June 30, 2007 by admin.

From a 2004 visit to Beijing with Dianne, Mason and our nephew/cousin, Craig.

Here is a picture of my cousin, Craig.
(as you can see, cousin Craig is very, very tall)

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June 30, 2007 by admin.

Movin’ On Out

Dianne’s continued to feel a little better each day.  Some back pain remains and some of the new medications upset her stomach a little, but that’s (thankfully) been the worst of it, as of late.

Thursday, the movers took away in 90 minutes what it took us two weeks to pack.  I wish we could move as fast as they did.  We’re trying to focus on packing the remaining items as soon as possible so that the last few days here can be relaxing.

Friday, a group of about 20 colleagues had a goodbye dinner for Dianne in the Guesthouse Restaurant.  There was plenty of excellent food (I plan to have some of the leftovers after this post).

We’ll update as time permits, but please know we have not forgotten about you.

Mason

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June 28, 2007 by admin.

Forgive us for missing a couple days. We’ve been packing and sorting through teaching materials.

Dianne had her follow up visit at the hospital on Wednesday.
Tests showed some fluid buildup outside the right kidney, which may mean that she still has a small stone/s left to pass. Xrays suggested osteoporosis (low bone density) may be a problem, but my mom had already been told of this by her US doctors in the past. Other than that, the results looked good, and she continues to feel a little better each day, although the back/neck pain is very frustrating to her.
Forgive the short post - it’s late and I just wanted to put something up there so people didn’t get worried by seeing no updates.

Mason

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June 24, 2007 by admin.

At Yu Yuan

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June 23, 2007 by admin.

I want to thank all of the folks who have responded to the Contact! post so far.

Please keep the emails coming!

Hazel (Fan Xin)  English 2003
Cally (Jin Yu)   English 2003
Jessie (Gu Chaohua)  English 2003
Vicky (Jiang Yuewei)  English 2004
Jenny (Chen xiao xia)  English 2004
Lin Hao (Lin Hao)  TCFL 2004
Luke (Lu Jia)   TCFL 2004
Ashley (Yan Jia Yu)  TCFL 2005
Philan (Jie Chun Jin)  TCFL 2006
Doris (Feng Yun Zhe)  TCFL 2006
Crystal (Wang Yun Hui)  TCFL 2006
Zena (Li Zi)   TCFL 2006
Luke (Liujing Jiang)  TCFL 2006
Amy (Li Xiao Yun)  TCFL 2007
Jessica (Jin Biqiong)  TCFL 2007
Phevos (Zhou Ziheng)  TCFL 2007
August (Cao Guo Suyang) TCFL 2007
Shooky (Song Shenxu)  TCFL 2007
bobo (Zhang Jun)  TCFL 2007
Allan (Cai Zhi Yong)  TCFL 2008
Maggie (Zhu Li Yun)  TCFL 2008
Jessica (Xiaqing)  TCFL 2008
Seven (Li Jiazong)  TCFL 2008
Johnny (Wu Jialiang)  TCFL 2008
Hersy (Youqing Zheng)  TCFL 2009
Lydia (ZENG ZhiNi)  TCFL 2009
Cathy ()   TCFL 2009
I don’t think I missed anyone, but if you sent me your details but do not see your name, please accept my apologies and send another email.

Thank you,
Mason

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June 23, 2007 by admin.

Overall, the progress continues to be pretty good.  The back pain is still there, but is a little better than yesterday.  Some neck pain has shown up, but we’re not too concerned about that so far.  Dianne was able to have some visitors over the last few days, which she enjoyed.

For those watching our travel plans, BOTH Mason and Dianne now have the following flight itinerary:

Flight:            UNITED 836
Departs:           SHANGHAI/PUDON
Date:              THU 5 JUL 
Time:              3:45P
Terminal:          1

Arrives:           CHICAGO/OHARE
Date:              THU 5 JUL
Time:              3:59P
Terminal:          5
——————————————-
Flight:            UNITED 142
Departs:           CHICAGO/OHARE
Date:              THU 5 JUL
Time:              7:05P
Terminal:          1

Arrives:           PITTSBURGH
Date:              THU 5 JUL
Time:              9:32P

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June 23, 2007 by admin.

                  TO MY BELOVED STUDENTS

 The English language has so many words, but I am having great difficulty selecting the ones that can express my feelings.

