Andrew & Esther - Through Our Eyes Archive
Archived Thoughts
Beijing buzz (June 5, 2008)
emotion in China (May 25, 2008)
what 1 Euro could buy you if you came to visit (May 11, 2008)
on visa-runs and escaping hotel fires (May 4, 2008)
recent observations & discoveries (April 30, 2008)
on ordering water and near tricycle collisions (April 16, 2008)
on learning Chinese and on how to catch a bad flu at the park (April 10, 2008)
highlights (April 9, 2008)
Foreign media must have Facebook access during Olympics, IOC tells China (April 2, 2008)
Home Sweet Home (March 26, 2008)
Then and Now (March 26, 2008)
stranded bags! (March 8, 2008)
on visas, weddings, how to get free food & funny hair dos (March 4, 2008)
Warm greetings! (February 12, 2008)
A Whole New World (February 5, 2008)
Newness in the New Year (January 6, 2008)
The Feast of Life (November 23, 2007)
Our Paris (November 11, 2007)
A Freezing Wilderness Retreat (October 22, 2007)
Reflections from a Recovering Bride (October 8, 2007)
Mr. and Mrs. Brumme (September 29, 2007)
One Month and Counting (August 22, 2007)
Everything French (July 19, 2007)
Open Wide Your Mouths! (July 9, 2007)
Learning from Trees (July 3, 2007)
A City of Lights - The Paris of Central Europe (June 25, 2007)
Brumme's Descend on Europe (June 8, 2007)
I Said Yes! (May 13, 2007)
Liaisons and Goodness Abound (April 22, 2007)
Gourmet Cuisine Catastrophe (March 21, 2007)
It Really Has Been Too Long This Time (March 15, 2007)
The French Postal System, V-Day, and Other Tidbits (February 21, 2007)
Celebrating in Paris, Working in Oxford & Relaxing in the Alps (January 29, 2007)
With Ma Petite Amie at Last! (January 11, 2007)
Hanging on for the Ride (December 31, 2006)
A New Life (December 18, 2006)
I've Gotta Go See About a Girl (November 23, 2006)
On France (November 10, 2006)
Liberating Love, an Awkward Transition and Christmas Candy (November 1, 2006)
The Western Bible (October 20, 2006)
The Whole Church Gathered (October 3, 2006)
On Steve Irwin (September 7, 2006)
Lewis on Happiness (August 10, 2006)
The Tragic "Unthinkable Crisis" (July 27, 2006)
Not My Life (July 6, 2006)
The Two Year Reunion (June 10, 2006)
A Fishy Story Set Right (May 26, 2006)
Response to "The Wedding Planner" by Sagers (April 30, 2006)
White Bunnies and Bloody Lambs (April 14, 2006)
Flexing Our Political Muscle (March 22, 2006)
For Your Viewing Pleasure (March 7, 2006)
Come to Our Church! (February 21, 2006)
Peanuts and Airplanes (February 15, 2006)
Confessing My Ignorance (January 30, 2006)
The Jewish Kid Jesus (January 16, 2006)
Friends...A Dime a Dozen? (January 9, 2006)
Old Test Article Here (January 2, 2006)
So Much to Say...That Others Have Already Said (December 23, 2005)
Narnia - at last! (December 8, 2005)
Lewis on our Eating Disorder (December 1, 2005)
North Korea - Revealing the Darkness (November 20, 2005)
Shining - Like You've Never Seen it Before (November 15, 2005)
Are You Emerging? (November 3, 2005)
emotion in China (May 25, 2008)
what 1 Euro could buy you if you came to visit (May 11, 2008)
on visa-runs and escaping hotel fires (May 4, 2008)
recent observations & discoveries (April 30, 2008)
on ordering water and near tricycle collisions (April 16, 2008)
on learning Chinese and on how to catch a bad flu at the park (April 10, 2008)
highlights (April 9, 2008)
Foreign media must have Facebook access during Olympics, IOC tells China (April 2, 2008)
Home Sweet Home (March 26, 2008)
Then and Now (March 26, 2008)
stranded bags! (March 8, 2008)
on visas, weddings, how to get free food & funny hair dos (March 4, 2008)
Warm greetings! (February 12, 2008)
A Whole New World (February 5, 2008)
Newness in the New Year (January 6, 2008)
The Feast of Life (November 23, 2007)
Our Paris (November 11, 2007)
A Freezing Wilderness Retreat (October 22, 2007)
Reflections from a Recovering Bride (October 8, 2007)
Mr. and Mrs. Brumme (September 29, 2007)
One Month and Counting (August 22, 2007)
Everything French (July 19, 2007)
Open Wide Your Mouths! (July 9, 2007)
Learning from Trees (July 3, 2007)
A City of Lights - The Paris of Central Europe (June 25, 2007)
Brumme's Descend on Europe (June 8, 2007)
I Said Yes! (May 13, 2007)
Liaisons and Goodness Abound (April 22, 2007)
Gourmet Cuisine Catastrophe (March 21, 2007)
It Really Has Been Too Long This Time (March 15, 2007)
The French Postal System, V-Day, and Other Tidbits (February 21, 2007)
Celebrating in Paris, Working in Oxford & Relaxing in the Alps (January 29, 2007)
With Ma Petite Amie at Last! (January 11, 2007)
Hanging on for the Ride (December 31, 2006)
A New Life (December 18, 2006)
I've Gotta Go See About a Girl (November 23, 2006)
On France (November 10, 2006)
Liberating Love, an Awkward Transition and Christmas Candy (November 1, 2006)
The Western Bible (October 20, 2006)
The Whole Church Gathered (October 3, 2006)
