Coming soon...

Alright, so we've been traveling for a while now. Not a lot of traveling since we've mainly been at the university we work at in China, but in the last 2 years I've gained some pretty good travel sense. Between flying back and forth to the states and different flights/trips here in China.

So this is what I am wanting to do with that knowledge... I am going to try and put together some sort of site(s) that will help others to travel more efficiently. If you're headed somewhere feel free to ask me for some advice until I get my page up and running. It might be a week or two or three before I get any sort of progress because I am waiting on a few replies via email.

What it will look like is one of the two options described here;

• an attachment/add-on to our current web site ( www.thepflegerlife.com )
• a single web site specifically for travel, including links to cheap flights, hotels, etc.

I will also include specific advice for travel such as things to help save money.

**** I have learned that in some cases it is worth the extra 5-10 dollars for convenience than try to save it and go through the trouble that it may have cost you. If you're willing to go through that trouble... I'll help you there as well.

Sports Day...

So today was a day of sports and exercise in China. Here is a short note that we were given to explain what Sports day is all about in China;

All over China universities celebrate and promote sports and healthy lifestyles by excusing classes for two days typically in the fall but Sias is different and they do it in the spring. This is most likely due to the annual International Culture Week celebration. According to one Chinese teacher, Sports Day(s) began in the 1970's as a result of a Fu jian man's desire to inspire exercising habits in the students of his university. As other schools noticed the benefits of their students exercising they too organized Sports Days at their schools.

So today and tomorrow our students will be participating in sporting events from track and field events to random "fun" events. To me it's almost like a "field day" from when I was in middle school, just a little more involved.

As teachers we are required to participate in a few events as well. Both Lacy and I swam against other teachers today, and will swim again tomorrow. Lacy swam with 4 other teachers in a relay race and I swam a 50 meter race and tomorrow a 100 meter race.

Here are some pictures from the opening ceremony this morning. Over 600 faculty were involved in performing for the students. Enjoy!


(photos taken by matt hux)

A New Post... April 16

Hey all!

So we were not able to join in any crazy TEA parties on tax day... We didn't even have to mess with taxes this year. Since I've been in China for 2 years now and Lacy almost 1 we didn't have a lot of US income to claim. So that was nice to evade. In saying this, I believe that I'm taking a bold stand here and saying that because we haven't really paid any taxes in America, it's not really our place to say what should or shouldn't happen in government. Yes I have my opinions and I certainly have my beliefs and values that strictly hold to Biblical truths. I just don't believe that I should have a "say", a "vote." I should leave that up to the ones who actually pay taxes and contribute to the "greater good" of our country. You'll probably say that is a relative term or process of thought, and maybe I'm wrong. I'm willing to discuss this with anyone who may have a different idea.

The reason I say this is basically because I have pride, American Pride. I like to think that our flag waves and is a beautiful symbol of freedom. I work at a Chinese-American University in Zhengzhou, China. So when there is anything special that is going on at the university they tend to begin the ceremony with the Chinese National Anthem. This anthem is very important to the people, as it should be, because it is their countries song. It is called "March of the Volunteers." and here are the words;

Arise, ye who refuse to be slaves;

With our very flesh and blood Let us build our new Great Wall!

The Peoples of China are in the most critical time, Everybody must roar his defiance.

Arise! Arise! Arise! Millions of hearts with one mind,

Brave the enemy's gunfire, March on! Brave the enemy's gunfire,

March on! March on! March on, on!

I say all of this because directly after they play the Chinese Anthem, they begin the "Star Spangled Banner." Nothing against the Chinese anthem at all... but in comparison, the Star Spangled Banner is absolutely beautiful. The idea of our men and woman fighting for what we have as a country, pride, freedom, constitutional rights. All of this put together brings tears to your eyes. When I hear our anthem at a baseball game it moves me, but when I hear it in China, it breaks me. To think how drastically our government is changing and how careless they are spending money, writing bills, signing them into law within 24 hours of them being written. I'm not sure who is able to read 1000 pages in that short of time. With any bill, large or small, I would think there would be a massive amount of scrutiny involved. There are people who are adding things to the bill just to get them to pass, or what you would call "fat" or "pork." Things that are not at all productive.

Anyway, back to representation without taxation... I think that we need to have a better system, I'm sure all of us do, one side or the other. Maybe it all lies in the hands of the people who are paying the bills. I know that when I was a child, I didn't get much of a say about most things my parents were paying for. I didn't get to choose where we lived, what kind of car we had, what we purchased at the grocery store etc etc. Why? because I wasn't paying the bills... They were loving and would ask me what I wanted or what my preferences were, bottom line though, if they were paying for it, they had the last say.

In 2006, 41% of Americans paid no income taxes according to the Tax Foundation. This is a pretty steep number if you ask me. So basically, 59% of the people in america are paying income taxes. Maybe those who aren't shouldn't get much of a say when it comes to electing officials. If you want a say, get an honest job, pay your dues and vote. If not, no problem, live with the decisions made by those around you.

Plans...

Change of plans...

This semester, or should I say our time in China is coming to a end a lot faster than we had expected. We can't believe how fast the year has flown by. The relationships we've made and the ones we are beginning to make are so fun. It's hard to think that we'll be packing up in less than 3 months to move home and begin our next chapter.

Chapter 2; "Life as a married couple in America"

Well before that happens we have a slight change or amendment to add. Originally we were planning to finish teaching and hand our final grades in on June 9th, then head to Shanghai to meet my parents. Travel for 2 weeks or so with my family and then fly home together.

*Amendment*
We will finish with classes and grades as expected on the 9th, then meet my parents in Shanghai, travel as planned, but then Lacy will fly home with my parents after two weeks of travel and I will Stay in China for 3 weeks longer.

I am taking on the responsibility of "Summer Youth Camp Director." Not sure why, but I feel like the Lrd is leading me in this direction. One; because I don't feel like my time in China is up and two; because there are a few guys I have not been able to spend as much time with because of the different role I have this year. I'm a husband now and I have responsibilities and things that come before my wants/desires that I did not have last year. That of spending time with my wife... So now I will have a few weeks to rekindle some talks and find out where some of my former students are at this point in their lives.

Probably the hardest decision I've made in a while because I have really been wanting to come home. I miss home, I miss my family, my friends, El Mezcal, Golf... Also, I will miss one of my favorite holidays of the year, The 4th of July! Every year we get together at the Bowles, and we celebrate by acting like fools, by the lighting of large colorful explosives. YANHUO in Chinese... I guess I'll have to take my guys out and buy some of the same type of colorful displays for about an 8th of the cost and enjoy the 4th here. It won't be the same because I'll not get all of Dawn et. al. cooking that I've missed so much but it'll have to do.

Lacy, I think, is going to take this opportunity of solitude, single life, and head to a much needed (in her eyes) Christian Concert weekend with her good friend Christy Sales. Not exactly who yet but I know they're excited to get some girl time again.

Wow, it's hard to believe I'm writing this, knowing that home is so close.

We're getting close but we're definitely keeping our eyes on the prize until we get to the flight gate this summer.

We had a really good "Truth Corner" tonight... very good discussion as we have been doing a "character study" this semester. In China, they love heroes and solid, pure people, with integrity. So it fits well to talk about pillars of the Bbile. We discussed a man who lived a long life, built a large ship and put many animals on the ship this evening. Great talk... The need for the ship, the representation of the ship and what a modern day ship was. The final ship... the Cross!

Love you all... hope to hear from you soon!