Note: various links or
other references may be mentioned below that no longer apply.
Sorry for the
inconvenience.
January 3, 2003
Dear
Friends,
In the USA, January is often a depressing time.
The holidays are over (and credit card bills arrive to rub it in!), and
everything turns from red/green to gray. In China, we experience the
opposite. January means that Chinese New Year (and thus the biggest family
reunion of the year) is just around the corner! Red lanterns and posters
begin to appear, as well as other colorful holiday decorations. Students
leave school for a long break, and adults look forward to two weeks off as
well. All of this produces a happy atmosphere which is quite contagious.
As the month begins, Michael is buried in final
projects and exams (Vivian finished her teaching duties on December 31).
But by mid-January all of this will be history, and we can take time away
from our hectic work schedules to relax and catch up on other things. In
early February we will join other foreign colleagues in Hong Kong for a
conference, from which we rush back to begin the next term.
We hope that you enjoyed a wonderful Christmas
season. We certainly did, and Andrew has especially enjoyed the Lego sent
over from the US. We also wish you and yours Heaven's richest blessings in
the new year.
Michael,
Vivian and Andrew
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PS: I continue to have trouble uploading things to this
website. There seems to be no pattern for the problems, and no key to the
solution, but I will keep trying
to keep our website current and full of interesting things to see!
--------------------
February 1, 2003
Dear Friends,
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR! This is the first day of the Year of the Ram.
(Actually, the same Chinese character can be translated ram, sheep, and
sometimes even goat or lamb. The same is true for the character for mouse
/ rat.) But whether the next 12 months are the year of the Ram or of the
Lamb, we hope they are filled with blessing for you and your family!
In a few days we will leave Xi'an's snow for sunny "spring" days
(hopefully!) in Hong Kong, where we will see friends and attend a
conference. We will return in time for Michael's first staff meeting,
February 14. The new term should be about the same as the old term. Most
of Michael's students did well, but final exams showed some weaknesses
that need to be dealt with. Michael is also preparing a new class about
"Sherlock Holmes" that should be a lot of fun. Vivian and Andrew get a few
extra days off before returning to classes.
We used part of our holiday to revise many parts of this website.
Structural changes should help make better use of your computer screen,
and we added more internal links to help you move around. However, a few
new photos and articles are also available, so if you haven't "surfed"
here lately, look around! We would also like to know what you think of our
work to link east and west via www.krigline.com.
Happy a blessed and prosperous new year!
Michael Krigline for Vivian and Andrew
Apparently, the job of uploading things to this website will continue to
be a challenge. Sometimes my software deletes old pages but fails to
upload replacements, with strange results for the viewer! Likewise, if you
are viewing it IN China you may find many pages loading VERY slowly. Sorry
for the inconvenience.
What is new? In addition to numerous structural changes
you will find a few changes on our Xi'an and Student photo pages. The
interactive "Better English" worksheet is new (and took a lot of effort!).
There's also a new photo of Andrew with his "dog" collection, and I
finished adding all the Sunday speeches I gave in Shanghai to our Articles
page. (back to top)
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March 1, 2003
Dear
Friends,
The Chinese New Year holidays are over and we are all back
to work. We enjoyed our short trip to Hong Kong (see the new photos of
both
Hong Kong
and
Macao),
even though both Andrew and Michael got sick there and
Vivian had two teeth pulled (ouch!). Because of a cold, Michael's ear was
damaged on our return flight, but it cleared up in a week or so. Andrew is
fine as well, and Vivian's mouth pain eventually departed, too. It just
goes to show that we can't take the blessing of good health for granted!
Michael's new Sherlock Holmes class started last week.
About 75 students attended! The great detective is popular here, though
most people have not read or seen him in action in English. If this
six-week course goes well, we may find other excuses to do fun things in
the future!
Vivian starts teaching again in a few days. Since she will
only have one class this term, she is also looking for a Chinese tutor.
Michael is thinking about working on his Chinese this summer as well. We
can both "get around" fine, but there is SO MUCH more to learn!
