The Gift of a Translator

I agonized over my translator this year; it’s probably the reason I was ill the ten days prior to my departure.
The translator I had last year was perfect: even though she was a graphic artist, she had studied Tuina - traditional Chinese manual medicine - which is what I practice; working internationally she spoke English very well; and she was capable of listening to Teacher for several minutes and then translating for several minutes, apparently covering the whole dialogue. We had agreed upon a payment that seemed fair at the time, and I gladly paid her at the end of the two weeks. However, the amount of time each day was just one hour and we didn’t meet on Saturday or Sunday. Also, Temple of the Earth Park, a.k.a. Ditan Park, was on her way to work each morning, so transportation was not an issue.
When I contacted her this year, before buying my airline ticket, she said she worked for herself now and therefore had some flexibility and so, yes, she was interested in translating for me again.
I purchased my airline ticket at the end of January. Then she said we could work at the same rate as last year. I inquired what the rate was, as I couldn’t recall. She told me, I did the math for this year, multiplying that one hour by 3 or 4 (not knowing what Teacher would be up for) and adding in Saturday and Sunday, and promptly had a heart attack! My payment to her would be just shy of what I paid for my airline ticket! I just couldn’t afford it! I tried to bargain with her, to no avail. I was heart-sick! Then she told me that she lives 1.5 to 2 hours away via taxi, and, working for herself from home, didn’t regularly travel to the area of the Park. She no doubt wanted me to pay for her travel as well. Finally, she said she couldn’t be available all the days after all, so we agreed she would only translate Mondays and Thursdays… only four days out of two weeks!
I was glum. I didn’t know what to do. It hardly seemed worth all the money and effort to fly to Beijing for only four days with a translator!
Finally, in Mid-March, two weeks before take-off, I emailed “Super.” (His Chinese name is Su.) Last year he was the volunteer translator in Dr Xu’s class. I asked if he was interested and available to translate for me this year, or if he knew someone who was. He wrote nine days later saying he would be out of town during my visit, so please contact Xihua (pronounced “She-wha”) Yang.
Xihua had also been a student in Dr Xu’s class; in fact, she and I had visited at the end of my second day of teaching, I just didn’t recognize her name, it being Chinese and all!
So, I emailed Xihua three days before my departure when I was sick with laryngitis. She responded almost immediately that, yes, she would be interested and available to do the job. With another email exchange she agreed to do the whole job, so I canceled the translator from last year. I actually confirmed with Xihua, for translating ALL the days of my stay, during my brief layover in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday morning.
As I got to know Xihua in the days that followed here’s what I found out. She is a Western-trained surgeon, having studied in China. When she delivered her daughter, about 8 years ago, she didn’t want to continue with the schedule of a surgeon, so she became the editor for a Chinese Medical Journal. Nearly two years ago she returned to school, interested in becoming an acupuncturist. Also, she had lived for a year or so in Australia at the time of her daughter’s birth, and so her English language and comprehension, as well as her world-view, was above average. At 39 years of age she had her own car and could drive 30 minutes or less to meet us each morning. And, on top of it all, she didn’t want to be paid!!! She was happy with the experience of hearing what Teacher Hong had to share. And, since we were usually done by 11:00 a.m. or noon each morning, she had the afternoon to conduct her usual business. (She graciously accepted a pound of Parrot Chocolates as a token of my appreciation.)
I came to trust Xihua’s perspective regarding what Teacher was telling us. If, with all of her medical training, she thought it was pure bunk I would listen to her. But, no, she was very interested in his suggestions for improving health and dealing with various maladies; in fact, she would bring up her own issues and get Teacher’s advice. As Teacher told his stories, he would mention famous doctors, restaurants, events, et al, Xihua recognized them, giving merit to his stories.
And, when Teacher asked for an exorbitant sum of money for my training, Xihua was level-headed and calm in dealing with him; coming to a more acceptable resolution. This, obviously, was very valuable to me!
Xihua continues to be a friend through email: offering to ask Teacher any questions that arise for me as I digest his teaching; translating Teacher’s handout for me to give to my clients; and, should I decide to further my studies with Teacher, Xihua wants to be there as my translator!
Truly she is a gift to me!

Knitting the world together, one connection at a time.

