pagoda
This one’s a quickie!
sunset, Qin Lings
Two weeks ago I braved the language barrier, took the local bus, and went to the Qin Ling Mountains. I was the only foreigner on the hour and a half journey. But on the ride, I met three very kind Chinese who let me tag along with them all day and most of the night. Again, I lucked into an incredible situation that led to an amazing adventure. With these three wonderful people, I experienced some of Shaanxi Province’s most beautiful mountains and rural landscapes. We traveled, shared a meal, climbed, and managed to make it back to Xi’an safely. Before 10:00 pm even.
at the top
The day had many stand-outs, but I think the best part was getting to see and hear the ‘luck bird.’ (Watch the video, you’ll see, or hear at the very least.) It followed us up the trail along the mountain’s switchbacks for twenty minutes or so–but be forewarned, the footage I got is not the best. It seems that as soon as I was determined to capture him on video, he went into stealth mode. Lucky elusive. Or maybe, I’m just not so good at birding, hiking, and filming at the same time. 
But the audio is good. And it made my day, especially when my companions told me how lucky it is to see this bird.
sliding down
Birds, brave bus adventures, hiking, being outside—great stuff. I must do these, often. For my sanity’s sake.
I filmed as much as I could, edited, and even recorded a little guitar track for your viewing and listening pleasure.
I hope you enjoy. Love, ~Josephine
p.s. Here’s last week’s Thanksgiving with my XISU students.
They are blessings, too.
Adventure Girl!!! You are having amazing times because you are so loving & open to the universe. I miss you. These videos are wonderful! Keep em coming. I put up our Thanksgiving on my fb.
Leslie, want to say congrats to you and your dear man. Really, yours is a great love story—I am so glad you found each other. *And, I might add, your living arrangement is perfect!!! (I think.:))
Your story gives me hope. You know, I’m not really an antisocial, a recluse, or an overly tortured artist, though I am sensitive. And I need a big space to think and create by myself. I may be a bit beyond the pale, but I’m harmless. I appreciate this about me, and I know, someone else will, too.
I miss art, adventure, and scavenging with you. I will see you sooner than you think.
Thanks for reading.
Much love,
~Jos
Qin Ling
A lucky bird
That calls to her
And gives the sound
Of what must infer
The lines and tones
Of her next song
That she plays from heart
And hopes to sing along
With Lucky bird
That found his way
to where she chose
to spend that day
with people new
and mountains real
that bring her luck
as the songs reveal…
Joe, you did it again.
Beautiful–thank you.
And I got more than one song from that day.
Music and songwriting as gifts work different for different people.
For me, it’s like a camera catching an image out of focus, and then with word and melody I work to sharpen the song. It’s all very visual, synesthetic really.
There’s more to it, but words escape—mostly these things are sent to me.
*I will have to get back in touch with my dead American authors. But they understand I’m on sabbatical and that we will resume our conversations.
Thanks, Joe.
~Jos
This is so awesome! Wow, that was quite an adventure to go out to that mountain.
But I am especially impressed that you managed to eat mashed potatoes with chopsticks!
How did that go?
Valerie, I’m learning anything can be eaten with chopsticks. The trick with mashed potatoes is their consistency–if they’re thick, they stick to the stick.
The ones we had for Turkey day were pretty thick and stuck to the chopsticks no problem.
I hope all’s well with you, Marc, and Julian. Tell PHOG ‘hey’
I miss you guys a lot.
~Josephine
Sounds like a fabulous time!
Sadly, it looks like I won’t be popping over to China… the trip there and back would put me over my budget, so I took a van to Burma to get my visa renewed. Not nearly as exciting, but at least I’m legal for my last two weeks here in Thailand
But I’m excited to see that you’re still having fun and making the most of your adventures! Enjoy China a little extra for me
Heidi, well, being legal is best.
So long as I’m here, you’ll have a place to stay–come to China when you can.
Have your travels brought you many beads? There’s a definite dearth here in Xi’an– sure would like to make a bracelet, necklace, or something beady right about now. Sparkles and color do a brain good.
*Say hey to Merry when you get back to HumCo.
~Jos
I will definitely keep that in mind! I would love to see China someday (hopefully sooner than later!)
I have seen some beads, but it seems to be mostly silver and stone here abouts… not so much glass to be found
I actually brought a little care package for Diane, with czech glass, ’cause she was feenin’ so bad lol 
Good luck on the hunt for sparkly color, and I’ll send your regards to Merry!
-Heidi
From Indiana to China,
By Way of Georgia and California,
From her Heart to her Song
She’s sent her sights from other places,
Sent from others in other spaces
And leads her voice to see the sound
That she spins with light from the sight she’s found.
She travels out on foot and bus
To see what she will then discuss
With whatever spirit has asked to be
A part of what it is she’ll see…
It’s about listening, she posts,
About touching with the eyes
the sights and sounds of everything
as in front of one it flies;
I take it from the inner pool
Where I swim with all who seek
To place their heart upon my songs
And take me back
To Wildcat Creek…
Joe Shermis, you freakin’ rock.
I just received a comment from someone who knows one of my colleagues here in Xi’an—this person contacted me because they saw your post with a link to this blog on Facebook. What’s so cool is that I can give a ‘chin up’ to my colleague at our staff meeting tonight—yeah, I’m able to spread a little cheer here in China because you posted/ spread the word on FB (especially great today as I’m not able to get an FB connection…beginning to think fairies go on holiday Mondays, Tuesday….) .
That’s how all this should work–love, connection, inspiration, divine intervention.
Thank you, Joe—you have brightened more than one person’s day today.
Rad.
~Jos
Your adventures, chronicled as they are, are worth at least a couple of poems, more than one song, a blog post or two, and certainly some personal connections….
connection, inspiration, divine intervention,
it’s bringing thought to life
when you take the time to mention
what you come across
in a land I’ve never been
as you share you’re recollects
of the places that you’re in…
Thank you, Josephine, for letting the rest of us live vicariously and spend some vivid time n china…
Best,
Joe
Hey Baby Girl,
We hadn’t heard from you so……
we re-read all the e-mails again.
To our amazement! what you know
there is
Youtube and Facebook
Watched all the videos, your chord work was inspiring.
We believe China is getting the better part of the cultural exchange.
Hope to hear from you soon via our contact information.
We Love YOU
Hey, Julie!!!!
I’ve been without internet *again*.
The university is constructing a new parking garage beside the teacher apartments, and last Wednesday amidst all the construction madness, the line to the server was severed. Good Times! Actually, it’s not that bad. I could have gone to one of the cafes and gotten on the internet, but I didn’t. Sometimes, it’s just nice to have a week away from the computer—that way I appreciate it so much more when I do get back on.
I hope your Thanksgiving went well and that your Christmas will be a merry one—Tell Dad I love him; I hope Trevia is well and that things are great for her; I hope Harry L is at the music.
I love you very much!!!