

As I was dragging the suitcase up the stairs, the first train went through – much earlier than I expected.  Of course that stressed me even more as I did not want to miss the plane. But the mountain was climbed and descended…and I caught my train – gloriously empty at the tail end of the Chinese New Year Break.

There is a direct line to the airport from two different lines.  I was able to connect from the #10 line, and for only 25 RMB catch a ride to the airport.  (It’s about 150 RMB by cab).  THe whole journey took just over an hour, so not bad after all.

Beijing airport is of course quite large.  Finding the check-out counter required some help, but I found the help and the location.  Even more confusing was the changing sign as several flights and airlines were using the same line-up at the same time.  Immigration and security were more “hurry up and wait” scenerios, but I had forgotten to fill out an exit card – to let everyone know I was leaving.   This was a new experience as well.  Fortunately they didn’t send me to the back of the line and I managed to get to my gate in time for coffee and breakfast.  Not being a fan of Starbucks, I was relieved to see the Costa staff ready to provide me with the sustenance for the journey!!!!!!!!

I travelled to Korea with Air China and I have to say it was a delightful journey.  There was plenty of legroom so I didn’t feel cramped.  The flight was also not full so we had an extra seat to spread things around.

Because it takes so long to get the luggage unloaded I didn’t rush through the process of getting through immigration on the Korea side.  Still, by the time I got to the carousel, my bag was still not on the carousel.  There I stood watching, waiting, wondering and getting more than a little worried by my lack of baggage.  After all I had a train to catch!   And then they stopped the carousel.  And I still had no luggage.  Panic set in.  I began scrutinizing everyone (there weren’t many) but no one was walking away with my bag.  I went to the lost baggage department trying to convince myself that this was okay, and I should expect it to happen at some point in life.  Just not in Korea, please and thank you.

Well…my luggage had not been put on the plane.  It was a security risk.  Really?  What could be so harmless about some teabags, books and stuff I wanted to mail home from Korea? Turns out that my back-up battery pack (fortunately not an expensive one) should NOT have been in my suitcase.  I found a very nice note from the checker explaining why it was removed.  But in the meantime I was in Korea and imagining that it would take hours to get my luggage.  I see my trials through a very Canadian lens.

While I was busy stewing about how many hours it was going to take, my suitcase was already almost in Korea.  Once they managed to calm me down (reminding me that my clock was still on Beijing time helped immensely in that regard) I sat on a bench and read until the luggage arrived. Phew.  I escaped into a crowd of people waiting to meet their arrivals and I was reminded that travelling alone can be a lonely experience sometimes.  I kind of wish someone was waiting for me!

 

Although I had planned to take the train from the airport to Chuncheon (a city in the middle of Korea)  I was advised to take the bus.  And while the train might have been cheaper, it also involved two transfers to get to my destination.  Take the bus…you can buy tickets right at the airport and then grab a bite to eat, before travelling.  The Incheon airport is quite beautiful and I was glad to sit and relax after my trials at the carousel!

The bus to Chuncheon was roomy, although it lacked a washroom.  Fortunately that wasn’t a problem but it  might be on any other journeys I take.  From the bus terminal I grabbed a taxi (and ticked someone off because I should have waited behind him for the next cab – oops) and got to my hostel in time to go to bed.  Thus ends day one of my adventures in Korea!

Lessons Learned:

  1. Those handy battery extenders DON”T go in the luggage.
  2. If you are travelling outside of Seoul, take the bus if you can.  It is very relaxing, especially if you are coming from Beijing.
  3. There is a line-up for catching a cab outside the train or bus station.  Don’t get people angry with you the first day.
  4. Plans may need to change – and change often when you are travelling on your own.  Find your place of calm in what seems to be chaos.

Stay tuned for more about Chuncheon next time!

Marcia the intrepid traveller

 

 

 

 

 

 

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So you want to make a weather blanket?