Janice, a.k.a. Hong Liang

Laughing Again

I'm laughing again.
I feel I've been someone else this past month – sober, serious, and calm. In fact, I've tried NOT to see the funny side of things and I've hoped there wouldn't be a punch line, for to laugh meant pain; a sharp pain below my right breast, underneath my sternum and lower rib area. It began the first morning of April, also known as April Fools Day, in my hotel room in Beijing. I would double-over in pain if laughter found me. Thus, joy, mirth, gladness, humor, and belly laughing, in addition to sneezing and coughing, became associated with punishment.
That's never happened before.
Laughter is me; it's part of the way folks describe me, "The one with the belly laugh!" To not laugh goes against my fabric.
Through this past month I've wondered whether I'm depressed because I've been so quiet. Instead of life consisting of emotional highs and lows, I've been humming along the lower notes without benefit of the higher staccato and fuller range of expression. It's sobering - literally! I felt sad much of the time, my lightness of spirit was missing, and I had the doldrums.
My painful lung wasn't the only thing I was working through: I've characterized this trip to China as one of struggle, so I've been recovering from the various challenges I met along the way; I've been sorting and processing the information Teacher Hong gave me; treating a digestive issue; and, no doubt, suffering jetlag.
At the same time, I recognized the benefits of being quiet - time for introspection, centeredness and calmness. I took time to just BE, and found it to be rejuvenating and rewarding.
Yesterday, the last day of April, I laughed heartily with two clients (I do "laugh therapy," right?!) and found it refreshing! I felt I was coming home to myself.
This quote has been on my bulletin board for several years, but I don't know where I got it…
"Dr William Fry, an authority on laughter, calls laughing "internal jogging." He claims that laughing, even when it isn't completely genuine, can be beneficial. Laughter doubles the heart rate for three or five minutes and provides a complete workout for the upper torso. It is said to reduce muscle tension, stimulate the nervous system, deaden pain and energize the brain."
Okay, I ready for some comedy relief!

My Complexion

“What do you do to your skin to have such nice complexion? You’re beautiful!” It was Mr. Li’s woman-friend asking after dinner the evening we made dumplings. She and I are the same age.

My mind raced. Yes, I use a product that has helped to create my smooth skin. In fact, when I had used the product for only a month, a friend interrupted me to ask, “What have you done to your skin???? It’s BEAUTIFUL!” The product is from the USANA line of Sense skin care products and called Daytime Protective Emulsion. It moisturizes and tightens the skin, giving it what it needs to be radiant. I’ve never had such silky-smooth facial skin before.
However, USANA is a network marketing company that isn’t yet operating in China, so the product wouldn’t be available to this woman for a while yet. And, talking through an interpreter as we were, without a sample with me, I felt it would require a lot of explaining only to get to the point of, “it’s not available to you.”

The answer I gave, however, is my honest answer.

I said, “Thank you! I believe I’m more beautiful now than I have ever been and it’s because I have found my passion in doing bodywork. I love what I do and it is reflected in my complexion. Particularly in the past few years I have embraced the work that I do.”

They nodded and voiced agreement. They understood about finding one’s passion, following it and having that joy be reflected in your whole being.

Numbers

April 19, 2008
I have finally figured out that Teacher doesn't know how to do math! As you read through these posts, keep that in mind.
When I first met him in 2005 he said he was 79 years old. This trip I discovered he was born in 1932! So, he's NOW about 76!
Economics also escapes him. When he says that staying in a hotel is "Too expensive!" and that I should instead purchase an apartment, I don't think he understands what he's talking about.
Also, in asking for a large sum of US Dollars for the training, I doubt he knows what the exchange rate is!
It helps my tolerance of him when I realize he doesn't understand math!

Enjoy the posts. The older ones are at the bottom of the list.
If you're interested in reading last years' China Journal, visit this blogspot: http://www.wanderingjanice.blogspot.com/

Janice, a.k.a. Hong Liang

Where it all began...

April 19, 2008

This post was originally written September 16, 2005 when Teacher Hong and I met during my first visit to China.

Hi All,

This is Saturday morning and we've moved south to the city of Nanjing. However, the story I want to tell took place last week in Beijing.

On Saturday evening Ken made arrangements for dinner at an Indian restaurant for any in our group who wanted to go. About 20 people went. At the last minute he mentioned that one of his teachers would be there. When I entered the dining room, our group was filling up the first two tables. I saw the third table behind a pillar. When I walked around the pillar there sat the quientessential Chinese Master! Mr Hong is 79 years old, has a goatee of about 3 inches, wears a round, flat topped hat without a brim, (sorry, I don't know the name of it) and his eyes twinkle with merriment. He made me think of Mr Miagi (sp?) in The Karate Kid movie. I took the seat next to him and soon our table was full. Mr. Hong doesn't speak English and I don't speak Chinese, so conversation was limited to hand signals about the food, etc...

When dinner was over we decided to take pictures of the group with Mr Hong. I stood behind him and laid my hands on his shoulders. Then I began giving him a shoulder massage.

When the pictures were over, he turned around and (apparently) chastised me! He took my hand and massaged my shoulder, down my arm to my hand, all the while talking to me about how to do it right. Then I sat down and he worked my neck and the back of my head. Periodically he would name points, like Baihui and I would say it too. Then he would be excited! Then another woman in our group sat down and received a treatment while I watched, pointed and asked questions. Ken would be around sometimes to translate, which was most helpful. He said Mr Hong was eager to pass on what he knows until he 'leaves.' Mr Hong worked on another person or two before we called it quits for the evening. We looked around and were the last ones in the restaurant.

