Fascinate, Inspire, Grow

July 13, 2013

My last day in China was a full day.  The morning was relaxing, after a late night run to the airport to pick up Laurel.  Then it was time for some “wine and dine” by the school.  Nick – the director of our program, Apple – an international coordinator, Sophia – vice director of the school, Tammy - assistant, Jacqueline - assistant, (all Yali staff) and a former student, Pat all met us (Laurel, myself, Leigh, Tina and Willy) at a hotel restaurant for a very nice lunch.  All sitting around a rotating table center, the food was so bountiful and so delicious – lending to a full stomach as seems a pattern here in China.  We had fish, soup with freshly steamed vegetables (they provide the large soup pot and additional fresh vegetables to add to the pot), eggplant, various other vegetable dishes, and much more food that I don’t remember. There was literally so many dishes that I lose track.  We drank some tea, beer and wine to go with all of that. 

Nick, the director of the program, and the other staff thanked us for all of our efforts, and assured us that they and the students appreciated having us there.  They gave us a gift of a book with beautifully colored Chinese zodiac birth year animals.  After the meal we learned how to play Mahjong, a type of rummy game with tiles.  The Yali staff enjoyed teaching us the game and helping us play.  My teammate Tammy and I won a game! 
 
 

Our group at Yuela Academy

Very large Buddha + Andrea

The next stop on our trek was Yuelu Mountain.  We didn’t actually get to climb up the mountain but we toured through the old Yuelu Academy, one of the four ancient Chinese academies and a very well-known site in Changsha. We also saw there a large statue of Buddah. 

 

Our group with a show host

 

Getting into the car for our next stop:  the TV station – which apparently is very hard for foreigners to get into.  Apparently we had some pretty good connections.  We even got our photo taken with some famous Chinese TV host – none of us knew who he was of course, but it was a pretty big deal for the locals we were with.

Dance performance at dinner

West Lake Restaurant

Last stop of the day was dinner at one of the largest restaurants in the world.  West Lake Restaurant, deemed the largest Asian restaurant in the Guinness Book of World Records, has 5,000 seats and a performance hall where we saw a live show while enjoying our dinner.  At this meal we enjoyed chrysanthemum tea, stinky tofu (fermented tofu with a strong odor), soup with vegetables (they eat mostly all steamed vegetables here in order to kill most of the bacteria), a type of baked tofu, various other vegetable and a few meat dishes, and again I can’t recall everything that was on the table, as it kept on coming.  The show was enjoyable – a mixture of singing and dancing in colorful and interesting costumes.  After dinner we walked around the garden/pond area outside of the restaurant.  It was as if the restaurant was its own little oasis – as if we were in a maze meandering through the pond on various pathways.  I then said my goodbyes to the Yali staff and to Laurel, Tina, and Willy – to be on my way back to Leigh’s place to pack and get some good rest before my early a.m. flight.

Once I made it to Seattle, I breathed a sigh of relief to have the familiarity of home.  A comforting feeling to be back in the U.S. where I understand what is going on and how most things work.  Everyone seems so easy here now.  People don’t budge in front of me or simply stare at me and watch me as I go by.  Instead of pushing their way in first they will move out of the way, apologize, or offer to help.  Gestures I will no longer take for granted – as they are what helped me navigate and explore my way through China. 

I do miss China, as I knew I would once I returned – that is why I did my best to soak it all in while I was there.  I am thankful for the opportunity I had to take part in this experience – challenging as it was –well worth it.  When asked how my trip was, in a few simple words I describe it as challenging, fascinating, inspiring, interesting, with a great deal of personal growth resulting in a stronger person than who I was before.  I made some wonderful relationships, and beautiful memories.

A few facts about the city.  Changsha is the capitol of Hunan province, a very historical and cultural city.  Located in south central China, population is more than 6.5 million. Changsha consists of 5 districts and 3 counties and 1 county-level city with 83 towns and 31 villages and 53 streets.  A few words I learned along the way: nǐ hǎo = hello; xiè xie = thank you; dǎ bāo = “doggie bag” at a restaurant; bù kè qi = you’re welcome.

Saying Goodbye

June 29, 2013

 

I had a great last day of teaching, with many of the students telling me they will miss me, and that they hope to see me in the U.S. when they come to school.  Though I was only with them for two weeks, I will miss these kids.

 

Chatting with the students on my last day of class

Every place I visit and stay for a while finds a space in my heart, including China – Changsha and all its beauty.  I know I will miss this place and all of the fascinating experiences it has offered.  Despite the stress and culture shock, I have learned a great deal and met some really wonderful people with whom I hope to stay in touch.  The food is delicious, the countryside beautiful, massages fantastic, tea wonderful, and there are some really great people.

Chrysanthemum tea & melon at the spa

Friday evening Tina, Willy, and I went to a foot massage, compliments of the school.  Jacqueline (one of the TAs) and Duo took us to a place near the school.  A very relaxing evening, with the massage and dinner to follow.  I do enjoy the foot massage especially because it is a fun experience for the whole group to experience together.  We all sit in the same room, with a TV (which I am not a fan of – I prefer the relaxing music) and have the same massage done at the same time.  They bring us bottomless tea (my favorite is the chrysanthemum tea) and watermelon to enjoy during our massage.  A foot massage is not only for your feet, but also the entire body.  They start on your face and head with pressure points, then move to your arms, legs, then feet.  They end up with your back.  At certain points during the massage they sort of slap the part of your body they are massaging (I think to relax it and get the blood flowing there), at one point the ladies that were massaging Jacqueline and I were doing this rhythmic pattern in unison on our legs.  It was kind of funny and I couldn’t help but laugh a little. 