Posted on January 23, 2017 by Marcia Stehouwer

I’m not sure that I’m an expert on this, but I’m into my third year of this strange behaviour, so I think I can add something to the discussion.

During my first weeks in Beijing I began to collect the data for my scarf.   Just temperature and weather conditions, but it was enough to keep me interested.  I was surprised at how long the scarf was after only 4 months!

 

It was fun to do, so I began a more detailed project in 2016, creating a piece of fabric with r strips. To the left is the Air Quality for Beijing, nest is the temperature, then the weather, and finally a record of the temperature where my daughter was (Beginning in Calgary but ending in London, Ontario).  I’m not sure there’s a correlation between weather, temperature and air quality, but I do know from experience that WIND is my friend in Beijing.  2016’s data is not really wide enough so for 2017 I am adding a stripe for AQI in Beijing and the temperature in London, Ontario will be added to the right.

These are a few things you might want to consider before getting into this adventure:

  • These blankets eat yarn, so buy lots of it.  Even with stripes of 30 stitches and Double Knitting weight yarn, I was looking for more of some colours.
  • They get heavy.  I did mine in three pieces.  By the end of March it’s already getting warm here in BJ, so I started another strip.  By the time I got caught up  after summer vacation, it was so cold in my apartment that I welcomed the extra to keep me warm.
  • There are alternatives.  You could make a hat for each month – give it to someone for a birthday preasent, perhaps.  A scarf would work, or a very long stocking hat could work too!Y
  • You have to collect your data.  Thanks to internet sites you can miss a week or two and get the information, but after that it may get more difficult.  You can get behind on your knitting, but not the data.

Having said that, I found that I could knit while listening or watching something.  As I recorded the data I also had some space to write notes about what I did that particular day.  It’s an interesting little journal.

I hope this is helpful if you are planning such a project.  It can become addicting!

Have a great day!

Marcia

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An Unusual New Year’s Blog…

Posted on January 1, 2017 by Marcia Stehouwer

Maybe.

This New Year’s morning underscores the transient nature of resolutions.  From my window – between the smog and and fog, I can’t even see the subway station and this is my way of deciding to stay indoors and in town.  Anyone who resolved to run every day this year may be in a bit of trouble today!

So while the Beijing crowd is challenged by their resolutions, the rest of my friends, especially in North America – haven’t even watched the clock turn or flipped the calendar page!

Last year I tried to focus on TRUST and that was harder to do than I thought – especially in the little details of my life.  I’m not so great at waiting – especially when I can solve the problem quickly myself.  Waiting patiently is a part of trust.

I ended the year with two quotes on my wall.  Both came across my Facebook feed, and both speak of discipline.  It all comes down to that.

N

So, of course this year I want to be more disciplined.  This may be my last opportunity to teach abroad.  I am going home at the end of June – and starting a new adventure.  The rules will change, the people will change, the language….everything will be new again and different.

My personal goal for this year is two fold – to end well in June and begin well in July.  How that looks is uncertain at the moment.  But I do know this to be true:

  • My life as a follower of Christ should be a disciplined one.
  • His yoke is easy and the burden is light – He makes it so.
  • His path is a path of adventure – and I realise this every day.
  • He has given me the option to choose – and I need to make the choice of discipline more than once a day!

Now that I’ve sorted that out for myself, I can move on with my day – determining the things I still want to accomplish in Beijing!

 

Xin Nian Kuai Le!

 

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Ping’An Ye 2016

Posted on December 24, 2016 by Marcia Stehouwer

Christmas this year is quite different from last year here in Beijing.  There are more and more wintery Christmas decorations in the stores.  Yesterday, as I was walking home with my very full (and very heavy) water jugs I was surprised by the lights of a very tall Christmas tree – with a STAR at the top!  I can see it from my window, and even in the daylight, unlit – it sparks joy in me.  I want to thank however did this for giving me this tree.  Of all the things I miss, twinkle lights on a Christmas tree is very high on the list.

