KC Blog: Grading and power stretching

GRADING

I really didn’t want to grade. I felt so embarrassed to go in front of the whole school and do my basics and my TomBay form. Grading was supposed to be on Monday, but for some reason they switched it to Tuesday. During morning class the people who were going to grade practiced their forms while the rest of the class did acrobatics. I didn’t mind because I am so bad at acrobatics.

The lazy kid wanted to grade but he doesn’t even know how to do the kicks correctly or the 5 step correctly. Sheifu would not let him grade.

Right before grading started Sara, the translator, told me the grading order. All of wing chun would go first, then mantis, then shaolin. I would got right after Xavier who is in my class. I was soooooo nervous. My heart was beating and I did NOT want to grade. I knew I would look so silly. When it was my turn I walked in front of the sheifus and the school. I tried so hard not to smile because grading is a serious thing. Half way through my shaolin basics I got really tired. We have to do like 6 different kicks, the 5 step, and floor sweeps. I tried not to breath so hard, I felt like the sheifus could hear me breathing and I started to become really aware of my breath. After I finished my basics I had to go back out to do my TomBay. I messed up one step right at the end, but when I finished and bowed to the sheifus, Rong Sheifu smiled at me.

I’m really glad graded. The masters take pride in their students and I could tell my sheifu was proud of me. He told me I did really well.

Second class was power stretching. MY FAVORITE! Since it was my last one I asked sheifu to help me do most of my stretches. He was pretty hard on me today, he pushed me waaaaay past my limit. But I love it. It makes me feel like he cares and thinks I can do better. Our power stretching is different than Wing Chung. We dedicate a whole class period to just stretching. Wing Chung has power stretching and power training the same day. 

I will really miss my sheifu. We leave tomorrow…. So sad. I can’t believe it.

Xoxo,

Kc

                                         We have to hold the splits for 6 minutes

November 2011

Kc blog: I got to Spar!

Last Week In Kunyu Shan

This past week I have just been training. Scott wanted me to spar so I practiced at night with Anton and a few guys. I really want to learn the shaolin whip so I have been working hard on finishing my Tombay fist form.

Sparring was intense. I was so nervous; I have never fought before in my whole life! I don’t know how to punch someone! The night before sparring I went down to the training hall with Scott, Brittany and Amitai. I got in the ring with Scott and lightly sparred so I get the hang of it. I thought it was going to be light sparring but Scott punched me in the nose once and in the face twice. It was a little discouraging, so after our spar I went up and got a pep talk from Sam. I felt better after the talk. The day of the fight I was kinda scared what if I disappoint my sheifu? My fight was last, I fought Diane. She is Chinese American, a little taller than me and in a different shaolin group.

We got in the ring and I don’t really know what happened after that. In the video I hear people yelling things at us, but while I was in the ring I didn’t hear anything. I got a couple good shots in but she kept push kicking me. Every time I’d hit her in the face I’d feel bad and ask if she as ok. In the second round   I made her mouth bleed and I felt sooooo bad. My sheifu was impressed with me. I wasn’t very good because it was my first fight, but I wasn’t horrible either.

On Monday I started learning the Whip. Oh man this weapon is dangerous! I hurt myself so many times. I whipped myself in the back, hit my sheifu in the head, hit my arms… but I eventually got the hang of it. It took me two days to get the “flower”. I didn’t finish the form, but sheifu said I should keep practicing the flower and when I go back I will finish the form.

Friday was our last Shabbat in Kunyushan before we leave. Brittany went to dinner with her mantis group so Sam, Scott, Amitai and I went down the street for dinner. It was fun and we had good food. Saturday and Sunday Scott Brittany Amitai and I went to Yantai. We had our last round of shopping and Scott finished his tattoo Sunday. Brittany leaves the same day as Scott and me. It hasn’t sunk in that we are leaving yet… so weird.

Grading is on Monday and I want to grade because I didn’t grade last time. I could tell my sheifu was a little disappointed when I did grade before, so this time I want to do well so he’s proud. I’m so nervous to grade on front of all the sheifus and the whole school. Grading was changed from Monday to Tuesday. Monday night Brittany and I practiced our forms for grading. She videotaped me so I could watch it and see where I need to improve. I HATE watching myself, I get so embarrassed. After we practiced we went down the street again to have dinner. Same group as Friday, except Brittany joined us this time. Scott and Sam shared their roommate stories… a whole year together… so sad it’s going to end. Sam said that he feels like his time at the Shan should be ending with Scott because they arrived almost at the same time and planned to stay one year.

I’ll tell you about grading later.

Xoxo, Kc

Kc Blog: TRICK OR TREAT!

Trick or Treat!

Today is Halloween. A few people went out this weekend to party, but most people don’t know about Halloween or forgot about it. It’s really hard to keep track of the days here at the Shan. I almost forgot it was Halloween today. When I first arrived I brought Halloween decorations from the States and put them up on my door. Everyone was shocked by my decorations, but I think people mostly liked it. When I first put up the decorations Master Guo came to my room for room inspection and laughed at my decorations.

Tonight around 8:30 I went around the Shan knocking on people’s doors saying “trick-or-treat”. I started with Scott and Brittany; she gave me two Chinese cookies. I then went to Amitai’s room and trick or treated at his door. He didn’t have anything to give me so he told me to play a trick on him. I didn’t know what to do so I made him eat the cookies… they weren’t very good so I guess that was kinda like a trick.  I then went to his neighbor’s room they are from India. It’s so funny to see people scrounging around with a little bit of panic in their face while they are looking for things to give me. I told them I wanted something from India when they offered me a Chinese snicker’s bar. They had cookies from India that I tried which were very good. Before I left they told me I had to give them treats. I went to my room and got Hershey’s kisses, peanut butter cups and a few red licorices. They loved the chocolate. Amitai said we should go door to door and trick or treat. I grabbed more licorice and knocked on some doors. Instead of asking them for candy I said “trick or treat” and when they answered I gave them licorice. Backwards I know, but it was fun. Two people gave me treats, David gave me an apple and Kyle gave me a mini mandarin orange. I think people liked the treats. I didn’t knock on everyone’s door because most people sleep around 8pm.  I knocked on my neighbor’s door and they were both in bed. When I told them I had candy for them Forest shot up in his bed with excitement, it was so funny.