Deciding what to order

The dinner that followed was exciting for me, as we went to a Chinese/Middle-Eastern restaurant – bringing me back to my wonderful memories of Israel.  The food was fantastic.  We had lamb kabobs, lotus root with chestnuts, a chicken & noodle dish, a vegetable dish, green tea, yogurt with white raisins, and some fried potatoes with spices.  I was going to order some fermented horse milk to drink, but all they had was the big bottle – I was not ready for that commitment!

Lamb kabobs!

Tea & yogurt with white raisins

This morning I packed up my bags and moved to Duo and Leigh’s apartment (located about 10 minutes from the school by the hospital) to stay until I leave on Monday morning.  Laurel is flying in tonight, so she will be staying in the room that I had.  I enjoyed staying at their place.  It was much more peaceful, light, open, calm, and removed from the stress of the school.  I didn’t have to hear the class “music” all day.  I don’t remember if I mentioned that earlier, but in Chinese schools instead of bells they play music (ours was piano music) over the loudspeakers that you can hear all the way on the other end of campus.  It was cool at first – for the first day, then it got old quickly.  That said, it was nice to get away from that for a while.




Students who took us to lunch

A few of the students had asked me on Friday if they could take Tina and myself out to lunch on Saturday, they wanted to take us to one of their favorite places which is near the school.  I agreed to it and we met up with them at noon during their mid-day break.  There were 7 girls who escorted us (Willy came also) to a restaurant called “Fire Palace.”  This was an interesting restaurant, in which the servers pushed around carts of food, and the customers point to the dishes they would like to order.  It was entertaining to see them go to town asking for items from the carts that the servers pushed around. 

Lunch with the students

Century egg

The food they ordered was interesting.  A lot of sweet items, a bunch of sweetened rice, a green starchy blob which must have been mochi (a Japanese rice cake), fresh watermelon juice, and a few other unique dishes.  We had “century eggs” also known as a pidan, also known as a preserved egg.  These are common in China. I had tried this once before, it is made by preserving duck, chicken or quail eggs in a mixture of clay, ash, salt, quicklime, and rice hulls for several weeks to several months.  Through the process, the yolk becomes a dark green/grey, with a creamy consistency and an odor of sulfur and ammonia, while the white becomes dark brown, translucent jelly with hardly any flavor. The worst food I had was the pig feet!  It was all bone, fat and some slimy skin.  I asked the girls what I was supposed to eat from it –they told me to eat the skin!  The tiny bite I had was not pleasant – worth the experience though.  That was my first meal since arriving in China in which I didn’t particularly like the food we ate, but it was a fun experience. 

frog, open heart vegetable, taro, broad beans

I had one last dinner with Duo and Leigh at their favorite local restaurant close to their place.  Once again, delicious food at a very low price.  River eel, baby river shrimp, cucumbers with purple cilantro, and the empty-hearted green vegetable.  We went for a stroll to let our food settle.  We walked by a nice, quaint place in the middle of the city where there is grass and some small trees with flowers, and many Adirondack – type chairs spread about.  There is a stand where they sell tea to people and they can sit, relax, and enjoy the outdoors.  There is also a stone trail weaving through the trees, in which some people walk barefoot because the stones are good for the acupressure points in their feet.

Outdoor Tea Time

After waiving down another taxi, Leigh and I were on our way to the tea house, Duo went to the airport for his flight to Shanghai.  It was another relaxing evening at the tea house with Leigh and myself intermixed with the regulars floating in and out of the main table downstairs.  I thoroughly enjoyed every sip of tea, and realized that I really will miss this place – the more time I spend here.  After about an hour and a half we caught a taxi back to Leigh’s place so that I could meet Apple, one of our coordinators, to pick up Laurel from the airport.  Leaving the tea house was a bit tricky – we had to time it just right, otherwise they would keep refilling our teacups, and neither of us wanted to waste that precious, delicious tea.  Eventually we both downed our tiny little cups at the same time, stood up, and said goodbye.

Hawa, Umbrellas, and Chinese Caligraphy

Yes, I have returned to the quit and calmness of Minnesota.   As I finish putting together these posts from my journal notes, I am currently sitting on the porch enjoying the peace and sound of the crickets in the woods.  The extreme difference from where I was 2 weeks ago is incredible.  Our world is so big yet so small.  I will pick up where I left off in my adventures in China.

June 26, 2013

We took the bus with Duo and Leigh to a place close to the island called Hawa Café.  It was a unique place, with more of an international feel.  Little flags were hanging on the ceiling and writing was all over the walls.  I ordered pumpkin soup and a watermelon yogurt shake.  We had originally planned to walk through the park on the island after dinner, however, it was raining and wouldn’t stop so we decided to get some hookah - peach flavored, and spent about 3 hours in the café, simply chatting and enjoying ourselves.  That was nice and relaxing – though come about 7:30 the place picked up and became very loud.

We then bought some umbrellas and took a taxi to the tea house for another round of tea.  We drank tea to our hearts desire – until I felt so full of tea and a little woozy from the fermented tea, that I thought I would fall over.  Who needs to drink alcohol when there is hookah and fermented tea?  Not me!  This was very relaxing and we had a great time with the shop owner and her husband.