This year the staff at our school had two Christmas celebrations – one for the foreign teachers and one for the entire staff.  We didn’t have that last year, so this was a lot of fun.  I am also more connected with other people – so my knitting groups in Beijing and Yizhuang, my church and that makes Christmas bigger too.

But what really warms me – last year and this year – is Christmas Eve.  In the past years a newish celebration has begun – where people give apples, wrapped in beautiful boxes to the people they care about.  The Mandarin word for apple is very close to the word for peace, differing only in tone.  So on this silent and holy night – people give each other apples.   This year our school gifted each teacher with a BIG box of beautiful apples.  I am looking forward to enjoying them in my porridge for a long time!

But to enjoy this in Chinese, please visit this site.  I am listening as I write, and it is making me smile and cry at the same time!

Last year I got my hair cut on Christmas day (it was a working day and I celebrated on Canadian time!)  This year it is on Sunday, so today is the day for the hair cut.  Last year there were terrorist threats and we had to put our belongings through scanners just to get into the building.  This year we will have a celebration on Christmas day, which also gives me joy.  I will have lunch with my friend from the Netherlands and we will enjoy a concert in the afternoon.  At night I will once again enjoy Christmas morning via video calling!

I wish you all a wonderful Holy Day season and may God, our Creator and Saviour be with you all.

Marcia

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Morning Tears Square

Posted on December 20, 2016 by Marcia Stehouwer

 

Beijing: Morning Tears

This pattern came to be as the Beijing Guild creates squares for a fundraiser in October 2016. It’s being held at the “Homeplate” in Sanlitun. I guess that’s as good a reason as any to give it that name. Maybe it will be the beginning of a series of squares, who knows. I started with someone else’s pattern but decided to make some changes – enough to change the look entirely. If someone else has created something similar to mine – great minds think alike!

NOTE:  Things change and we did not get things finished in time… in fact I am still putting things together.  But today I am hoping to add some pictures to this pattern and publish it!  It is also going to a different location – Morning Tears.

Supplies for one 8 inch square:

less than 50 grams of DK weight yarn per square

4 mm. Crochet hook. (If your square is too big, use a smaller needle. If it’s too small, go up a size!) You could also leave off a row, add a row, or do a border of singles…

Gauge:

9 rows = 4 inches using a 4.00 mm hook.

17 stitches = 4 inches

You need to know:

This pattern uses the texture of front post trebles. These are pretty easy to do and there are videos available on Youtube. You can also find a video for a front post double (fpd) on Youku (for Chinese readers), to give you a starting point. However it is important to remember that this pattern requires you to go down into the second round below to create a longer stitch.

The pattern can be done in one colour or many, the choice is yours.

Many thanks to Kim Werker (kimwerker.com) for her helpful series on writing crochet patterns for publication. She inspired me to do a swatch! I did not block it, as I don’t usually block squares. My starting point was the Side Spiky square, designed by Joanita Theron, at Creative Crochet Workshop. For new crocheters, this square gives you a good beginning square before trying this one!

Foundation ring: Chain (CH) 4 and join with a slip stitch (SS) to make your ring.

Round 1: CH 3 (counts as first Double Crochet -DC) work 2 DC, CH 2. Work * 3 DC,

CH 2* 3 times, forming the four sides of your square. Join with a SL ST in the top of your CH 3. Each side should have:

1CH, 3 DC, 1 CH

ROUND 2: CH 3 (counts as first DC) work 1 DC in each of the next 2 DC, *2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC in chain 2 (corner) space, 1 DC in each of the next 3 DC* continuing around and ending with 2 DC, CH 2, 2DC in corner space. Join at top of beginning DC with a SS>.

EACH SIDE SHOULD HAVE: 1 CH, 7 DC, 1 CH.

ROUND 3: CH 3 (counts as first DC), work 1 FPTR around middle DC of round 1, skip 1 stitch, work 1 DC in the next three stitches *2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC in corner space, 1 DC in each of the next 3 DC, FPTR around middle DC of first round, skip one stitch, 1 DC in next 3 DC* continuing around , ending with 2 DC, CH2, 2 DC in corner space and 2 DC in next two DC. Join at top of beginning DC with a SS.

