Self Care Day -- With An Education

Today was Meg and Deme’s Self Care Day.

It began with Banana Pancakes and Jack Johnson (and Jack’s banana pancake song). Flour, salt, egg, yoghurt, water, cinnamon, cloves and banana slices combined, then fried with fish oil (you work with what you got!). Stacked three high, with two layers of marmalade jam, we topped these babies with a drizzling of honey and a sprinkling of additional spice. Sliced peaches on the side!

Breakfast was followed by a 1½ hour foot massage at a little spa down the street (for $5 US). This began with a soak of the tootsies in a wooden bucket of HOT tea. After skillfully working her fingers into and around every muscle in each foot, the masseur moved onto heavenly work on the calves, and later in the neck, shoulders, and back. It was marvelous!

OH, but this indulgence was not merely physical! My brain enjoyed a working as well. During our massages, Meg shared with me her study experience in Senegal, and I talked about my experience as a union steward. We discussed responsible and effective international social/development work, and lamented at challenges inherent in forming intercultural friendships in the context of some perceptions of particular economic power dynamics.

All this pampering was, of course, just further career research—Deme Yuan, International NGO Consultant. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

An additional treat followed in the form of a manicure date with Columbian friend Laura. We three foreign gals gossiped as we took turns at having our nails painted. You gotta mix it up: the heavy and the light.

For my last evening in Chengdu, a group of us went out for a great Sichuanese dinner. Dinner was followed by drinks at “Little Bar”, where we were quickly invited to join a trio of local business people for a bottle of whiskey. Oh, China!

Pandas! Pandas! Pandas!

On Tuesday, I went out to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. The whole place was fairly empty; post-quake tourism is down. I most enjoyed the Giant Panda Nursery.

Oh my goodness! Baby Giant Pandas are SOOO cute! At this time of the afternoon they were indoors, playing and eating. I know the bars in this picture look pretty gloomy, but I just don't have any other good photos. The little guys looked happy and healthy. And their outdoor enclosures are spacious and fun filled.

The pictured panda was my favorite of the day--gnawing on his apple slice, in all sorts of positions, for a good 10-15 minutes. He was so adorable! A Chinese tourist made a donation to the Research Center and got to hold him on her lap for a little photo session.

My stroll around the rest of the grounds was relaxed but educational, and HOT. I really like this quote:

"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we have been taught."
~Baba Dioum~

Semi-Manual Washing Machine

I ventured up to the roof to wash clothes in the do-it-yourself machine. It’s a wonderful process meant to give you a real appreciation of your automatic washing machine back home:

Step 1: Load a few clothing items into “washing machine” basin.

Step 2: Add detergent.

Step 3: Turn on water faucet until basin is full, then turn off faucet.

Step 4: Turn timer dial to start machine.

Wait 15 minutes as machine swishes water and clothing around.

Step 5: Empty water from basin by placing hose attached to machine into nearby toilet bowl. Replace hose to upright position once basin is empty.

Step 6: Turn on water faucet to refill basin with fresh water, this time without adding detergent. Turn off faucet when basin is full.

Step 7: Turn timer dial to start machine again.

Wait 15 minutes as machine swishes water and clothing around.

Step 8: Empty water from basin by placing hose in toilet again.

Step 9: Remove clothing from machine and wring out excess water.

Step 10: Hang clothing on line to dry.

Repeat process for additional small loads of clothing.

A Day of Play with Earthquake Survivors

On Sunday I participated in The Rainbow Project, a relief program Ecologia runs in a town that was hit particularly hard by last May’s earthquake. Once a week, Rainbow Project volunteers travel to Loushui (a 2-3 hour bus ride outside of Chengdu) for a day of play with the surviving children of the town. Play activities include sports and games, arts and crafts, song and dance, and English language lessons.

The day of play not only breaks up the boredom of the kids’ new lifestyle as people displaced from their homes, but serves therapeutic and healing purposes for children and adults who are grieving for loved ones lost in the disaster.

Over 200 kids in Loushui died when the elementary school and high school buildings collapsed during the quake. (The majority were from the elementary school.) Parent have claimed that, since the earthquake, the only time during the week that the children of Loushui laugh or smile is when the volunteers from Rainbow Projects visit on Sundays.

Chengdu, China

I’ve finally arrived in China!

At present I’m visiting friend Meg in Chengdu. Meg and Kate (new friend; Meg’s flatmate & colleague) have graciously invited me to stay at their apartment and have been sharing their knowledge and experience in the world of micro-credit AND relief work.

