INTERNET INTERRUPTED

So with the worldwide protests and government reformations taking place as of late, my internet has been consistently interrupted.  My tv hasn't been working either and I am not sure if it is because I hit a button on my remote or if it is because of everything that is happening.  The gov't is hard at work suppressing information.  I am still able to access information at work which is good but this morning I even tried to look up information on the union protests in Wisconsin and the page was blocked.  I know there have been stories about a gathering last week here in Beijing but I can honestly say I didn't know anything about it until the day before when I read something on msnbc.  Of course the next morning, my internet wasn't working as it should.  The majority of people here go on with their day to day lives fairly unconcerned about the manipulation of information they are provided.  This is for several reasons one of them being that if you have a society that is consistently shown all the "good" things that are going on within itself and all the "bad" things happening everywhere else.  If you don't think anything wrong is going on and you have a roof over your head and food on your table, you probably won't be motivated to say or do much.  There is definitely an increasing difference in the mindset of the older generation from the cultural revolution and the younger generation here.  The younger generation cares more about changing politics here than the older generation does.  Anyway... it is an interesting time to be here.  With everything happening in the world, a lot of people suspect China is next.  I've read several articles on the topic and even though I haven't been here long and feel I am still quite ignorant of a lot  of things that go on here and the culture in general,  I feel pretty safe in saying that there won't be any changes here anytime soon.  
 
Before I came to China I went to a rally in Washington DC. It was my first "political" rally.  I also took time to write to my senators regarding the new TSA/security screenings.  I tried to take advantage of my freedom of expression and speech before I left because I was really unsure of the situation I would be in here.  Attending the rally was quite empowering and I definitely developed an appreciation for freedom or expression.  Having a voice is one of the greatest and most important things you can have because it is your own and no one else's.  It is tragic that that is not realized by so man

REVIEW - LA TRAVIATA @ NCPA BEIJING

This week my friend Samily and I went to see the opera La Traviata at the National Center for Performing Arts here in Beijing.  I was sooooo happy to get out and see an opera and to finally be doing something that made me feel like I was back in my element.  So here is my review of the performance.  I do however need to let you all know that La Traviata was the first opera I saw at The Metropolitan Opera in New York some years back and it was the famous and lavish Franco Zeffirelli productionstarring my secret German boyfriend Jonas Kaufmann as Alfredo, so seriously, any other production of La Traviata will never, never meet the standard set by Mr. Zeffirelli or The Met.

I was really, really looking forward to seeing this performance because the role of Violetta was played by Inva Mula who is a French/Albanian Soprano who performs all over Europe, including La Scala and this is one of her signature roles.  A lot of you may actually be familiar with her if you have seen the movie "The 5th Element" which is one of the dumbest sci-fi movies of the 1990's starring Bruce Willis.  There is a scene where Bruce Willis goes to a performance and this tall blue alien lady sings an opera aria and then it turns into this techno bit.  Inva Mula is the voice that sings the song in the movie.  

Okay, on to the review... For me this was a mediocre production.  There were things I liked but there were things I didn't like and unfortunately the things I didn't like outweigh the things I did like.  First of all, I arrived late so I missed almost all of act 1 but arrived just in time to hear the aria by Ms. Mula.  She had a gorgeous voice but I felt like her interpretation was lacking some power and she didn't go for the high note at the end.  Grrrrrr!  The man who played Alfredo was not a very good actor and his voice was not my favorite.  His motions and actions on the stage seemed so unnatural and I found that to be distracting.  On to the man who played Germont, the father.  LOVED HIM!  He was great!  The chorus sang well and the orchestra was perfect although I wish they had been a tad louder.  That may have more to do with the acoustics in the performance hall than the orchestra itself but they didn't miss a note from what I could tell and their exactness was noticeable.  

