DREAM FAR

Final days

2009-06-29T15:01:00.001+08:00

My bags are packed, my classes are finished, my apartment is clean. Okay, my apartment isn't clean. But things are wrapping up here in China. I have officially been here for 334 days. I leave for home in 30 days. Surreal, to say the least.

On Wednesday I begin my final adventure wherein I will:

Visit the city furthest from any ocean in the world (Urumqi, china)
Ride a camel through a sand shifting desert (takla makan desert)
Sleep in a yurt
See Kashgar before it is leveled by the Chinese government
Take the highest train in the world (Qinghai to Lhasa. Highest point: 15,685 ft)
See the Potala Palace in all its glory
Sleep in a Buddhist monastery at the base of Mt. Everest
(maybe) Jump off the 2nd highest bungee in the world (if I have the guts)
Go canyoning on the Nepal border
Explore Kathmandu
And hopefully ride an elephant

Then back to Changsha where I hop on a plane back home! I'll be back in Utah on August 1st. We should have a party!

Also,

Dana's fundraiser was a total success! So many people came to support her and, thanks to you, she sold THREE TIMES the amount she sold last year. Needless to say she's so happy. Thank you for giving whatever you could. It really does make a difference. :)

See you soon!

Big things are happening!

2009-06-11T14:23:00.004+08:00

I've got so much news to share with you, my readers! So many big things have been happening around here. I'll keep sharing as time goes by. But first! My favorite piece of news:

My Chinese teacher and good friend, Dana, is having her first solo show tomorrow night. There aren't words to describe how incredible Dana is and what a gift it has been to have her in my life. She's a photographer and every year she puts together an exhibition fundraiser to support a minority village in the Yunnan province. Each year she goes to visit the village and sponsors the children of the village to go to school. To put things in perspective: these families make 500 RMB a year. That's $74 dollars. It only costs $15 to send a child to school for an entire year, but these families can not afford it. So the children go uneducated, and often have to go to the city to work to support the family. (This is where child labor comes in.) Dana also gives 200 RMB ($28) to each family so they can afford food, and other basic needs throughout the year. This is Dana's third year donating her time, talents, energy, and money to making a difference for these villagers. The photos above are of her and some of the children and villagers.

She's selling her photographs this weekend for $50 a print. Essentially, buying that will pay for 2 children to go to school and put food on a family's table for an entire year. Plus, they are absolutely beautiful photographs! I know times are tough everywhere, but if you have the means, and would like to purchase a print to support the village you have your choice of these:

Third Eye Photography Exhibition Photos

If you'd like to see more of Dana's photos and pictures of the villagers she supports, check out her flickr page:

Danahh Flickr

Email me (mariaydavis(at)gmail.com), or comment on this post and I'll send you information on how to donate money.

Thank you! I'll let you know how it goes this weekend!

Lately:

2009-05-14T16:51:00.005+08:00

I wrote, directed, and am starring in my school's rendition of Sleeping Beauty. These are two fairies Selena and Angela perfecting the final act: a waltz.

I've had a cold lately so I decided to heal my symptoms the Chinese way: acupuncture! I wasn't expecting to have needles in my FACE but it cleared up my stuffy nose instantly.

They extended our lunch by a half hour, so now we have 2.5 hours to sit and hang out together, trying to find any relief from the sun. I've been having lots of moments like this lately. I'm really going to miss my students.

Happy Mothers Day!

2009-05-11T02:04:00.002+08:00

Happy Mothers Day to my moms: Viona, Theresa, and Kara. I am who I am because of you. Thanks for being you and for loving me.
I love you!

My trip to Yunnan:

2009-05-02T20:34:00.004+08:00

Hello out there! Life has been very full lately but I couldnt go another day without sharing some photos of my trip to China's Yunnan province last week. I visited Shilin rock forest outside of Kunming, Tiger Leaping Gorge, and Shangrila. It was my favorite place in China thus far. Enjoy the photos!