Thanks for stopping by. Drop us a note if you have a
minute!
Michael,
Vivian and Andrew
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March 21, 2003
Ever
since bombs started dropping in the gulf a few days ago, with a heavy
heart I have been trying to put my feelings about the situation into
words. My thoughts are detailed in a rather long essay (no longer
available on line, but I'll send a copy by email if you request it).
Here is a summary of my perspective:
Like the
vast majority of Americans, I hate war. But while we yearn for the day of
universal peace, I know that wars will be an ugly part of human existence.
Throughout history, military actions have been waged by many types of
people for many reasons, both selfish and altruistic, and historians
rarely agree upon which wars were necessary or justified—in this respect
the current situation is rather typical. Frankly, I wish the US could
bring all of its soldiers home, but history teaches us that the only thing
needed for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing. In the
current crisis, I think more effort should have been exerted to secure the
support of the United Nations, but the Security Council has also shown a
lack of will to follow through on its own words in spite of 12 years of
Iraqi defiance. In the future I hope the UN will learn to speak and act
with more resolution, and I hope the US will work harder to act in
cooperation with other nations. In these unsettling days, my heart goes
out to the US President (and other world leaders), coalition forces, and
the people of Iraq; and I pray for a quick end to hostilities, redirecting
the world’s attention to its many other problems, and providing a fresh
start for the people of Iraq.
Michael
Krigline
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April 1, 2003
Dear
Friends,
I am finding it hard to write a monthly update--just as it
is hard to carry out other "normal" activities when our world is at war.
I've said enough about that conflict in an essay so I will say little
here, even though it is impossible to keep it out of my thoughts for long.
The conflict has not had much effect on our daily lives. Very few students
have brought up the conflict to me personally. Domestic marches or rallies
are being discouraged, though the media makes it clear that China wanted
to give sanctions and diplomacy more time to bring about Iraq's compliance
to UN Resolution 1441.
Vivian's class has gotten off to a good start. Almost half of her 24
students came over to see a movie last week, and the others will follow
soon. Around 50 students have participated in my special "Sherlock Holmes"
class, which ends next week. I have also received permission to show two
American movies on campus (the greatest ever made in terms of number of
Oscars won). Over 100 students from many different departments saw the
first one last weekend, and the other one is set for Easter time.
Meanwhile, I led an interesting discussion of the Titanic disaster at our
last English Corner (and plan a similar campus discussion this month). My
classes also continue to go well, and I feel that my writing students are
making good progress.
Andrew got a big head start on his birthday when his grandparents bought
him a computer! We spent the weekend installing educational and "Lego"
software brought from America, and Andrew has enjoyed the new tool
immensely! His school work is also going well, and apart from minor bouts
with sickness we are all doing fine.
Staying busy with work, I have not done much to this website in the past
month, but there are probably lots of old photos and articles you have not
had the chance to see. Thanks for stopping by to visit. Keep praying for
the leaders of our world, and for the people of Iraq. Vivian and I
recently had a chance to watch documentaries about September 11 and about
China's long, bloody history. The headlines echo the pain and suffering of
humanity's past. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the calendar reminds us
that Easter is just ahead: the day when unbelievable pain brought eternal
life to all who seek it and which also contained a promise that our world
will one day live in peace.
Michael Krigline for the family
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-------------------
May
May 5, 2003
A month ago the conflict in the Middle East controlled the headlines and
preoccupied our thoughts. Today, attention has shifted to the
microscopic battle with a new virus called SARS. We are relieved that
the struggle in Iraq ended so quickly, and we pray that the SARS
situation will be equally short-lived.
China is taking SARS very seriously. Even though there have been less
than TEN suspected cases in my province (among over 36 MILLION people),
extensive measures are being taken to limit the risks. At our university
(like all others we know of), most of the gates have been sealed.
Students are not allowed to leave and no one can enter campus without a
special permit. A cup of herbal medicine comes with every meal at the
campus restaurant, and a school car now carries us to and from campus.