It was a fun Halloween. I didn’t wear a costume, I should have put on a mask or something, but I was in my kung fu pants so I was kinda in a costume.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Xoxo,

Kc

Photos have been added

pictures have been added to past blogs. Enjoy!!


Here are some random photos. 

Muping street market

fruit stands down the street sell these delicious things!

Shaolin Qi Gong spot

Yantai

Jenny-Rong Sheifu- Kc 

Sheifu's birthday dinner

Yantai

KC blog: Travel tips

Here is Kc's travel tip blog!

Colder Weather Makes it Hard to Train

It is so different training when it’s cold out. You can tell the moral drops a little. I don’t even want to train some mornings. It’s cold, windy, makes you want to stay in bed all day. Lucky for me I don’t get up at 5:45 am to go to tai chi, so I can’t really complain.

It’s apple and grape season here in Kunyushan so we get really yummy fruit. For the grapes we go into the vineyard, knock on the door of this shack and the guy comes out and cuts the grapes straight off of the vines. Best grapes I have ever had! The apples are really nice as well. I had these two guys from India taste apples and honey and I think they liked it quite a bit.

I am taking an online class while I am here and so I wake up early to finish my homework or at least start it and at lunch I finish it and turn it in. When I wake up it’s about 4pm back home and at lunch it’s about 9pm so I am able to get my homework in on time.

Training has been good, I finished my TomBay form (I don’t know if that’s how it’s spelled, but that’s how it sounds).

There is a new kid in my class that is sooooo lazy! Sheifu beats him every day. The other day Sheifu was so mad at the kid he hit him with the stick and the stick broke! I think the kid deserves it. He’s so lazy, thinks everything is a joke, and can just tell he doesn’t want to be here. He came with his dad, and his dad even tells people, if he’s bad just hit him and put him in his place. The kid is a punk BUT…. I can say, he is getting a little bit better…. Just a tiny bit.

Stance Training- can you tell who the new kid is??

This weekend I went to Yantai with Scott, Sam, Brittany and Dan. We went to the aquarium, shopped around a bit and had dinner at the duck place. I am going to be learning the bull whip so I had to buy my weapon on Saturday. Sinday scott Brittany and I went to muping. Scott had his last lesson and Brittany and I shopped around again. We had lunch with jenny and Lieu Bing at Hot Pot. It’s similar to fondue. I tried jellied duck blood…. I don’t know what it tasted like because I just tried to chew really fast and swallow. I chased it down with pear juice, I can say though, that it was not my most favorite thing I’ve had in china thus far. 

Hot Pot lunch 

Before I go to bed I will give you a few travel tips.

China travel tips by Kc:

1)      Remember where the “good” bathrooms are when you go out. In Muping there are no bathrooms unless you want to use the scary one in JAJAYU (grocery store) or unless you go to a restaurant. In Yantai we usually go to McDonalds, KFC, or another restaurant to use the bathroom. And by good bathroom I mean a bathroom that doesn’t smell too bad and one that doesn’t have too much “water” around the toilets.

2)      Don’t wear belts when you go out into town. When you do use the bathroom you want to make sure you are in there as short amount of time as possible so do not wear a belt. Belts take too long to take off and put back on. I don’t know about you but I can’t hold my breath that long.

3)      Make sure you have toilet paper in your pocket. Most bathrooms do not have toilet paper so you have to bring your own. If you do not have TP you are SOL. Also, it’s a good idea to keep it in your pocket so you don’t have to rummage through your bag in the stall. The stalls are small and yucky, it would be horrible if you dropped something on the floor or fell into the toilet thing while squatting and looking for TP in your bag.

4)      Wear closed toed shoes. The streets are dirty, but this tip is yet again for the bathrooms. (can you tell I hate the bathrooms here?) There is some kind of watery stuff around every toilet in China. I don’t know if it’s because you have to squat over these toilets or some other reason, but I doubt the liquid is 100% toilet water… some people just can’t aim.

That’s all for now. I’ll give you more tips next time.

Xoxo,

Kc

this is a "nice" toilet. they usually are just set right into the ground

Aquarium in Yantai

New Post!

Hey guys, 

Sorry it has been awhile since i posted. I am now back in the US, so i can update my blog and add pictures! 

Oct 15th

A few weeks ago I had a discussion with Master Guo about becoming his disciple. After he took some time to think about it he told me he would accept me as his disciple and that there would be a ceremony. He told me once I become a disciple I would he held more responsible for my actions, be trained more strictly, and a couple other stuff but only disciples get to know. Liu Bin, Little Fat, and another young boy, and I are Master Guo's disciples.

A week before my disciple ceremony Master Guo began training me a bit more strictly. During Qigong he would make me hold my stance lower and arms higher, when we did stance training he would hit me if I was too high or jump on my leg if it wasn’t straight, and power stretching was the worse...he sat on me during side splits for at least two minutes!  If this was training before I became a disciple...I can’t wait till I become one and be trained even harder.

To get ready for the ceremony, some preparations were made thanks to Master Guo and his wife. Liu Bin told me how I am supposed to give tea, gifts, and what to say. The next thing I know the ceremony is in a day! All last week I have been running around for this ceremony I didn’t even realize how fast time flew by.

About 22 people where at my ceremony. All the Masters from school went, a few friends from my class went, Master Guo's wife brought his baby son, about 5 government officials went, and friends of Master Guo and the Head master. Before the ceremony started I was pretty nervous. I was nervous because I did not want to mess up sometime in the ceremony and embarrass Master Guo in front of everyone! Liu Bin saw that I was nervous so he told me to relax and not to worry. I sat with Liu Bin and little Fat while we waited for the ceremony to start. Jenny the translator from school went to translate what they say in Chinese into English for me to understand. When the ceremony started, the Head master said a few words welcoming everyone and then Master Guo told me the history of his martial art background. After that it was my turn to present him his gifts and tea, as well as my Shimu (Master Guo's wife). Then Master Guo gave me a pair of WingChun swords as a gift for me to stay dedicated to my training. Then I said thank you to the guests and a special thanks to the head master. I said, "Thank you for opening up a great school for me to have the opportunity to train in China and have the chance to meet Master Guo. I wish you a prosperous business in the future and a healthy life." Then I gave him his gift. After the ceremony we had a huge dinner. We had crab, duck, a bunch of "meat" dishes I had no idea what they were but it was good. Kc and I sat with Master Guo, the head master and the government officials. The other masters and my classmates were at the other table. At my table the Government officials kept toasting celebrating Master Guo, then again to the head master, and even sometimes for me to have such a "Super" Master. The government officials were drinking some heavy alcohol but Master Guo, his wife, head master, me and Kc were the only ones toasting with tea. So towards the end the toasts didn’t even make sense but they were nice guys and funny so Kc and I just smiled and nod.

