Author Archives: Devon

Pinotage Restaurant and Bar – Shunyi, Beijing

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A friend from church talked several of us into going to a South African restaurant in Beijing, Pinotage. I was a bit hesitant because South Africa somehow does not scream out to me “awesome gastronomical experience.” I could not be more wrong though. It was a great place to eat. We had appetizers of Boerewors (a SA sausage), samosas and this type of bread stick with a savory sauce. I ordered a Caesar salad, a strawberry smoothie, and a Chicken Kiev. All of it was delicious, especially the chicken. It used a curry sauce instead of the traditional herb butter. I also tried the dishes selected by my dining partners. Each dish was excellent.

The only downside to experience was that it was difficult to find. It is out in Shunyi, which is quite far from where I live. There is one in Sanlitun, but we went to this one because of better reviews. Also, we had to get a taxi because it is not close to the station. This was not detrimental to the dining experience, however. I definitely recommend this restaurant to Beijing foodies. Unfortunately, I neglected to take pictures.

Address: Lane Bridge Villa Compound, Laiguanying Donglu  来光营东路9号

 

The End of the School Year

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This past year of Beihang University has been great for me. I was happy most of the time, even though I fell completely short of two of my goals. My Chinese is still completely abysmal and my weight is still entirely too high. I did lose about 15 kg during the first semester and then gained it back over the spring. Financially, I am in a much better place. I make about the same comparatively in the States, but I don’t have to finance a car, pay insurance or gas, or the rent on an apartment or room. All of that money goes to my savings (ok, my debt).

In January, I went to the home of my friend Anna, in Wenzhou. I met her family and stayed at her home for a couple of days. It was very beautiful there among the rice fields and mountains. The people of Wenzhou speak a dialect that is extremely difficult, so I understood none of it. Her family is very nice. We then went to the wedding of our mutual friend, Sabrina, in Hangzhou. I also stayed with her family. Her mom tried to murder me with food. She was beyond gracious and welcoming. I enjoyed getting to know both families.

Anna and I

Anna and me, Wenzhou.

Serena's Wedding

Serena’s Wedding, Hangzhou.

 

 

 

 

 

After that, I went to Hong Kong and Macau (my 2x) where I visited with my friend Jan (from Czech Rep.) and my 妹妹 (Masako from Japan). I met both of them while living in the dorms of Sichuan University. They are some of my favorite people. Jan was studying at HK Polytech and Masako came to visit with us both. We also went to Macau and had dinner at the Grand Lisboa Casino with two other friends, Ricver Chan and Elaine Seng. Ricver was Jan’s roommate at Sichuan University. Elaine is a friend of mine that I met while teaching at Beijing Normal University. She was a student then and is now a teacher in Macau.

Jan and me in Macau

Jan and me, Macau

Jan and Masako, Hong Kong

Jan and Masako in Hong Kong

Elaine and me, Macau.

Elaine and me, Macau.

 

 

 

 

 

I had another trip later in the year. I went to Pingyao, Shanxi Province with friends from Church. It was great hanging out with those guys, especially since one of them will soon be heading back to the US. The city itself was very interesting. I also bought the first souvenir (other than books) in the past ten years – a gun that fires matchsticks. I didn’t tell anyone but I immediately regretted buying it. First, I am an avowed cheapskate and it cost me about $8. Second, it was a silly purchase. I could also have had a miniature bust of myself made for $48, but didn’t because it was too expensive and a bit egotistical. All of the souvenirs in the past ten years were given to me.

As for the school, I love teaching here. My students are respectful and eager to learn. I felt that my Western Culture classes were interesting and had something of an impact. Several mentioned that my class was their favorite. I think that had more to do with my no homework policy than anything else, though. I felt some regret about my Oral English class. My students were exchange students from outside of Beihang and they paid more to come to this university. I could see their progress, but could also sense their frustration because they did not feel they were as capable as others. I knew this was not true, but I could not seem to convey that to them. They were the only class I had for the whole year and were my favorite. Each of them is an example to me in striving for my goals.