  Every year in June it is necessary to say goodbye to the third year students whom I have taught for two years, and that always makes me sad. However, I have previously had the comfort of knowing they will be around the campus for another two terms and that there will be some opportunities to see them.  I also have the pleasure of knowing I will be with the second year students the following year in the Writing course.

  No matter how many hours we spent together, each year I think to myself, “There is so much more I wanted to tell them.” This year, of course, the situation was very different, and I did not even manage to complete my scheduled lessons. Everything happened so suddenly that I am still trying to adjust to the circumstances. I cannot easily accept the fact that I will not be returning to SISU in the fall and that there will be no more chances to be with you and try to help you prepare for life.

  The years in China have been among the very happiest, and my life will be forever entwined with those of my students. I was looking forward to helping the class of 2008 with their resumes and college applications, with helping the class of 2009 face the decisions they must make about their future, and getting to know the class of 2010.
  Please know that although I will be unable to offer help in person, I want to still be available though email (donnydfh@yahoo.com) to answer some of your questions.  If I receive your email, I will definitely reply.  Even if you have no questions, I hope we can remain in contact. I will be very interested to know what is going on in your lives and at SISU.

  If in the future any of you are working or studying in the U.S., I hope you will try to contact me.  My address is:

    3560 Mayer Drive
    Murrysville, Pa. 15668

My home phone number is 724 327 6386. There should be an answering machine attached to the phone, so if I am not at home, you can leave your name and the phone number where I can contact you. Don’t give up; if you don’t reach me the first time, please keep trying!!!!!

  The many good wishes and kindnesses that have come my way in the past six years and especially since I became ill have been the source of enormous warmth and strength. I have truly felt surrounded by love.
  As a teacher it always brings tears to my eyes when someone pays me the ultimate compliment of saying, “Someday I want to be a teacher like you.” If I had to give three guidelines to those of you who will choose to follow this profession, they would be:
1- Have a sense of humor. Laughter, including laughing at yourself, helps to keep life balanced.
2- Remember that you are teaching PEOPLE, and far more valuable than the academic knowledge you impart will be the self-confidence, self-respect, and strong ethical standards you can instill in the young lives that have been entrusted to your care.
3- LOVE your students. In the presence of love more things become possible than you could ever imagine.

  Whichever career path you select, you are a part of society. Remember Mahatma Ghandi’s words: “Become the change that you want to see in the world.” None of us can alter the entire world, but every one of us, for better or worse, affects those sections of it that we do touch. Knowing you as well as I do, I am confidant the world is in for some pleasant surprises.

  Finally, let me say that I leave China feeling that I am a very rich woman. A salesperson in the U.S. once commented, “Oh, you teach English in China; you can make a fortune.” When I told him I was not interested in making a lot of money, he looked puzzled. How sad for him that he did not understand the real meaning of the word.  How blessed am I with all the riches you have bestowed upon me.

  My dear, dear grandchildren, your grandma’s love, appreciation, and gratitude will be with you wherever you go.

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June 23, 2007 by admin.

Not many days before my mom fell ill, she was deeply honored to have been chosen as one of SISU’s “Most Moving” Figures.

Does anyone out there have a copy of the video?  I would like to put the footage on DVD for my mom.

Thanks, Mason

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June 21, 2007 by admin.

Dianne had her followup tests at Rui Jin Hospital yesterday, but she will not know the results until her next visit on Wed 27Jun.  At this next visit, she will also speak to an orthopedic specialist about the continuing back pain she’s been having on her left side (as well as to a urologist about the kidney stones).

The continuing back pain is a continuing worry, because it’s been going on for over a week.  Thankfully, many of the other symptoms she’d been suffering have mostly faded:
  - right side back pain (kidney stones)
  - shortness of breath
  - nausea (for the most part)
  - frontal abdominal pain (gall bladder/pancreatitis)

Still, we’re both hoping we’ll be able to relax more once we can find out what’s causing this continued pain.
In good news, I was able to change my travel plans to match my mom’s, so we’ll be travelling back to Pittsburgh together on 05 July.
I’ve started receiving contact information at masonhu@aol.com.  My mom is happy to see that her address book is magically* filling up - Please keep them coming!

*magic = Mason typing, but I don’t mind.

Mason 

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June 20, 2007 by admin.

Please send your contact information directly to my email: masonhu@aol.com

I think this will be better than posting the info on a public website (not much of a risk, but I know web-bots search the web to pick up email addresses for spam).

For those who have already posted, I will delete their comments after I have retrieved the contact information.

Sorry for any confusion.

Mason

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