Once we all finished eating I said a toast saying that this is an honor to be able to become a disciple of Master Guo and that I will never forget this celebration. Then I thanked them all again for coming, shook the government officials hands and then went to say thank you to the other masters. I thanked them all for coming and hope they enjoyed the gifts I gave them for the celebration. They all seemed happy and then Master Xiang said that I am a good student who trains hard. Master Qu also said he knows I will be a good disciple for Master Guo. Master Shao said I am a perfect student in his eyes and then said Cheers and we all toasted again. Then I said, "See you all Monday!" They laughed and the students left with Jenny. Master Guo walked us out and told me and Liu Bin next weekend we go visit master guo at his house in yantai because that is now my house as well. I am a part of his family now.

I gave everyone gifts except Liu Bin. So on Saturday him and I went to Yantai to play some computer games and have pizza. (SIDE NOTE: He speaks little English so most of our conversations are in Chinese/English. I will translate it all in English so you can understand.) After we played some games we went to a cafeteria to find lunch. Liu Bin asked what I wanted and I did not care I’ll eat whatever he wants. That was not an answer I guess because we went around the whole place with him asking if I liked this or that. Once I found what I wanted he then went to find something he liked. He told me to save a table for us while he went to get his food. When he came back with his food he brought me a coke. He asked if I wanted anything else and I told him I am fine thank you. He then got up and ordered more food. We began eating and then a couple more plates off came out. Every 3 minutes he asked if I liked the food. If I wanted more food. If I wanted more to drink. I laughed and told him it’s ok. I am fine. Relax. He didn’t. He kept checking up on me until us both finished our food. After lunch we went to a phone store because he was looking at a new phone to buy. I asked him what he wanted and he said he wanted a phone with an Mp3 player. I told him lets go to the Apple store and I will buy him an IPOD. He kept saying, "No no no it’s too expensive." I laughed and said "it’s ok. You teach me so much, without you I would have no idea what to do during the ceremony. You are my brother now." Then he pulled me out of the store and said he did not want an IPod. I said ok do you want a regular Mp3 or a new phone. He argued he did not want either. So I said ok we go to the Mall before we go back home. He asked me, "why?" I said, "Don’t worry." When we got there I took him to the Mp3 store, he did not see any he liked so I said lets go look at the phones you wanted. We found him a really nice touch screen Nokia phone with Mp3. It’s 1000 Yuan. He told me to expensive. I asked, "Do you like it?" He said, "Yes, but..." I grabbed the box from him and paid for it. We left the store and he looked a little unhappy. I asked him if he is ok. He looked at me and said, "You...good person." I laughed and said, "You are a good brother. You help me with so much at school, you got my bus tickets, paid for our computer game time, checked up on me every minute during lunch to see if I had enough to eat, and you are my brother now, so I give you a good gift." He smiled and thanked me. We got a taxi and went home.

-Scott

my Kung Fu brothers

Kc and Rong Sheifu

KC Blog: I missed my flight!!

​I am a total mess   My Seattle flight was delayed an hour we were supposed to land at 4, but landed at 5. I was hoping and praying that I would not miss my flight from Beijing to Yantai that left at 5:45. My flight to Beijing was pretty hard for me this time. I couldn’t get comfortable and I felt queasy the whole way. I took a different airline this time and I think the seating area is a little bit smaller. We landed in Beijing at 5pm, we taxied for 15 minutes then had to take a SLOW bus from the plane to the building to pick up our bags. By the time I got all my bags it was 5:45…. Damn, I missed my flight. I had to take a bus to another building where the domestic flights leave. I have a lot of bags… I mean a lot and they are all super heavy. I was sweating and struggling trying to roll my luggage, carry my duffle my jacket and my tote bag to the bus. I would have tried to combine the bags but they were all full.


When I got to the China Air counter they told me the last flight to Yantai was full and I’d have to wait until tomorrow morning at 7am. I started crying, silly I know but I was tired, nauseated, and just wanted to shower and lay down. But what can I do? The whole time I was trying to figure out a way to tell Scott I missed my flight. He went to Yantai to pick me up and I wouldn’t be there. My cell phone isn’t working in China this time; I didn’t think I’d need it. I was so wrong. Once I changed my flight I hurried to find the wi-fi internet code for the airport. I saw a pay phone and tried to call my parents but I didn’t know the international code so I couldn’t make a call.  I got the wi-fi code and tried to log onto aim. You can text message a person’s cell phone with your instant messaging account. It took forever to get the internet to work but it finally did. I text my mom and dad so they could tell Scott about my flight. I had to sleep at the airport with all my bags and I was kinda scared. It was my first time sleeping at an airport. My dad told me to tie my bags together while I slept. I was able to text Scott’s phone too and tell him what time I land in Yantai the next day.


 After I talked to my parents and Scott I went to find a place to sleep. I found a row of chairs, the arm rests don’t rise up, but that was my only choice. I took my shoe laces off of my shoes and used that to tie my bags together. I used my backpack as a pillow covered with my jacket. I have a lot of money on me so I’m a little paranoid. I fall asleep pretty fast but woke up often to check the time. There are a lot of people who are sleeping in the seats next to me. I don’t think I’ve ever been more uncomfortable while I slept but I didn’t mind because I needed the sleep. If I was lying on my back I had the arm rest pressing into my back and had to put my legs over the arm rest of the other chair. If I slept on my side I had the corner of my bag jamming into my shoulder blade. And my neck was aching because my backpack is so lumpy and hard filled with hand warmers and granola bars. I need a massage at the bath house for sure! I think the twinkies and chips I brought are all smashed now, but I tried my best. I’m waiting to board my plane to Yantai. I got jasmine tea and a little sandwich for breakfast. I am NOT going to miss this flight!
 Xoxo,
 Kc