EACH SIDE SHOULD HAVE : 1 CH, 5 DC, 1 FPTR, 5 DC 1 CH.

ROUND 4: CH 3 (counts as first DC, work 1 DC in each of the next 3 DC, work FPTR into last stitch of round 2. Skip 1 stitch, work 2 DC in next two stitches. *2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC in corner space, 2 DC in next 2 stitches, FPTR around first stitch of round 2, skip 1 stitch, 1 DC in each of the next 5 stitches, FPTR around last stitch of round 2, skip 1 stitch, 1 DC in next 2 DC* repeat twice more, ending with 2 DC, 2 CH, 2 DC in corner space, 1 DC in next 2 DC, FPTR around first DC of round 2. Skip one st, DC in next DC and join to top of first stitch with SS

EACH SIDE SHOULD HAVE: 1 CH, 4 DC, 1 FPTR, 5 DC, 1 FPTR, 4 DC, 1 CH

ROUND 5: CH 3 (counts as first DC, work 1 DC in each of the next 5 DC, work FPTR into last stitch of round 3. Skip 1 stitch, work 2 DC in next two stitches. *2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC in corner space, 2 DC in next 2 stitches, FPTR around first stitch of round 3, skip 1 stitch, 1 DC in each of the next 9 stitches, FPTR around last stitch of round 3 skip 1 stitch, 1 DC in next 2 DC* repeat twice more, ending with 2 DC, 2 CH, 2 DC in corner space, 1 DC in next 2 DC, FPTR around first DC of round 3. Skip one st, DC in next 3 DC and join to top of first stitch with SS.

EACH SIDE SHOULD HAVE: 1 CH, 4 DC, 1 FPTR, 9 DC, 1 FPTR, 4 DC, 1 CH

ROUND 6: CH 3 (counts as first DC, work 1 DC in each of the next 7 DC, work FPTR into last stitch of round 4 . Skip 1 stitch, work 2 DC in next two stitches. *2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC in corner space, 2 DC in next 2 stitches, FPTR around first stitch of round 4, skip 1 stitch, 1 DC in each of the next 13 stitches, FPTR around last stitch of round 4, skip 1 stitch, 1 DC in next 2 DC* repeat twice more, ending with 2 DC, 2 CH, 2 DC in corner space, 1 DC in next 2 DC, FPTR around first DC of round 4. Skip one st, DC in next 5 DC and join to top of first stitch with SS.

EACH SIDE SHOULD HAVE: 1 CH, 4 DC, 1 FPTR, 13 DC, 1 FPTR, 4 DC, 1 CH

ROUND 7: CH 3 (counts as first DC, work 1 FPTR in middle stitch of round 5, 8 DC in each of the next 8 DC, work FPTR into last stitch of round 5. Skip 1 stitch, work 2 DC in next two stitches. *2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC in corner space, 2 DC in next 2 stitches, FPTR around first stitch of round 5, skip 1 stitch, 1 DC in each of the next 8 stitches, FPTR around middle stitch of round 5, DC in next 8 stitches, FPTR around last stitch of round 5, skip 1 stitch, 1 DC in next 2 DC* repeat twice more, ending with 2 DC, 2 CH, 2 DC in corner space, 1 DC in next 2 DC, FPTR around first DC of round 5. Skip one st, DC in next 7 DC and join to top of first stitch with SS.

EACH SIDE SHOULD HAVE: 1 CH, 4 DC, 1 FPTR, 8 DC, 1 FPTR, 8 DC, 1 FPTR, 4 DC, 1 CH.