*update* I can't seem to get the photos any bigger than this, so if you'd like to see the album click here!

My favorite Chinglish from this week:

2009-04-04T23:41:00.004+08:00

You know what they say...no paint, no gains.

Student: I think we should do a play about the famous piano player. Shopping.
Me: He played the piano shopping? Like, at the mall? I have no idea what that means. Is he Chinese?
Student: NO! He is an old man. You can see a movie about him. He played the piano. Shopping!
Me: ...
Student: ...
Me: Chopin?
Student: YES! Shopping!

A snapshot from my perfect Sunday afternoon:

2009-03-24T12:41:00.002+08:00

I discovered this pagoda at Martyr's Park near my home. For 5 RMB ($0.75 USD) a woman will bring you loose leaf tea and an endless supply of hot water. I sat for hours people watching and drinking tea. This place is awesome.

The best advice I was ever given:

2009-03-15T23:23:00.002+08:00

Hunting: opportunity

2009-03-06T16:41:00.007+08:00

China is full of poems and proverbs. Everywhere I go I see poetry, from a mistranslated T-shirt, to the slogan of a store, to my students trying to explain something in English. About a month into being here I started to play a game where I would send a question out into the universe and then trust the answer would be somewhere in the found poetry. For example, the week before I started teaching I asked "How am I going to handle teaching 700 students?" Within 15 minutes a teenager walked by with a shirt that said "COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE." Isn't that great? These kinds of "coincidences" happen to me all the time. Some answers are more obscure however. Lately I've been pondering whats next for me after my teaching contract is over. Do I return back to Utah to live and work? Do I find another position overseas? Volunteer with the Peace Corps? Teach/do photography? Pursue a masters degree? Sail around the world?
When I walked into class today, my students had this story written on the board (the English isn't perfect, give em a break):

A hunter, not very bold, was searching for the tracks of a lion. He asked a man felling oaks in the forest if he had seen any marks of his footsteps or know where his lair was. “I will,” said the man, “at once show you the Lion himself.” The Hunter, turning very pale, and chattering his teeth from fear replied, “No thank you. I did not ask that. It is his tracks I am in search of, not the Lion himself."

What do you think it means?

I think this happens to all of us. We're on the trail, hunting for opportunity or happiness or love. We get content with the search, with "something missing." But when what we're searching for presents itself, we get scared, we back down. We say no to the one thing we've been searching for! I believe what we fear the most, is the thing that we most want. If you're going to call yourself a hunter, you better be ready to face the Lion! This doesn't mean you won't be afraid. It just means that even if your teeth are chattering and you're trembling in your boots, you'll still face that Lion heads on. Say yes! The worst thing that will happen is you may finally get what you've always been searching for.

How does this apply to my search for whats next? I'm not quite sure. All I can guarantee is I won't let fear dictate my path.

I challenge you to do the same. :)

My brilliant students:

2009-02-26T23:11:00.002+08:00

This week rocked me. I feel like I'm in one of those movies where there is some tragic accident where everyone dies except for the lead character. He wakes from unconsciousness, looks around him, notices his bruises and cuts, and can't really remember what happened. That was how this week left me. Last night I was dreaming I was trying to jump on a trampoline after taking horse tranquilizers. That is the perfect visualization for the exhaustion I've been experiencing. Can you imagine?
Despite the overwhelm, I had an amazing lesson this week. My students really came up with some brilliant, creative and hilarious things to discuss. This week in class I asked: Is love more important than money? Some memorable quotes:

"My parents give me all the love I need, but I have no money. So to me, money is more important."
"Yes. I believe love is priceless."
"I think if I have love, money is more important, if I have money, love is more important."
"Yes. I think love is like water to a flower. Without it we can not grow. If we do not grow, life is boring."

And my favorite moment was when I asked: Are boys better than girls? Every girl said NO! Every boy said YES! Until I asked a very shy boy in the front, who has never spoken in my class. He stood and proudly said:

"No. I think boys and girls are equal. Lewis thinks boys are more important. To him I would like to say something, ok? (turns to Lewis and points) YOU. ARE. FULL. OF. S---!! Boys are not better than girls, girls are not better than boys. And we need each other."