p.s. At least I didn’t cuss anyone out this time

My bags

KC Blog. Rush To Airport

Rush to the airport- the story of my life It seems that every time I travel somewhere I am rushing to the airport. No matter what time I wake up or leave. I was planning on going to San Francisco the night before my flight but I didn't finish packing until 9:30pm and I was so tired. I decided to leave at 5 am. I figured that would give me plenty of time. I was so wrong. We were stuck in stop and go traffic the whole way to the airport. My mom dropped my off at the loading zone to check in because I only had an hour and 20 minutes before my plane left. In the rush of things I left my wallet in the car so I couldn't check in without my id. I had to wait for my mom to bring my wallet back. Luckily my bags were the perfect weight. One bag was over two pounds but the lady let it slide. My mom and aunt saw me off at the airport. My carry on bags are so heavy because I put the heavy stuff in here so that I could fit more things in the luggage and not go over the weight limit. I'm trying so hard not to fall over. When I try to go into the bathroom stall I make so much noise with my bags bagging against the door and the wall. It's almost funny because I barely fit in the stall with my stuff.   I fly from SFO to Seattle. Thank god I don't have tk recheck my bags I don't know how I am going to carry everything. I fly from Seattle to Beijing and from Beijing to Yantai. I have an 11 hour flight. I am now boarding my plane. I'll update you soon!
 Xoxo,
Kc

KC Blog. I am heading back to Acadamy!!

We meet again Hello I'm back! Well I'm almost there. I'm sitting in the Seattle Airport waiting for my flight to Beijing. I'm going back to China! I know what you are thinking, I JUST got back from China and I know I did. But I'm going back for Scott's disciple ceremony. (ill let him tell you about that) My parents wanted to go but they are sooooo busy they couldn't make it. They are sensing me as their replacement and I'm not complaining. I found out a week ago that I was going back to China so I've been scrambling around trying to get everything together. I started taking online classes so I had Scott check to make sure I could go online and do my class while I'm there. I packed two days before I left and that was a good idea. Yesterday I had to drive to the Chinese consulate to pick up my visa. It took me 2 and a half hours to get to San Francisco because all of the traffic. Thankfully it only took mr about 40 minutes at the consulate to pick up my visa. Last Friday I was at the office for 3 hours. An hour and a half outside waiting to get into the office and get a number and another hour and a half for my number to be called. When I got home yesterday I tried to clean up my house for my mom who will be staying there with my doggies. I still had to buy all the snacks and goodies that I'm supposed to bring with me. I pick up my mom and we go to target and Costco. My car is packed with treats. Omg how am I going to pack all of this???? I'm bringing two luggages to check in, a back pack, a duffle bag, and a tote bag. Im bringing a lot of gifts give me a break. I tried packing food on my own but it was clear it wasn't all going to fit. I ask my roommate Ana to go through the clothes I'm bringing with me just to double check if I'm over packing. We go through everything an I take out a sweater a pair of leggings and a pair of workout pants.... That didnt help much. I call my mom and tell her I need help. We try fitting everything in the bags but we can't. Ana suggests we get space saver bags. Its past 7pm... We go to Walgreens. None there. We go to CvS pharmacy. None there. We finally find them at bed bath and beyond. We rush home and get to work.  We unpack my bag again and are able to fit all my clothes. Some blankets im bringing as gifts and a little more stuff in my bag. Next obstacle is to weigh it. Oh boy here we go... We use Ana's scale and it says 49 lbs. Perfect! 50lbs is the limit.   We are then able to fit most of the food in the other luggage and my duffle. We take some stuff out of the box but we are able to fit 98% of it. We weigh the bag and the scale says 49lbs... Wait a minute... We use my scale to weigh it and it's a little higher. Well it must be somewhere in between. After I pack I paint my nails, my mom attempts to dye my hair (first time) and I relax. We have to leave at 5am to make it to SFO by 7. I'm boarding soon so I'll tell you about my crazy day later. Xoxo, Kc Sent from my iPhone

three new Blogs today

Sometimes there are more than one blog posted at a time in one posting. 

October 2011 group

Rong Sheifu- Shaolin

Lu Bing is Back

Lu Bing fishing with me near the Acadamy

Lu Bing
September 28 2011

Last Year around November, Master Guo's disciple came to train for a few weeks. His name is Lu Bing. He is two years younger than me and has been doing martial arts since he was small...like all Chinese kids. Master had Lu Bing help me and train me in San Da so i would fight better. Then after 4 weeks of being here, he went back to the Shaolin Temple to finish his training. And now after 10 months, he is back.



When he came back Master told me him and I will train again. Master said that when Lu Bing was in the Shaolin Temple, he focused more on forms rather than San Da so he wants him to practice more with me. Plus i will get better at San da as well (and get my butt kicked more like it). In class i pair up with Lu Bing to stretch before class, we pair up to do applications together, and unfortunately for me we pair up for power stretching. I like pairing up with him. I train harder when we pair up. Master has even made him do power training me, Sam, and Mathieu do. Since Mathieu went home for a month, its only been Sam and I. Having Lu Bing around is a high moral booster.

Before he left back in November, we did a lot of take down training together. More like getting my butt thrown on the ground training. He would show me a couple moves and then i would practice on him and he would just throw me down. Well on Tuesday we practiced take downs again. We both have been training for 10 months, he still has more years of experience than me but i think i might have gain some experience over this past year as well. So when we began doing take downs, nothing changed...he kept taking me down. Then he would correct what i did wrong, so i would try again and would still get taken down! I told him, "Teach me!" He laughed and said, "I teach you this," and he motioned taking someone down. I did not understand but then i figured it out. He is teaching me by taking ME down again...and again! I got up from the floor and tried to take him down again...and again! But i would use the techniques i learned and the ones he taught me. I got pretty close to taking him down! I could tell he was using 100% of his strength against me. Every time i almost took him down he would flip out or do some move to take me down. Id yell and get back up and try again. Finally after almost an hour of being taken down, after being taken down 200 times, i FINALLY took him down! It was only once but hey i never took him down last year! Maybe i am getting stronger!

He is here for 9 months then he goes home for 3 months around Chinese new year. So if i do come back next year we can train together again. But until i leave we will be training constantly. In return for all the extra training he is giving me, he asked me to teach him guitar. I was shocked and i learned here so i am not that good but i guess i can try to teach him for all the work he is putting in training me. So this past week i gave him some basic lessons on cords and strumming. I even let him take my guitar to his room in the village so he can practice. I at least owe him to teach him a song or two so i am glad i have a chance to make it up to him.