 

It is interesting to find so many fermented food and drink items here.  There are many health benefits, and it is a good way to preserve food items for a longer period of time.  I have been learning different aspects of Chinese medicine while here, and it fascinates me.  I would love to study and learn more - to bring a broader understanding back to the states.  So many of the beliefs, ideas, and concepts make so much sense - it is sad that our American industry is so heavily dependent on pharmaceuticals and ignore what is really good for us - natural remedies and holistic care. 

Thursday we had classes in the afternoon, which I found I did not like as much.  Firstly, I felt out of it and really tired by the time the afternoon came.  It took a while for the kids and myself to get into the swing of things, whereas in the morning I feel I can jump right in.  We made it through just fine, then as soon as I was done I went with Duo on yet another adventure.  We stopped at the stationary store to buy some paper, had it wrapped up as is was still raining.  Then we took the bus back to his neighborhood to meet Leigh for dinner.  We went to a restaurant in the “ghetto” area as Duo called it.  The food was once again delicious.  Duo went to town on the menu, as he usually does, ordering way too much food.  We had taro (a purple, starchy root vegetable), frog, kong shin tsai “open-heart” green hollow vegetable, peanuts, and broad bean noodle pasta.  It is really crazy how much fabulous food you can order here and it ends up being so inexpensive!  Nowhere in the U.S. can you find some of the vegetables and fruits they serve here.  Again, American food will never be the same. 

After filling up with food, we hopped in a taxi to his uncle (he is a friend, though they call close friends here as aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, or cousins) house, who is a very talented calligrapher and had agreed to write a verse – 1 Corinthians for me in ancient Chinese calligraphy to take home as a gift.  He does beautiful work, and is quick at it also!  We watched him work, and relaxed in the living room talking to his daughter and wife.  His wife then of course served us some of the watermelon that we had brought as a gift off the street, and poured us some smoked green tea.  After the calligraphy was done we all sat and talked for a while.  I then made it back around 10:20 p.m. to my ritual of a night-time shower and then to bed – which always leads me right to sleep, as China is a fascinating but exhausting city!

Out of this 'World'

I was unable to access my blog while in China, so I am now filling you in on my China adventures.  Below is blog #1, which I created one week into my time in China.  I left it unedited so that it is real and organic from mid-way through the experience. 

 

Getting around on the internet in China is a rather difficult task.  Many sites are blocked due to their government restrictions.  They don’t have access to facebook.  They have their own version of facebook that exists in China.  I am unable to access my blog, and at times accessing my email is not dependable. 

I have also discovered that if you are not careful, you may get overworked.  Tina, my co-teacher and I started our teaching days with 7 class periods a day, with a 2 hour lunch period.  That left us with very little time to prepare for class the coming day and to review and correct students’ work.  Needless to say, after the first day we were exhausted.  Jetlag aside, after the first week neither one of us had actually had time to process our experiences since we had hit the ground running upon arrival.  After some adjustments to our schedule, we now teach 4 class periods a day and have an office hour in which we meet with students individually.  Finally then was I able to breathe and reflect a bit on what had been happening, both at the school and all around me.

I am co-teaching an ACT Prep course for Chinese students at Yali High School in Changsha, China.  I am focusing on the writing section of the ACT, so I get to teach what I love – to write.  Everything has been so brand new to me, and I have amazed myself at how adaptable I can be in uncomfortable and unfamiliar situations. 

It has been a matter of taking a project with unclear communication and expectations, and turning it into something that functions and moves forward.  I have learned to take ownership of what I am able, and improve the process so that things can run smoothly.  I can honestly say that I had no idea what I was getting myself into when signing up for this project.  In hindsight, I am sure I will be able to say that it was a challenging, but good experience.  Currently, I am still in the midst of it (though very close to the end!) that I am not quite enough removed to have that relief.

The human mind and body is an amazing thing – able to handle more than we give credit.  I have stretched myself and my ability to handle all of the stress and pressure that I have felt during this first week teaching in China.  Yes I have felt run-down, drawn out to my last string, and pushed to the edge of my limit – though somehow I have pulled through.  Reflecting back I realize that through the crazy confusion and all of the doubt and disappointment, I seemed to be having an out of body experience.  I will never know how far I can go unless I get myself there.

Meanwhile, the many adventures of my time here will not go untold.  Everything from the way they budge in line, to the noisiness of meals, to the fact that I understand only 3 words in Chinese – it all adds up to some great escapades.

Going out to eat by ourselves is a manner of pointing at pictures and using our miming skills the best we can.  We always end up successfully ordering food that is delicious – maybe not quite what we expect, but it’s all in the fun of trying new things.  The food is fantastic – so many fresh vegetables and intense flavors.  Though much of the dishes do seem to have a lot of oil (people use tea oil in their home cooking which is the best kind), and some I avoid due to the skeptical pieces of fatty-meat substance that they contain.  Overall though, it is healthy and delicious.  The best meal I had was in a home in the city of Jingang, in which everything in each of the 8 or 9 dishes spread on the table except for the smoked pork was from the man’s garden/yard or pond (including fish and duck eggs).

While we feel a bit helpless due to the communication barrier, it provides me with a new perspective on the importance of communication.  This entire project has definitely honed my communication skills due to the lack thereof, prior to my arrival.

