why go to China?

I've been asked this a few times as I've shared about my upcoming
trip to China. Here are a couple of reasons for going:

1- To serve God
2- To gain English teaching experience
3- To meet new people ( team members, Chinese students, and staff )
4- To return to learn more about Chinese culture
5- To learn the Chinese language
6- Chinese food. (enough said)
7- 12 hour airplane flights.

chippy one?

The background to using -chippy one- on the title page is to
honor the Dambuster's of Strike Fighter Squadron 195. (VFA- 195)

This is the squardon that I was assigned to from 1993- 1995.
The nickname of the Dambuster's has historical ties to the
Korean War when the squardon participated in airstikes
against a particular dam in Korea. The air strikes took place
over time and thus the chipies was named because the air
strikes "chipped" away at the dam.

Chippy One could also mean the Squardon Commanding
Officer hence the #1 pilot can be called "Chippy One."

VFA-195 flies the F/A-18 Hornet and is based at Naval
Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. The Dambuster's belong to
Commander Air Wing 5 (Cag-5) stationed aboard the
U.S.S Kitty Hawk.

What is a alert 5?

You as a reader may ask why my personal blog has the website
address of alert5. The reason I use alert5 is to pay honor to those men
and women who serve on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.

Alert 5 is a status used when and if the aircraft carrier is in a hostile area
and needs a aircraft to be launched for combat. There are several
alert status used in the Navy and they are as follows: 5, 15, 30, 60.

On alert 5 status, the assigned aircraft is manned, armed, and on
the catapult ready for immediate launch. On alert 15-60, the assigned
aircrew is sitting in the squadron ready room on call for manning the
aircraft that is on the catapult.

I wish to dedicate this posting to the men and women that man the
U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower. (CVN-69) The Eisenhower is home-
ported at Norfolk Naval Base in Norfolk, Va. I was honored to have
served on board the Eisenhower from 1990- 1993. Alert 5 was set
while on watch in the Red Sea/ Persian Gulf during Operation's
Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Keep up the good work Ike crew!!!

group dynamics

This being passion week I thought I would pose a question that
relates to the Biblical story. The question is:

Where in the crowd would you be at?

The scripture for the Triumphal entry Jesus made into Jerusalem
is found in Matthew 21: 1- 11. According to the pastor at my church
here in Newberg, Oregon there is a figure of 1-3 million people who
witnessed the entry of Jesus into the city less than a week before
he was sentenced to death. The question deals with a person
reading the scripture and his/her placement in the crowd. The
choices would be the front, middle, or in the back of the crowd
where personal danger wouldn't be a factor.

My response would be that I would be staying in the middle of
the crowd as Jesus would make this historic entrance on a donkey.
I enjoy being in large crowd especially at sporting events but this
moment would find me in the middle of the mass of people. I've
traveled to Jerusalem and the city is not that big in area for a
mass of people to move. Why the middle? I want to be in the middle
of the crowd because I don't want to miss the action but being in the
very front would be cause injury to me or people around me. From
what I read in the Bible, the same people who were shouting the
cry of Hosana in the Highest might of been placed there to mix in
with the crowd.

Vacation choice?

Today in Church during the greeting time we were to ask/answer the following question.

Where would you spend vacation if you had a choice?

My first choice would be China since I've traveled and lived in China. I would return to Xiamen where I lived for four months and see my Chinese friends there. I would also make a visit to see my China studies program director and spend time with his family. Hong Kong would also be on my agenda since I've visited the city four different ocassions.

Vacations are nice and I'm looking forward to the 2005 summer vacation period. I will have a working vacation with two months of teaching in China with Educational Services International. Three months from today I will begin trianing in Pasadena in preparation for travel to China.

Where would Jesus spend his vacation?

Easter Break.

I made it to Easter break after going through exams, projects, classes. I'm
looking forward to taking a breath and recovering during the next week
leading up to Easter. I'm staying in Newberg which is nice because I will
able to spend time with friends from church.

I also looking forward to reading and preparing for my upcoming trip to
China which is 3 months away. I'm mailing my passport, visa application,
and visa photos to the agency I'll be teaching with. It's exciting to know
God is putting togather my team and preparing my future students for
my presence. If I was a student, (which I'm at this time) I would be nervous
knowing a total stranger would come to my class and teach me a foreign
language. God is good and is preparing the right people for me to be with
and the class that will be welcoming me.

I hope I can spend time adding to this blog in the next week. I also planning
to rest since school will pick up the day after Easter.

China teaching philosophy.

I intend to keep the following in mind while I teach in China this summer:

Care: for family, students, team members, teachers, and support team
Cultivate: relationships with students and host staff
Celebrate: Chinese culture and American culture (respect and share)

Communicate: the love of Christ with my fellow teachers, staff, and students.

Teaching Philosophy

The following is my personal teaching philosophy. The words I present is a
philosophy I thought of during the spring of 2004. I'm sure the words will
change throughout the times I teach in domestic and overseas settings.

________________________________________________________

As I approach education, my philosophy of teaching will be connected with
my belief in leading a Christian-based example both in and outside a classroom.
My priorities inside and outside the classroom will be my relationship with
God, my family life, and my personal life. Included in these priorities will be
the safety of my students and those I work alongside with. The interactions
I'll have with students will be formed in a safe and comfortable setting leadiing
personal growth for both my students and I.

My professional growth as a teacher will remain a priority as I continue
to learn the teachniques and tools to provide for a cohesive learning environment.
Opportunities to pursue a graduate degree in teaching and I intend to make
the sacrifices needed to pursue a graduate degree in a Christian based
environment.

My interactions with parents/ guardians will be a access and of the up most
confidentiality for the students safety. I will be entrusted with the precious
gifts of God in the children whose parents will send to my classroom. I intend
to develop a team of parents who will support me in prayer and also assist
me in the classroom with their life experiences.

I plan to have a "open door" policy available for both parents and students
to visit me for advice or reference. My professional relationships with fellow
teachers and staff members will also be of the highest degree to create a
cohesive learning environment. My daily interactions with fellow teachers
will be lead by my Christian example in attitude and demeanor.

E.S.I countries

The organization I'm going to China this summer with also sends teachers
to the following countries. I'm blessed beyond words of seeing a list like this.
Lord willing, all these countries will be able to continue teachers to their
schools and universities.

China, Czech Republic, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan,
Morocco, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam.

Here is the website of ESI. (Educational Services International)

www.teachoverseas.org