Now I normally don't encouraging swearing in class, but man was I proud in that moment. I leaned in and told him that someday he will make a girl very happy. He groaned, blushed and covered his head on his desk, totally embarrassed. I love my students.

Well now that the week is finally over, I'm off to Hengshan, a famous mountain in South Hunan for a WorldTeach get together. All 50 of us are meeting for a conference and partying. I can't wait. Rumor has it there will be snow!

Oh one last thing. I was speaking with my work colleague who said to me, "Maria? I think maybe you are not sleeping? You have the eyes of a panda!" I explained to her I haven't been able to sleep because I stay awake thinking thinking thinking and that I'm worried about what to do once my teaching contract is over. She perked up, smiled and said, "You know...It is said, All roads lead to Rome! No need to worry!"

This place is so cute.

Cambodia

2009-02-23T22:20:00.002+08:00

A small sampling of photos from Cambodia are now up on my flickr page. Click here to see them!

Me shooting an AK47:

2009-02-17T15:30:00.002+08:00

Im not usually one for guns, but I figured it might be my only chance to shoot an AK47 so why not? There's not much to the video...I bought 10 bullets, Tara found me and recorded this video before I shot the last one. Enjoy. :)

5 down, 21 to go

2009-02-12T10:32:00.013+08:00

On my adventures through SE Asia and China last month I completed 5 things on my 2009 list:

#19. Watch the sunrise (at Angkor Wat).

#12. Light a wish lantern (they float into the sky like hot air balloons).

#23. Learn how to make Chinese dumplings.

#22. Learn to surf.

And #20 ride a motorbike taxi.
I took one from the airport in Cambodia, luggage and everything! I did not take a photo (it was dangerous enough as it is!), but I enjoyed it so much I just may be doing it again. I'll keep you updated as I continue to complete my list!

I got back to Changsha on Wednesday, put my bags down, took a shower, and then went to teach my first class. I was on the road for 42 days total and could have kept going. I love exploring and experiencing new places, discovering new worlds. There are so many stories to tell: train rides, underground tunnels, shooting ranges, little girls on scooters, dogs dyed yellow, a deck to watch the sunset, moldy hotels, massages by blind men, two sunsets and a sunrise at the most beautiful temple ruins in the world (Angkor Wat), new friends that feel like old ones, slow boat rides down the mekong river, meeting my mom in Hong Kong, meeting Mike in Beijing, hiking the Great Wall, surfing in Hainan, a stolen bag with our passports in it, the overwhelming generosity of strangers...
I'm hoping to have the thousands of photos whittled down and uploaded by the time the weekend is over. They'll help tell the stories. Have a Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Chinese New Year!!

2009-01-26T00:42:00.001+08:00

Just a quick note to let you all know I'm still alive! My mom and I are currently (freezing) in Beijing falling asleep to the endless sound of fireworks. Happy Chinese New Year to you all! May the Year of the Ox be your best year yet. I have a good feeling about this one. :)
My South East Asia trip was incredible, to say the least. Photos and details to come!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T00:00:00.001+08:00

A couple years ago I decided to forfeit New Years Resolutions because it had me dwelling on "whats wrong" with me and I needed to "fix." Which only left me depressed and was not in the least inspiring! Since my birthday is a few days after New Years I get to start each year fresh, a new year, a new age. My new version of "resolutions" is a list of things to do that year. The only rule is that they must be things that inspire me. I haven't finished my list yet, but here's the beginning:

