Capturing many styles of oxen in gold, bronze, or dressed in colorful lights, is a delight to my camera eyes. In this, the Year of the Ox in the Chinese calendar, I am excited about prospects of a more adventurous time in China. I have crisscrossed this great country and repeatedly find myself in Beijing airport or other remote train or bus stations, and now "Obamations" are frequently heard as soon as I appear, the very obvious American foreigner teaching and traveling.

That one of my student work groups voluntarily named themselves "the Obamas" reflects the excitement and admiration for North America's new leadership miracle. Clearly, Barack Obama has set his "best" foot forward to win the majority of my country's electoral support as well as international acclaim. But the goodwill that his name and image spark today is only a continuing wake of those outstanding American representatives, who have earlier proceeded him "putting their best feet forward," as performers and even educators. Names such as Harry Belafonte, Mohammad Ali and Michael Jordan have in the past been shouted at me with smiles when visiting cultures and facing a language barrier.

The positive images these successful people have represented have been the currency and bridge over many past cultural differences. In Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, a vendor selling me two red festive Chinese lanterns asks, "What country are you from?" He smiles when learning that I am from the United States. When another Chinese passerby pauses and shoots a question at him, his reply includes the word Obama. This to me is a good sign.

Goodwill spreads from the scattered patches of middle-aged men glued to huge outdoor TV screens watching NBA players gracefully stuff, slam and dance court. I am thankful that the big boys are still performing well. On the radio in my taxi, I hear frequent comments made about Obama. This must be good because later on my taxi driver chases me as I am about to vanish into a crowd of milling pedestrians, and brings my camera tripod that I have inadvertently left in his car. This must be goodwill, despite the frequent snickers of laughter and the name Obama that follows me.

Many people in China have good intentions, despite being utterly devoid of knowledge. For example, one lady on the crowded holiday train interpreted another persons' curiosity asking, "She wants to know what color your blood is? Your skin is dark, and is your blood dark too?" I smile amused and gracefully respond despite my frayed travel nerves.

Frazzled and stressed not only due to the intense competition for train tickets and long queues, but also because my ears are frequently bombarded by stores blaring sounds of hip-hop music loudly playing. The unsuspecting public hears English song lyrics that would make them blush if they knew the word and intents. These songs make me cringe at their meanings. I am not smiling at the music attendants when I encounter these scenes, because this form of Western embrace is an aspect that embarrasses me, despite the fact that these music artists represent people of various colors. Yes, meanings are only internal in each individual.

From city to city, I have found that hotel staffs are cordial and very professional, being willing to help and often find answers to problems efficiently and with increased speed. This is a positive change from the past.

Patience and flexibility are clearly required by anyone surviving in a new culture. Trying to maintain respectfulness and generosity is a good guiding philosophy. These days it takes more than a small amount of personal energy to spot a graceful smile in the face of innocent curiosity or perceived rudeness. In one major hotel, I clutch a magazine with Usain Bolt, the Jamaican Olympic sprint champion, on the cover. A salesgirl requests to have a closer view of the periodical, and then exclaims, "He looks just like you!" The cover photograph is of the Olympian, one with half his face multicolored with red, yellow and green tattoo designs. I am offended, and respond as gracefully as I can muster, "Do I have paint on my face?"

The salesgirl is perplexed by the question, so I repeat. "Do I have paint on my face?" She then replies, "Excuse me...I don't understand." I attempt to clarify, "You said he looks just like me, I have no colorful paint on my face, do I?" My mind has taken a quantum leap to pictures of Mike Tyson with his bizarre facial cosmetics. "I mean he has the same skin color as you, you both look alike." I close my argument, pointing to the middle-aged Chinese woman sitting near the doorway, "Well, I could say that because both of you have the same skin color you both look alike also. Would you agree with me?" A look of horror crosses her face, she almost shrieks, "Oh, no, she's older...!"

We continue to chat amiably and I make a few purchases in a nearby store while the salesgirl accompanies me. As we part, she offers future assistance to me if the need arises. Clearly, this interchange has not been derailed due to my perceived cultural gaffe. However, one must maintain thick skin like the whipped ox that brings good luck this year. Such is one of many results from the powers of love!