Made to Stick
by Chip Heath & Dan Heath
"The problem is [when people] have been given knowledge that makes it impossible for them to imagine what it's like to lack that knowledge...This is the Curse of Knowledge. Once we know something, we find it hard to imagine what it was like not to know it. Our knowledge has "cursed" us. And it becomes difficult for us to share our knowledge with others, because we can't readily re-recreate our listeners' state of mind." (page 20)
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| July 22, 2008 - through esther's eyes |
| 36 days around the world |
Our lives have hardly been idle as long as this blog has been, but let’s say that we had simply wanted to wait for our scheduled brumme.com makeover before uploading the next post. For various reasons however, this “new face” has taken a little longer than expected. So in the waiting, here is some long awaited news...
 We safely returned around mid-June from Yángshuò. We had a superb time there riding bike, raft, bus and trains with our friends Chris and Corrie deep into idyllic yet extraterrestrial Chinese landscapes. It was our first time in rural China and all of a sudden, those Chinese paintings depicting “A” shaped mountains make so much more sense! We thoroughly enjoyed being out of the city and lying low with our dear friends before the summer’s plans would separate us for a while. Unfortunately both Andrew and I caught a nasty case of food-poisoning for the better part of the 26 hour train-ride back to Shanghai, presumably from the minute-noodle dinner we’d bought on our way to the train. (No wonder it was on sale!) So all throughout the night, as most passengers peacefully slept, waves of hot/cold flushes and nausea increased in intensity as we sat together in the hallway’s fold down seat. It was pretty awful. We dreaded each time the train pulled into the station as the WC stalls were locked. Conversely, we welled up with relief as the conductor, finally catching onto our grief, would run empathetically to unlock the stalls for us again. At last back in the comfort of our home, we rested two full days before the muscle cramps let up and the fond memories of that weekend returned.
 We packed again at the end of June in preparation of our version of Jules Verne’s travels around the globe eastwards. Thankfully we cut the 80 days down to about half that thanks to airplane transportation. First stop from China was Chicago (left), straight to the Chinese consulate to renew Andrew’s visa. The Olympics have been a nightmare for internationals living in China as all procedures have been drastically tightened. Despite a rental agreement, proof of registration and flight tickets, all we could get was a measly single-entry 60 day pass, meaning more hassle come September – but at least we’re in the clear until then! We then watched cousins Chris and Sara Lewis get married in Grand Rapids, giving me a rare chance to meet many new family members on that side.
And after family reunion time, a flight over to Minneapolis took us to see these guys:
We had a blast with them, tasting the Minnesota summer for the first time and discussing patriotism and redefining what makes a country ‘great’ over many a glass of wine. You see, I couldn’t remember the last time I had celebrated a 4th of July so Andrew felt it right to initiate me with only the best: some of his most culinary savvy chef friends, Jonathan and Elizabeth. Sure enough, our taste buds were in heat as these two carefully paired delightful food with superlative wine. For Americans Jonathan and Elizabeth have a in-cre-dible understanding of viticulture and oenology, making the week a real treat for all of us. It was probably the most gourmet July 4th I will ever experience in my life! You got it, the weeks in the so-called West have allowed us to stock up on our top two things we miss besides of course family and friends: a. western food (Andrew) and b. fresh air (Esther), hence the overwhelming joy that overcomes one at the sight of freshly mowed grass..
..or mountains under a clear blue sky..
For even more good food and air, we continued eastwards towards Geneva just in time to celebrate Bastille Day. Last year’s fireworks in Annecy there were great yet we didn’t want to deal with the terrible traffic at the end of the show, so we watched the firework display in the village of Les Carroz. It was a fine show with music and all, except for.. for…well.. there was no finale!?! All of a sudden a lone cracker lit up the sky and the once eager crowd dissipated. It was hilarious. And confusing. And …er…awkward! Shame we’ll miss Geneva’s display on the lake for August 1st, the Swiss National holiday as their finale is a-ma-zing. It is by far the most grandiose I have ever seen timed to the live orchestra playing for 45 minutes. Anyway, strange that I would even think of missing the fireworks when China after all is the original country of fireworks. Though they might not appear as artful in nature there, it is in China that fireworks/crackers go off on any given day in broad daylight announcing a wedding or a new shop’s opening. (The first time I heard crackers in daylight, I thought they were gunshots - haha) We are told, is also there that during Chinese New Year, it is pointless to even attempt conversation in your own living room! You can scream to each other without being heard. I know someone who won’t be sleeping during that week (moi)!
Besides fireworks of the “quatorze juillet”, we’ve loved having fast Internet, hanging out with dear friends, eating intoxicatingly fresh bread smothered in Saint Moret. We’ve also enjoyed watching silly shows like Intervilles, Fort Boyard or Envoyé Spécial like in the good ole days. Faithful to ourselves, we have PACKED the schedule too full, yet we feel each and every encounter has been so right. And now, after having seen most all French doctors who are not on vacation in July and many many friends, we must sadly continue our journey eastwards back to Shanghai next week but with new excitement for the upcoming months – China, we are ready for you, are you ready for us?
On this closing note, here is a bonus picture for all you faithful blog readers, who had to wait so long for this post. Here today on our very “Happy Ten-monthiversary!!”, I am posting this summer sequel of our wedding invitation winter photo, taken a couple days ago on our hike, right in my parents’ backyard!
(là, je dis, vive la France, quand même hein?!)
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