My students.

My students.

The Sisters and the Priesthood

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An article in the Salt Lake Tribune came out last week about the attempt by a small LDS feminist group* that sought tickets to this April’s conference of the Church. Specifically, it was for tickets to the Priesthood Session of the conference. The Church’s response was that it would not issue such tickets. I understand the need for feminists in general to confront what they perhaps see as an outdated patriarchy. I also understand the feelings of those who may have doubts about the faith or even leave it for this reason. It is one thing to speak about the joint leadership of Relief Society and the Priesthood, but see the practical aspects of traditional leadership fall most heavily to one side.

Despite this, I believe that these sisters are seriously damaging their spiritual relationship with our Heavenly Father. I do not think this because I feel that God is a big supporter of patriarchy but that we are given adversity to test our faith. As always, my stand dictates that I will stand with God’s prophet on Earth. If it is God’s will that women should receive the Priesthood, then eventually they will receive it. If it is not his will, you build a foundation on shaky ground by demanding that He change to your moral stance. God has shown through many different issues that his ways are most definitely not our ways.

At this moment, however, I also look at my thinking on the issue. I sincerely believe that Priesthood is a male purview because that is what our Father intends and it is what he needs. Priesthood session is often not pleasant as we gather to bond as Brothers in the gospel and hear the warnings of the Lord. Traditionally, they are in sincere need of it. Yet, if Thomas Monson were to tomorrow deliver the news that this group desires, the impetus would then fall on me. Would I have doubts conflicting with my current self, or would I continue my efforts in following the Prophet? My understanding of their struggle stems, no doubt, on what I would be going through if the positions were reversed. It would then be my trial of faith.

*The article notes that 90% of women and 84% of men oppose allowing the Priesthood for women.

*Update – June 14th* – It seems that both Kate Kelly of Ordain Women and John Dehlin of Mormon Matters were excommunicated. A good friend of mine wrote a great article on punishment and its place in the LDS Church. I hope that their path becomes clearer and that this time apart will be a teaching moment.

Returning to China

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Great WallIt seems in many ways that my life has come full circle. Or maybe just that it has not gone anywhere, if I were a complete pessimist. When I was 25, I set out for China as an English teacher. I was young, reasonably healthy (if very overweight), and happy. My second time in China was a time of depression and despair mitigated only by the presence of awesome friends. My roommate Bruno and our companions Beata, Rob, Jan, Masako (and so many others) did more of a service in my life than even they know. 2009-2012 was one of the darkest periods of my life and in the last two years of that time, I almost folded. But now I have returned triumphantly (mostly in my own head) to China at 34, still as an English teacher. I may have not been a huge success in the last decade, but most importantly I am happy. Still overweight, though. I have found that I am usually happier abroad for some reason. Probably something to do with not paying taxes.

For the last month and 1/2, I have been teaching at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (北京航空航天大学), or simply Beihang (北航). This time around I am teaching graduate students majoring in a wide variety of majors. Mostly, though, they are engineering and science majors. All of them are smarter than me. It is a strange atmosphere as well, since I teach about 90% male. When I worked at Beijing Normal, I taught the reverse – almost all girls. In addition, they were English majors. It is still really interesting. As I told one student, I learn as much or more from the class than perhaps they do. I do have one class of English undergraduate majors, but they are a special class made up of students from other universities outside Beijing (called appropriately, Visiting Students). They are pretty cool kids and very enjoyable to teach.

I found that my Chinese has reached new levels of terrible. I was surprised by how much I remember since I haven’t spoken it in three years. Still, this is countered by the great majority that flies over my head. I still have quite a bit of perseverance though. I will eventually become good at this language. I keep telling myself this and hope through repetition that it becomes true.

Beijing itself has changed so much since I was here in 2010, and even more so since 2004 on my first visit. The people seem worldlier, yet the air quality remains about the same. I went to play basketball yesterday and almost hacked up a lung. Ok, the fact that I have eschewed physical activity for almost forever had a great deal to do with it as well. I have been slowly losing weight – mostly because I walk almost everywhere and I eat better. I eat tons of vegetables here rather than meat.

