It's not bad, it's just different.

Every hour of every day in Beijing brings a totally new experience!  I literally can't take a single step outside without already having a dozen questions about what's in front of me.  For instance, while walking around the city yesterday we noticed that people were burning little piles of something on the streets.  I learned that yesterday was the Lunar Calendar Ghost Festival; to celebrate, people burn money on the streets as a means of sending it to their dead ancestors.  There's so much about this amazing place that I don't get, but that's ok!  As everyone keeps telling us, "It's not bad, it's just different." 

We're taking all of these cultural training courses to learn about different facets of China and Chinese life and there's SO much to learn!  One of our professors has a description about China entitled "Theory of the Three Ambiguities: 1) Nothing is as it seems; 2) Plans can't keep up with changes; and 3) If you're not confused you're not paying attention."  She's so right! 

One of the most confusing facets is the language!  Mandarin Chinese is the hardest language in the world to learn!  There are over 40,000 characters!  The word "yu" has 235 entirely different meanings mostly depending on the character, context and sentence structure.  Then there are the 4.5 different intonations, which create entirely different meanings depending on the way you pronounce each word!  Here's a fun example: ma= question marker; mā= mother; má= numb; mă= horse; mà=scold. SO  mā mà má mă ma= "Is mother scolding the numb horse?"  How cool is that?!

I'm now able to hold a very basic introductory conversation, ask for directions, order food, discuss proficiency of English and Mandarin languages, haggle with yuan currency, and count up to 99 all in Mandarin!  BUT I still can't get myself out of tricky situations.  I had my first, "Oh my goodness- I'm in CHINA" moment yesterday while shopping.  I was purchasing a hair straightener (because this weather is doing some pretty amusing things to my hair) and when I got up to the cashier, she opened the box and the straightener wasn't in it.  She began questioning me about it and called over 2 other staff people and they started questioning/pointing/raising their voices; I finally figured out that they thought I'd taken it!  Obviously, I don't speak enough Mandarin to have any idea what they were saying, so I was terrified!  I seriously started having visions of being on that show "Locked Up Abroad"!  Thankfully, my team leader is fairly fluent and was able to come over and explain the situation (I'd accidentally grabbed the "sample" box) after about 20 minutes; but what would I have done without her there?

What's interesting is that all of the cultural and moral differences, immense confusion and frustrations, scary situations... it all makes me love this place and these people even more.  He keeps making it more and more apparent that this is exactly where He wants me.  I haven't really had time to reflect on what that really means, but I know it's profound, and I know it's something that some people spend their whole lives searching for...a Calling, a purpose.  He's given me this incredible opportunity, and I don't know how long He'll use me here (it could be just this year or for the next 50 years), but I do know this is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing and exactly where I'm supposed to be right now.  I'm so unbelievably thrilled about that!