26 Things to do in my 26th year:
1. Ride an elephant
2. Ride a camel
3. Sleep in a yurt
4. Dance above 14,000 feet
5. Make a masterpiece
6. Sing karaoke (or as they call it here: KTV)
7. Star in a movie/TV show/Youtube clip :)
8. Grow something from a seed
9. Run 5k
10. Skinny dip
11. Sail somewhere...anywhere!
12. Light a wish lantern
13. Get 7 new countries stamped in my passport
14. Exhibit photos in China
15. Write a poem in Chinese
16. Learn how to cook a mean Indian curry
17. Meet someone famous/someone I admire
18. Learn how to perform a traditional Chinese tea ceremony
19. Watch the sunrise

Seven more to go. I wish I had my journal from last year with me so I could see if I completed my list of 25!
Some of my other New Years traditions include a "completion" exercise where I take time to acknowledge the year for what it was and what it wasn't and then declare it complete so I can welcome the New Year with a clean slate. And my personal favorite tradition: writing my own personal horoscope for the year. I haven't done either of these things because tomorrow I leave for my 37 day trek across South East Asia and China! I begin my adventure with two weeks in Vietnam, followed by 4 days in Cambodia to see Angkor Wat, a stop over in Bangkok, and then I am meeting my mom in Hong Kong! We'll see HK, Changsha (my home) and make it up to Beijing for the Chinese New Year. And THEN Mike is coming to meet us in Beijing! I am so excited I can't stop moving. I will have no phone or internet while I'm gone, so posts will be few and far between when I can find time to stop into an internet cafe. Wish me luck!
I haven't mentioned this yet, but the title of this blog, "Dream Far" is the English translation of my Chinese name: Meng Yao. Isn't that perfect?
Happy New Years to you all. May 2009 be a year of endless possibility, abundant love, and dreams come true.
Dream far!

*update* here is the completed list:

20. Ride a motorbike taxi.
21. Fall in love.
22. Learn to surf.
23. Learn how to make Chinese dumplings.
24. Revolutionize my handwriting.
25. Go out dancing in New York City.
26. Go home, wherever that is.

"Because of you"

2008-12-30T23:40:00.002+08:00

I have two students who are best friends and who are totally in love with me. Every day they come knock on my door and when I answer they have nothing to say, they just kind of stare wide-eyed and start laughing. This Christmas they wrote a song and lyrics for me and performed it in my living room as sort of an R&B duet. Here are the lyrics:

Because of you by Jaylo and Steven

Sorry, I cannot forget you. I really miss you.
When the first time I see you.
Baby. Do you notice me. Staying behind you.
I couldnt stop miss you.
Snowing carry heart.
Since I will love you.
Please believe you. I will stay behind you.
Because of you love.
Because of you smile.
Because of I really fall in love in you.
I wanna say thanks to you.
I wanna be love with you.
I will let you know.
Because of you eye.
Because of you heart
Because I take you hand out of my car.
Since the first night
Since the first night
I will take care of you forever.

And I have it all on video. :)

A Christmas photo from China:

2008-12-25T23:57:00.004+08:00

In what may go down as the must surreal Christmas of my life, I dressed up as "Blair" the sexy "cat-witch" from the Japanese manga Soul Eater and did a performance with my school's Cosplay club for a crowd of about 1500.

My life is awesome.

God bless us every one!

2008-12-24T20:35:00.009+08:00

Merry Christmas from China! This is what greeted me as I entered the school today. I was rushing, running through my lesson plan in my head, and he made me stop in my tracks and laugh out loud. Things like this are what I love about China.

This week I taught my students how to make caramel popcorn in class. They'd never tried it before! I bribed them into sending you a Christmas message before they got to eat. This is class KO84, arguably my worst class ever...but for treats they'll do anything! :)

I'd be lying if I said I'm not missing home. This is my first Christmas away from my family and I miss you all dearly. Its not the same without you. But as my student poetically told me, your family always lives in your heart. Thank you for the gifts and the emails and the messages of love. I can feel your love 7000 miles away. You'll be in my heart this Christmas, as always.

Peace, love, and joy.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-21T00:52:00.002+08:00

Hey there...if you're a subscriber to my feed I apologize for that last post. It was a creative writing exercise not meant to be posted to my blog.
Merry christmas!