ROUND 8: CH 3 (counts as first DC), work DC in next two stitches,work 1 FPTR in stitch below in round 6, skip 1 stitch, 8 DC in each of the next 8 DC, work FPTR into last stitch of round 6. Skip 1 stitch, work 2 DC in next two stitches. *2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC in corner space, 2 DC in next 2 stitches, FPTR around first stitch of round 6, skip 1 stitch, 1 DC in each of the next 8 stitches, FPTR around stitch below in round 6, DC in next 3 stitches, FPTR around stitch below in round 6, DC in next 8 stitches, FPTR around last stitch of round 6, skip 1 stitch, 1 DC in next 2 DC* repeat twice more, ending with 2 DC, 2 CH, 2 DC in corner space, 1 DC in next 2 DC, FPTR around first DC of round 6. Skip one st, DC in next 7 DC and join to top of first stitch with SS.

EACH SIDE SHOULD HAVE: 1 CH, 4 DC, 1 FPTR, 8 DC, 1 FPTR, 3 DC, 1 FPTR, 8 DC, 1 FPTR, 4 DC, 1 CH.

ROUND 9: CH 3 (counts as first DC), work DC in next four stitches,work 1 FPTR in stitch below in round 7, skip 1 stitch, 8 DC in each of the next 8 DC, work FPTR into last stitch of round 7. Skip 1 stitch, work 2 DC in next two stitches. *2 DC, CH 2, 2 DC in corner space, 2 DC in next 2 stitches, FPTR around first stitch of round 7, skip 1 stitch, 1 DC in each of the next 8 stitches, FPTR around stitch below in round 7, DC in next 7 stitches, FPTR around stitch below in round 6, DC in next 8 stitches, FPTR around last stitch of round 6, skip 1 stitch, 1 DC in next 2 DC* repeat twice more, ending with 2 DC, 2 CH, 2 DC in corner space, 1 DC in next 2 DC, FPTR around first DC of round 7. Skip one st, DC in next 8 DC, FPTR around stitch below in round 7, skip one stitch, DC in next 2 stitches and join to top of first stitch with SS.

EACH SIDE SHOULD HAVE: 1 CH, 4 DC, 1 FPTR, 8 DC, 1 FPTR, 7 DC, 1 FPTR, 8 DC, 1 FPTR, 4 DC, 1 CH.

Please Note:  Sometimes it works that doing the 9th row will make your square too large.  You can replace it with a row of SC, or HDC depending on how you size it.   As I was working the pattern, my piece was 7.5 inches across.  I did row nine for the pictures and then replaced it with a row of singles to fit the blanket we are making.  Not all yarns are equal, even if they are the same weight and from the same company – just like kids, I guess!

 This is my first pattern so please feel free to share your thoughts with me.  I will appreciate it.

Marcia

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Sick Days!

Posted on September 25, 2016 by Marcia Stehouwer

I just finished reading two books by Joanne Braaksma, sharing her stories of teaching English in Beijing from 2001 to 2004.  I wonder if she would recognize her old stomping grounds.  This is a city that does not stay the same.  Renee discovered these books while volunteering with her mom in Ottawa and grabbed them for me.  I brought them back to Beijng and thoroughly enjoyed reading them.

.following-a-dream

The books taught me a couple of things.  Change happens, and people change.  If nothing else, living here will get  you used to that.  I am not the only one crazy enough to leave kith and kin to live in China at this stage in life.  That’s comforting to some degree.  Finally this book taught me that I don’t have to make a book complicated in order for it to be good.  Her book made me see that I could also write a bit about my adventures.  Starting now, writing regulary, so that my friends can know what I’m up to during this adventure.

Today isn’t much of an adventure day.  The air has been in the purple zone all day, with a brief dallience in the red (which is even worse!) This does not encourage me to go anywhere.  Add to that a sore throat and runny nose – and I’ve been staying close to my air purifier and my kleenex.  I will have to go out soon to get some more kleenex as well as some ginger, garlic and onions.  I have some fish to fry tonight.  And ginger is always good for what ails you!

We had a long week ( 6 days of teaching in a row) which may explain my sore throat.  Salt water, Throat Tea, warm water… I still feel awful.  Time to bring in the big guns, I think.

