Pittsburgh

We visited Pittsburgh last weekend. The main reason is to retrieve a luggage (containing our winter clothings) from a US professor who visited Singapore in early July. He helped us bring the luggage to US. We stayed 2 nights at Doubletree, which is a Hilton operated hotel, downtown. The hotel service was attentive and we were upgraded to a suite (comes with a separate living room).

Personal Travel Assistant: Pittsburgh is about 3 1/2 hours drive from State College. Even though I have not been to the city before, we did not have any problems driving there or locating the hotel without referring to any maps. This is because I engaged the service of a personal travel assistant. For US$390, Jill, who speaks American English, will henceforth be our personal guide/navigator for all our future trips out of State College. She knows all the road (from major expressways to back streets) of any cities and villages in US She also knows all the major places of interest, local restaurants, hotels, shops, parking space, etc. in any cities. And if I am bored with Jill and her american english, I can always request for the service of Karen (Australian) or Emily (British). For the ladies who prefer a guy for their personal travel guide, they can ask for Daniel (British), Lee (Australian) or Jack (American).

If you still do not know what I have been alluding to, it is actually an automobile GPS. Preloaded with maps and linked to a satellite system, it is able to recognize your current position and smart enough to be programmed to know where you are heading. For the more advanced (expensive) models, it is also able to help you bypass traffic jams!

No more stressful trips and wave goodbye to the wife's "naggyvating". Jill will prompt him in advance where and when to turn. Wife can also relax; enjoy the music and scenery, or sleep. No need to worry about reading maps for directions so that hubby doesn't take any wrong turns.

Pittsburgh claims to be "one of America's safest cities", but we didn't feel particularly safe walking on the streets in the evening.

City rating: * (will not go back to visit again)

Trip Highlight: We stumbled upon at a Chinese grocery shop in Pittsburgh and started stockpiling (see below). Note the belachan (from Penang) at the top right corner! Also, my wife was delighted to find winter bamboo shoots, a vital ingredient for "babi ponteng"! We also managed to buy some "choy sum", "kai choy" and chinatown "popiah" skin. Now, we are ready for business! Let the hospitality begin!

Stretch to success

Recently, I was very impressed by someone I met at the university. I had some problems with the computer in my room and needed help. I call the computer center and kind of expected help in the form of someone young and techy, probably a guy. To my surprise, the HE was a SHE; and she was not young either - probably in her mid 40s.

In my conversation with her, I found out that she had made a major career change in her late 30s. For more than 20 years, she was a hairstylist. She only switched to computing around 6 years ago when she bought her first computer, which she paid a lot of money for. But when it was delivered to her house, she had difficulties setting it up, which is not surprising since it was the first time she ever handled a computer. And when it was finally set up, the computer didn't work.

Frustrated with the fact that she had paid so much for a computer that did not work, she decided to enrol in a computing course. She went on from there to take a degree in computing, and now she has a new career. One of her replies inspired me, "I still love to do hairstyling. In fact, everything about it comes naturally to me. It is relaxing because I don't need to think so much. But everything about computing is the opposite. It is hardwork. I don't have the natural ability and everything I know is the outcome of many hours of attending classes and reading computer books and magazines. "

She amazes me because I am not sure how many of us would dare to be stretched that way! Well, John Maxwell wrote "rubber bands must be stretched to be effective... Like rubber bands, our personalities, talents and gifts are not effective unless we're stretched." He went on to list four reasons why people stop stretching!

• They have surrounded themselves with people who are both bored and boring.
• Their work ceases to be a challenge. everything become automatic, nothing more than an assembly line.
• They have learned to get by with shortcuts. They settle for less than the best.
• They see their value based on their relationships (ie. who they know), not their resources. A good eg. would be marriage. After the wedding, we figure that our spouses would love us just because we're married. So we stop courting (stretching), and our marriages stop growing.