-Scott

On International Business

Trip to Weifang
September 28, 2011
On Saturday i went on a trip with Brittany to a town called Weifang. Reason being, my father wanted me to check out a bbq smoker factory there before he bought one. He said its in the same province as me so i thought it should be close. Turns out it is 4 hours away by bus. So on a Saturday I asked Brittany if she wanted to keep me company for this little adventure and we got on a bus in Yantai around 2pm. We headed to the factory. I made contact with the factory and a lady who spoke English told me what ticket to buy and said go to the bus station. After about 4 hours of sitting on a bus we get to the last stop which was the Weifang bus station. Its about 6pm and the lady said she will meet us at 6:10. So we waited and she called saying she is here and she is holding a red paper in the air. 

We looked all over the station...could not find her. Called her back and told her we could not find her. She kept repeating that she is in the station and was holding a RED paper. I told her i do not see anyone holding any paper. Then she started speaking in Chinese and i could not understand and said, "What?" She would say, "Ummm." And start repeating what bus station she was in and said to meet us at some super market. By now i was getting a little irritated. I told her hang on i will have my Chinese friend from school call her and tell her we will meet her in the front of the station. I walked a bit out front to see if she was there and taxi drivers would come up asking if i wanted a ride. I told them no and walked inside. I walked in and out of the station a few times while i waited. 

Finally i decided that i should take a picture of the name of the station in Chinese characters. So when i went outside again, i was surrounded by 4 Chinese taxi drivers. All started yelling in my ear asking if i needed a taxi...AGAIN. I was a little irritated from all the events that were going on and said, "Stop yelling in my ear, i will punch you in the face." (Some bad words left out). I did not look at any of them while i said that because i was focusing on taking the picture but they seemed to leave me alone after that. I got a call from my friend and she told me that the lady wanted us to get off at a Bus STOP not the bus STATION. The bad news was the Bus stop is about 2 hours by bus away from the station. The lady told my friend that she wants us to take a bus in the morning to meet her since the factory closed in a couple hours. I told my friend to call her back and tell her in Chinese that we have to go back to school on Sunday so we cant make it and will try again another weekend.

We walk a bit down the road to find some food and see a tourist hotel. It was named the FUKUN Hotel. Found some place to eat, stayed the night at the hotel, then headed back to the station to get a bus back to yantai. Took a 12pm bus back to yantai. The bus back was kind of dirty and when the ticket guy came around he took our tickets then said in Chinese, "Yantai? That bus over there. Follow me." Apparently the Yantai bus was not docked on the right numbered platform and we almost went somewhere else. Could of been very bad. Got back to the academy after dinner in Yantai around 7pm. Rested and got ready for another week of training.

Will try again next weekend but i will make some preparations before hand.

-Scott

Rosh Hashana in China

Rosh Hashana
October 8 2011

Ever since i had that one Shabbat dinner with Amitai and Ariel (mentioned in a couple blogs ago), we say prayers every Friday now at dinner. Yesterday was our Rosh Hashanah dinner. For those who have no clue what Rosh Hashanah is, it is the New Year for the Jewish calendar. Amitai and I have been working out different prayers to say, buying food for the prayers, and I even put in a little work researching the different prayers to put a little spiel together to explain their meaning.

A few friends who weren’t Jewish wanted to go to dinner with us as well. Only problem was we could not do the service in the dinning hall, since it was too noisy. Amitai wanted to ask the Shifu's if we can use their dining room but i said ‘NO WAY!’ I told him we should go to the restaurant down the road, get a private room, and do the service there. It was a great idea. About 8 people were attending the service. The people were me, Amitai, Ariel, Sam my roommate (us four are the only jews here), then Brittany wanted to go, as well as Sam number 2, Bart, and Richard...Diane came late but she just wanted to eat with us.

At 6pm on Wednesday we all met up, nicely dressed, and ready to celebrate the New Year. We walked down to the restaurant and then Amitai began pulling out different fruits and stuff for the service. The first prayer was for the wine. We got a cheap small bottle for the toasting and prayer at the “Everything Shop”. For the people who did not want wine, we got grape juice. We looked everywhere for the dark purple type of grape juice but they only had green clear juice. Amitai said, "Its our service, who cares!" So we bought it.

Before we said the prayer i said a few words. I asked if everyone knew what Rosh Hashanah is. Of course the 4 non jews did not know, so i explained to them that it’s the New year. On this day it’s the time to say sorry to all the loved ones and friends you may have wronged in the past year. You repent for the sins you made so you can start this NEW YEAR fresh and clean. After a few more words about the holiday i explained how the service will work and Amitai took lead from there. He read a prayer book his family sent him for Rosh Hashanah. They also sent a few Kippahs that everyone wore. After he said the prayer we all said Amen and L'cheyim! Then after that we did the prayer for washing out hands. I have only done this prayer once (I believe it was when I was in Israel so it was pretty new to me as well). Then it was time to say the Motzi. We did not have any bread for the 'Blessing of the Bread' so few guys ran to the everything store next door to buy some. When they came back we continued the service. Then we said a prayer for each fruit Amitai bought. I never done Rosh Hashanah like this before. Amitai got dates, peas, pomegranates, and of course apples and honey. He was missing a couple things but we said the prayer anyways.

He wrote the Hebrew prayers out in English letters (transliteration?) so everyone at the table could read a prayer...or try their best to say it. After each prayer Amitai explained why we ate that fruit. I told him i would say the prayer for the apple and honey so I went second to last. When it got to my turn i read the prayer, and everyone ate apples dipped in honey. I explained why we do this crazy thing. I told them that Honey represents the sweet new year to come. Then Ariel was last and read the prayer for the fish head. We say that prayer because we want to be like the head not the tail. Head being the beginning to everything and the tail meaning the end.

