John Gunter

Thoughts on Life and Living

First Impressions. . . Traditional Chinese Medicine

by

(This post is part of a series I am doing called “First Impressions. . . my first few months in Asia“.  If you would like to read about this series and other articles, please CLICK HERE.)9traditional-chinese-Medicine

One of the job hazards of living and working in Asia (for a foreigner) is sickness.  Food, preparation and many other things make maintaining health a constant issue.  As I often say, I really only have two states of heath here. . . I have a stomach virus or I am about to get a stomach virus.  It has gotten much better over the years.  I think this is both because standards of cleanliness have increased and my body is more acclimated.

However, my first few years were rough.  This is about my first sickness and visit to a local Chinese medicine doctor.

People refered to it simply as “the East Asian Wall”.  It seemed as if it happened to everyone that arrived in East Asia from America.  It was as if after 1-2 months of living here, your body would just hit a wall and completely shut down.  Body to self, “wait one minute. . . what is going on here?!?!?”  The food is different, [Read more…]

Let me tell you about my friend, Tracey. . . and her current journey

by

Let me tell you about my friend Tracey Clarke. I am currently on a plane leaving Washington, D.C. where I was able to spend some time with Tracey and her husband, Craig Clarke.

Tracey Clarke in a DC train.
Reflection of Tracey looking out of a DC train (recently taken by Craig).

Tracey entered my life about 12 years ago when she and Craig began dating in Atlanta. Craig was then a full-time student and a part-time youth minister. Tracey was (and still is) an accomplished artist (http://traceyclarke.com/). She came to the church because of the established arts community there and ended up meeting one of the best men that I know. Craig and Tracey have been together since in a relationship of which I respect, admire, and hope to have one day myself.

Tracey is an artist of the highest order. Tracey is a follower of Christ to a level that has been inspiring and challenging to me personally. Craig often refers to me as her male twin, as he thinks we are united in our world views, personalities, and desires to please Christ with our entire lives. This is one of the finest compliments of which I have ever received.

One year ago this week, July 22, 2011, I was in a bowling alley in Fort Collins, Colorado. I received a call from Craig. It was one of those moments I will never forget.

[Read more…]

First Impressions. . . Z-land and the Z-people

by

(This post is part of a series I am doing called “First Impressions. . . my first few months in Asia“. If you would like to read about this series and other articles, please CLICK HERE.)

Zland window from hostel
Window from my room in the hostel

Z-land is not the real name of the place, but it is, in fact, real. It is a politically charged region of the world, so I am leaving its real name out of this article. I would like to avoid having my name and it linked in search engines. I have been there several times, now. Each time with official permission. However, I just need to not mention the exact name. I hope you understand! This is my impressions (and a few pictures) from the first time I visited. . . um. . . Z-land.

As a broad summary statement, to say it was a different world would be the understatement of the year. Definitely unlike any place to which I have ever traveled. Though my body felt like it was being constantly pummeled for 4 straight days, the time was unforgettable and invaluable. Many of the faces and images will be burnt into my mind for a long time to come.

The Z-land people perhaps made the largest impression on all of us. They really are delightful (sorry if this word doesn’t sound like me, but it was most appropriate). Their smiles are as electric as any I have ever seen. They have a quiet confidence that seems to just stick out.

We had the privilege of staying in a hostel in the middle of the ancient side of town. It was a place that catered to western hiker/drifter types. We were able to stay for the equivalent of $5.70 a night. It was one of those places where the bathroom

[Read more…]

First Impressions. . . Tai Qi on National TV and Asian parties

by

(This post is part of a series I am doing called “First Impressions. . . my first few months in Asia“.  If you would like to read about this series and other articles, please CLICK HERE.)

Tai QI
We did not look as good as this guy, but at least we had matching undershirts.

Within a few months of living in Asia, I appeared on national TV on three different occasions.  This was my second such appearance and easily my most humiliating.

It was our entire group of six foreign students from America.  The story began about two weeks after our arrival in this country.  Our teacher informed us that part of our “cultural teaching” would be learning how to do this exercise named Tai Qi.  You have probably seen this.  It is the slow, almost hypnotic motions/exercise that you see being practiced mainly by elderly Chinese people.  It is the exercise that looks like Kung Fu, but only in mega-slow motion.  It was of absolutely no interest to any of us, but this was one of those “requests” from our university that we were not given the option of refusing.

What our teacher did not tell us was that we would be on TV doing this exercise with about 30-40 others during the National Day festivities.  She also didn’t tell us that everyone [Read more…]

First Impressions. . . Chinese pick-up basketball

by

(This post is part of a series I am doing called “First Impressions. . . my first few months in Asia“.  If you would like to read about this series and other articles, please CLICK HERE.

Chinese pick-up basketball
One of the many rag tag games of pick-up basketball I have played (not my finest haircut).

One of the things I most enjoyed about moving to Asia at first was basketball.  We played it often and made a ton of friends doing it.  Here are some of my initial thoughts from my first few months of playing pick-up Chinese basketball.

There were five years between the time that I spent a summer in Asia while in college and when I moved over here.  In that time period, the quality of play did rise and continues to each year.  The society plays a ton, so they are showing more and more improvement even to this day.  However, it was still very different than what I was accustomed to in the US.

About the play, the speed is very high and often sloppy.  They are all in incredible shape, so they can go at high speeds for hours without showing any effects.  This is the toughest thing for me, as I am dying after 45 minutes of so.  Their hand speed is great, but their foot work is terrible.  They will steal the ball from you, then trip over it as they try to pick it up from the ground.  Flying bodies and hands are the norm.

Along these lines, very few fouls are called.  You practically have to draw blood before a foul is called.  Getting slapped going up for a shot and mugged over the back on rebounds is just part of the play.  They are very aggressive and very physical, yet tempers almost never flair up.

Their major influence, to no surprise, is the NBA.  David Stern and his goons have obviously done an incredible job of marketing over here.  As there are very few coaches [Read more…]

Subscribe to Blog by Email

Follow Me