In summary, without stress, there would be no growth (although I would differentiate between healthy and unhealthy stress). Whilst sabbatical is to be enjoyed, I want it to be a fruitful one as well - particular, working on self improvement through the acquisition of a new knowledge or skill. Hence, my decision and resolve to continue with the mathematics and economic modules, even though they may be tough. I welcome them as a stretching and growing experience for me!

Back to School!

A photo of the Business School. It is a new building which was completed two years ago.

August 27 marks the first day of school for Penn State University students. The phrase "back to school" is one dreaded by most students. It marks the end of their holidays and the beginning of a new semester or academic year. However, for those who have left school for a while, "back to school" is actually a welcome relief from the hectic working life. It is an opportunity to update their skills, meet new friends and perhaps, to prepare for a mid-life career change.

Well, even for a lecturer, learning is a life-long experience. One of my targets for this sabbatical is to work on my maths, which is one of my weaknesses but is fundamental to understand economics theory. Hence, I have decided to audit several courses. Today, I attended the introductory lesson for two courses for PhD students on "Mathematical Economics" and "Mathematical and Statistical Foundations for Econometrics".

The warnings by the professors would have scared off many students, "this is a hard and abstract course. It will be tough... Beware, take it at your own risk"; "Some of you will become depressed and doubt your ability... Spare yourself from unnecessary suffering by dropping this course". Nevertheless, a professor helped to put it in the right perspective, "You are here to learn maths. The grade doesn't matter but more important is how much have you learnt? Its your attitude that counts; Never give up!".

Well, I am holding on tight for the bumpy ride!

Sweet Corns

For nourishment, we try to have soup every day. One of our favorites is ABC soup, which is so called because it is as easy to cook as learning ABC! Essentially, it is a mixed soup comprising onions, carrot, potato and pork (or chicken meat). To make the soup even more tasty, we like to add sweet corn, which is now in season. The corn cobs are very sweet and yummy even after boiling in the soup for hours. Late summer to early fall, which is now, is supposed to be the best time of the year to eat corns. For US$1, you can buy 5 corns. For a complete guide on corns, see http://www.hormel.com/templates/knowledge/knowledge.asp?catitemid=114&id=844.

During one of the outings, we chanced upon a gigantic maze in a corn field. The adventorous one in me said that I had to "conquer" IT! My wife, however, not wanting to get lost in the maze, decided to wait for me at the exit. It took me a while to wander alone around in the maze before I managed to find the way out. All thanks to some clues left by the farmer. After that, I christianed IT the "Amazing Maize Maze" - a tongue twister!

Reflection: At the begining, it was fun getting lost and not really knowing your direction in the maze! But after a while, you begin to get desperate and start wondering how long more before you will find the RIGHT WAY! More so, when you know your "loved one" is waiting for you at the other side. Thankfully, the farmer (creator of the maze) left some clues so that we can find the WAY OUT! Whilst lost in the maze, I also observed some previous people gave up on the game. So, they try to create their own path by stepping on the corns. This created even more paths for those who were behind them, making the maze even more confusing.

Doesn't this reflect life? Many a times, I have felt lost and needed direction. For me, my reference point whenever I needed guidance is Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He shall guide your path".

Fresh Milk?

The expression "a land flowing with milk and honey" is a poetic word picture expressing the beauty and productivity of the promised land, i.e. a paradise whose inhabitants would lack nothing.

Happy Valley is indeed a very fertile area. In particular, the milk here are really fresh. Our daily milk is purchased directly from the Meyer Diary where you can literally see the cows grazing. It is as good as milking the cow yourself!

Photo was taken at the Annual Agricultural Show hosted by the Penn State University.

Blueberries

There are a few blueberry bushes in our backyard. On the left, is a close-up shot of some of the berries attached to the vine. Those in the photo are still not ripe for plucking yet.

Due to neglect, some of the ripen fruits have fallen on the ground. What a waste! A netting must also placed over the plants to prevent the berries from being eaten by insects/birds.