To help offset the stress of work, I have indulged in some good Chinese medicine – massage.  I have had a foot acupressure massage, as well as a full-body spa massage.  Both were absolutely wonderful and well-deserved.  We also visited a tea house with a friend here who works at the school.  That was also a very pleasant and peaceful experience.  I fully appreciate their love for tea here in China.  Having it at every meal, and in-between is something that I won’t have a hard time continuing back home (I am close to that already).

On Saturday I went with our friend Duo (he is basically our main correspondence with the school) and his wife to visit his father’s gravesite.  We painted the characters on his grave, as they were faded due to time and the elements.  Their gravesites are beautiful!  Tucked in the hills/mountains out in the countryside, gravesites are lined in a structured pattern.  For the sake of space, and the due to the large population of China, it is custom to cremate the body and bury it in the hills so as to save sacred land space that would otherwise be for farming, housing, or forest.  Each gravestone has a character on it to symbolize an important meaning (happiness, fortune, love, etc.) that is chosen by the family.

Our next stop that day was a house in Jingang – a historic little town that is about an hour outside of Changsha.  Duo’s mother’s friend invited us for lunch.  We had a relaxing time with them and I really enjoyed their little tiny dog.  Many of the dogs here are small – this one was only 1 month and was the size of a kitty!  As a snack, we were served melon and tea with sesame seeds, salt, ginger, and some sort of herb – delicious! 

This is where we had the meal I refer to above, with the fresh produce right from their yard (which is all garden) and the fish and duck eggs that they raise.  I also tried my first Chinese beer, with which we had many a toast throughout the meal.  The experience was so pleasant, and I had to remind myself that this was actually happening.  I feel as though the American meal experience will never be the same after this – not to mention the food will be very boring to follow all of the unique, flavorful dishes served here.

After lunch we explored the city streets, which reminded me a bit of Italy – stone roads and narrow passages between buildings.  We went to Duo’s house where he grew up, which is now a bar.  It started to rain on our walk so we spent some time in a little restaurant drinking hot water.  Many restaurants will serve water hot.  I believe it is to kill the bacteria, so that they don’t have to buy water, they simply boil and serve – also in Chinese medicine they believe that drinking hot water is better for the body than cold.  We then continued our walk trying food along the way.  I tried the dried minnows, some homemade candy from possibly peanuts, some cookies, some sweet potato chips, prune juice, and fermented rice.  We walked along the river and saw a dragon boat ceremony.  It was the end of the dragon boat festival, so there were men in this long dragon boat with one at the head beating a drum. Then fireworks were going off all around us for the rest of the afternoon.  It was neat to see, though a little disappointed because we were not able to take a boat down the river due to the celebration.  Later on our walk we saw some displayed stones with calligraphy – both modern and ancient.  It amazes me how people can read such script – it is truly an art.

 

An Enchanted Life

Preparing myself to embark on another adventure in this dance of life.  After landing a professional post-undergraduate job working in administration at an international school and living back in Minnesota again for one year – it’s about time I hop back onto a plain for another blog-worthy experience.  Fully equipped with my new camera, some ACT Prep resources, and my journal – I hope to make the most of this wild journey to Changsha, China 

A few weeks back I was chatting with a co-worker who was telling me about her exciting summer plans of teaching an ACT Prep course in China for the summer.  I responded with “Wow that is so great!  I’d love to go to China someday.”  Her response was “Well you should come with me!  I am looking for another teacher to come to help teach the class.”  My mind suddenly switched gears and I immediately say “Yeah, I should.  Why not?!” 

I had plenty of doubts about my ability to swing it, because it meant getting 2 ½ weeks off of work.  I am the coordinator of a Short-Term Turkey Program that we are launching this summer; which begins as soon as I return.  Thankfully my boss is all about the professional development and lifetime experiences and graciously allowed me to take the opportunity to go. 

That sets up the story of why I am 3 weeks later rushing around to get my visa, plan a syllabus and some lessons, pack my bags, and anxiously awaiting the day of takeoff.  I refrained from convincing myself that this would all actually happen until my visa went through and my flight was confirmed.  Both of those steps have now been completed, so that settled it - I am going to China! 

When telling one of my friends my latest travel plans, her response was “you lead an enchanted life.”  My hope is to inspire some charm in yours as well and I hope you enjoy following me on my journey to the East through my thoughts, words, and photos.  It is my pleasure to take you along for this enchanting ride J

Thoughts Along the Journey

Excerpt from an earlier journal entry:

Oh the life of a small town girl. So scared to go out on her own and find her way in a big city. Yes, I have the nerve, but I don’t like the feeling I get when I am stared at as I walk down the sidewalk, the only white person within 5 miles, then to be asked questions and talked to by people I would rather avoid. Yes, South Central Los Angeles. Hello.

My endeavor in the Notre Dame Volunteer AmeriCorps in Los Angeles is one that is definitely out of my comfort zone, and as a Midwestern small town girl, very far away from anything I have ever known. As I have been here for just over two months (now seven), I have learned a great deal about working with youth and teaching, as well as my own capabilities and passions. My experience thus far as a Teacher’s Aid/Academic Assistance Supervisor/Substitute Music Teacher at Saint Columbkille can be summed up as a road of self discovery through service with many challenges and rewards. A giving of myself as I have never given before – only to gain so much in return.