With the universities in “lock down” operation, local stores and
restaurants are going out of business (as are many restaurants around
town). Likewise, busses go by empty, with the few riders inside wearing
cloth masks. Security guards at most apartment complexes (like ours)
must also wear masks and gloves, and non-residents must now sign-in to
enter the gates (if they are allowed in at all). At NPU, all three of
the other foreign teachers were recalled by their American university.
We alone are left.
While we applaud the serious attention being given to SARS, this
attention is also giving rise to fear and panic. We see it in our
students and colleagues, and among those we talk to on the street. A
friend forwarded a helpful email that talks about this fear, and more
importantly how to deal with it. (Visit "articles" to read it.) The
truth is that we are not afraid, and when people ask us why not, we can
only point up to our Father and Friend in heaven. It is times like these
that help us see how blessed we are to possess a faith that is greater
than our fears.
Thanks for stopping by!
Michael, Vivian & Andrew (back to top)
----------------------
June 2003
Where does the time fly?! We are staying extra busy these days,
teaching, preparing final exams, grading papers, and just living! Though
SARS is still keeping our students from leaving campus, the level of
fear has decreased substantially, and that is good news.
Another piece of good news is that Andrew and his partner John (from
Korea) won first place in their grade at the Xi’an International School
Science Fair! Congratulations guys! (If you look on Andrew’s Page you
can see a photo of their display.)
That’s all the time I have for this update. I’ll also post a few student
essays on SARS, and a new photo or two while I’m getting ready to upload
this update. See you next month!
Michael for Vivian and Andrew
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----------------------
July-August 2003
Our summer will be filled by teaching English and trying to finish
various projects around the apartment (including updating our website
and creating a "smaller" version at krigline.com.cn).
We have also taken a short trip to Ning-xia (see below) and will visit friends in
Shanghai and Beijing.
On June 20, NPU re-opened its gates—officially ending students’ SARS
confinement. Now (in mid-July) it seems like SARS is a part of the
distant past. Isn’t it funny how the things that so powerfully capture
our attention usually fade into the mists of our past once a crisis is
over? What a pity it would be if the world has learned nothing from the
big crisis of 2003, but if history is any teacher, we will all too
quickly forget. Soon, we will again turn blind eyes to danger signals as
other dictators (like Saddam) arise, and drift back into comfortable
patterns of lazy hygiene as other diseases enter our vocabulary—to the
peril of ourselves, our family members, and our neighbors both near and
far. Humanity seems determined to re-live the errors of the past,
ignoring so much of the Light that is available to guide our ways.
In early July we spent a wonderful week in neighboring Ningxia Province.
I hope to soon post a new photo page or two covering our adventure. We
saw the broken remains of the Western Xia dynasty (annihilated by the
Mongol Yuan Dynasty), climbed the almost-unrecognizable remains of part
of the Great Wall (its brick covering long ago stripped away to build
other things), rode camels and sleds through the awesome shifting sands
of the Tengger desert, and drifted on a sheep-skin raft down the Yellow
River (China’s “mother” and “sorrow”).
China is a wonderful classroom for those who would learn from history.
Desert and river boundaries shift, and dynasties come and go, while
communities flourish for a while and then (like the crises mentioned
above) fade into the mists of the past. Like the 5000-year-old rock
carvings we saw (hundreds of pictures with unknown meanings), we all
leave a mark for future generations to see, but how many will understand
the messages we consider so important?
Are humans doomed to continuously repeat the cycle of crisis,
opportunity, advancement, and ignorance? Probably—because participation
in this cycle is the choice we all make when we choose not to learn. Two
sayings come to mind:
-- It is better to study nothing than to study a lot without thinking.
Chinese Proverb
-- Search for wisdom as you would for hidden treasure and you will
understand what it means to know the Lord God; all wisdom comes from the
Lord, and so do common sense and understanding. Proverbs 2:4-6 (The
Bible)
This summer, you may not have a chance to gain first-hand knowledge by
visiting a forgotten civilization or ever-changing desert, but I hope
you will take the time to consider the future in the Light of the past.