The only real complaint that I have is that I forgot how slow the internet is on Chinese university campuses. The speed is slower than at my Dad’s, which I had previously thought was the slowest “broadband internet” available to mankind. I have been proven wrong.

Finished

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grad capToday was a turning point for me. I received notification from my graduate school that my degree will be rewarded. After coming to the end of a journey, I am feeling a little euphoric. Achieving my Master’s degree is a huge step for me because of the journey that I had to go through to earn it.

In the end of March of 2009, my mom passed away during my second semester at school. A little over a month later I was at Nankai University studying Chinese again, having had little time for mourning. Then I went to Sichuan for a year to research my thesis. I have to say that my heart was not totally into it. Two months before I was to return home, I found a dissertation by Zheng Xiaowei that totally blew what I had out of the water. It was, unfortunately for me at the time, excellent. I returned home and tried to produce something. Anything. In September, my hard drive irreparably crashed, taking my translated research with it. In December, I had about 30 pages completed. I was completely depressed and drained. I just walked away from graduate school and returned home in defeat.

I literally spent about 3 months or so laying in bed doing nothing. I lived off my credit card until it was maxed out. Dad and Darlene pretty much evicted me from the house in an effort to jump start me. It didn’t really work. I went back to work at the library and remained completely depressed. My friend Nathan recommended treatment for depression after we talked about it. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. I started taking low dosage prescriptions for it. Interestingly enough, I was able to work through my problems. I started a second job doing hotshot deliveries. It had taken me almost two years, but I decided to finish my degree.

I talked to my adviser and she let me back into school. I finished one paper that was two years overdue. I put off a second one that was finally done two weeks ago. I worked hard on my thesis, using Zheng Xiaowei’s work as a launching point. My defense in December was not pretty, though the criticism was justified and fair. It helped me create a better product. I returned home to the library and went to work on my thesis. Last week, my paper was accepted for the completion of my degree. Today is the end of my journey. It was supposed to have taken two and a half years, but ended up being five years. But as my cousin says, it is not how long it takes, but that you finish.

Recently, there were other endings as well. On May 24th, I stopped working with Mr. S. Our time together was interesting, to say the least. From May 27th to Aug. 5, I went on vacation to help my cousin move from Oklahoma to Myrtle Beach, SC for a new job. He is himself starting a new adventure. In less than three weeks, I am leaving my job at the library (for the 3rd time) and am returning to China. I am once again teaching English in a place I enjoy. Once again moving forward.

To thank all the people who helped me would be laborious. Let me just quote half the saying “Success has many fathers” and leave it at that. The second half of the saying does not apply.

This post is dedicated, as all are, to my Maman. I love you more than mere words can express. Thank you for encouraging me to go to graduate school.

Man of Steel…Or

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Man of SteelMore like a visual metaphor for the Bible. As I was watching this really awesome rendition of Superman (so much superior to the 2006 movie), I was struck by the symbolic religious parallels in the movie. Reading later on the subject, I learned that this spiritual aspect was part of the mythology of Superman from the beginning. I have never been a comic book fan – or manga, or anime or etc. – so this was entirely new to me.

As for the film, the use of CG in this movie was ubiquitous, of course, but the plot was so much better than even I had imagined. It is a shame that the plot will be lost on so many people who are unaware of the symbolic messages. In addition, I was also struck by the portrayal of religion and patriotism in the movie. It was treated with respect and reverence. The same for military. Also, there were a lot of great actors from TV series such as Battlestar Galactica.  Probably one of the best comic adaptations that I have seen. All in all, a great movie and definitely one to add to the collection.