Some of the berries which I picked. All of which were eaten by my wife who claimed that they were very sweet.

REFLECTION: Don't waste our sabbatical time. Enjoy it, surely! But more important, it is a time for us to plan and prepare for fruitfulness!
(1) God wants us to live a fruitful life. We are created and called to be fruitful. It is true, everbody wants to be productive. In John 15:16, Jesus said, "... I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain..."
(2) What seeds are we planting in our lives? What things are we doing right now that are going to help us to be fruitful? Think not only of today but also of a year from now and 5 years from now. What are we investing in the soil of our life that's going to come back to us 10-, 30-, or a 100-fold?
(3) Our potential for fruitfulness is tremendous if we have the right partner! Jesus said, "Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me."

Source: J.C. Maxwell (1994) Be All You Can Be!

Curry Chicken

The weather here can be quite extreme. In the first two weeks, the temperature was in the high 20+ to 30 degrees Celcius. Today, it drops to mid 10s. By end of this week, it will go back to 30.

Given the cold temperature plus it has been raining the whole of today, we decided to stay in. And the best way we know to keep our body warm is to cook a potful of spicy chicken curry!

RECIPE: Most of the ingredients to cook a good curry can be found in State College. Chicken drumsticks are juicy and relatively cheap. Fresh potatoes are in abundance. "Curry paste" can be self-blended from powdered, dried and fresh chilis, onions, garlic and tumeric powder. Fry until fragrant. Add water and 1/2 can of coconut milk (which can be replaced by fresh milk for a more healthy choice). To thicken, use grounded almond nuts in place of "buah keras". And not forgetting our secret ingredient "precious belachan". Simmer 30-45 minutes and wo lah, you have a hearty pot of very spicy curry!

PROF-RATING: *** (too spicy - next time must remember not to add so much chili)!

Church

Over the past two Sundays, we have visited three churches.

Last week, we attended two services. First, the church attended by the Hunters. The pastor's preaching was solid but overall, the service was "traditional". Second, we stumbled upon the Antioch Church, which is linked to the Joshua 21 movement. Hence, its service was very spontaneous and dynamic; pretty much like the youth service back home in Singapore. Two of its members have visited Singapore, so we managed to talk a bit about "ice kachang", their favorite food.

This Sunday, we attended another church - Calvary Baptist Church which has a contemporary praise and worship service, which we are accustomed to in Singapore. The pulpit ministry appears sound, but will need more time to evaluate. It is a spirit-filled, growing and outward looking church. It is also within walking distance from our house and the people are generally very warm. We will attend this church for another few weeks and if it is ok, we will commit ourself to this church for the next one year.

Arrival & Orientation

This is our first update from State College, US, which is also known as "Happy Valley". We arrived safely on August 1, after more than 24 hours of flight/transit. The first thing we did was to open our bank account; followed by checking-in procedures at Penn State University.

In addition, we have to "take over" the house from our landlord and lady. The house is cosy, has three levels and a nice guestroom at the basement (where we are currently staying) which opens directly into the back garden. It works out very well that we had a one week overlap because not only did we managed to find out firsthand the nitty gritty of how things operate in the house but more importantly, we get to know the Hunter family better. They have two beautiful and very well-behaved daughters, Molly and Betsy. The Hunters left for their sabbatical in Paris on August 7 . To follow their adventure in Paris,
http://lesaventuresdecdmb.blogspot.com/.

Before they left, we were introduced to the neighbors. The people here are really friendly. So far, we have attended two dinner gatherings hosted by our neighbors (by rotation every Friday – just like home cell gathering in Singapore). Most of our neighbors are somehow linked to the Penn State, which is not surprising since this is a university town. One neighbor is a professional artist, who specializes in outdoor oil painting. In fact, on the first week we meet, he had just won a regional art competition.

This is a very safe neighborhood. We are told that nobody locks their door even if they go out during the day. They only locked the doors at night.