mount everest
this is the potala palaca in lhasa. 
temple in gyantse
this is the tallest sitting buddha in the world. its in sichuan
for many more pics please go on facebook and look up my profile under sarah bilodeau
the chinese people follow different calendars. this one is the lunar calendar. this year, tons of unexpected snow had fallen, more than in the past 50 years and for some other regoins, for a century. ice has also frozen grounds and made houses crumble and train lines uncapable of passing any trains. so actually i started out my trip by being stuck on a the train for 3 days, but we had electricity and luckily continued onto our destination. some people on other trains never had the chance to go where they wanted to go. some people have lost electricity for 3 weeks, and for new year's, this is quite a problem, as they must return home to be with their family. not only have roads been locked enough to let millions of people at train stations, but they all want to travel at the same time, given the new year event, so the people traffic jam and weather is really creating a huge blockage here. why is it so important for them to sleep in the train station for days on end to go back home?
the family unit is crucial for these people, and some traditions that have been practised for over two thousand years has barely changed! it's these customs and traditions that make it impossible for people to let go of the idea of going home and will do no matter what it takes to go to their home. what is their home for them?
their family, in most cases is the central key, they listen to their elders, they work together, so their society is axed more on family values than in the west... they hold a high respect for what the parents say, and this is grounded from Confucius, a man who wrote the Analects which is a collection of principles to make people live in a stable society. He said that in order for a society to function, order must be maintained and this was shown in 5 different relationships where one had to listen to the other. the father and son, the governer and the governed, husband and wife, friend to friend, older brother to younger brother. this has had an enormous impact on china because for centuries life depended on this hierarchy and even when it was abolished, the idea remained in the characteristic of the people. That is maybe one reason why the children have to go home for new years. its perhaps an obligation. if you dont show up to your family party that is awaiting you, perhaps you are deceiving them
nonetheless, this thought is changing because the city influences the person's mind to work and make money, or stay with friends... and not all are going back home. the family is becoming less important for some because other interests are growing and they realize that by moving otu they can do what they want and the possibility is much easier now than it was just a decade ago.
on the other hand, the country is vast, and even if minds are changing due to external ideas and exchanges of opinion with people who go to the cities, many people still live in the country side and villages and retain the tradition of going back home. the children often stay with ther parents till they are married because they cant go off and study somewhere else due to lack of funds.. and yet, this is also changing.... i ve met many , since i live in the city and travel in some other cities , that are donig exactly this and are working on their own.. so the rate of china's change is always growing, and what was, might not be tomorrow.
also, people save up all for new year's. they buy presents and have to cook and buy trani tickets for the family. they dont want to miss that! also, they only have 2 weeks of holidays a year! so they also probably dont want to miss this oppurtunity to do something different and get a different air.
ill talk more of those customs when i have the chance after my trip to post some pictures. till then good luck and have nice prosperity!
Here are a few pictures that will hopefully lend you a hand in making you imagine a little bit more the images that i take part in. of course these are only a scope of a universe in a distant glance but perhaps it s a start to let the mind drive off from what's linear's linear and limited.
crumbling stairs that sees no end left deposits behind, now used to rebuilt cells to safety with a precipitated reopening, they became a worldy garden for the traveler to fulfill his craving
an aged man was awakening in a bush down below in the early dew he who needed rocks still standing in order to dream like a warrior under the midnight moon and awake to red rising rays to announce a much too soon morning
next to him was lying a straw hat, which more easily made him appear like a man of the village he took his small bag and packed inside what appeared to be a music box looked at it with content as though it had just done him a great favor maybe missing company, wishing he had a wife to share warm on the cold grounded night quickly changed face looking at the scenery, overwhelmed "there's too much more to see, to spend anymore time thinking about what I don't have"
he also disclosed of tea and a cup and a first aid kit for bad luck, who knows todayd he's ready to cook up the trail with his heels to understand to his capability and imagination yesturdays as they might have been
as a wedding of two experiences more flowers and smells were caught in the ascent after walking for hours in tranquility, that is, before the rush of tourists arrived he retired on a bus with a group of locals
he wonders "did i need to see to fully understand ? without experiencing, how much would I have lost?
