叶枫 nathan and effi groff 玉丽

Dynamic Developments

Dynamic: a synonym for moving.

Recently there have been some developments with our baby (at least we are not aware of a plurality of babies).  Why call them dynamic you might ask…  Well, that is because yesterday for the very first time I felt distinctly the movements of our baby.  And it was dynamic in more ways than one.  Effi has been feeling movements for close to two weeks now but this was the first time I was certain I felt it!  What an awesome experience, that young life starting to test the waters, starting to stretch and explore.  Excuse the simplicity, but it was SO COOL!  Exhilirating, enthralling, inspiring, intoxicating, electrifying…  Simply amazing!

So our baby is on the move…

Another development has to do with the “bulge.”  Effi is really starting to show now as you will be able to see in the pictures below.  She is looking good and healthy and carrying well but our little one is getting to big to hide!  Between the revealing of the bulge and the stirrings that we now feel the reality of the new life and the coming of parenthood is beginning to settle upon us… and it is a sweet realization.

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No Smoking Please

One thing I have never fully understood is smoking.  A lot of things have pro’s and con’s but smoking is one of those things I could never really find any legitimate pro’s for.  The con’s… most of us could list a half a dozen or more without even putting any thought to it…  addiction, cancer, inhibited athletic ability, smell, lower quality and quantity in the ’sperm count’, discoloration of teeth and on and on…

So why do people smoke… well obviously there are reasons even if we question their legitimacy…  but I do want to make a statement to anyone who does smoke… please consider others…

I like this pic cause the man (presumably the father) is doing his own selfish thing, enjoying puffin’ on his emotional booster, is oblivious to the child (presumably his) and to his wants and needs.  So self-consumed the man doesn’t even consider that he might be seriously offending others around him.  And such is our situation.  My wife is pregnant and yes, second hand smoke can have a negative effect on the life she is carrying.  People sometimes see the bulge, are aware she is pregnant, and still light up.  And I know the same thing will happen when we are holding the baby in front of them, I have seen it too many times.  No consideration for their own health or the life of those around them.

So we look at the above photo and smile because it is so cute…

but please listen to the kid - no smoking please.

Smokin’ Hot!

Sizzlin’… cookin’… unbearable…

These are but a few words to describe the heat we often experience here in the summer time.  Central China is a hot place and our home is no exception!  Recently we hit a ridiculous 40 Degrees Celsius (104 F for you Americans)… In June, 40 Celsius in the shade!  That is just too much.  If I was living on the edge of the Sahara maybe I’d expect that but not here.

 Anyway, to try to deal with the heat we are going to take a short vacation in the mountains of Yunnan.  Upon our return between Air Conditioning and one of the nearby swimming pools I think we will survive.

   … Almost 40 C in the shade in June! … 

Soccer Champs!

Recently I played on a faculty soccer team for our University Football Tournament.  Eight teams in total joined the tournament from the different colleges and departments in our school.  Our faculty team was made up of teachers and staff from within the University (I was the only non-Chinese).  The games were well played and often very intense.  This past Thursday, our team played in the final against the P.E. Students.  Both teams struggled and the final score was left at 1-0.  One for us, zero for P.E.  The lone goal was tapped in off a corner kick by yours truly allowing me to finish the tourney with 4 goals in 5 games, three of which were game winners.  Despite my four goals I personally nominate my good friend Wei Qiang 魏强 for Tournament MVP.  He is our center midfielder and without his domination in the mid-field we never would have taken the Championship.

Left: 2008 Sias Soccer Champs (The Faculty)

Right: Nate with the Championship Banner

Summer Palace 颐和园

If you are looking for a place to visit in Beijing I would highly recommend the Summer Palace.  Personally, I find Beijing a little too big to be a relaxing vacation but in our recent trip I found an attraction that I really like.  The Summer Palace (  颐和园 yi2 he2 yuan2) is located in the Northwest area of the city.  It was a paradise retreat for many Chinese Emperors in the past.  Now it has become a hotspot for tourists.  But regardless of the fact that on the day we visited there were around 30 000 visitors it was still quite beautiful and definitely worth the trip!

Nathan and Effi enjoying the gardens at the Summer Palace

View of the Main Palace (Nice Vacation Spot!)

Back to Beijing

Living as a foreigner in China it is hard to stay away from Beijing.  I find myself there every 3-4 months.  Without fail, the city looks different each time.  Beijing is definitely developing into a world class city, if it isn’t already.  One thing that impressed me was the mass transit.  The people really are very civilized in their use of public transportation for the most part.  It really looks like they are going to be ready for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Expecting?