Teaching and learning in China,
Michael Krigline for Vivian and Andrew
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September 6, 2003
September is always interesting
for college teachers in China. We know when the term starts and ends,
but the special days that cancel classes (holidays, sports days,
convocations, etc.), are not announced until they get closer. In
addition, we may have to wait a few weeks into the term to learn the
extent of our duties. This is because NPU sophomores, juniors and
seniors (and I assume this is true at other universities) register for
classes the afternoon before the first day of class, post-graduate
students arrive after the first week, and freshmen don't begin until a
few weeks of military training have concluded. Until everyone is on
campus and registered, the teachers are unsure about just how many
students we will have, and for that matter which classes need to be
taught or when.
Textbooks are interesting, too. Teachers get their new textbooks two
days before classes start (if they are available--some of mine were
not!). Students paid 500RMB ($60US) when they were freshmen to cover
most of the books they would need over the next four years. These books
are usually available before the first day of class. Students also spend
about 80RMB ($10US) per term for special books (like the ones for my
classes), and they get these anywhere from the day before class to a few
weeks later. (Two of my classes showed up without books the first day,
making me change my lesson plan at the last minute.)
This is all quite different from my college days in the US, when
students registered for September classes in May, and thus teachers had
all summer to prepare. The main exception was intensive English classes
that remained open until the "last minute" (if not throughout the
term!), but at least we knew which books we would be using far in
advance. Furthermore, American students need to buy their textbooks
before classes start each term (and Chinese students reel to learn that
even used books can cost $400US per term!).
My first week went pretty well. I have a 40-student class (Business
English for Seniors) that meets four hours per week, two 24-member
classes (Junior Writing) who meet two hours each, and a two-hour
96-member class of advanced Juniors who are learning about US Culture
(I'm splitting this class into two sections next week). I taught all
except the new "96" last year, so we are building on some good
relationships. Vivian knows she will teach six hours to around 90
students this term, including English conversation classes for military
teachers and a culture/video class for Ph.D. students, but details are
forthcoming.
In addition to the above, I spent several hours participating in a local
TV talk show discussion about marriage, and have been busy proofreading
the English translation for documents related to my university's
upcoming 65th anniversary celebration. Maybe by next month we will know
what else we are up to (including meals and movies with students), and
can tell you more about the school's anniversary, too!
Andrew has gotten off to a great start with 5th grade. The International
School has many new teachers this year, enrollment is up, and changes in
their class structure seem to be working well. Andrew really likes his
new teacher, Mrs. Kim, and is looking forward to a great term. I'm sure
he will continue to play with the neighborhood kids he got to know this
summer, but he is also very happy that his foreign friends are finally
returning from family vacations abroad. Beth continues to do well back
in S.C., and keeps busy with her work and other activities!
Staying flexible in China,
Michael Krigline for Vivian and Andrew
What is new? In July/August we spent a lot of time enhancing this
website. New items include: a "smaller" version of this site at
www.krigline.com.cn (that hopefully will load quicker for our Chinese
students); a link to help students find English names (plus more helpful
links for students and teachers); pictures (and Vivian's vacation
report) from our trips to Beijing, Ning Xia and the Sha-po-tou desert; a
map of China (linked to the photo pages) and a map of the USA (along
with answers to frequently asked questions); new pictures of our
students (including a look at our classroom and a movie crowd); a new
Lego creation from Andrew; new photos under "Life in China;" a photo of
Bao Shan; Vivian's meditation on "paper towels;" a few more "favorite
links;" a slight revision of my comments on witchcraft-mania; and our
updated calendar. We have reached the maximum space allowed for this
website, so "Shanghai Apartment Photos," "Chosen Instruments"
(downloadable music file), "Missing Hazel," and several articles are
gone, and over the coming months we may delete or alter other articles
or pages (so take a look while you can!), including: Xi'an Christmas
photos, Shipping Damage photos, and Andrew's page.