After all the prayers have been said, we ate dinner that we ordered at the restaurant. Amitai asked me how i usually spent Rosh Hashanah back home. I told him for the past 14 years i spent it in temple, ditching school, spending all day in temple, and then we do the repenting of our sins at a lake to ask God for forgiveness. At that point everyone went around the room saying ‘sorry’ to one another. I looked around and said, "Sam i am sorry for all the times I picked on you. Bart I am sorry I tease you in class all the time". I went around the room like that and everyone was laughing having a good time. Then i asked how Amitai and Ariel celebrated in Israel. They both said they are not very religious so they never went to temple. Amitai would go to temple on Yom Kippur with his dad for the last two hours but that was it. Rosh Hashanah was a big party in Israel. Richard said, "He never expected to celebrate Jewish New Year in CHINA!" We all agreed to that. Then he said, "Let’s all go to Israel and celebrate Buddhism!" Maybe one day.

When we all came back to the academy, Amitai said we should give Master Guo some apples and honey. So i asked for an extra Kippah, a knife, a apple, and honey. Told Diane to translate for us, and we went into shifu's office. Diane told him it was our new year and a tradition was to eat Apples and Honey. I gave him a Kippah to wear and he laughed. He said it’s a hat that his baby son could wear. Then we asked if he wanted to try apple and honey. He said ok. I cut him a small piece and put a little honey on it. It looked at it like it was an Alien, tried it, and made a weird face. It was hilarious. He said it was a weird taste. Then i asked if we can take a picture all together. Shifu did not want to wear the hat because he felt silly so we said its ok and took a picture.

That night i began thinking about the past year. In 12 days i will have spent a total year here in China. I cannot believe how fast time flies by and how quickly friendships are made. I cannot think how life will be back home, if it will be normal or will it feel weird because I am so used to the life here. Only one thing to do, thank God for the good year we all have had and pray to have another good year.

L'Shana Tova

-Scott

On Monday, the school bought a truck load of coal to use for the winter. The school heats up the radiators and water by coal, so they needed a lot to keep us foreigners warm. After first class Master told us we can train or help by unloading the coal and storing it in the back. Unloading Coal sounded fun so i decided I'd help. Once break was over and second class was starting, the people who wanted to help with the coal went to the gates of the school and found a MASSIVE truck with at least 400kg worth of coal.

The Shifus already started by the time i got there and their method was like this:
Push the coal off the truck onto the ground
Shovel coal into the back of smaller trucks
Smaller trucks went to unload the coal in the back of the academy

Students and Shifus would pile up the coal
And start over until all the coal was unloaded.

Problem with this was there were too many people with shovels trying to work while other guys including myself decided shovels were useless and began using our bare hands to put big chunks of coal on the small trucks. This project broke down to about 5 groups: 1st group was Shifus and students in the truck pushing coal onto the ground (why not push the coal onto the bed of the trucks? EVERYONE thought of that idea but no one did it). 2nd group was the ground crew. Also Shifus and Students. I was in this group. We would pick up the fallen coal pieces and put it in the small trucks while dodging coal and shovels that were cutting our ankles. 3rd group was the shovelers. They shoveled up the dirt and small stuff that came off the truck. 4th group was the sweepers who swept the dust and dirt back to the truck (they just swept dirt into group 2's shoes). 5th group were the Students and Shifus that unloaded the coal. Luckily i was by the truck so i did not have to deal with that. 

Coal dust, truck smog, and dirt was all in the air. I tried to dodge the falling coal off the trucks and shovels that picked at our feet, but when the head master had the people who were standing around and watching sweep the coal bits and dust back toward the coal pile...i lost it a little. I stopped following and began leading a few students near me. When the trucks came back i told the shovelers and sweepers to wait, a couple guys and I went in and picked up the big pieces of coal put it in the trucks. When we got most of the big ones out of the way i told the shovelers to go in and get the small stuff. When the trucks had enough and left i told the sweepers to go in and sweep up the stuff away from the school drive way. 

We worked like this for about an hour then i hopped onto the truck because people were just pushing coal by the ground people and some hit people. Coal isn't light either. One hit my bad foot and it hurt for a while. When i was in the truck i got the guys to line up the rocks on the side of the truck so it wouldn't hit peoples heads. 

Then when the trucks came back we would pass coal to one another to make it to the trucks. I was not sure if the other guys who were piling stuff in the other two trucks were doing the same but i just kept working with my guys. By now the truck was almost empty...an hour and a half later. Work continued and after another hour we finished by 12:30. I was covered in coal ashes and my hands were black. But it was a good experience. After washing up i saw jenny the school translator and told her that it was fun unloading all of that coal. She laughed and said good, "Another truck but bigger comes again tomorrow with more!" On Tuesday, about the same time as yesterday, another coal truck came. It was the same size as yesterday's truck but i bet Jenny tried to trick me. We started again during second class so when i started walking towards the truck Master Guo told me to come help him unload. He was there yesterday with a few other students. I guess few people wanted to help out this time. In the back was clement, Phil, a couple other guys and me. 

Our job was when the trucks dumped the coal on the floor we had to throw the rocks up to make a big pile. After a few loads more guys came to help but then it got to hectic. To many guys were throwing rocks but it would fall back down and hit someone. Guys would try to shovel while we threw rocks and get dust in our eyes. While others just stood around. 

Again i took over. There were 8 of us so i said 4 of us would throw the rocks and the other 4 would shovel. Then when the next truck came, we switched jobs. Everyone agreed and we began working a lot safer and faster. I enjoyed throwing the coal. Back in high school i did Shot Put on track and field. I would throw heavy chunks of coal like i would a heavy shot put. I had perfect aim. Who knew a sport in high school would help me in China.

We finished up at 12 this time and again everyone was dirty. The bathrooms had black water everywhere. I felt bad for the cleaning lady. At least we helped keep her warm in the winter. Afternoon class was dreadful, everyone took naps during lunch break so everyone was exhausted. i think Master Guo was tired too because he made stance training pretty short.

Good times.

-Scott

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Enjoy!

Shabbat Shalom

Shabbat Shalom


Shabbat Shalom everyone! In the past 11 months, tonight was the first time I have said the Kiddush and the Ha-Motzi before dinner with Amitai. But first let me introduce him.

