Meet The Nanjing ELIC Team

   I just wanted to show you a quick picture of the ELIC team who are all teaching/living in Nanjing. Some families live on the other side of town and some on the same campus as us.   Starting from your left and moving around to your right are:
Kellie and Stephen Merwin, Brooke and Andy Cheely, Chad and Amy Macpherson (live on our campus), Rachel Dahl, Tama and Jeremy Majors, Chad & Laurel Whetzell who is holding Victoria (live on our campus) , and you all know the beautiful woman on the far right.  The balding middle aged fat guy is holding the camera "The Least of These".   The kids are at the other table and their faces are quite lovely.

Football in China

Okay, how is this for ironic.  One of my students from last year, SuXin, is now studying in the States at TCU in Texas.  Prior to the Boise State vs. TCU game this year he sent Trey a small TCU uniform knowing full well that we are Boise State Bronco fans.  Well, Brian got the last laugh as TCU beat Boise State earlier this year.  So here are a couple photos of what Trey and I think of TCU. 

 

Trick-Or-Treating in China

This past Halloween Trey didn't feel like going to my classrooms or going to the dorms to go trick-or-treating.  They really don't celebrate Halloween in China.  With that said, this is a small sample of how spoiled Trey is in Nanjing.  The students CAME TO HIM and brought candy, jello, meat pies, etc.  Below was his haul without even working for it.

Baking Bread!!!!!

   Who knew banana bread would be a great way to connect with the students?   Trey has helped bake banana bread this year and we've had both Dai Bo, who is our good friend, as well as a couple of my current students, Aislynn and Susan, over baking bread for various reasons.
    Both our family as well as many of the students love fresh baked banana bread.  But then again, who doesn't?

The Flood

We had mentioned in a weekly update that our kitchen flooded one Sunday morning.  Below is the only evidence of the flood from that day.  That was my position for about 90 minutes until the people came to fix the pipes outside.  Thank goodness it didn't last for 40 days and 40 nights!!!!!  GOOD TIMES!!!!!

Leadership Forum In Nanjing

Below are a some pictures of a leadership forum that happens two times a year in Nanjing.  Triple Bottom Line, Bluebridge, and CDTI all partner together to bring western business people to Nanjing in order to provide corporate training in leadership, communication, team building and various other hands on training activities.  There is a one day event in which local Nanjing University students have to apply, interview, and then be selected to participate.   Following the actual event, the business people spend a week in Nanjing going to various Universities and provide additional training to clubs on campuses.  It’s an exhausting week for these professionals but a great way to connect with the students in Nanjing.


This is the interview process in order to be selected to go to the forum.  Students have to present a business idea based on the TBL philosophy.

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These are pictures of the forum below.  

During a team building exercise our group of students had to build a bridge out of tape and newspaper that would hold a full two liter bottle.   (They did it!!!!!)

One of the guest speakers, Tim McDonald. 

 Our good friend Stephanie

Sunday Morning House

I just wanted to show you where we go each Sunday morning. The pictures include an outside shot of the state owned house as well as Trey posing with Andy & Brooke Cheeley's children and their neighbor on the Harley.

Nice Day For A Hike

Chad W, Chad M, and I took a couple students and hiked the local mountain around the beginning of October this year.  Purple Mountain is one of the most famous mountains in Nanjing and hiked by people of all ages.  We had a great time with the two students and got to know them better.  By the time I got down the mountain, my legs were a little shaky.   We had blue sky that day so we got some pictures of downtown Nanjing which is rare. 

Day With The Dinosaurs

On October 6^th we had an opportunity to visit the China Dinosaur Park in Chengzhou which is about 2 hours east of Nanjing.  Some Chinese friends drove us and treated us to an incredible day at the park as well as a delicious hot pot meal for dinner.  Hot pot is similar to a fondue dinner, however they have either spicy or non-spicy water they boil all the meat and vegetables in. 