on the other side, maybe there is no need to see it could be a task reserved for the mind's eye to preserve the past if so, then I have a weakness in the mind to need the set design I had to leave and touch I had to walk the stone to understand how it feels, how it smells bliss and blizzards that spring from having transformed the image into reality before this day, there was a link missing
memory of surroundings, memory of feelings that won't die within the space when the day comes to recall these smells, they can all come back in a nutshell i will dig in my jewelry box and tell stories to my children perhaps i should have chosen to be an actor some are satisfied by imagining others are with safety I'd be more afraid of what might happen if i stayed"
bonjour à tous! le mois passé nous sommes parti avec des gens à la province de Hebei pour une fin de semaine. L'endroit s'appel Bashang et c'un est un endroit calme et loin de la ville ou est ce qu'on a fait tout plein d'activités. C'était des premières pour moi, jai conduit un 4 roues et on a fait un michoui et on a fait du cheval dans les paturages, aussi à travers de petites coline enchantées, c'est en faite ce que vous pouvez voir sur la photo. je n'avais jamais galloper ou tout simplement monter sur un cheval pour plus que 10 minutes avec un homme acoter. maintenant jetais seule avec mon cheval. J'en ferai encore n'importe quand car le plaisir d'etre avec un compagnon qui t'écoute (enfin.. quand il veut) et en meme que toi tu ecoutes ton compagnon ca mène a un certain niveau d'intensité qui est un mélange d'émotions excitant et relaxant. Avec la connaissance que la spontaneité est ce qui guide cette relation a tout moment cette idée juxtapose celle de la vie, que les risque se presentent tout les jours et que si on croit ou plutot on voudrait croire qu'on a tout en controle, a tout moment la possibilité du saut du cheval qui te fait tomber sur le sol peux arriver. le buddha dit que nos vies ne sont qu'un resultat d'experiences alors en prenant compte de cela peut etre serions plus capable d'accepter tout gallop et trot et debarquement car c'est peut etre la seule choses sur quoi on peut compter. parfois on oublie que c'est ces choses qui nous menent tout simplement et il faut accepter et rester dans l'optique des resultat, que cette evenement va nous faire creer que du mieux de nous dans le futur. en se laisssant emporter par le mouvement tot ou tard, on oublie les craintes, les souci, car pourquoi s'en faire? a quoi bon ? et encore, pourquoi meme penser que si on tombe c'est un malheur qui nous arrivent car ce n'est pas ce qui nous arrivent qui est le guide de notre vie, comme un cheval, comme le vent, comme notre souffle, mais la facon de reagir a ces choses la. et ca aussi je crain s qu'on oublie, peut etre parce qu on est pas assez detacher de ces evenements et qu'on les laisse prendre le meilleur de nous au lieu d'en tirer autre choses nouvelles et tranformés. nos craintes vont toujours etre la, a quel que part mais le poids de l'effet que ca donne quand on surmonte un obstacle ne faut qu'a apporter une création nouvelle en soi et en faite aussi pour les autres autour de nous. peut etre faut il penser a soi et s'oublier en meme temps. les petits bleu sur les jambes que le cheval offre c'est comme des petits bleu dans la poitrine et les crampes et la fatigue ne font que rajouter au jeu de la vie.
Bon Sarah n'arrête pas de poster donc un peu à moi ... Hier soir on est allé manger chez grand frère Fu (GEGEFU) un restaurant connue pour ses hot pots. Qu'est qu'un hotpot ? Bonne question c'est un bouillon de viande (poulet, boeuf, canard, ...) épicé ou non dans lequel vous faites tremper des ingrédients pour les faire cuire. Le concept est intéressant et le restaurant était réputé ...
