Anything is possibleeeee!

Finally got VPN to work thanks to my coworker setting it up for me - which means I can now freely access facebook, youtube, twitter, blogger, and news about Tibet. I've started doing some video-blogging and will post those shortly. Now that I am in China, it still hasn't hit me that I left my family/friends, puppy, a good-paying job, a new home, my car, and all my gadgets in a land about 10,000miles away. I guess it just means I was meant to be here.

Alot of you are asking, so how's work or what are you doing now? It's kind of hard to answer this question since I'm not technically "working." In fact, I wake up every morning not knowing what I'll be doing for the rest of the day. In a way, my aunt is 'apprentice'-ing me and showing me the market in China. After I've adjusted and improved my language and knowledge, I will then decide which field I want to get into and eventually start a business from that. It's very broad and general right now since I have not really narrowed my scope. Doing anything is possible. So this means if you guys have good business ideas and want a partner in China, I'm your go-to guy! As I learn more about China, I will post my findings here on this blog. From I've seen so far, I truly feel like a veil has been lifted from me, and now I see the world as it is. When living in America, you really don't realize what's going on in the rest of the world. In addition, you only view the world from the American perspective. This wouldn't be such a bad thing except Americans make up roughly 5% of the world population. The rest of the 95% you never get to see and experience. I'm hoping that in my days to come I will begin to view the world as JC does and to truly mourn for the lost and the wicked. And from that, to view the hope that I have in a new way.

My WIM (what I miss) of the day: NBA playoffs.

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Top 10 Things I'll Miss About USA

1-10. Friends and family.

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Journey To The West

On the eve of my departure to China, I still haven't felt it "hit me" yet. I'm not quite sure when that will happen or ever. Regardless, I felt it necessary to blog these last few hours before my flight. My last few days have been a buying frenzy...
Before you think I'm going to China to become a flipper, know that these are gifts. I have a limit of 2 50lb bags on my flight. About 75/100lbs will be these gifts (and many others not pictured) for my family. Gifting is a big deal in China. Not necessarily the gifts themselves but the timing and thought of the gift is very important. As I embark on my own "journey to the west", there will be many tough times ahead, and my family there will be the ones who will be there physically for me. These gifts aren't meant to be something that they owe me but that I recognize the importance of them in my life and my journey ahead.

I also want to invite you guys to journey with me. If you're reading this blog, there's most likely some kind of friendship between us (or I just called you out, then sorry). I hope to be updating this blog frequently of my travels and experiences in the Orient. Feel free to leave comments, messages, or emails; and let me know if there are ways I can be praying for you. For now, Emmanuel!

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Day 1 - Going Vegetarian

Cucumber salad for breakfast. Going on a month long vegetarian diet with Hao. Apparently, it's more "healthier" says the doc.

This whole vegan diet talk began when I made Hao and Xiao watch The Cove (Oscar winner for sure) with me. It's basically a documentary about the lucrative dolphin capturing and killing business going on in a small town in Japan. About 23,000 dolphins are captured each year to be sold to Sea Worlds and aquariums. The dolphins that don't get selected and bought are slaughtered for their meat. The meat is then disguised as high quality whale meat and sold at markets in Japan. This wouldn't be much of a problem except dolphin meat often contains high level of mercury; and mercury is poisonous, and the Japanese government has allowed all this to happen. The fishermen explain that they need to slaughter these dolphins because they are eating up all the fish and world's fish population is decreasing at a drastic rate. At this rate, it's estimated that the fish market will crash in 40 years due to lack of supply. To make a long story short, I told Hao I would do my part and eat less seafood. Being the discordant guy that he is, Hao says why don't you also eat less meat and help the bovine population.

Foolish or not, I'm hoping this vegan diet will at least help me see just how hard it is to be vegan in this meat-infested world.

Deborah C: and vegetable protein isnt that good
Deborah C: high cholesterol
Deborah C: and youll get manboobs
Deborah C: from tofu
Deborah C: i read it in menshealth

A good article about the decline of fish in the world.

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A New Year, A New You

2010. (Wasn't there a movie made years ago named that?) Y2K really didn't seem that long ago. But what a decade it has been. And being the reminiscent person that I am, here's my Top 10 list for the past decade.

10. 2001 - Junior year HS. Probably my lowest of lows.
9. 2000 - Mom became deathly ill.
8. 2006 - Struggled with major. Dealt with family illnesses.
7. 2008 - College -> Real Life transition.
6.2003 - Graduated from High school.
5. 2007 - Graduated from College. Found a job.
4. 2005 - Formed lifelong relationships with my class.
3. 2004 - Fell in love with China and Missions.
2. 2009 - Bought a house. Relive missed moments with parents.
1. 2002 - Accepted Christ. Became a JPG. Found lifetime friends.

Bring it on OH TEN!

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