PTR – Boston Marathon Bombing

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I really wanted to refrain from commenting on the bombing of the Boston Marathon. I was able to do so for only a week. The story so far has included the usual heroics, sensational  police incompetency and dramatic arrests. What really hit me today was the pictures of the three fatalities: Martin Richard (8), Krystle Campbell (29), and Chinese grad student Lu Lingzi (23). The lives of two lovely women and a little boy were ended and 130 injured (with dozens losing limbs). This madness was the work of two Chechens who the media are either calling disaffected or radicalized depending on which assailant is being discussed or more disturbing, the outlet’s political persuasion.

Martin RichardsKrystal CampbellLu Lingxi

Either way, the fact that these three people are lost to us saddened me today as I found out more about them. Martin, Krystle and Lingzi, I wish to remember you. When I think of that day, I will think of you. The two scum that did this shall not win and shall not be remembered.

Working with Mr. S

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superman-logo-013Tonight was the first time that I worked as a caretaker with Mr. S on my own. I had taken on this job because I needed the extra money and my insomnia suggested this would be a decent job to do at night. While I do not get paid very much, I am there for 4 12 hour shifts a week so it adds up.

Mr. S is an interesting fellow with a very funny, if vulgar, sense of humor. He is about 27 years old and had been in a motorcycle wreck when he was about 20 years old. So, mentally he is still stuck at 20. I remember how I was at 20, so I can cut him a lot of slack. Generally, my duties are to change him for bed, hang out for a while, and watch over him at night. So far, pretty easy. Last night, he had not taken his anti-cramping medication as his prescription had ran out. I helped massage his partially paralyzed hand about 5 or 6 times last night and he was not able to achieve a deep sleep until 2 a.m. I slept for about 3 hours or so. This was sufficient till I was able to return home.

The only real issue was a family guest and his girlfriend that stayed the night in a room separated from me by a hanging sheet. This fellow was considerably drunk and proceed to have an hours long conversation with his significant about her sexual congress with other men. While I found that strangely entertaining in its own way, it was annoying because it kept me from hearing if Mr. S needed me. Around 2 a.m. he asked me if I had heard their conversation. Yes, idjit, I did.

Elijah Jonathan Rand (1819-1863) and Eunice Ann Calkins (1824-1914), Part II

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(Me-F-M-M-M-M-Them)

Military Record of Elijah J. Rand, Union Army.

Rand Military Record – The first page of this military record lists soldiers name as Elijah Rand of Company F, 22nd Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The second page lists that there includes 1 Casualty sheet and 1 page of Misc. Information. Page three is when we start to get at the heart of this paperwork. This is the casualty sheet. Lists Elijah Rand, a private in Co. F 22nd Maine Volunteers and his casualty as death. This page was certified by Capt. William B. Taylor of same company and that the date of discharge was March 3, 1863 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He had no effects on him. On page 6, part 1 it states that Elijah Rand died March 2, 1863 of chronic diarrhea (perhaps dysentery?). Part 2 is a muster Roll for Feb. 28, 1863 to June 30, 1863. It also states that he joined on September 10, 1862 in Barring, Maine for a period of 9 months. Part 3 states that he was 44 years old and was mustered out of the regiment in Bangor, Maine on Aug. 14, 1863 due to death. Part 4 is a muster roll stating that he was present for Jan. & Feb. 1863. Page 7, part 1 is a muster roll for Nov. and Dec. 1862, for which he was present. Part 2 is a muster roll dated Oct. 31, 1862, for which he was present. Part 3 states that he is 44 and that he was in Camp John Pope in Bangor Maine on Oct. 10, 1862. This means of the 9 months that he signed up, he was in the army for 5 months and 22 days.