ThAnK yOu

Life finds me once again embracing this always changing, unpredictable phase of life. I have to be honest, it has not been a breeze. As a small town girl, making my way in the giant city of Los Angeles – living in a ghetto might I add, there are times when I ask myself “What the heck was I thinking coming here?” I do know that I was put here for a purpose – and that is becoming clearer as time goes on. As any other new phase, there are ups and there are downs. A huge thank you to all those who love me. I cannot thank my family and friends enough for being there through all of those times with me – and hanging in there while I make it through this. I would be nowhere close to where I am right now in my life if not for you. God has blessed and equipped me to handle each situation presented, with faith and support.

Genuine Love

As I walk down the open-air hallways in school, I am reminded of why it is that I find myself working with kids. Many smiles, and excited “Hi Ms. Schiebe!”s, that I can’t help but smile and laugh to myself. What makes me so special, that all these children think I am so wonderful? It’s as if I am some star or something that everyone wants to say hi to and run up and give a hug. One in class, one of my first graders raised her hand while I was teaching music, just to say “I love you” in her sweet little voice. Another day, one of my second graders came up to me and said, “Ms. Schiebe, I forgot to give you a hug yet today,” and he proceeded to give me a great big hug around my waist. It is these moments that fill me up. The times when I can just embrace them for the children they are; in all their sweetness and genuine love.

The Message on the Tea Bag

I forget that there are mountains surrounding LA sometimes. It rained a while back for the first time since I’ve been here, and for the next few days it was clear enough to see the mountains - so beautiful. I really do appreciate all that I have. I have so much freedom and so much ability to become anything. I simply need to pursue my passions and desires and make my way there.

I have discovered that I am not cut out for disciplining children, talking loudly over children all day long, trying to please everyone and be the fun person at the same time. I just know that it’s not for me. Yes, I love working with kids, and I love interacting with them, the relationships I can build, all of those things. I simply don’t like classroom management. I like the one-on-one or small group interaction. I have started giving private guitar and piano lessons, which I do enjoy.

Ah the beauty of California. I am doing my best to experience LA as cheaply as I can afford. The girls I live with and I are, despite our small budget, managing to have a great time here. We are getting used to our limited budget, and our crazy work schedules, and also how to gage our energy – as kids do take a lot out of me. I will admit, there are times when I really don’t know how much of this I can handle. The challenge of teaching, sometimes feeling belittled at work (as a volunteer), the wait and commute on busses whenever I want to go anywhere. To top that off, someone broke into the convent I am staying at.

I have figured out what keeps me going; at school: teaching guitar and piano lessons, in general: and making sure that I get out of south central every so often, to find my place of peace and comfort, and talking to family and friends. I do love teaching lessons, and am excited to start developing this more.

I have come to discover that if I don’t read the message on the tea bag when I put it into my mug, I may forget to read it. If I don’t live my life as I am called to right now, I may never get there.

This quote that a friend sent me one day, lifted my spirits a bit "I will get things done for America. Faced with Apathy, I will take action. Faced with conflict, I will seek common ground. Face with adversity, I will persevere. I will carry this commitment with me this year. I am an AmeriCorps Volunteer."

In the midst of all this uncertainty, I would like something certain, and something to hold onto that I can look forward to. I have discovered what has been weighing me down so much since I’ve come here. It is living among such mental poverty. Yes, the physical poverty is difficult to live and breathe among as well, but the mental is worse. The angst, anger, despair, hopelessness… that engulfs these people is so heartbreaking to me – I become dug into a hole that I can’t seem to get out of. I am tired of the stares, the cat calls, the honks, the aggression that I see. I miss: driving when/where I want, walking outside, having a back/front yard, family, close friends, a nice place to live, pets, clean air, cooking in a nice kitchen with nice utensils/supplies, going for runs outside, trees with leaves, fall colors, fireplaces… Those are just some of the things I do miss. Well, everything is a learning experience. This is one of many, and many more to come. I know that in a year I will look back on this and want it all back again. The Lord does put everything in my life for a reason – that reason I am still discovering. That is why I will carry on with my chin up, best face forward, and a smile on my face to take on everything that the world brings me with a lot of help from above.

To Long, and To Belong

"The art of longing and the art of belonging must be experienced in life." The quote I read on my yogi tea bag the other day, really sums up how I have been feeling lately. Adjusting to a brand new lifestyle takes time, patience, and an open mind. As well as a whole lot of learning - about myself, and my surroundings. Life is treating me pretty well in LA. I am now 3 weeks into the program, and each day I work with the kids I learn to love them more and more. There are about 270 kids at my school, so I have yet to learn so many more names! The pressure is on, because I have now moved up to the teacher role, as I have taken on teaching music classes two days a week to all of the kids. That makes for about 5 classes a day that I teach on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. I also lead music at Mass, which they have biweekly.

It is amazing how once the kids saw me with a guitar, heard me play and sing, how their love for me increased even more. Now instead of only the kids from the 3 classes that I worked with during the day, and the 50 or so kids I worked with after school, now everyone says to me as they pass "Hi Ms. Schiebe!" very enthusiastically with a grin on their face. The younger ones to greet me with a hug and once in a while I will get an "I love you." They make my heart melt. Yes, they are trying on patience, and make my voice hurt by the end of the day from trying to get their attention and keep them under control; but they are so loveable. I give teachers so much credit for what they do - it's a crazy hard job! Very rewarding though.