Costumes for the most part were beautiful.  I didn't care for the matador outfits the men had on in act two - they looked like something a high school color guard team would have because they were covered in bright red sequins. Also, the character of Violetta is a sweet, lovable, and elegant person and she always was portrayed as such in her clothes throughout the show until the end.  Okay, so I know in Act 3 she is in misery because she is heartbroken and ill but I don't know who designed that horrible white night shirt thing she had on. It looked awful and was in no way an expression of the character of Violetta.  Stage direction was decent although some of the positioning seemed unnatural.  The set had a this really cool mirror effect.  Everything on the stage was reflected into the background using a giant mirror and that was really neat.  The backgrounds in scene 1 of Act 2 were not my favorite - not sure who painted them but I think they were starting to run out of money.  The ending of the opera was completely ruined by someone's idiotic idea to lower the giant mirror in the background so the audience was reflected in it for the last 10 minutes. It looked awful and it was such a huge and ugly distraction that all the attention was given to it and not to the performance.  Seriously people, this is freaking LA TRAVIATA!!  You don't do stupid stage tricks the last 10 minutes when everyone on stage is pouring out their heart and soul to glorious music!  The point is to engage the audience in the lives of the characters, not themselves.  I promise had they left that mirror thing where it was, I would have come away from the performance feeling much more positive.

The worst part of the performance was the audience.  I've never heard so many people whispering during a performance, including the ushers in the back.  A man in the row in front of us was tapping his program on the seat in front of him during the majority of the third act and another man was taking pictures the first part of act 2.  A guy behind me was eating something so the wrapper was really loud and the steps are all made out of wood and have no carpet on them so any time someone gets up to leave you hear a loud clacking sound.  I am writing a letter to the center to complain today.  WORST AUDIENCE EVER!

My new apartment

LAO SHE

Lao She is known as "The People's Artist' here in China. He is one of the most well known and famous writers and playwrights in China.  Today I went with my friend Sherri to visit the former residence of Lao She in Beijing.  The residence is a traditional "hutong".  When my friend and I got there, there were two high school boys that spoke English and they gave us a short tour.  The residence was rather small but very beautiful and traditional.  It was decorated in cherry blossoms and red lanterns for the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival Holidays.  I found the visit to the Lao She Residence to be quite fascinating.  He was definitely an inspiring man who saw a great deal in his life.  He was so famous throughout China and yet seemed to be such a normal and private man.  He was born at the turn of the century in 1899.  He lived through several wars and conflicts that occurred in China and was brought up in poverty but was able to find a mentor who helped him get into a University.  He became a teacher and later a school director. He married his wife in the early 30's and had 4 children. During his life he spent time in London and the US and traveled to numerous other countries.  He wrote numerous books and plays which are considered to be some of the most important in Chinese literature. His most famous book is also known in the US and is titled "Rickshaw Boy".  His plays are performed regularly in Beijing and I hope to see several while I am here.  The tour guides told us that Lao She died in 1966 during the Cultural Revolution.  It is said that he committed suicide by jumping in a lake but there is a theory out there that perhaps he was killed and it was made to look like a suicide since the government saw him as a person who was against the revolution along with numerous other artists and writers.  

At the Residence, visitors can write wishes for the new year and hang them on the trees.  I took advantage of the offer and wrote a wish for the New Year.  My wish is to just be happy.  No matter what life brings, I just want to be able to be happy.  I wasn't completely happy the last couple of years and I've been really happy so far in Beijing and I just want that to continue.  You can't know happiness unless you know sadness so in a way I'm grateful for the struggles of the last couple of years because it makes how I feel now so amazing! So now my wish is hanging on the tree at the residence of Lao She and it's not especially significant in any way but I do think it's pretty cool!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lao_She

VALENTINES DAY VENTING

It's that fabulous time of year again where my single status seems to be more evident and pronounced than at any other time with the exception of my birthday.  I have nothing against Valentines day in general.  I support love and peace so anything to promote such qualities and attributes gets my support.  I do think however, that the commercialism of Valentines day dose send a false ideal at times of what love truly is.  Okay, so I know I probably shouldn't be spouting off my opinions on love and what not because I'm anything but an expert on the subject.  I'm not a big dater and I don't go around having ncmo sessions or anything like that. 