Donc nous commandons un bouillon de poulet, et avec ce bouillon, vient un ensemble d'accompagnements prédéfinis. En attendant nos plats, nous assistons à un charmant spectacle de danse. Mais lorsque notre plat arrive, quel n'est pas notre surprise de voir flotter à la surface : une carapace de tortue ! Au début incrédule, je me dis que c'est pour la décoration et je commence à manger. Effectivement la peau était un peu bizarre, effectivement le poulet n'y ressemblait pas trop. A grand renfort de dictionnaire, je demande des informations sur notre plat, et le serveur m'explique qu'il s'agit effectivement d'un bouillon de poulet, mais avec de la chaire de tortue.
Bizarrement, à ce moment là mon estomac (souvent bien accroché) n'a fait qu'un tour et je n'ai plus pu avaler le moindre morceau de nourriture jusqu'à la fin de la soirée. Sarah en revanche a trouver l'expérience "intéressante" et à tous gouté !
C'est qui le plus tough de notre couple ? (une carapace de tortue pour la bonne réponse !)
sarah;
last friday i went to see a concert outside where the children were dancing and the whole community was gathered to see and participate in the concert to show their talent. some teenagers sang, comedy skits and dating games were played with the audience and a group of older women were about to dance with their fans. as i was attending the children back stage, the women dancers happened to be next to me and they waited patiently with sweat running down their faces, because of the stage lights that flashed strongly through their pores. it looked as though they were used to performing. It also seemed very important to them as they stood with their heads up and a straight look as though very concentrated. one might've thought that they were up next, but in fact, they were not since we were. one thing is sure, they were not shy of staring at me and the other foreign teacher once in a while. their readiness and style appeared to be a sense of pride, of unity. of more than showing their talent. their eyes shined and their make up glittered. perhaps they were the women of the street corners that hold this cool ritual of dancing every night. and that sometimes with evenings like these they can show what they practice. what i mean is, groups of women, like them, gather at almost every neighbourhood corner outside at 8 o'clock in Daxing and dance to a lively beat and men join in too depending on the dances.
i actually watched some dance one evening and there were many couples dancing. this was happening in the main square of the city. the rythmn was always followed, whethere people danced the same steps or did their own thing. the mixtures complimented each other and the different sways gave color to the whole composition. they were like individual notes that formed a harmony of the feet. people mostly follow specific steps but you might catch some dancing versions of tango while some odd couples dance to a lovely lonely beat. an older couple looked each other in the eye and their dance was completely different from everyone else's. perhaps it was an old tune they used to dance to. their gaze was somewhere else, as though this dance floor were the memories of a created history that they were both thinking about. present and detached. completion of contradictions.
there are many contradictions which i am searching to understand here. two chinese girls that i met told me a same saying in the same day, which i found a funny coincidence. they said ; there are always two sides to a coin. its simple and we have all probably heard this before but now that i am travelling it is as though it is amplified because i try to create explanations to what i see to try to understand the culture, the people, but then, as soon as i do that; i realise that theres more and i keep questioning myself. i know i have to keep doors open as though everything is uncertain. i always have to remember that my cultural make up has to be broken down in order to break the old habits of putting meaning to something in a certain way because it is this very option that influences the way i see, as people see to a certain degree and that is why, i keep the doors opened and am often changing my points of views. they are determined but far from complete, as every opinion. perhaps there are certain things that we as humans strongly believe in, but what about the rest? and what are those important things? what creates these values and why do we keep them?
for the moment i just let myself be taken by the ride and try to leave opinions outside. i have yet to discover... i have some ideas of certain things, but this land is vast and the minds are so far from what i know ... one of a few things that i recognise is that the people here need very little and seem very happy. also many are generous to me but i dont know if that is due to my being a foreigner as some even go as far as to praise us in a certain way, or if they are really like that with each other. i know their family values are strong, and the support and respect to everyone older than oneself is greatly respected but i have not yet encountered someone who spoke of their family much. I have not had many chances to have such conversations with the people because only very few can speak english. but there are some that do at sschool which i am becoming acquainted with which is good because i have many questions to ask...