Hainan

2008-12-10T21:51:00.003+08:00

Hainan was awesome. I flew solo and didn't take many photos because I was too busy soaking in the sunshine and making new friends. The first photo is me at "The End of the Earth" (the symbol means "love") and the second photo is me fishing in the South China Sea. Now that I'm back in the real world, my brain is occupied with how I am supposed to interview all of my students by the end of next week...so an excerpt from my journal, where I was describing the scene:

The amateurs are wearing matching Hawaiian print outfits: shirts, shorts, beach hat. It is so cute. They gleefully race towards the water and strike creative poses for the camera. Wife! Take a picture of me trying to do handstand! Now, pretending to drown! Look at meeee! Anything goes. They haven't forgotten how to play. There is absolutely no limit to their self-expression. A 50-something year old digs a hole and triumphantly sits in it. The old ladies dance like little girls, screaming when the waves hit their calves, holding hands. Foreigners are easy to spot, they are either too fat, too hairy, or too "cool." The Chinese people bring grocery bags to the water to wrap their feet in after they've washed them clean. Ingenious! The grandma/mom/toddler I've been watching trek back to their towel to suck on a straw that is stuck inside a watermelon. Strangers sit next to each other and laugh together. Hugging each others children.

I think I'm falling in love with China.

Thanksgiving

2008-12-03T00:37:00.003+08:00

Photo: Taryn Campbell

Above pictured: Thanksgiving 2!
I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss my family but I had such a great time with my new friends. It was loud and crowded and we played games til we were too tired to play anymore...just like home! If Christmas is anything like Thanksgiving, it will be a great holiday season.
I'm headed to Hainan for a long 5 day weekend...the ocean was calling my name!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T10:27:00.000+08:00

To those who have made me (of which there are too many to number):

With all my heart, thank you.

I am who I am and I am where I am because you love and support me. Thank you for believing in me! I miss you all so dearly this holiday season. Namaste (I honor that divinity within you that is also within me) and Happy Thanksgiving.

...The above photo is my family in Utah who call me Sunday nights and we webcam...isn't it a great family photo? I am the luckiest girl in China.

Life in Changsha

2008-11-25T21:55:00.003+08:00

Follow this link to see a growing collection of photos I've taken here in Changsha. Oh what a beautiful life it is.

Follow your dreams

2008-11-24T10:27:00.005+08:00

This week I fell in love with teaching.
I've always really looked forward to it, but this week something shifted. I did a lesson on "Problems and Advice" and as part of the lesson I had them write down one problem and put it in my basket. I intended on playing a game with the problems, because I was assuming they'd write silly and fun things down. But these students! They really gave me their biggest problem on paper. I had some really heartbreaking ones ("I need happy.") and some really hilarious ones ("I am too young to build a boat.") but each one was a little window into my students soul. They cracked my heart wide open. And that was when I realized I really am making a difference with these kids.

From class:

"Good advice! What are some examples of good advice? Like, Never Give up!, Believe in Yourself, what else? No pain no gain? Good! What else? Don't worry be happy...great! I'll tell you my favorite:
(very big on chalkboard)
FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS
Maria, what is your dream??
This! Being here with you is my dream. Can you believe it?"
(big smiles all around)

(except for those boys in the back who were throwing paper at each other) :)

Snapshots from my daily life:

2008-11-19T16:28:00.007+08:00

My seniors practicing before they took on the juniors. Tie game! The red building in the background is where I live.

The one on the left is one of my "cool" students. He smiled and hid his face after I took this.

One of the many strangers who now has my photo. I'm like a celebrity!

Little girl who lives in my alley. She reminds me of Sophie. Love those shoes.

Scooters outside my school gate, and a glimpse of my alley.

Martyr's Park, the biggest park in Changsha.

Impressive street performer. Soon after he proceeded to juggle on one foot.

Took my camera out with my last Friday afternoon/evening. This is what my "daily" life looks like (minus classroom photos, I really need to get some of those).