So even though I don't fit the mold of the cultural and Mormon religious norm of wife and mother, I'm really proud of what I've done in my life.  It's taken a long time for me to really try to come to grips with the idea that my life has turned out differently than what I was taught to expect.  I admit some days I still struggle because I do still hope to be married one day and have a family. But I have learned that if I can't be happy with whatever my circumstances are at present, I will never learn to be happy with what they will be in the future - single or married.  I will admit that I do blame a lot of my frustrated feelings on what I was taught at church.  I know I could have been spared a lot of frustration if I had been taught that correctly - that there are many paths within the gospel that lead to happiness and being prayerful about your life will lead you to do whatever it is you are to do. Sometimes that means getting married and sometimes it doesn't.  It is not for us to judge the marital status and situation of others.  We don't know for what purpose someone may remain single.

  A few years ago a friend expressed concern for me because he was afraid I wasn't happy.  I told him that even though my life turned out differently than I expected I had a ton to be happy about - fabulous family and friends, a good job I enjoyed, keeping busy with fun activities that I liked to do, I was healthy, I wanted to start grad school, etc...  As a single I've been able to do all sorts of fabulous things and I really feel like I've been led down the path that God has intended for me.  I hate it when people make comments that make me feel like I'm not living up to my potential because I'm not married or don't have children yet.  I've been doing exactly what I was meant to do and that part of my life will happen when it happens as long as I continue to seek out good opportunities in my life and make choices that bring me peace. 

Moving to China was one of those decisions that brought me peace.  I don't know why I'm here but I came because I felt good about taking this step.  When I would tell people I was moving to China the conversation would be something like this...

ME:  I'm moving to Beijing, China to work for Disney.  I'm really excited about it!

FRIEND:  Wow!  China?  Why are you moving there?

ME:  I don't know.  I felt peace about it so I'm going and I think it is a great opportunity.  

FRIEND:  Maybe you'll meet your husband there.  

Uh what?  Why can't people just be happy and excited for me because I'm living my life?  Why does the "husband thing" always have to be the second thing out of people's mouths?  I can't tell you how many times I had that conversation with people before moving here!  Like I said, I do desire to be married someday but why does every decision I make have to relate to meeting my husband?  When I was 18 and went to Ricks College, people said, "You'll get married at Ricks." Then I went to BYU and people said, "You will meet someone at BYU and get married."  Then I went on my mission to Honduras and when I returned a year and half later and went back to BYU I heard "Well you served your mission so it's time to get serious about getting married." Well then I finished school and moved back home to Oregon and of course people made comments about "your husband is probably in Oregon" and then when I moved to Texas it was "your husband is in Texas - you'll meet someone there."  So my point is that the continuous comments do nothing to change what is meant to be which is at present, to live a fulfilled life as a single person and not a married one and guess what - It is possible to be single and happy!  Why can't my life be about just me progressing as a person and meeting new people in general?  Everything I've learned and am learning in my life through my studies, my work experience, my travels, my friends, and everything else I've experienced is always to prepare me for whatever lies ahead in the life I feel my Heavenly Father wants and needs me to lead.  If what lies ahead for me is to remain single and serve in that capacity then it is because that is exactly what I am to do.  If what lies ahead for me means that I am to be married and begin that journey then that is just as good because it is what is meant for me.

So the point of this post is first, stop teaching young people to expect to get married at a young age because it honestly may not happen for a long time and IT IS OKAY! Reminder to church friends, there is no official doctrine that teaches marriage should occur at or by a certain age.  Think of all the wisdom and experience two older people could bring to a relationship.  It doesn't matter how old you are when you get married.  Would you want someone to get married for the sake of doing so to fit in with a false cultural expectation?  I'd rather stay single than marry someone because I was expected to or marry someone I didn't love. The second point is,  if you know a single person, just praise them for all the wonderful and positive things they have done with their life instead of making them feel bad about what they haven't done.  Everyone contributes in their own way and someone's relationship status does not determine how good a person they are.  I don't want this post to come across as "anti-marriage" because I'm not.  I'm just" pro- live your life the way you are meant to live it and be happy if you are single or married."