Meg and Kate work for an NGO called Ecologia, which conducts a micro-credit program in rural China. Ecologia’s main partner is the Rabbit King (see previous blog entry). The Rabbit King provides poor villagers with the rabbits and training to start small businesses. Ecologia then grants small loans to eligible farmers so that they can grow their rabbit farm businesses. Money might be used to build pens, to buy feed-making machines, or to buy more rabbits.

With last month’s devastating earthquake, troubleshooting the new and immediate problems of farmers’ loss of shelter, food, water, etc. became a necessary piece of the puzzle.

Wednesday Meg and Kate let me tag along for a trip out to one of the villages they work with. I got to meet some of the rabbit farmers who have received loans from Ecologia. Among the lovely cast of characters I met was the Rabbit Prince, 17-year-old son of the Rabbit King and Queen.

One of the purposes of the day’s outing was to get estimates on the cost of reconstructing farmers’ homes. Many people are living in tents outside of their houses, because the buildings are standing so precariously—it’s an extreme safety hazard. These structures usually shelter large families, as well as any livestock the families depend on for their livelihood.

(Check out the links to the Ecologia and Sichuan Xuping Rabbit Co. websites for more info if you have the time and interest.)

The Rabbit King

I love this story:

The Rabbit King started as the son of poor farmers in rural China. At age 14, he began raising his first rabbits. The bunnies did what bunnies are known for doing—they reproduced. The teenager sold some of his new bunnies, and turned a profit. Thus began the business that pulled his family out of poverty.

News of the Rabbit King’s rags-to-riches success story spread. He was actually visited by Deng Xiaoping (Chinese leader known for opening China to the global market, 1978-1990s). This visit inspired philanthropic ideas in the young man, going beyond simply acquiring wealth for himself to sharing success with the larger community. The Rabbit King established a relationship, and worked for many years, with The Heifer Project*, which provided the model for this.

Having lifted his own family from poverty, the Rabbit King began giving rabbits away to other poor villagers in his community and sharing his knowledge of business and rabbit-raising with them. Because of his generosity and genuine care for people, the Rabbit King is well-known and respected.

Note: Farmers sell their rabbits to businesses that primarily use them for their meat and fur. However, the farmers can also use the meat themselves, which is am important source of nutrition.

*Heifer is an international NGO, whose mission is to alleviate poverty worldwide. They donate farm animals (like chickens, goats, cows, rabbits, etc.) and animal husbandry training to poor farmers. Their condition is that when the animals breed the recipients give the baby animals to other poor families in their community, to spread the opportunities. Beautiful, isn’t it?

Thailand with the Sibs

It's been awesome getting to travel with Kim and Chris (my sister and brother-in-law) in Thailand this past week. Unfortunately, they've each had a turn at being sick in their first week in Asia. Our trio has turned to duos during some of our day outtings, but it's been great still (says the only one who hasn't had fever!).

In Kanchanaburi, Chris and I rented a motorbike and rode to Erawan Falls, an impressive 7-tiered waterfall. We hiked up to the 6th step, and took a dip one of the crystal blue pools, dodging toe-nibbling fish. The hour ride out to Erawan National Park was gorgeous. The trip back was bone-chilling, as raindrops slapped at our skin and wind tore at our sopping clothes.

At Tiger Temple, the three of us got up close and personal with the big cats, and a couple cubs too.

In Sangklaburi, I took Kim and Chris on a tour of Baan Unrak School and Children's Home. And I got to introduce them to some of my friends and favorite kiddos!

Two days ago, a night bus brought us north to Chiang Mai. Kim and I visited the Tribal Museum to learn about the main hilltribe groups in Thailand. And the three of us made a trip to the Malaria Testing Clinic just to be sure (negatives on both the sibs).

Today, Kim and I took a day-long Thai cookery course. It was so fun! Our teacher was a real comedian. The experience was educational and entertaining.

Kim and Chris arrive in Thailand!

Kim and Chris arrived in Bangkok last night. It was so great to see them! We have about a week to travel together before we must part directions.

Today, in the older, historical part of the city, we visited the Grand Palace and Wat Po (a temple with a huge reclining buddha). Then we took the river ferry to the Skytrain to get to the Bangkok's super-modern, downtown commercial district.

This evening we traveled 2 hours by minivan to get to Kanchanaburi. It's been a long, hot day. I think we'll all sleep well tonight!

Fishing

Fishing is not best done on a tight schedule. One must have time to figure out what to do with the unexpected.

What's a girl supposed to do with the contraption pictured to the left?

And the "bait" pictured to the right?

My baits guess...

You got me...