My friend Amitai, who I mentioned in the last blog, is from Israel. He is 23 and spent the last 3 years of his life in the Israeli army as a Medic. He came to china because he did not know what to do with his life and thought it would be nice to spend a couple months here in the academy. I have talked to him in the past and told him that I am Jewish. I even told him about how I went to Sunday School to learn about Judaism since I was 5, went to Hebrew school to learn how to read and chant prayers for my Bar Mitzvah, and spent many Fridays in my Temple for Shabat. He told me about how religious he is in Israel. He doesn't go to Temple often but keeps kosher because of his parents, but he would like to start being more religious since he is away from home. I said, "Ill teach you some prayers that I know." He said he knows a few from family gathering for holidays back in Israel. I told him about time I went to Israel with my best friend, my Rabbi who is my best friend's dad, and other temple members. He was shocked that I have been to Israel. 


We shared stories about the places I been to, the amazing Shwarmas I've had, even told him the few Hebrew words I remember. Amitai was shocked I knew how to speak a little so he offered to teach me in exchange for me helping him out in class. I agreed. So over the weeks I learned how to count to ten, say the basics like how much, thank you, your welcome, even learned how to say, "You have beautiful eyes." The lessons have been fun. Then one day Amitai told me that its Rosh Hashana on the 28th of September. He told me that we must celebrate it and that his dad sent us a list of prayers and a list of food we need to buy to eat on the day! 


I asked how do they celebrate it in Israel. They have big parties and no one goes to work or school and everyone eats apples and honey...along with plenty of wine. He asked how I celebrated it in Temple. I told him how I would skip school to spend the whole day in services and the songs and prayers we sing and of course the apples and honey...and wine. We agreed to celebrate it here along with Sam and another Israeli guy who just joined the academy.

The past few Fridays I would see Amitai after training all sweaty, tired, in training clothes, and he would ask why am I not dressed for Shabbat? I'd laugh and ask him about his training. But today was different. When I saw Amitai in line for dinner he yelled out while shaking my hand, "SHABBAT SHALOM!" Then he told me he had a surprise and so sit next to him at dinner. When I sat down he pulled out a bottle of Grape Juice, poured us each a glass, and told me to say the Kadish with him. Well we stood up from the table, not paying attention to the other people at our table starring at us with food in their mouths, and said the prayer. Then he said, "Grab a noodle." "Why?" I asked. "We have no bread!" he told me. I laughed so hard and grabbed a noodle. Once again we said the prayer in unison and ate the noodle, which he said to dip in salt first...not sure why. Then we sat down with the rest of the table, I told him, "Botah Avon," (a Hebrew word that he taught me which means Bon  apatite) and we began eating. 


I was not suprised when Darel,one of the guys at the table asked, "What the heck did you guys just do?" I told him and the rest of the table who was listening about Shabbat and that we say prayers before we eat. Then he said, "You guys have a lot of Holidays huh?" I told him about the High Holy days that were coming up, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Again he asked what they were about. Amitai told me to explain because he was not very religious back home. So I explained what the High Holy days were about and the traditions. Then I said, "After Yom Kippur its Hanukah! You know that one right?" Amitai corrected me,"No its Sukkot!" 


I can't believe I forgot that and then I explained about the Sukka and other traditions we do on that day. Afterward Amitai named the next holiday which I explained the traditions. So I told them about Simchat Torah, Purim, Pesach (Passover), and many others. With each Holiday came many traditions and with many traditions came a lot of food and of course...the wine drinking. Told them about the commandment that said 'You have to drink so much that when you read the Megillah (story of Esther and Haman) you can not tell the difference from the Good guy (Mordecai) and the Bad guy (Haman)'. Then on Passover you must drink a glass of wine after each prayer. 


Darel, the guy who asked all the questions, said, "Sure looks like you guys like to get drunk." Everyone laughed but Amitai looked a little insulted. I said, "Many of our holidays involve suffering, pain, and death. The story of Hanukah isn't about Santa Claus and presents, its about the Menorah lasting 8 days when it only had oil for one day left and the Brave Macabees who fought the Greeks to protect their temple from destruction. Purim was about a evil guy who wanted to KILL all of the Jews! Passover was about the Jewish people who have been slaves for decades and finally was saved by Moses! You think we drink just to get drunk? No, we share these stories with our families and friends to REMEMBER, the hard times our ancestors had to go through and the hardships they had to deal with. 


We drink to rejoice that the hardships are now over and we can live peacefully, for however long that may be. So to say we just like to get drunk is not correct, but we Jews.....sure know how to party! Everyone laughed at that last statement which seemed to lighten the mood a little. Even Amitai laughed and started telling us about the crazy parties in Israel. 

Out of the 11 months I been training at the academy, tonight was my favorite night. I miss my temple friends and being in temple. Tonight brought back many memories of the time I celebrated holidays with family and friends, but now I will make new memories with my new friends who are like family to me.

Shabbat Shalom.

-Scott

Update at the Shan

Update at the Shan

The schedule at the Shan has changed now. The morning schedule is the same, Tai Chi at 6am, class at 8, and then Lunch at 12pm. The afternoon break would be 3 hours so we wouldn't be outside when its really hot. We'd start class at 3pm and then have dinner at 6. Now we changed back to the Winter schedule, which is lunch break until 2:30pm, class ending at 4:30 and dinner at 5:30. The transition has been tough. I'm still used to half an hour of rest time. While my brain thinks it's still rest time. we are doing drills in class!

The class size has been pretty big lately. About 26 students, even with the 5 students who left in the past month. Four new people joined our class in the past two weeks. Clement and I are the ones who train them and get them going in class. It's a fun job.

A couple of weeks ago I was doing some sparring training and I kicked wrong and messed my foot up a little. I kept training but had a limp. It finally got better this Monday. Unfortunately, I thought it was fully healed and thought I could handle some acrobatics in the ring with Mathieu. When I did a back kick flip I landed with my bad foot. It got stuck in between the mats in the ring and I fell and bent my foot pretty badly. Not good. My foot swelled again, but I have these ice packs my parents sent me which helped A LOT. I went to class Tuesday limping a lot worse this time, but I had to lead the class with Clement. 

Master asked about my foot and I told him about my accident during acrobatics. Since he saw that I couldn't do the drills well he pulled out a couple new students and had me teach them new moves. Thursday is grading and Friday is Sparring so I need my foot to heal by then. Tuesday, I asked Master if I can have the afternoon stances class off to let my foot rest since he leads that class pretty much. He allowed it so I iced my foot the rest of the evening.