I came back to my school so that I could have the same students for another year.  They knew me and I knew them…we could get along so much better now.  But alas, it was not to be and now I am teaching the grade 1’s and 2’s.  I see them once a week, which is much better.  We have phonics books ( we won’t discuss them even though I will use them) and some song books that I can use.  The song books are fun but handing them out is a nightmare – as each student has to get the book corresponding to their number.  This way if something gets written or torn, I know roughly who had the book but still,,,!  We will figure out a way to make it work.

Back to the long week, as there is another long one coming up (7 days straight).  When there is a holiday that falls in the middle of the week, weekends fall by the wayside.  Sunday isn’t held in the same esteem here, so kids can go to school.  Because of the Mid Autum Festival was on a Thursday, things were re-arranged and even though we had three days off in a row, we had to teach on the Sunday.  Next week is National Day (October 1) and we will have the entire week free – but have to teach on Saturday and Sunday to make up for it.  I will definitely pace myself and not expect too much from my students at the beginning and end of the marathon!

The temperature is cooling down a bit.  I don’t seem to need the air conditioner on as much as I did last week – and I’m wearing my jeans to work more.  I didn’t pay attention to these things so much in the past, but keeping a knitted journal of the weather and such, I am much more aware of things.

Anyways, I should get a sweater on while the air is a little clearer and get those groceries.  I hope you got a little glimpse into my world here.

Marcia

PS:  I did spend a lot of time crocheting this weekend – and designed an afghan square!  This is tough work, writing all the details, making sure it’s correct and then trying different things out.  It’s being tested right now, so hopefully I can post it next week!

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Teaching In Beijing, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

I want to remember that…

Posted on September 20, 2016 by Marcia Stehouwer

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If you search for this in images, you will find that it is a pretty popular one.  Many people have it on their Pinterest boards, and on blogs, etc.  My friend Ponnie posted it on Facebook, and I was hit right between the eyes with it.   It’s been life changing!

After many years of resistance (How old is Candy Crush Saga anyways?) I succombed during one of Beijing’s “bad air” days where we had no school and I was staying very close to my air purifier.  Once caught, I was hooked, and although I shook loose a couple of times, I would somehow reload it to my computer and begin playing again.  The latest shake was two days ago.  These games are addictive, let me tell you!  (Or maybe you already know!)

I had a note by my computer that saide “You didn’t come to China to play CCS, you know!)  and still I would play, although not so long.  And then, this picture came across my path, and I’ve been slowly working towards getting things done and recording it for my encouragement!  Here’s what I did.

I made a list of the things I wanted to work through this year.  I looked at the five colours I use to organize my life and created a very long list. There are 20 things on that list covering my spiritual growth, getting healthy and fit, building my ESL teaching skills, and of course knitting down my yarn stash and learning Chinese.

Not everything on that list got crossed off every day, and that’s okay.  Some things are harder to squeeze in than others.  For instance, I knit on my dishclothes every day while chatting with my family, but getting out the sweater that’s almost finished (Long rows) is harder to do – like once in three weeks.

What I realized is that little by little, I can finish some of the things on my list.  Often I can do some knitting while listening to my Chinese lessons.  One row at a time, that sweater will get done.

The list also helps me to celebrate the 12 day stretch of walking over 10000 steps per day.  That was an amazing feat, and I was very happy.  Last Saturday I took a break and rested, but I’m back at it again.  The list encourages me.

So…if you have things you want to accomplish over the next few or 10 years, start now.  Make a list, work on it a little bit every day.  See your progress in every check mark.  Enjoy the journey!  I know that I am!  (I even got to unexpectedly see this giant duck!)

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I hope the opening quote encourages you as much as it does me, and that the unexpected gives you much joy.  (This duck was in a very serene part of the Yungang Grottoes in the Da Tong region of China!)

Take care,

Marcia

 

 

Posted in Faith, Health, Life's Work, Teaching In Beijing, The Creative Process, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment