Hong Kong China Trip 2011  

PHOTO: SHANGHAI, China -- Fudan University/ISI Santa Cruz alumni Reunion dinner

Fudan is considered one of the top 5 technology universities in China.

     Sophia, (1st row, 2nd from left) organized the dinner and hosted me for the afternoon. She and three others just graduated from Fudan two days before, and starting new jobs, a very impressionable time. They are holding the Scripture Verse calendars I gave them as gifts.  

     I didn't recognize any of the other students at first, but they told me how they had each been involved in ISI Santa Cruz, with airport pickups, conversation partners. Two said their favorite memory in Santa Cruz was Thanksgiving dinner at Anne Johnson's home.   

   Yukai, next to me, is a brother in Christ and Fudan alumni  from another ISI program, who joined us. We spent a really good time afterwards, at the subway station, praying for all of them. He is eager for God to use him to share Christ with his fellow Chinese and now works for a Christian agency in China.  

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TRIP SUMMARY: see links below to each city's report

I believe probably 50% of the impact of our ISI ministry happens in such a trip. Now they are back in their "real life," my visiting them in their homes, offices and home cities is an important friendship link  

  RESULTS ACHIEVED OF TRIP:

• Most important:  spending quality personal time with my hosts.
• renew our personal friendships and caring,  having fun together 
• brings back to life all their Santa Cruz memories , causing them reflect on the significance of their time in Santa Cruz and ISI.
• teach me about realities of their current lives in China to better relate to them and other ISI students/scholars
• learn about their important cultural places, history and philosophies that shape their thinking
• encourages me to see the long-term impact of our ISI program on their lives
• encourage them to keep seeking God's love and truth, wherever they are on their spiritual journey  
• link through alumni to future In'tl students/scholar

*****

The trip was wonderful, I really felt my pathway was walking on a cushion of prayer under my feet the whole time, giving me much confidence that GOD was in this trip. even in my most unnerving moment: getting on a bus heading into communist China on my own, with a very tight schedule, hoping my Mandarin skills were enough to get me through the border security and to my destination and 6 cities where I'd never been.

Sooooooo many things can go wrong, especially with such a tight schedule, such as...

CONNECTIONS:

 Constant meetings with about 30 ISI Santa Cruz alumni, all over China. But EVERY connection I scheduled was made, including 2 down-to-the-departure-minute exciting races with my 2 heavy bags through train/bus stations to catch bus/bullet train.

TYPHOONS:

It missed me by one day. The occasional warm rain was refreshing in the hot muggy weather, but I spent most of my free time in Hong Kong inside the ubiquitous, overly air conditioned shopping malls, so my problem was staying warm enough!

HIGH SPEED BULLET TRAIN MALFUNCTION:

The brand new train opened July 1. I rode it July 8. Later I saw news reports of a big train malfunction on July 7. It missed me by one day. My super-smooth 5-hour Shanghai-Beijing ride (normally 14 hour) was great!   

But so much went RIGHT because of your prayers and support!

THE BEST PART was the almost constant, generous and warmhearted companionship of my old friends hosting me every leg of the journey and launching me safely into the next segment.

QUALITY VISITS WITH ALUMNI--

with every one on my list, even with only 1 or 2 days per visit.   Although our time together was not really long enough to get deeply spiritual, an UpSide to such a whirlwind trip, is that they are each very interested to hear about all the OTHER alumni, connecting with THEIR peer group, so my trip was attractive for them to feel a part of the big ISI global fellowship.  

TWO REUNION DINNERS:

in Shanghai and Beijing. Took a lot of coordinating on my hosts' part. But very valuable for building a sense of community and ISI identity. They like to see the other ISI alumni! I got to make short and sweet speeches to encourage all of them to seek after God.  

TEACHING SOCIAL DANCE

After lugging my ballroom shoes and music all over China, I did get to use them on my last night in Beijing. Although I offered to all of them to teach any social dance, most of my visits were too short, between their hosting me for fabulous dinners and some sightseeing.

But my final host, Zhang Lan, really wanted me to teach her and her two teenage girls, so, in her private office at the Physics Laboratory, on white marble floors, at 8 p.m. on my last  muggy night in Beijing,

I taught the three of them Merengue and Swing. I was careful to not turn up the music too  loud, to not disturb the researchers down the hall. At first, Lan's eagerness for her girls to learn awakened her stern Tiger Mother mode,  but  I overruled her scolding and insisted on keeping the lesson happy and fun.

Perhaps my favorite moment was with my oldest and dearest friends, both are Peking University Chemistry Professors Xie and Yang, whom I dubbed my Chinese mother and father. Late at night outside their apartments, they asked me to teach them some dance, they didn't know the English name of. So they motioned a sharp turn with their head and arms. TANGO!  I showed them the most basic step, leading each separately. The rhythm, the placement of their arms, the directions to step, it was all so weird for them. but they liked it. 

Then I put them together as partners. To see the delight on the faces of this 80-year old married Professor couple learning to dance Tango under the summer Beijing moon, laughing, and discovering a new way to connect together in each other's arms.  So Heavenly! 

The next morning Hannah, insisted on  bringing me to their university area church in Bejing, learning about how to connect in a new way with our Heavenly dance partner as well. 

New ISI students/scholars are already requesting airport pickups in September. One had emailed me from Tsinghua Univ. in Bejing, at midnight of my last night in Beijing. I responded that I was staying at Tsinghua at the moment, and offered to meet him the next morning on my way to the airport! That didn't happen, but it was fun to offer. So we shall meet when he arrives here Sept 15. Beijing / San Francisco...

Now I feel in my heart they are not that far away..... 

HONG KONG ISI Conference

Hong Kong with ISI Santa Cruz alumni Eunice

GUILIN with Zhigang (to be uploaded soon)

CHANGSHA with Wu (to be uploaded soon)

XI'AN with SHEN YUE & Shuisheng (to be uploaded soon)

HANGZHOU with Shengchang (to be uploaded soon)

SHANGHAI with Cuibo, Sophia, Edwina, and Fudan Students (to be uploaded soon)

BEIJING with QingJu, Youchang & Hannah, Yanmei, Lan and Liangcai (to be uploaded soon)

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June 23, 2011 6:07 a.m. kitchen, Pollard home

Preparing the Itinerary:  Timing, in comedy and in life, is everything. And I’m often very bad at calculating timing, but I really believe in prayer, and going on this trip shows me how God’s timing that is beyond my control. Last night’s prayer meeting consisted in my prayer Partner Glenna and myself in my kitchen, but we prayed REALLY well, prayed for each host, for all the travel connections and for the Holy Spirit’s timing and work in each of their lives during my visits.

Other ISI prayer supporters, Amy, Carl, Glenn, Julie, Tim, Godfrey and others who emailed and phoned in the last couple of days to tell me they are praying at home (even in Fresno!) So NOW I feel really ready for the trip

Answers so far:

Typhoons are predicted for HongKong and southern China, where I am headed.

Hosts have mostly responded several times, and are helping check timing of my transportation. I’m bringing my ballroom shoes and music in case I can teach any social dance along the way. just spent last weekend at Stanford waltz camp so I feel ready!

Websites work good in China! (except when they are all in Mandarin, like the one for the new Shanghai Beijing High Speed train.

Finally got last flight ticket (of 5 flights) and train schedules, but just announced that China is opening a new high speed train July 1 Shanghai/Beijing in 4 hours. I’m traveling that route July 8! But the website is all in Mandarin, so maybe students in Shanghai can help me buy a ticket??

1.      HiuYan “Eunice” my UCSC undergrad host who now lives back home in Hong Kong is really busy with work, but still wants to meet/take me out 5 times in 5 days during my ISI conference, including visiting a museum featuring a Pixar Exhibit (our local media hero, which was just featured last year at UCSC’s annual alumni celebration!) Also dinner at her family home, and dinner when I arrive, and joining the ISI conference returned dinner, and maybe going shopping for my ballroom dress (I’ve heard I can get them really cheap there?)

2.      The highest political scholar that I’ve known in China (I won’t put name here) I haven’t heard from in 6 years, email bounced, but due to my email misfunction I was searching from 2006 and found her other email address, which resulted in, yesterday, a typically brief email back from your “Peggy, I am your sister __” possibly referring to her being a sister in Christ. And she will hold the dates in Beijing during my visit.

3.      Stayed up til 2 a.m. registering with State Dept. and sending final itinerary out, spending special time with Bob, but I woke this morning with only 4 hours sleep, but feeling rested, to finish the last of my tasks. Balance bank accounts, reimbursement reports, yechhhh

Kim, ISI Santa Barbara staff, and I are on the same flight to Hong Kong!

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May 15, 2011

ISI home office is gently reminding me to send my itinerary.  eeks.. I've been emailing with returnees all over western China...too many friends, too little time.  How fast are the trains?  so far my friends are saying its just about as fast to take trains between cities as to fly.  when I look on the globe at the cities, they seem so close... but the bigger map, ooooohhhh, that's a long way.

still checking, and I know I'm probably trying to include too much, but... its only 2 weeks, right?  and I love traveling on trains.  My Beijing friends seem delighted I'm coming, they want to host me...or pay for my  hotel rooms,, but I'm insisting I'd rather stay with them, even sleep on the floor or a couch is ok for me. and I don't need to do sightseeing, I'm there to see THEM!..

but first the itinerary... how fast are those trains again? flights are only 710 RenMinBi, about $100/ so that might be worth saving the time, since TIME is so precious!

Also, I'm offering to teach ballroom dance lessons (free) to anyone who wants me to, since I just finished my Teacher training class at Palomar and want to practice. I've heard Waltz is verrrry popular in China.

Basically I feel very blessed to make this trip and once my schedule and transportation is finalized, it should be a blast to see what God is doing in each of their lives. and to be used by God to bless them, my old friends...

Dear Peggy:...It is so nice to hear from you and know that you will visit Beijing again!   Yes, i will be in Beijing at that time,  and also can show you around Beijing, I bought a car....you are very welcome!   ...Waiting for your coming!... ..when you come, I have room for you!  You are my Very good friend!...LZ (postdoctoral researcher, Physics, Tsinghua University Beijing

Hi, Dear Pgeey:  I am so exciated that you still remember me. I am also exciated that you will visit Beijing during the summer. I am also regret that I miss the chance to meet you during your staty at Beijing last time. I am sure I will not miss the chance again. ....I want to cover your hotel fee during your stay at Beijing. ...Best regards! "QJ" (Prof. Earthscience Beijing)

Dear Peggy,....Very nice to hear from you....It is very great that you will come to China in July. Now I am visiting Taiwan for a couple of weeks. I think I will be at Beijing waiting for you at that time.-- LC (PhD student, EE.Tsinghua Univ. Beijing)

Hi Peggy,....I am doing well. . You are very welcome to Beijing! Looking forward to see you. "ShF" (PhD student Astrophysics,  Peking University)

Hi Peggy,...Glad to know your plan. ...It wouldn't be a big trouble for us. ...Looking forward to see you soon....Best regards,  XW (Prof. Economics, Changsha)

Hi Peggy, ...My family is fun, thank you! ...it is a very good news you will come to Shanghai, welcome you to visit Hangzhou.... .(his daughter went to middle school with Nelson) How about your three boys? they must be very old now. ..I wish you have a happy trip in China! "SCC" (Professor of Geophysics, Hangzhou)

Dear Peggy,...I'm happy to hear that you will come to visit China. .... You are very welcome to Shanghai and to my observatory!...Cheers,"DH" (Astrophysics, Shanghai Astronomical Observatory

please pray for me now that God will make it clear who I should visit and if I should drop any of these DEA R professors from my list. I think they think its cool that I'm seeing them all, kind of like connecting the dots of their Santa Cruz history too. and some we will try to join together in a reunion party

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May 9, 2011

Dear ISI Santa Cruz friends,

June 23-July 12 Peggy flies to Hong Kong for ISI National conference at Salisbury YMCA hotel. Networking and reconnecting with ISI staff all over the U.S. is an invaluable and affirming time for all of us to really see the bigger picture of what God is doing in our ministries and lives.

We need each other!

I'm still fine-tuning details of my visits with ISI santa Cruz alumni in HongKong  Guilin, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing, and possibly Xian.

I'm planning to do some interviewing of my ISI Santa Cruz alumni for ISI's new book written for returnee international students.

Gulin, I've heard is also a most beautiful city. Zhigang says he is driving FOUR hours to come meet me there!

Shanghai should be quite exciting. Professor Cuibo Zhiang,  while we were hiking buddies in Yosemite a few years ago, kept telling me I MUST visit her in Shanghai. I promised I would.  So here I come Cuibo!

and quite a number of undergrads who did exchange programs from Fudan University. 

I'm also looking forward to riding the super fast sleeper train Shanghai to Beijing, I've heard its the best in China.  And I trust my Mandarin speaking ability is good enough to survive one night by myself on the train, if my friends can drop me off and pick me up. 
Then, of course, the grand capital, Peking/Beijing.  I've already seen the amazing Great Wall BaDaLing (don't ride the sliding cars) and the Forbidden City (amazing huge labyrinth where Emporers concubines and family were kept) and Tianamen Square. (was there really a massacre there? my young hosts told me no, it was made up Western propoganda!) My favorite was the Temple of Heaven, and what I learned about the heart of Chinese spirituality there. As well as the little water well in the heart of the garden of Peking University, with a little bell, from the previous Christian university that was ringing God's truth and knowledge in the heart of this incredible country.

But I REALLY want to see most of all-- my great friends. What they are doing. and what effect our work has had on their lives.  Did our friendship and love and testimony for God  making any lasting impact?? What surprised me was how important it was to THEM to keep the friendship!  It reallllly mattered to them, the little kindnesses we did. I"m humbled by what GOD is really doing through us here in Santa Cruz.

So here's to another trip.   Thank you so much partners, for joining with me!Your prayers are essential.

Yours in Christ's service,

Peggy

[Watch for updates here as the trip develops]

Fundraising Goal: $2,300