Happy Lantern Festival!

Yesterday was the 15th day of the first month according to the Lunar Calendar. This means it was Lantern Festival Day. Each year, Chinese New Year celebration lasts 15 days; and on the last day, people celebrate with lantern parades. I've asked several people about the origin of Lantern Festival, and everyone seems to tell me a different meaning. So I looked it up online, only to find even more meanings. So, although I'm not sure what the true meaning is, some of the many different legends about Lantern festival can be read about on Wikipedia.

What I do know is how they celebrate: ornate lanterns and fireworks. Our very small town holds a really big festival and parade each year, and we went there last night to join in on the festivities. It is the Year of the Tiger, as you can see. There was also a variety of entertainment, including music and traditional dances.

And as I went to bed, "fire flowers" (as they are called in Chinese) filled the air as each family sets off fireworks in celebration. Although beautiful, they (like all fireworks set off in China) were actually to scare away any lurking evil spirits; and by the sounds of things, they must think there are quite a few out there.

Loving Today

When we first returned to our city, there was snow on the ground and it has been pretty cold ever since. Today, though, we awoke to 70 degree weather and enjoyed sharing a picnic (in February!) with friends. We are also VERY happy to see some of the shops and restaurants opening back up today, as students will start moving back next week. We are excited to reunite with some of our friends and get back into teaching soon!

Reflections

We've been back in China for quite a few days now. But our little university town is still very deserted, as all students are at home with their families. We are enjoying the quiet, though; and we hope to spend these days planning and preparing for their return.

We were very thankful to have the opportunity to get outside of China for two weeks to relax with friends in Malaysia and also visit Cambodia. It was very encouraging and refreshing to take this short break, as it has been every year at this holiday time.

In Cambodia, though, we were very moved by the people and their history. If you don't know much about the turmoil in that country over the past 30 years, I encourage you to look it up on the Internet or check out a book I've been reading called Killing Fields, Living Fields about a Christian worker there during the revolution. Although I loved visiting there, I have carried out a bit of their sadness with me. Land mine victims are everywhere, as well as the children orphaned by parents lost to landmines while working in the farms--not to mention the children working and begging, probably victims to child trafficking, which is far too common. And yet, the people are all-smiles.

Mr. Long was our tuk-tuk driver for the four days we were there. This is a man of about 35 years old who grew up as a rice farmer. A few years ago, he left his wife and young child behind to move to Siem Reap where he taught himself some basic English and bought a motor scooter to earn money to send his child to school. He now sees his family once a year, at most. And even harder to comprehend are some of the atrocities that he may well have witnessed and lived through as a child in the revolution and post-revolution famine. Even still, his kindness, sincerity, and hospitality are unmatched.

We can't seem to describe clearly the impressions Cambodia made on us, but we are so thankful that we were led there--if even for a short time--so that we can keep them in our thoughts. We are certain that our short visit will continue to impact our lives in many ways.

Cambodia

Enjoying Cambodia. It is much poorer than China and quite eye-opening in many ways; and yet, the people are so friendly and always smiling. The religion is strongly a Buddhism-Hinduism mix at 90%, 10% Muslim, less than 1% Christian.

We have visited the Angkor Wat complexes the past two days. They are ancient city ruins dating back to the year 900AD. Angkor Wat is providing the country with money via tourism, although the negative effects of tourism are also very evident here. All that remains mostly are the temple ruins because temples were made of stone, while homes (even palaces) were made of other materials. At its height, one city here (Angkor Thom) had a population 1 million people. (At that same time in history, the population of London was about 50,000!) I think we have most enjoyed riding around the country-side, though--out of the touristy spots a bit.

At Angkor Wat



Black Market Gasoline