Little by little I am trying to explore the LA area - and soak it all in, as well as finding my nich in where I am at and what I do. I have now checked out the LA public library downtown, which is absolutely wonderful; I have tried the froyo at Yogurtland; embraced the ocean-front on the Santa Monica Beach; been to the "Abbey" in West Hollywood, learned how not on time the bussing system is; taken the time to cook; bought fresh produce at the Grand Central Market downtown LA; learned how to handle lots of kids of all ages; made some wonderful new friends; and more.

A whirlwind of new places, people, sights, sounds, smells, and emotions have all hit me at once - and it will continue to take time to process them all. The story is beginning to unfold as I put peices together of why God has called me to this specific place to work with these specific people. Though I am out of my comfort zone as the minirity, and as the "newbie," which is intimidating; I do know that things will fall into place - with faith and trust.

Learning My Way

Well I have survived my first six days in Los Angeles. We had two days of orientation for my program. This city is so full of life and excitement; I know I will never get bored. There is always something to see or experience. Everyone in my program seems fantastic! The cool part is that we all seem to be here with the same mindset – not to change the world, but to learn and see how we can help those we live around and we serve at our sites to better their program and continue the work that they do. We are all here to learn and grow, and we are excited to begin this journey together. And this is just the beginning of my journey. I know this year will present a lot of challenges and a lot of rewards.

So far we have taken the Dash (the public bus system), been out to lunch at Chipotle near South California University, Toured the Science Center in Exposition Park, ate at a Mexican restaurant, had a panel and cookout with the alum NDMVA members, visited a few of our volunteer sites, filled out a ton of paperwork, visited a few of our volunteer sites, survived a day of work, took a trip to the beach, visited the galleria market in Koreatown, and made some homemade sushi and pot stickers, gotten to know my housemates, and gone to a Spanish Mass.

I am constantly thinking of the movie 101 Dalmations. The dogs here are crazy – one starts barking, then they all do. One will howl, and so do the rest! During the night a lot as well I will add. I’m getting used to it, and actually learning to love it. I am reminded of the cats that would hang out on our roofs in Guatemala and meow all night.

Transportation is the tricky part that I am still figuring out. Having no car makes things much more difficult. Though I feel very independent. There are no classes I need to attend, homework I need to do, people I need to take care of, it’s just me – fending for myself in this giant city.

I survived my first day at work! This is going to be exhausting work. I thought working with middle and high school students all summer was draining (well, it was; and elementary is another story) I was basically thrown into the school, told briefly what I was expected to do, then went and did it. No schedule or specific direction.

St. Columbkille is a private, Catholic school in South Central LA, with a student population that is almost all Hispanic. The kids are very well-behaved, and the structure is unique (rules, expectations, etc are all going to take a while to master). I do feel needed there ,and I will most definitely be busy every day. In one day, I was involved in all of the following: 1st grade TA, 1st grade recess, 7th grade recess, 3rd grade TA, 1st grade lunch duty, 7th grade lunch duty, and an after school tutor. A deep breath every now and then kept me going. Not to mention trying to learn names and get to know students and teachers, as well as the rules and expectations. It’s going to take a while, but I have confidence I will soon become more comfortable there; among the students and faculty, and gradually ease into my “place” at St. Columbkille.

Freebird

From one adventure to the next – I am ready to hop into my AmeriCorps position in Los Angeles. Everything finished up very well in Rutland, though the goodbyes were hard. YouthWorks put on an exit session for us back in Delaware for two days, then we were done! It was such a crazy feeling to be done with my commitment as Site Director. I felt as though I was a free-bird and ready to fly! I finished up my time on the East Coast with a visit to NYC to see my cousin, then to Boston to visit my aunt and uncle who then took me to Cape Cod. Not a better way to finish up a summer in the East!

All of my experiences this summer have challenged, molded, and shaped me into the person and leader that I now am. Yes, it was hard work filled with many questions and mistakes; but through all of that God was faithful, and I was grown and stretched beyond what I had ever imagined in my life. As I continue to process all of the ways that I have changed and grown this summer, I truly hope that there is not one thing I will forget about my incredible experience with YouthWorks. I will keep loving the community of Rutland, I will keep loving my team and all of those YouthWorks staff people I grew close to, and I will keep loving all of those whom I am surrounded by – in my community right where I am at.

I am now continuing in service and am now going to the other side of the US: the west coast. I will be serving with the Notre Dame Mission Volunteer AmeriCorps program for 11 months in South Central Los Angeles. I will be working as a teacher's aide and tutor for a private K-8 school. I will be living in community housing with some of the other AmeriCorps volunteers. I am both nervous and excited for this new opportunity. I know that God has called me there, so I am willing and ready to go with an open heart and open mind.

Sanctuary

I am now nearing my end of my time in Rutland, VT. I am really going to miss these gorgeous green mountains, covered bridges, beautiful scenery, and wonderful community members. It is hitting me now how much I really am going to miss this place and the community here. I have been trying my hardest to embrace each day and each blessing that I have been given. I don't think I will understand how much I will miss it here; until I am gone. These past few weeks of programming have been great. There are always unexpected twists and turns, and surprises that I try to always be ready for. God always reminds me that He never gives us more than we can handle. And He puts us in the right places at the right times, no matter how hard it may seem, or how much I may long for something else. Overall though, our groups have been really great – I have made a lot of great connections and built some meaningful relationships. I continue to be filled up by these relationships that form and transform.

