Chinese boyfriend?

The first two weeks of school are breezing by... mostly because I have take a more "self-responsible" approach to the semester. If this is going to be my final semester here in China (for now :), I want to leave knowing I soaked it in to the fullest. I don't want to be a year or two from now complaining about not enjoying where the Father had me at the time. So, part of this is taking personal responsibility to saying "yes!" to everything I can! And the Father has NOT been stingy in providing more opportunities to say yes to in the past two weeks than all of last semester! Praises!

Last Saturday, I went shopping with five girls from my Thursday morning class. They were absolutely adorable and hysterical! All of them were very enthusiastic to be spending time with their "foreign teacher", and so they spoke in Chinglish with HUGE gestures to get their meaning across. I spent the majority of the time laughing with them at all of our cultural mishaps in communicating! They were delighted and surprised to find out that I had used the bus system in Changchun before and especially that I know how to use it! Throughout the afternoon, they continually shoved food in my face to eat... and at one point I ate octopus without even knowing it! BAH! I about gagged behind my fake smile as one of my students finally found the English word "octopus" to describe it. At another point in the afternoon, we were mindlessly strolling from one booth of merchandise to another when they stop at one selling backpacks. (sidenote: living in a foreign country, you get used to this "funny" look that comes over nationals' faces when they can't stop staring at you... it's this look that is intrigued, super smiley, and a bit unsure... you learn to just smile at them because they probably won't stop staring anytime soon) At this one booth of backpacks, the woman who owned it, stopped and gave me this "funny" look. I was like oh boy.... and she began speaking to my girls in Chinese. Of course, I would have to be completely oblivious to not realize I was the subject of their conversation. My girls, sweet as can be, began trying to translate. I however, being my second semester in China and all, found it pretty easy to understand what she was asking. She asked if I was their teacher, so I shocked the socks off my girls and answered yes to her in Chinese! WOOT WOOT! Point for Courtney! :) Haha... so then she begins telling me I'm pretty and yadda yaddda yadda.. I tuned out because she was going to fast. Unfortunately, she was being rather loud because the man who owned the booth next to her came out from his little hiding place and joined the conversation. My girls told me that the Chinese woman wanted to know if I had a Chinese boyfriend... I told her no, but then the MOST AWKWARD thing ever happened when the Chinese man told my little innocent baby girls that he wanted to be my "Chinese boyfriend". Okay, mind you, this man is probably in his thirties, super overweight and bald. At this, the girls told me what he said and they all were staring at me. At this point, the whole row of booth owners had come out to see this extremely loud conversation take place. Needless to say, I am as red as a tomato in the face-dying of embarrassment! Unsure what to say I just nervously laugh and smile like oh yeah sure buddy... but to my chagrin, it did not end there! He said a statement that I DID understand in Chinese which was "wo ai ni" (aka I love you!)... my embarrassment quickly accelerated to complete mortification in front of my students. I mean for pete's sake... my students are just freshman and I'm the first foreign teacher they have had! And this is their first encounter! Well, I quickly moved the girls on to another aisle...

The shopping trip was quite an adventure, and I'm sure I will have many more encounters of that magnitude! I mean I am an American living in China... sometimes living on the campus I can quickly forget that little fact because I am in this little bubble! But even the bubble I live and work in is penetrated with cultural barriers. For example, last semester we continually struggled with one of the departments we teach for because the faculty would often through responsibilities and duties our way at the last minute. Unfortunately, this has carried over to this semester as well. On thursday, I was made aware that I needed to give any "failed" students from last semester a make-up exam and score it by Monday. Well, the problem is, I had no idea who had failed nor how to get a hold of these students to schedule a make-up exam with one more day before the weekend and THEN get them turned in by Monday! However, my students somehow knew this and made it so much easier by pursuing me in taking their exam again. But then (dunh... dunhh... dunhh ) I am walking to class on Monday morning and I am bombarded by a group of students I have never seen before. Noticing my funny/questioning look, they tell me that I must give them a "make-up exam". (I had heard rumor this might be the case to cover the students of another foreign teacher who is no longer working here anymore) I couldn't believe they were telling me this the day of grades needing to be turned in! Good grief! Well... they made me late to class, and I had to make time to give them a make-up exam (one of which was completely different than the one I gave my students). Whew... it was a bit of a whirlwind earlier this week.

However, today, I had a pretty incredible conversation with one of my students who is a believer! We ate lunch together, and she surprised me by asking me many q's about my faith! I offered a thought to the Father before our food, and she asked what I said to Him during that time. I explained how I ask for my conversation to always be edifying to Him and I said that I asked for Him to bless her in her life and exams if she had any. She lit up at this and said "oh thank you, thank you, I like you very much, you are so kind". Then, she went on to ask when I accepted Him, so I gave a brief version of my testimony. She seemed to understand all I was saying. We talked about her faith, her relationship with classmates and about Chinese people and the Father. A tidbit of our convo:
Allison: "Chinese people, they will believe if they see miracles"
me: "Oh really? Have you seen any?"
Allison: Nodding emphatically, "oh yes yes. I have seen many"
me: a bit shocked and curious, "oh like what?"
Allison: "well, when I am sad or something happens, I offer up thoughts and then I am happy and He makes me happy. What about you, does He make you happy?" excuse me say what?! let's re-play this for a sec..... she has seen miracles... these miracles are Him making her happy in light of sadness.... oh my word! What a simple miracle that I too often overlook! Praise Him!! Good Word!
me: Absolutely floored by our convo: "yes yes! He makes me so happy as well!"

Our conversation carried on as we discussed growing and how the Father speaks to us! It was such a true blessing!! I am so to speak "floating on clouds" as I finish up the work day! Not to mention, I have a great weekend ahead of me full of good plans divinely provided by the Father!

Quick encouragement I read in my devo this morning that spoke directly to my heart:

"Save your best striving for seeking My Face. I am constantly communicating with you. To find Me and hear My Voice, you must seek Me above all else. Anything that you desire more than Me becomes an idol. When you are determined to get your own way, you blot Me out of your consciousness. Instead of single-mindedly pursuing some goal, talk with Me about it. Let the Light of My Presence shine on this pursuit, so that you can see it from My perspective. If the goal fits into My plans for you, I will help you reach it. If it is contrary to My will for you, I will gradually change the desire of your heart. Seek first Me and foremost; then the rest of your life will fall into place, piece by piece" -Jesus Calling

1 Chronicles 16:11
Matthew 6:33

Blessings upon Blessings!
C