Merry Christmas from Beijing!

This weekend has been filled with many fun and exciting activities as I celebrate the "Holy Birth" here in Beijing. On Friday, the school had a Chinese performance competition, which was fun to watch with some of my classmates. Various students performed songs, dances, and skits. Some of the acts had a Christmas theme, and some presented various aspects of Chinese culture. That night, I ate dinner with some friends, and I was able to share with them about some Christmas traditions in the United States. Then, yesterday, Christmas Eve, I joined a choir and went to a shopping and cultural plaza where we sang Christmas carols for all of the shoppers and passersby.

Last night, I had a relaxing evening talking with my family over the internet via Yahoo and Skype. (Last night there were over 3,000,000 users on Skype here in China, which is an incredible amount compared to the few hundred thousand in the USA.) It is really nice to be able to talk with them and see them via our webcams. The family was having a really good time, and it was fun to see my nephews and niece playing together. They are getting so big, and I can't wait to see them all (for real) when I return at the end of January.

This afternoon, I will go to a Christmas service at one of Beijing's churches. I will leave about 2 hours before the service actually begins and arrive about 1-1.5 hours early in order to get a seat. There will more than likely be a huge crowd there this evening with standing room only; so I am excited to learn of yet another aspect of China's culture.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
May God greatly bless you this holiday season and throughout the coming year!

Christmas is in the Air!

Last Wednesday, my class participated in a singing competition. Since it is getting close to Christmas, I suggested we sing some Christmas carols in Chinese. We ended up singing “Silent Night” (Ping An Ye) and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” (Zhu Ni Sheng Dan Kuai Le). Our teacher gave us these hats to wear, and while we didn't make it into the final performance of the competition, we had a fun time.

This past weekend, I went to the Shanxi province to see my friends before Christmas. Even the city of Taiyuan is getting ready for Christmas, as you can see from the picture of the city's cathedral, which is currently being renovated. Although I am not a Catholic, it is interesting for me to note Catholicism's long history, not only in China, but also and notably in the Shanxi province. Some resemblance of Christianity has existed in China for centuries, as this cathedral and the surrounding complex of this Catholic church's buildings clearly testifies.

While many people here have the impression that Christmas is all about shopping and Santa Claus, the churches all across China are preparing for massive amounts of people who will visit during the holiday weekend. Although I am away from family and friends this year, it is exciting to experience the “Holy Birth Holiday” (literal translation of the Chinese) here in China. As you prepare for this weekend, may your hearts be filled with true joy and peace!

Frozen Fruit Anyone?

As I am beginning to feel the fury of the Beijing winter (which is comparable to Nebraska, but without all of the snow that gets dumped on the American Midwest), I am still enjoying the fresh fruit (from various places in Asia) that is available in fruit shops, supermarkets, and a variety of other places here in Beijing. As you can see, I've stocked up for the coming week. And, yes, I will eat all of it, as fruit is a must in my daily diet. Among my favorite fruits more readily available here in Asia than in the States are the pomelo and the mysterious "fire dragon fruit." All of the fresh fruit you see here was, all together, under US$4; now that's a bargain!