Last weekend I took my staff to the Chittenden Reservoir. We had a picnic lunch by Lefferts Pond, then walked through the woods to the reservoir to find a quiet place to go swimming. We swam out and sat on some big rocks we found – soaking up the beauty of the water surrounded by green mountains. This was the perfect rejuvenation that I needed to get me through the last two weeks; a sanctuary that I now have as a mental image and escape in my mind. I have been missing the lake so much, and that peacefulness and freedom that it provides, and the closeness with nature and the wonder of God's amazing work.

We made our last trip to BJ's Wholesale in NH today!! No more grocery shopping for 70 people - that'll be a relief. I will miss the drive though. Yes, it gets a bit lengthy, but is completely worth it for the scenery. Fridays my exhaustion does finally set in. Thursday is rough but I continue to plow through. Friday is the day when it all hits me. The kids have left, my paperwork is done before noon, I finally sit down in the car ride, and my energy drops so that I feel as though I am only partially functioning. Lots of caffeine for the drive, that's what gets me through and home safe, along with the beautiful scenery and some good music to sing along to. Also it's a great time to think and process everything that has happened this past week, and everything that I have not allowed myself or had time to think about in the midst of the week.

Dinner tonight was delicious and with good company. We went to a community member's house for a nice homemade meal. His daughter is in Rob's youth group, and so is her cousin - so we were able to hear all about their YouthWorks trip to Harrisburg PA, and we shared with them funny stories about our experiences this summer.

My Own Independence Day

I am finally enjoying some time off this week, as my site does not have programming due to the Independence Day holiday. Taking some time to finally breath, soak in my surroundings, and process everything that I have experienced this far has been very beneficial to me. It has been tough being away from family, as they are all reuniting back home. I have been going on lots of walks, journaling, and talking with family and friends on the phone. I at times need to remind myself of why I am here, and that God has a bigger purpose for me right where I am at.

Never again will I take for granted the comforts of home. Living in a church and now in a school allows me to fully appreciate how nice it is to have a house to call home. The school is great, and it’s actually pretty homey for a school after we have gotten all settled in. We even get to take advantage the projector we have (for our worship song lyrics during Club time for the participants) and have movie nights with a big screen in our staff room.

Our second week of programming went really well. We were all on our own with no help from our Area Director, and overall everything went very smoothly. We had four different church groups, all from the eastern region, and making a total of 63 participants. The weather was fantastic so we were able to do all of our outdoor activities and volunteer sites. Each week I feel will become more and more comfortable. Already I have seen a huge growth in confidence in each of my staff members, as well as in myself. Hopefully our last four weeks of programming will be able to run smoothly as we become even better at what we do!

I haven’t mentioned how our meals work or what our “evening activities” consist of yet. Each meal one of us staff is the “Total Meal Manager,” we get to wear a red apron and delegate tasks to prepare and set out the meal. We have a “Crew” assigned to each meal, who is responsible for helping the Total Meal Manager. Our breakfast crew prepares breakfast, and a pack’n’go lunch line. Everyone packs their lunch at breakfast and puts it into the cooler for their ministry crew. We have 5 ministry crews that volunteer at different sites, we create fun names for them; ours include: Deer, Otter, Moose, Beaver, and Pineapple. We have a different crew help us clean up from the meal (doing dishes, putting food away, etc). So that is how our meals work – a little bit of organized chaos and a little stressful, but it all works out.

After our dinner cleanup crew is done, we then have an evening activity Monday-Thursday. Monday we go to the Green Mountain Rock Climbing Center, where participants learn how to belay, then get to climb. This just happens to be right next the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream store, so almost everyone makes a trip there before we leave. Tuesday night we go to the Vermont Marble Museum in Proctor, VT where we have a scavenger hunt to make the visit a little more exciting. Wednesday evening we have a hike in Pine Hill Park (one of our ministry sites where they blaze and work on upkeep of the trails). Thursday evening we have a community cookout at a nearby park. We invite community members and church friends by word of mouth to come join us for dinner and visiting in the park, while the youth hang out, play games, and enjoy the company of some kids they know from Kids Club. We have a grill we bring to the park, and bring over the rest of the food as well. And there is a summary of how we spend our evenings. Following that time is Club time, where everyone comes together for a time of worship, skits, and a reflective talk.

The 4th of July we spent in Burlington, VT. Rob and Jenny (our community friends) took my team and I to Burlington to celebrate the 4th. We all hopped into their churches big white 12 passenger van and drove the hour and a half to Burlington. Upon arrival we made a stop for lunch at Al’s French Fry’s – comparable to an old-fashioned diner, and they are apparently everywhere in Burlington. We then checked into our hotel, and had the afternoon to relax. I scoped out the outdoor pool and enjoyed the sun for a while. Then we headed into downtown Burlington and walked around the open air market at Church Street Marketplace (it seems as every town here has a Church Street). We browsed the shops for a while then found a local burrito shop called Boloco (similar to a Chipotle) where we ate dinner. After we finished we hit the candy store, watched a guy playing the didgeridoo. We then wandered down to Lake Champlain. This lake is about 490 sq miles and is mainly on the border of Vermont and Ney York, but goes partially into the Canadian border of Quebec. We were looking out across the lake to the Adirondack Mountains of NY. We found a spot on some large rocks and hung out there until the fireworks. We got there nice and early, as there were thousands of people. All along the lake were food booths, inflatables, live music, and people meandering in their boats or along the waterfront. Before the fireworks started I wandered over to the Skinny Pancake for some iced tea. The Skinny Pancake is a unique creperie, coffee shop, and fondue restaurant. Savory and sweet, they serve crepes in all forms with a large variety of flavor combination, all products coming from Vermont – a wonderful place with a bit of a hippie edge.