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October 1, 2003
October
will be a month of celebrations. Oct.1 is China's National Day. That's
like America's Fourth of July, but the Chinese make it a week-long
holiday (Americans only get one day off!). October 4 is the traditional
Double Nine holiday. Since "nine" sounds like "old" in Chinese, this
holiday is about honoring one's elders, and senior citizens in general.
October 8 is NPU's 65th anniversary
celebration. The administration has been busy for the past year,
building, refurbishing, rearranging and beautifying all sorts of things.
The place is so much more attractive and functional than it was a year
ago, that it is almost like working in a new place altogether.
Congratulations, NPU, on 65 years of fruitful service!
Miscellaneous other celebrations are also
in store. On October 31 Michael's grandmother turns 99, and four other
relatives celebrate October birthdays, too (Vivian's niece on the 7th,
her brother on the 16th, and Michael's sister and niece on Oct. 30;
Michael's dad had a BD last month--click here to read a poem about him).
We understand that the NPU freshmen want us to lead the foreign
teachers in a few songs as part of their post-military training
celebration on Oct. 11, and Michael will also lead the singing at a
gathering of expatriates toward the end of the month.
A friend wrote a book several years ago
called Life is a Party, and it looks like life will be rather lively for
the Kriglines over the next few weeks!
Celebrating in China,
Michael, Vivian and Andrew
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November 2, 2003 (Sunday)
Sorry this monthly update is late. Yesterday was Saturday, November 1,
and I had planned to work on this website on my day off. But on Friday
our university moved tomorrow to yesterday, so I had to teach. This
afternoon (while I was teaching Tuesday's class), they told us that
tomorrow would be yesterday, giving us two days to prepare for our
Wednesday classes. But about an hour later they called to say that
tomorrow would be Wednesday and yesterday had moved to Thursday. Of
course, the good news about this is that we get four days off next
weekend, since Thursday and Friday will be last Saturday and Sunday,
followed by next Saturday and Sunday--at least that is what will happen
if nothing else changes. If this doesn't make sense to you, you have
obviously never lived or worked in China. (There REALLY are good reasons
for all of this, but it would take too long to explain!)
As for last month (in which only Oct. 8 was changed to Oct. 11--for the
sake of the NPU anniversary), it was not as full of celebration as we
had hoped. On Oct. 6 I started coughing, and just as I seemed to be
stopping (on Oct. 29) I caught a cold, which has decided to stay a
while. In the process I missed a week of class, saw two doctors, drank
plenty of fluids, spent untold hours in bed, and took a colorful
assortment of medicines. Maybe, if I really get a long restful weekend
in early November, I'll be back to normal--whatever "normal" is!
Being flexible in China,
Michael for Vivian and Andrew
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top)
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December 1, 2003
Dear Friends,
For months now, fatigue due to
various respiratory maladies has kept Vivian and I from doing many of
the “extras” we like to do for our students and friends. Our students
have also suffered through many in-class coughing spells. However,
Vivian’s “foreign” medicine has just been re-supplied, and tests done a
few days ago at the local hospital may provide needed answers for my
condition. God willing, we will both be fully restored soon.
Speaking of “God willing,” it is
Christmas time! Why does this often-misused phrase remind me of
Christmas? More than any time of the year except Easter, Christmas
reminds us that the Almighty is certainly “willing.” He was willing to
leave the comforts of Heaven to live on this backward planet 2000 years
ago. The Prince of Peace was willing to come humbly as a baby and grow
up in a common family, instead of choosing the pampered life of royalty.
He was willing to live and eventually die like the rest of us, so
that—if we put our faith in Him—we might never have to suffer the
eternal separation of death.
Christmas is the world’s only
birthday in which the one born chose the time, place and circumstances
of that event, and the “willingness” demonstrated in those choices helps
us to see why this birthday has been celebrated worldwide for so many
years!
We choose to celebrate Christmas with
a decorated tree, special parties and movies for our students, and gifts
for each other. However you choose to celebrate it, may you and yours
have a very Merry Christmas!
Michael Krigline for the family
For more information about Christmas, see Michael’s article called
“Finding Christmas Anew.”
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