There are a few occasions that elicit ecstatic responses.  One is marriage.  Effi and I were married just over 11 months ago.  And now another stands before us.  The anticipation that comes while expecting your first child.  Effi and I are pregnant!

You might say, “no, Effi is pregnant.”  While in one sense you would be right, she is the one who gets to carry the baby.  The reality though is this:  She carries the child, I carry the responsibility.  It’s a great partnership.  A woman does have to ‘bear the blessing’ and deal with many physical aspects related to development and expansion… lots of expansion!  But at the same time she has the privilege of having a direct, literal, physical attachment with the baby’s heart.  Did you know that their is a direct ‘pipeline’ from the mother’s heart connected to the baby’s heart?!  What and intimate privilege!  Yes, I am jealous… talk to me all day long about the struggles of pregnancy and birth and I will still be jealous!  This is a unique privilege that men and women do not share but is available to women only, and oh what a privilege it is!  The one who despises this privilege can not truly understand the miracle of life and the value of a human spirit!

As of yesterday we are officially two months pregnant.  Effi is healthy and I am excited.  Our due date is set at November 18, 2008.  As the day approaches we will post some pictures… especially as the ‘bulge’ starts to show!

Brother Comes to China

We have been rewarded this month by a visit from my brother Mike.  He has came to visit us for a couple months before heading off to university.  This is Mike’s third visit here.  It is always pleasant to have him around and the students especially enjoy his company.  This time Mike got to celebrate his birthday here.  We had a birthday dinner with cake and all to bring in his 19th year.

Lunch at our favourite place ‘Nong Jia’ (also known as Homestead)

Brothers at Birthday Dinner 

Up Ancestor Mountain (始祖山)

This weekend I took a trip to a mountain.  I went with some of my freshman students.  We had a great time climbing the mountain together.  The best part was that they wanted to climb off the “beaten path”… instead of just going up the stairs we climbed the little trails that wind up through the foliage.  Adventure!  That was what our trip was.  In the past when I have travelled with students they have usually been over-cautious, this time was much better.  Being too cautious takes the thrill out of the experience.  I’m not talking about being stupid, just enjoying the great outdoors…

Left: Students on an Outcropping  -  Right: 3 Guys with Nate

 Our “Climbing Team”

The Evolution of the Buddha

While traveling around Canada I stumbled upon a most remarkable scientific discovery.  I found a transitional specimen from the evolutionary chain of the Buddha.  We are very excited about this discovery as we see it having great potential to unlock many unanswered questions about the origin of life.

Notice the similarities: the bulging belly, the large ears, the position of the right hand.  We can clearly say that these two have a common ancestor through the characteristics they share, even down to the position in which they sit.  The only question is, who is who’s ancestor?

Specimen #2 appears to have a happier life as can be seen by the smile on his face and the slightly more upright position.  This could speak of him coming from a more developed society.

But on the other hand, Specimen #1 looks to be in deep thought.  Very likely he is well-read and a very serious thinker, probably very open-minded.

My conclusion is that radiometric dating should be performed on both Specimen #1 and #2 so that we place them more accurately.

 This is a monumental day for science!

 (**Disclaimer**:  In case the reader did not catch the sarcastic tone of this post I just want to say that the expressed opinion is neither the opinion of the author or this blog and is posted as a joke only… 

Although, one thought still lingers in my mind: haven’t I seen something that looked awfully similar to this in a textbook somewhere before? 

Maybe it was grade 10 science…  just a thought.)

the long winter has past…

… and in more than one way…

Winter is over in the Northern Hemisphere and spring is rushing in to fill the void.  And the winter of silence is over as I seek to update our blog.

 Effi and I had a wonderful winter this year.  With our first trip to Canada together it was an exciting time of fresh new experiences.  Try taking a glimpse of your home, your life, your world with someone who has never experienced it or been a part of it!  Effi brought an interesting new perspective on my upbringing and my “native place”.  It was exciting to get to experience the familiar in a new light.

Obviously, when you talk about visiting Canada in the winter, the four letter word “s-n-o-w” can not help but be mentioned.  And snow it did.  We had many exciting experiences in the snow.

Driving in the snow… its around 3 in the afternoon

Effi standing in the snow

Effi and Nathan skiing