Upon returning it was about time for the fireworks. The longest firework production I have ever seen – 25 minutes of straight fireworks over the lake was fantastic! It’s obvious why so many people come to witness this. Leaving was an adventure in itself. Weaving our way through the massive crowds to the street, then to find the big white van that Rob was picking us up in, was all pretty exciting. Eventually we made it, and returned to our hotel. After enjoying each others’ presence, and the fact that we were able to hang out in a hotel room, we all went to bed, tired from a long but fun day. And that’s when I felt like I was sleeping on a cloud – my first time sleeping in a bed for a month and a half; no need to say it was fantastic!
On our way back to Rutland, we took the scenic route and drove through Montpelier to see the capital, ate at a Chinese Restaurant called the House of Tang, went to the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Wilmington, VT and took the tour there – with free samples of their newest ice cream (pretty exciting).

This week our team has been working at the Kids Club with some youth from a local youth group. I love hanging out with the kids – they come for 2.5 hours, and it’s basically like a Vacation Bible School that runs all summer long. Tonight we were able to visit with Kori and Scott, some friends we made at Roadside Chapel. They are a wonderful young couple, and we absolutely love hanging out with them and their two girls who are 8 and 4. Not to mention they are both really great cooks! It’s been great connecting with their girls also, as I do miss my family a lot, and hanging out with my nieces and nephews.

And that brings me to now, hanging out in my classroom of a bedroom and getting ready to relax on my mat for a good night sleep. Tomorrow we head to the community gardens to do some gardening before going to Kids Club, then the Community Cookout.

A Breath of Fresh Air

My staff and I made it through our first week of programming. We could not have asked for a better group of participants and adult leaders. There were 54 people, with 12 leaders and the rest mostly middle school. It was incredible to see the Lord at work in all of the youth, the adults, and also how He worked through us as a staff to minister to others. They all really appreciated the community members they were able to work with and the bonds that happened between Church groups. The start of the week was tough, and very draining. We are "on" constantly, and we did a lot of learning and putting pieces together.

All of the ministry sites that we send our groups to are wonderful, and the community members we work with are fantastic. We send our ministry crews to dig at a hiking/biking trail, the Meadows assisted living home, Mountainview retirement center, parks and recreation projects, Open Door Mission, Camp Thorpe (camp for those with disabilities), and Kid’s Club (comparable to a long-term VBS for community kids). Rutland truly is a special place – that does need the work of Christ to shine through us and all of the participants who come and touch them in more ways than they know.

My team and I are now in the midst of a breath of fresh air. Yesterday after I sent in all of the necessary Friday paperwork, we headed to BJ’s, a wholesale food store in New Hampshire. We get to drive an hour long drive through the beautiful green mountains, with plenty of ski areas, gift stores, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, and other tourist attractions. Though it is long, it is gorgeous and relaxing. We then do our shopping for the next group of about 60, and head back to the school. We unload, put away, then are done for the evening with a sigh of relief. The weekend does go much too fast; and still incorporates work projects, but not nearly to the extent of the week’s demands. Such an odd feeling to suddenly stop and look around on a Friday night, to breath in and out; and know that I am not needed to be doing 4 different things at the same moment; but to just be and sink into the moment and let time pass me by. It felt wonderful, and is something that I believe I will hopefully not take for granted again.

Walking New Roads

Lots of things happening at once in my life right now. I will begin with the sharing that I have chosen to accept a position working for the Notre Dame Volunteer AmeriCorps program. I will be working as a tutor and teaching assistant in a K-8 Catholic school in central Los Angeles. This program is 11 months long and begins September 1st. I am very excited for this opportunity to serve, and to walk this new road that God has placed in my life!

My staff and I have been busy preparing ourselves and everything else for our full summer ahead. We have been making lots of posters and signs, practicing music, skits, orientations, doing a lot of organizing, making pre-trip phone calls, some shopping for supplies, and the list keeps on going. The other part of our day/nights consist of keeping in touch with family/friends, going for walks, prayer/devotion time, exploring the city of Rutland, making "family" dinners to enjoy together, and hanging out with some awesome new friends and community members in Rutland! The hospitality here has been incredible. This past week we had 3 dinner invites, an invite to hike on a family's property and swim in their private pond, and a few invites for shower/laundry usage. We were even prayed for by about 18 middle/high schoolers at a youth group gathering last weekend, these kids amaze me, as they shine bright with an incredibly bright fire for Christ. It is really incredible how a community can show so much hospitality to 4 young adults who are here to work and serve the Lord for the summer.

I can't believe we only have 8 weeks left here - time is just crazy. it seems as though I get so caught up in planning and preparing, that I almost forget we have youth and adults coming in only 3 days! Then the real fun begins. Today is our big moving day. We are moving from the church we have been staying in for almost three weeks, to the Rutland Area Christian School, where we will stay until we leave in August. The nerves and excitement continue to build as we come closer to our move-in, and closer to people coming! We have about 55 people coming this next week, from 3 different churches. I can't wait to see what God has in store for all of them and all of us during this next week.