MY FIRST CHINESE NEW YEAR IN CHINA

Well the festivities have come to a close so it's time to report.  Chinese New Year is definitely a serious celebration.  The week before a hint of what is to come is evidenced by the few and far between sounds of fireworks and other various explosives.  This of course gradually increased as it got closer to Chinese New Year Day.  Beijing also emptied out.  Practically everyone takes off and goes home.  Most businesses close and traffic is a dream.  I had an entire week off which was great.  I tried to begin my celebration with a fabulous massage but, my new favorite place was closed.  I shouldn't have been taken by surprise but it really kind of ticked me off.  Oh well.  I spent my first day off by following the tradition of cleaning my apartment.  I also did some grocery shopping and hit Yashow market because I wanted to buy a new red shirt to wear on New Years Day.  I found a really pretty blouse at the market but I still kind of suck at bargaining and ended up paying more than I should have for it (it was still much less than I was planning on spending so I felt okay about it but I do know better now for next time).  

New Years Eve I went to Ditan Temple with the Bensfields.  The temple grounds were pretty big - it's the biggest traditional temple in Beijing.  The outside had red lanterns and banneres galore hanging from above.  I was a bit disappointed with the Temple Fair itself. There was booth after booth of typical american carnival games and HUGE stuffed animals of various cartoon charcters and nonsense.  I was seriously amazed at the number of game booths and stuffed items there were.  A couple places had booth after booth of food and I enjoyed a lamb kabab thing that was really good.  I avoided the squid on a stick and I sampled some sesame candy stuff and some honey candy stuff that I ended up buying.  There were definitely some odd edible items but I liked the sweet potato and beet chips most of all I think. I regret not buying those.  We were hoping for some fabulous entertainment but all they had was some band with a girl singing Chinese pop music.  We saw some men dressed in traditional costume and if you paid them oney they would carry you in a traditional carriage sorts while music played.  That night we went to the home of Becca and Kent Morris from church.  I got to meet some other families there who were super amazing and nice.  We enjoyed a lot of food and set off a large amount of fireworks.  It was fabulous company and I really appreciated getting to know more people.  I headed home about 10:30 and snuggled up on my huge comfy sofa with my comforter and enjoyed the amazing view of all the fireworks when it hit midnight!  It was unreal the amount of explosives going off.  

I awoke to the very strong aroma of sulfur (the smell is still in the air a week later).   I spent CNY day meeting more friends from church at another Taoist temple.  It was much smaller and it had small rooms with statues of all the Taoist Gods and what the represented.  Each room had an altar in front for people to lay their burning sticks and pray for the blessings they wanted for the new year.  People also got to hang read wooden squares with tassals that had various pictures or symbols on them.  Their names were written on them and they were hung throughout the temple gates.  This temple fair had more of the traditional entertainment - a small dance troupe outside, acrobats inside, a little old man with a mouse that ran through some type of strange obstacle course, and a few other things.  The meat kababs were aplenty and there were vendors selling various items such as crafts and dead crickets.  After the fair we headed over to a family's apartment where we had a late brunch of sorts with crepes and pancakes.  It was another really good opportunity to meet people I can honestly say that I have met some of the kindest and most amazing people since coming to Beijing.  

The rest of my new years wasn't too eventful.  I slept in and continued to work on a project for Houston Grand Opera which I really need to get done.  I meant to get some other work done as well but didn't.  I had Sunday off for which I was sooooooo grateful!  I got to attend all of church and even invited a few new friends over for dinner which was good fun.  

I never really knew much about Chinese new year before or understood why it was such a huge celebration but I am a converted fan and I'd love to maintain some of the traditions and aspects of the celebration throughout my life.  

HOLY FREAKING AWESOME BEST FIREWORKS EVER!!!

Well it is after midnight here in Beijing and the Chinese New Year is well under way!  I have an AMAZING view of the east side of the city and tons of fireworks!!  And the Chinese know all about fireworks because they are geniuses and invented them!  All day long I have heard firecrackers going off and as soon as it got dark around 6pm everyone started to hit the streets with their roman candles and all sorts of fabulous fireworks.  As the night went on, so did the intensity and frequency of the fireworks and as soon as midnight hit - HOLY AMAZING!!!  Seriously - The Chinese don't mess around when it comes to fireworks.  They do it right!  America, I love you more than anything but you cannot and will not EVER beat the Chinese when it comes fireworks!  I seriously can't get over the view I have from my apartment right now - this is soooo amazing and incredible!!  HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

ps - I took some video and will hopefully be able to get that posted next week!