 Below are some pictures from the park and dinner. 

     Next picture is of Trey and I jousting on two different dinosaurs.  Believe it or not?

Trey and some of his new friends he met at the entrance of the dinosaur park.

Trey and Dad getting mean next to some of the knights who were behind us. 

Mom and Trey going on the park's scariest ride.   Okay, maybe second scariest.

The rest are pictures from the day including lunch with the entire clan and dinner with just Elaine, Yin, and her kids.

We figured it was time for Trey to get his first tatoo.  Plants versus Zombies.  LOL.  

Nothing Like A Home Cooked Meal

  On October 4^th we had Yang Yang and Dai Bo over to our house for a home cooked meal.  Yang Yang and Dai Bo made us scrambled eggs and tomatoes which is a very famous dish in China, teriyaki chicken wings, and chicken and vegetables.  I also made some chicken with green peppers, broccoli, with home- made Teriyaki sauce as well.  Not too bad for a rookie in the kitchen.  Earlier in the day, Dai Bo and I made our first ever banana bread with Sharolyn closely directing and keeping us in line.   As you can see by the second picture; not too much was left over at the end of the meal.

Pool Anyone?

    At the end of September the three old foreign teachers, Chad, Mac, and myself took some students to shoot pool at the campus billiards hall.  Calling it an official hall is a stretch but it did have pool tables next to the gym.   We had a really good time getting to know these students and continuing to dive deeper.   I continue to find no matter how often or infrequent I shoot pool, I always stink at that sport.  I think I personally was a member of 6 losing teams.

Monkey Spotted In Nanjing

     We had one of the most amazing things happen since we've been in Nanjing.  We were eating dinner in our apartment and accidently left our door cracked open.  As we started eating dinner, a monkey slipped through the door and jumped up to our table.  Below is the amazing spectacle caught on camera.

Welcome To Our Home!!!

Hello family and friends.  For those of you who haven't seen our apartment in Nanjing, we wanted to show you some pictures of our little piece of heaven.  In all honestly, we are very fortunate to have this apartment and count our blessings.  We know it could have been a lot worse.

Picture one is from outside the apartment.  The bars on the windows help keep the mosquitoes out in the fall and spring.  They are relentless in the spring.  I also heard they are for protection from those with sticky fingers.

The next picture is our family room as you walk through the front door.

And this is our "one-butt" kitchen.  Anymore than that and things start getting knocked over and spilled.

The next picture is the bathroom.  Yes, that is our washing machine next to the toilet.  Talk about multi-tasking.  Sorry, I probably just gave everyone a mental image they did not want. 

The next two pictures are Trey's and our bedrooms. 

    We hope you enjoyed this quick virtual tour of our home.  Again, we are thankful for what our DAD has provided.  We do have a room for ANY VISITORS WHO MIGHT WANT TO DROP BY.  :0)   Love you all.

Travis, Sharolyn, and Trey Carlson

A Little Mexican Food In China - YUMMMMMY!!!!!

      I know this sounds silly to post on a blog, but I'm so thankful for a little Mexican food in China.  Thank you honey for the soft tacos, home made tortillas, chips, and I kicked in the salsa.  My taste buds sang for days.

Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration

We wanted to share some of the sites during our celebration with many of the scholarship students on Nanjing University of Science and Technology campus during the Mid-Autumn Festival weekend.  The Whetzell, MacPherson, and Carlson clan went to Xuanwu lake with the students and had an absolute blast.   We played with the frisbee, football; ice-breaker games, shared picnic lunches, and the club launched their 2011 organization.  The students are forming a club to serve the students and people in the community. 

I enclosed some pictures of our journey to the park and in the park.  We love spending time with these kids and getting to know their hearts.  What's even more exciting as they are taking the lead in forming this club and thinking outside the box so to speak. I know that's an overly used phrase, but to see the kids thinking about serving others are a great site. 

We hope you all had a great September!!!  We are looking forward to what October brings.