Wikipedia gives a service calendar for the 22nd. It states that “the 22nd Maine Infantry was organized in Bangor, Maine and mustered in October 10, 1862 for nine months’ service under the command of Colonel Simon G. Jerrard. The regiment left Maine for Washington, D.C., October 21. Duty at Arlington Heights, Virginia, until November 3. Moved to Fortress Monroe, Virginia, November 3, then to Ship Island, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana, December 2-15. Attached to Grover’s Division, Department of the Gulf, to January 1863. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, XIX Corps, Army of the Gulf, to July 1863. Moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, January 16, 1863. Duty there until March. Operations against Port Hudson, Louisiana, March 7-20. Moved to Donaldsonville March 26, then to Brashear City. Operations in western Louisiana April 9-May 14. Teche Campaign April 11-20. Porter’s and McWilliams’ Plantations at Indian Bend April 13. Irish Bend April 14. Moved to Franklin April 15. Bayou Vermillion April 17. Moved to New Iberia April 25; to Washington May 6, then to Brashear City May 11-27. Moved to Port Hudson May 28. Siege of Port Hudson June 1-July 8. Assault at Port Hudson June 14. Surrender of Port Hudson July 8. Ordered home July 24. The 22nd Maine Infantry mustered out of service August 14, 1863.”

It also states that “the regiment lost a total of 180 men during service; 1 officer and 8 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 2 officers and 169 enlisted men died of disease.”

This means that Elijah arrived after Baton Rouge had been captured on Aug. 1862, spent his entire time in the city since Jan. 1863 and died just before the regiment moved on to the Port Hudson siege. His regiment was decimated by disease and he may have seen no combat at all.

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Pension Record of Eunice A. Rand.

Upon receiving this record, I immediately disarranged the pages. I have since placed them in an order that seems to work, dividing them into 3 parts.

Rand Pension 1 – Page 1 is a title page. Pages 2 & 3 are the petition by Eunice Rand to the Court for the city of Calais in Washington Co., Maine. Page 2 states that on July 16, 1863 she was 39 years old. It lists Elijah’s death date as March 1, 1863. It states “that he died suddenly of some disease to this applicant unknown contracted by him while in the service of the United States in the time of his duty in the Company aforesaid, having been up to within a few moments of his death in good health, he fell suddenly dead in camp.” She was married on Sept. 10, 1840 by Elias Kelsey, Justice of the Peace. She had the following children: Sarah Ann Rand (22), Susannah (21), Caroline (19) [later a wife of Emmons Williams], Lucinda J. (16), Henrietta (13), Adoniram (11), and Elijah (an infant). She appointed Enoch B. Harvey her attorney. In this application, she marks her name with an X rather than just writing it, indicating illiteracy. In both the 1900 & 1910 Census, she stated that she could both read and write. She must have learned somewhere. Page 3 also contains the confirmation from her two witnesses, Archibald Blacklock and William Sears. Page 5 lists the evidence that she presented.  Page 6 is a copy of her wedding certificate from Calais, Maine. Page 7 indicates the application was received. Page 8 is a letter stating that the Adjutant General’s office had received the pension application. Page 9 states that Eunice Rand received $8 per month commencing on March 20, 1863. Page 10 is cover letter for a widow’s application for increase in pension in 1866-67. This increase was for Adoniram (being younger than 16) for an extra $2 per month. On page 11, the only new information is that her pension no. is 19436. Also, that Adoniram was born in Eastport, ME on July 23, 1852.The two witnesses are now Andrew L. Todd of Calais and Rachel Russell of Baring, who have been acquainted with Eunice for 8 years. Page 12’s claim does not list infant Elijah, who may have passed away. Page 13 is a letter from the Clerk of Eastport, Maine on Oct. 15, 1867 certifying the birth of Adoniram Rand.

Rand Pension 2 – Page 1 states that on Dec. 4, 1882 Eunice was dropped from her pension for failure to send in her widow’s claim. Page 2 is a cover letter for the restoration of a widow’s pension. Page 3 is part of the application where her lawyer is now named Gardner.  Page 4 is a letter from the Treasury Department stating that she had received payments up to Sept. 1879. Page 6 & 7 is her declaration that she failed to enroll “by reason of absence from home and living among strangers in the capacity of a nurse in Boston and Hyde Park at Massachusetts and in other places.” Her attorney is now George R. Gardner of Calais, with witnesses Henry A. Balcom and Ernest D. Morrill, both of Calais. Page 8 is a letter showing the evidence of widowhood. Page 9 & 10 is a letter from Emmons Williams as a recommendation of her character. Emmons was also her son-in-law as seen in the 1880 Census, having married her daughter Mary Caroline. Page 10 is a notarized statement of same. Page 11 is a letter for the same recommendation by W.D. Haines of Readfield, Maine. Page 12 is by her long term employer, Henry Blasdale, a banker in Boston. Page 13 is a notarized stamp for his statement. Page 14 is a letter by Rhoda R. Gardiner of Hyde Park, MA as a second witness of Eunice’s character in Boston. Page 17 is a letter by Department of the Pension Bureau that payments will begin and those payments on hold since September 1879 we be sent.