On Steve Irwin (September 7, 2006)
Lewis on Happiness (August 10, 2006)
The Tragic "Unthinkable Crisis" (July 27, 2006)
Not My Life (July 6, 2006)
The Two Year Reunion (June 10, 2006)
A Fishy Story Set Right (May 26, 2006)
Response to "The Wedding Planner" by Sagers (April 30, 2006)
White Bunnies and Bloody Lambs (April 14, 2006)
Flexing Our Political Muscle (March 22, 2006)
For Your Viewing Pleasure (March 7, 2006)
Come to Our Church! (February 21, 2006)
Peanuts and Airplanes (February 15, 2006)
Confessing My Ignorance (January 30, 2006)
The Jewish Kid Jesus (January 16, 2006)
Friends...A Dime a Dozen? (January 9, 2006)
Old Test Article Here (January 2, 2006)
So Much to Say...That Others Have Already Said (December 23, 2005)
Narnia - at last! (December 8, 2005)
Lewis on our Eating Disorder (December 1, 2005)
North Korea - Revealing the Darkness (November 20, 2005)
Shining - Like You've Never Seen it Before (November 15, 2005)
Are You Emerging? (November 3, 2005)
A Life of Profound Significance (October 26, 2005)
The Earth at Your Fingertips (October 18, 2005)
A Surprise Appointment (October 15, 2005)
Wars and Rumors of Wars (October 3, 2005)
Laughing in the Rain (September 20, 2005)
Random Tid-Bits and Happenings (September 15, 2005)
Life and Death and Terrorists (August 30, 2005)
Girls and Boys and God (August 25, 2005)
Feasting and Worship (August 17, 2005)
Blogger's Block (August 6, 2005)
The Harvest in China (August 2, 2005)
Counting the Cost (July 24, 2005)
Absolutely Outstanding Bit of Writing (July 18, 2005)
Burning Alive (July 14, 2005)
Jesus and the Glory Golf Balls (July 10, 2005)
Those Things We Hold On To (July 7, 2005)
Grape Juice, Poured Out for the Forgiveness of Sin (June 30, 2005)
He Will Ruin Your Life (June 28, 2005)
A Bit of Perspective (June 25, 2005)
The Wedding Planner (June 22, 2005)
A Lesson in Patience Amidst Absurdity (June 16, 2005)
Fans of Hitler (June 15, 2005)
Crash and Stories (June 12, 2005)
Pastors and Leaders - Different Views (June 10, 2005)
Senior Pastors (June 5, 2005)
Ask and You Shall Receive (June 2, 2005)
What If (May 27, 2005)
The "Bible Study" (May 24, 2005)
The Future of Pixar (May 19, 2005)
The Mess We Christians Have Made (May 14, 2005)
Narnia Coming to the Big Screen (May 10, 2005)
Europe - Through the Lens of My Camera (May 7, 2005)
Same Sex Families (May 6, 2005)
Photos of Mercy (May 3, 2005)
Across an Ocean... (April 21, 2005)
The Picture, The Pope, and The Past Few Days (April 12, 2005)
In the Car with My (air) Guitar (April 6, 2005)
The Pope (April 4, 2005)
Resurrection Day (March 27, 2005)
Killing People (March 23, 2005)
Weekend of Surprises (March 22, 2005)
The Fray - Listen to this (March 12, 2005)
Akiane....This is Amazing (March 11, 2005)
Jesus Christ (March 8, 2005)
Worthy Thoughts on The Passion (March 7, 2005)
Dream Days at Church (March 3, 2005)
Peace Amidst Ambiguity (March 1, 2005)
A Verse I Hadn't Noticed Before (February 25, 2005)
McLaren and Hotel Rwanda...another perspective (February 19, 2005)
Brother Andrew is on to something (February 16, 2005)
My Valentine (February 14, 2005)
Homecoming...strange (February 13, 2005)
Hotel Rwanda (February 10, 2005)
The Update (February 6, 2005)
Malibu...Thailand...Palm Desert (January 1, 2005)
Get Ready Thailand...I'm Coming! (September 25, 2004)
God Speaks? Really? (May 29, 2004)
Life Beyond Graduation (May 1, 2004)
God's Faithfulness in Morocco (October 8, 2002)
Our Thoughts
April 10, 2008
on learning Chinese and on how to catch a bad flu at the park
Following our Settlers of Catan recovery (right), on Saturday we had aimed to journey outside the city fortifications and heavy air to Hángzhōu. An hour and a half south on the train from our City on the Water would take us to “weeping willows, pastures of green and hills kissed by haze – a watercolor perfect Chinese painting” as Lonely Planet assured us. But then, we actually watched a Friday night movie starting after midnight, and, as Saturday rolled in, so did dark threatening clouds. So, we downscaled to local weekend plan B consisting of a visit to the gym and a picnic in a local people’s park. The gym was shut – tight as a drum – for the Grave Dusting holiday weekend. Determined not to lose heart, we figured the only way we would make use of our gym clothes, despite the fact it looks very out of place to do so, would be to run in the local park. So, turning a blind eye to all cultural norms, we went for it. Andrew and I darted past each other, running laps in and around the brick paved park, enjoying every moment of it: from us donating sympathetic half smiles of apology as we feared to disturb hard-core yoga veterans to the old man pulling out all stops greeting us in Yingyú: “HaA! Goooaaad DaaaaaYEEE! HaaloA!”. Once home, we showered and got the communal back-pack geared up for our quiet day in nature. Destination: Zhōngshān Park.