Today, Wednesday, the 14th of Sept was power training day. In the morning we did forms and in class a few friends invented a new game called Charlie. Basically the game is to give the other players Charlie horses by kneeing them in the leg. Only 4 of us play which included Sam my roommate, Sam the Aussie, Mathieu, Luke, and me. During power training I couldn't do jumps or put to much weight on my foot so I did the upper body drills and more. Right before the guys had to do bunny hops across the floor, Luke who had been kneeing me in the leg constantly all morning came by where I was and I ran up and kneed him hard in his leg. He cursed and said, "Now you get me right before I have to use my leg?!!" I laughed and said, "Karma is a bitch!" He went to sit down but Master Guo saw him and yelled at him to start jumping. He swore he was going to get me back but his kneeing doesn't hurt, or my legs are conditioned well. Actually, if we keep this game up our legs will be very conditioned.

When we started power stretching, I paired up with Bart, Amitai, and Shen. Amitai and Bart are new guys to the class. Bart doesn't try very hard in class sometimes and I always call him out on it. If he doesn't do the pushups low enough I'll yell at him to go lower. If he doesn't hold the splits long enough I'll yell at him to do it again. Just stuff to help him get better. Same with Amitai but he tries pretty hard. "I dont do it to be mean, I just want them to get better," I tell the other guys when they laugh and say I'm a bully. 

A few of the guys call me the Whip Master. I didn't know what that was. They said it's someone who cracks the whip, as in keeping order. I laughed, but as I thought about it more, a whip would be pretty handy. But back to the power stretching. The past couple weeks master made me pair up with Amitai and Bart to help them with the split stretches. "They don't use enough power," master would say. So I went over and showed them how it's done. I had Amitai go first and Bart would pull his front leg out. I put my hand on his hip and pushed down. I guess they didn't use any power before because he yelled out pretty loudly. Then I had him switch legs. 

Bart went next and seemed to tremble with fear a little. He told me his foot hurt so not to go hard. I laughed and told him not to worry, that I wouldn't touch his foot. I didn't touch his foot, I just stretched his leg. He yelled out saying, "STOP STOP STOP you will break my leg!!" Master, who was watching, started laughing. I barely used any power! But I eased up and held him at a decent height. So when I went over to them again this week, Amitai who thanked me last time looked happy that I was going to stretch him. Bart, who looked at me like I was his executioner, knew that I was going to "help" them out again. Shen, who is leaving tomorrow, had no partner, so I told him I'll stretch him one last time before he leaves. Amitai went first. Instead of crying out, "Stop Stop", or "Enough," he said, "YES YES I LIKE!" Everyone laughed. Bart went next and he did pretty well. He didn't yell out for me to stop. I was proud. 

Then Shen went and I stretched him hard because it was his last time. After I stretched all of them, it was my turn. I told them that what I do to them is nothing and to wait until they see my turn. Master came over and had one guy pull each foot while he pushed my hips down on the ground. It hurt really badly. I felt nautious afterward, like I do every time, but I almost made it into full front splits. When he stretched me on my side splits, he sat on me to get me lower. I yelled and laughed at this point. It's not funny or and didn't tickle, but I edfor some reason. The new guys don't complain about what I do to them after they see that.

Friday is Sparring. Its been a while since i done it. Been training to get back into it. Can't wait!

-Scott

Kids Don't Try This At Home

September 8, 2011

Adventure to Muping


On friday evening Sam, Sheradon, Yaz, and I decided to go into Muping for dinner and do some shopping so we can rest over the weekend. After the mountain run we all showered up and went to meet downstairs at 5:30pm since Yaz booked a taxi for 5:45p. I met up with Yaz in the lobby and she said the academy is out of taxi's. The Mantis group took their Shifu out to dinner and i guess that took up all the taxi's. We were a little pissed about that but we decided to go to the Everything Shop to look for local taxis. Headed down the road to the shop to find that there were no taxis. 

Yaz told us she got a few free rides hitch hiking from the cross road by the school so we gave that a try. We waved down a car that is similar to the cars the taxi of the academy use. Yaz told the guy, "Muping, Muping?" He told her ok and she asked him how much. He responded, "No, No." She took that as it was free for us and told us to get in. I have NEVER hitch hiked before so i was a little hesitant on this situation. i spoke the most chinese out of all of us and knew the roads well so i said ill sit in the front. I responded by saying, "People think i look chinese so they will think im the drivers partner and take you white people!" 

On the drive there Sam made jokes like Scott is the first one to get grabbed since he is in the front or we are all going to be killed in a warehouse. Did not help the mood. Then he went on saying stuff like, "Parents tell their kids to stay away from strangers! Getting into stangers cars is a big no no! Back in England if you did that and the driver said it was a free ride its because they will kill you!" He went on a bit more and Sheradon joined in.

Sam also said, "Only people that should get free lifts are people over 50!"
"Why?" asked Sheradon.
"Because you are too old to be sold into a sex trade or cant move."

The driver took us into town and asked me where we wanted to go. I had to go to a bank so i told him to drop us off at the corner and we can walk. When he pulled over i offered him 10 yuan for the ride but he refused. We all got out and Sam shook the guy's hand. We all started talking about how crazy we must be to hitch hike at 7pm in CHINA! After the bank we got some food and did a little bit of shopping. 

Its the moon festival on Monday i bought some moon cakes (celebration cookies) for Master Guo. We headed back around 9pm by local taxi. On the way back the driver was driving pretty fast and when we saw a rabbit in the middle of the road, he swerved to miss the rabbit but i swear i felt the car hit something. The taxi driver pulled over and started shouting something in chinese. I guessed it was bad to hit an animal in the streets? Then the driver started backing up looking for the rabbit. When he didnt see anything he pulled over, got out, and began looking for the rabbit. We were all laughing because we all bet that he wanted the rabbit for food! When the taxi driver came back he shouted looking mad, "Rabbit, Good Food!" I laughed, told the guys what he said, and we all started laughing harder. 

When we got to the hill on the way to school he swerved which made us all slide and bump into each other and we started laughing about how we are so close to the school but we knew we were going to crash and die! well the taxi driver must of thought we thought his swerving was fun because once we started laughing he laughed a bit too and started swerving big time! He would swerve into the trees or by people walking and we would laugh harder because Sam bet he would crash into the school. He must of thought we were still having fun because he didnt stop! We finally get to the gates of the school alive! We paid the driver, got the hell out and headed into the academy. It was a good adventure.

-Scott