Rand Pension 3 – Page 1 is a statement that according to the Pension Bureau, payments will increase to $12 per month commencing on March 19, 1886. Page 2 is a voucher for $36 sent to Boston. Page 4 is a letter that Eunice sent stating that she is making a claim on $36 paid from Sept. 4, 1909 to Dec. 4, 1909. She must have been getting paid quarterly. Page 5 is a statement that the Sept. 4, 1914 check was returned to the Pension Bureau because of the pensioner’s death on Aug. 27, 1914. Page 6 is a letter dated the day after Eunice’s death by her daughter, Sarah A. Bohanon, seeking reimbursement for Eunice’s expenses. Page 7 is a letter from C.L. Brown, Postmaster, to the Bureau seeking information on the pension for Ray Bohanon (Sarah’s son & Eunice’s grandson). It was dated Sept. 7, 1914. Pages 11-17 encompass her reimbursement application. The application indicates that Sarah A. Bohanon is 73 and lives in Alexander, ME. It states that no sick or death benefits were paid for pensioner. Eunice also had no insurance (life, accident, or health) at time of death. At her death, Eunice left no money, real estate, or personal property. Sarah states that she is the daughter of the deceased and that “my husband is dead.” Eunice died of paralysis of the bowels and that the sickness began on May 1, 1914 and that her doctor was Ira Everett Dyas, M.D. Eunice was living with Sarah in Alexander, ME during her sickness and died there as well. She was buried in the family lot at Baring, ME. Record indicates that I.E. Dyas was paid $43 as her physician. Sarah A. Bohanon claimed no charge as her nurse. John Gillis Co. was paid $51.25 as undertaker. Finally, William Higgins was paid 3.50 for burial. Witnesses to this application were Hezekiah King and Lucy A. Knowles (Eunice’s granddaughter), who said that they saw Sarah sign this document and that both knew Eunice for over 20 years. Page 15 is the bill of the funeral parlor, John Gillis Co. A great many of my relatives were buried by this firm. Page 16 is from the grave-digger, William Higgins, indicating he had been paid in full. Page 17 was from Dr. Dyas laying out the charges for his services. Page 18 is a cover page indicating reimbursement was allowed and that Eunice had been dropped from the rolls due to death.

PTR – Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013)

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Margaret Thatcher is someone who I wish to remember, although I disagreed with her vehemently over some issues. For me, she represented with Ronald Reagan the defense of Western civilization against perhaps its most disturbing disease – communism. She was a tireless crusader for conservative principles in opposition of ever expanding socialism. Her quips and “tirades” (as some media outlets describe them) along with her indomitable spirit earned her the sobriquet “Iron Lady.” For me, these traits are something to emulate.

Where I disagreed with her was on her policies in Northern Ireland. This is something not exclusive to her but is a function of my intense hatred of British interactions there. Do not mistake me, however, as I am completely opposed to the use of violence in creating a United Ireland. Sinn Féin’s socialist agenda has no great appeal to me either. Finally, as a conservative Thatcher represented the bulwark of the last vestige of European aristocracy which I find almost as abhorrent as communism. That is merely the egalitarian in me.

Despite whatever issues separating me and Thatcher, I admired her strength in the face of a movement with intentions to enslave and debase humanity. I give thanks to her memory and feel a great loss that a great conservative voice is no longer with us.