At the cash register, Mr Hong indicated pencil and paper. The man behind the desk gave it to him and Mr Hong wrote down his phone number and his name. He gave it to me, indicating I could study with him. I was very honored! Over the next couple of days I pestered Ken to set up another meeting with Mr Hong. Tuesday morning Ken brought Mr Hong to the hotel room at 7:20 a.m. Mr Hong had already treated 6 people that morning. Ken says Master Hong treats about 40 people per day.

Once in the room Mr Hong removed his beautiful gray satin tunic and put on his white lab coat. He sat down with each of the 4 of us and took our 'pulse' and looked at our tongue. Then he gave each of us a treatment according to his diagnosis. Plus, he said, 'I'm treating you so you'll never get breast cancer.'

And, 'One treatment from me is as good as 10 days on medication.' Some how I believe him. Ken told us that Mr Hong has gone 42 years without seeing a medical doctor or taking any medications. I asked if he does Qigong and he said, 'He gets up at 3 or 4 in the morning to begin his various practices of Qigong and massaging the internal organs.

Teacher Hong brought some tools to use: a rolling pin shaped like a figure 8, that he rolled up and down the spine; A 'scraping tool' (gwa sha) to scrape various areas on the body, without benefit of Vaseline! But, he didn't do it until the 'sha' came up and he often did the scraping over the clothes. There was another tool that he did not use that is a percussion instrument that I've experienced during foot massage. I took lots of pictures. Ken was there to translate when necessary.

Mr Hong asked when we were leaving, and when we said 'Friday,' he said, 'that is too soon to teach you anything!' But, I had already learned much. All too soon the morning session drew to a close and we were in a taxi on our way to school. The treatments were powerful as witnessed by various students.

It was another magical moment in Beijing!

Janice

A time of struggle

April 19, 2008
Rock-climbing with my son, Phil, I had my elbows bent and toes clinging to their purchase. My left hand stretched up and grabbed the next hold. Phil, spotting me from the floor, encouraged me to move my right foot up and then move in one movement - straightening that right knee and extending my right hand to grab the next finger-hold with the white-colored tape below it. My leg wouldn't straighten and my right arm was shaking from holding the tension too long. I said, "I need to come down," and dropped to the spongy mat below. It occurred to me there were no teachers grading me, no experts judging me, if I wanted to drop to the floor that was my decision and the right one for me at that moment. Rock-climbing is complex and challenging, taking time and experience to improve. You go at your own pace and watch others as a way to gain insight. Thinking through the steps you need for each route engages your puzzle-solving/problem-solving skills.

This trip to China was a problem-solving trip. The previous trips I traveled with a group and had a tour guide. Many arrangements were made for me. Things went smoothly and successfully without many obstacles. This trip was different.
First of all, I went alone. In many ways this was a benefit. If I felt like going to bed at 5:30 p.m. I could do that without considering anyone else’s wants or desires; likewise with choosing where to eat or whether to go out with friends. However, when exploring Beijing, either by shopping or by going out at night, one needs a friend.
Teacher talked about this concept when it was time for me to go to the airport. He said he wanted to go with me to protect me. He said if a person goes out alone – like walking through the streets – the pick-pockets and thieves can rob them. But, if a friend walks beside them, the thief stays away. I told him I was taking a taxi and would be fine, but I appreciated the gesture and the security that comes from having a friend beside you.
Secondly, I arrived in Beijing sick. Couple that with jetlag and I was very low energy-wise for the first several days. Add to that waking up on the second morning with severe rib pain when I coughed or laughed and I wasn’t too happy!
Thirdly, Teacher wanted a large sum of money for his teaching, which I wasn’t prepared for. This felt like a set-back and I wondered if I should just return to the States.

Fredrick Nietzsche said, “That which does not kill you outright, can only make you stronger.”

And Robert Henri said in his book, The Art Spirit, written in 1923:

“Do not let the fact that things are not made for you, that conditions are not as they should be, stop you. Go on anyway. Everything depends on those who go on anyway.”

I went anyway and am glad I did. There were lessons to be learned in the midst of the struggles.

Teacher and Bodywork

April 19, 2008
When Teacher heard from Mr. Li about the neck and shoulder treatment he received from me, he asked for a session. The next day he wanted a low back treatment; another treatment the next day, AND one the day after that!
One day he admitted that he doesn’t receive massage or bodywork because who could he go to? I told him that he needs to set a good example to his patients by receiving regular bodywork. He said there’s a big tree in the Park and he rubs up against it when he needs work! He said a lot of the old men go there for the same reason; the tree is becoming shiny!
When I finished each session he would declare my work “very good!” and then add “just two things more” to make it better. He would give me the treatment and then have me do it on him to make sure I had it right.
It seemed to me his mood improved, he joked, laughed and smiled more those last days. Receiving good bodywork can have that effect on a person, especially if they’ve never experienced it before.