Finding the park was a piece of cake, a multitude of kites could be seen from the subway station. Still, upon our arrival, our Shanghai newbie minds couldn’t fully discern whether there was a special carnival taking place there or if the park always looked like a gathering after a fire drill (see pic below). We realized despite several street vendors it was certainly the latter. We laughed once again at our ignorance, bought some fresh bamboo juice in celebration thereof and watched some intriguing street candy animal makers - what the heck. And as it sort of gets tiring to dodge the mobs on your leisurely walk in the park, we waited our turn in line for the next available rock to sit and attempt to read and journal the day away. Needless to say, after a good attempt and given the distraction of “only children” darting about, we gave up our rock and moseyed about throughout the park.




I wouldn’t dare point a finger, at whom could I anyway you might ask, but calculating back, someone in that park must have had, AND given me, a nasty flu bug. By Sunday evening, I was delirious. Totally bed-ridden. By Monday, we had tired neighbors, having been woken throughout the night, and me having lost a few kilos in the process. Missed class. By Tuesday, re-missed class, with I’ll-spare-you-the-details-substances emanating from my eyes, we paid our first visit to Shanghai United Family Hospital. To give you a more accurate picture of who I am, it might be important at this point to note I was thrilled to be taken out of our flat. I love the adventure of the new. Of growing ‘our’ tiny Shanghai little by little. And then there is the thrill that comes with language learning, eg. being able to practice again! I might know eight Chinese characters, if that, but even to take a cab around town, I almost feel I am helping my body to heal as it hears sounds or revels in recognizing something on a sign or on a building.

I think the ride started like this: I ask for the driver to take us to XIAN Xia Lu. - “Haaa??” – “Xian XIA LU!” –“Haaa?”.. – “Xian Xia LU!?!” and then my better half and more annoying half at times like these, when his tones happen to miraculously come out perfectly: “Shheee ANN Shheee Ahhh, LOU!” gets the laurelled response: “Ah. HA! HA!”

Off we were to the clinic, obvious upon arrival it was going to be a special Western (read, expensive) health center. I mean, for that price I really could have prescribed myself the Panadol. My spoiled French Caisse Maladie mindset was killing me. I was dying to remind the doc: “err, excuse-me, I think you forgot the antibiotics for my eyes and oh, since you’re prescribing, just throw in some Suppomaline morphine suppositories so I have enough for the future. Oh, and I have a wart on my hand and an ingrown toe nail, you might want to throw some more meds in since we're here!” But nope. Panadol. That’s literally all I got. Well, at least the journey of learning in the cab began a mending of my mind and body. Repeatedly wiping the sand from my eyes I somehow made my Tuesday work deadlines and by Wednesday, yesterday, I was back to our beloved class, three kilos lighter and several shades, yes, even lighter.

Our class in itself has been a real delight and increasingly rewarding as the days go on. We’re spoiled with a small class of motivated students at the Li Gong University. After a rough first week of us finding our respective roles, our Chinese voices and wondering if we would continue at the school, we received a Friday evening call from the director promising me: “Mei Ya, I promise to give you the best Chinese class in all of Shanghai”. That next Monday, we were given a new teacher, a vibrant, young, talented woman who obviously loves to teach and expects a lot from her students. Just thrilling and a great way to start our days as working from home can at times become mind-numbing. So far, it’s been fascinating to see how different we learn and absorb language & culture. As I had alluded to previously, language and this lifestyle we have chosen for now, have already taught me a great deal about myself and the incredible man I am married to.

Definitely to be advised!