good night
Rebonjour a tous ! ma premiere semaine de travail terminer. L'ecole ne s'est pas questionner sur mon sujet. En fait, j'ai recu les livres d'etudes et ensuite j'ai fait ce que je voulais avec ca car ils ont tous terminer les livres. Alors, j'ai en parti fait de la revision en realisant qu'il faut bien que je planifie mes lecons, et ensuite un peu d'improvisation... Je me suis beaucoup amuser a commencer a apprendre les esprits de groupes et de chaque personne. Comment pourrais je faire un petit malin jouer? Comment faire l'exciter se calmer, en meme temps de garder la classe motiver, attentif? J'ai des enfants qui viennent de sortir des bras tendres de leurs mamans, et ils en pleurent. Et avec un peu de temps, il souris, ils se mettent a apprendre et l'evolution me fascine de ses enfants. Je realise que nous grandissions tellement en si peu de temps. Que l'enfant peux se plaire si facilement, et s'emmerder aussi facilement. Il,Elle , n'aime ou n'aime pas et ca pourrais finir la s'il n'est pas sois un peu pousser ou inspirer. Chaque jour qui se presente apporte un nouveau defis, sois dans la classe ou dans la rue mais tranquillement un jour a la fois j'apprend beaucoup comme ces enfants et aux nouvelles l'habitudes, l'integration vien quand elle est la bienvenue. Ca viens comme une surprise,
Pour le premier poste commençons par le commencement ... l'arrivée ...
JS : Douane, bagage, sortie et récupération à l'aéroport par Tim : nickel ! Je n'en revient pas mais 30 minutes après mon arrivée je suis dans un taxi et zhouuuu vers l'appart. Depaysement garanti et bel appart bien sympa. Plus que deux jours à attendre avant l'arrivée de ma douce et tendre. Juste le temps de me familiariser avec les lieux et faire disparaitre au plus vite le sentiment de désorientation. Quelques cours de chinois mais ma concentration n'est pas au beau fixe ... et parler c'est pas si simple ! Mais le feeling general est positif. Tiens on est déja Vendredi et Sarah arrive :
Sarah : A mon arrive je cherche parmis les plusieurs pancartes mon nom car je sais que l'ecole qui m'embauchera m'attendra. Je regarde tranquillement et ensuite voila une face que je connais, celle que j'ai pas vu depuis deux mois. Disons que je m'y attendais, mais pas au premier rang. Disons que je croyais que ca allais etre plus difficile de se trouver. Je m'attendais a ce qu'ils y aient tellement de gens avec tous ces vols qui debarquents a l'international, que j'avais presque qu'envie de lui demander de preparer une pancarte pour moi! Non mais serieusement, tout c'est tres bien derouler. Les gens de l'ecole sont arriver peu apres et nous ont fait gentillement visiter l'ecole. Cest une ecole de classes maternelles et c'est tres bien, alors voila, je commence a travailler lundi. Je enseigner pour un ans a Daxing, c'est dans les banlieu de Pekin, a une heure environ en bus. La ville est immense et chaque jour est un nouveau depart. Vous pouvez aussi lire les messages anglais que j'ecrirais si vous pouvez, car je ne traduirais pas necessairement. enjoy !
For my dear friends who don't speak french, I will also write some notes in english so you can all know how things are going. So to begin with this first week, I arrived safely in Beijing and was taken to the kindergarten school where I will teach. I gladly accepted, after a few days of ponderation, to work for them for a year. I will live at about an hour from downtown; in the suburbs so I can be close to my school. The people here look very friendly and the neighbourhood looks quite and relxing, a good way to arrive after a day's hearing of children hugging your pants. I don't know how it will be, but it surely sounds exciting. I'm up for taking chinese lessons soon and till then will accept the giggles at the restaurant of the waitress and their friends behind the counter because of our funny accent. Things are rolling smoothly...
