Thousands of Words (Metaphorical)

Google – as usual – says it best. “Five-month old babies can sit upright for longer periods of time. Your baby probably still needs to be propped up with a pillow…but he [she in this case] may also be able to sit unsupported for a few seconds at a time.”

Y’all can be thinking of my supervisors right about now.

I can say that I’m right on track and can sit by myself for long periods of time. The past two weeks have been packed with teams coming to help out at the preschool, holidays that involve fireworks (thnx China), and then some exploring.

 

Our school is getting a fun new makeover as a few teams have come to help spruce up the place. It’s been a fun way for me to connect with some fellow English speakers and bring out my “inner camp counselor” that lies dormant until it’s needed. (weirdest superpower ever – writing my screenplay right now- copyright!) The school has never looked better and it’s been fun to realize I’m a “veteran” now at five months. (You mean you don’t have any polos? Weird. Also, let me show you how to sit in these skirts…)

Who knew that the holiday season also came in February! China is well represented in our city, meaning that many of my familiar places to shop are (surprise!) owned by Chinese immigrants and were closed for a few days! Good thing they hang those lanterns everywhere. It was fun to talk to a few of the families at our school celebrating – though the celebratory fireworks resounding loudly on my metal roof in the middle of the night gave me a bit of a fright.

The super bowl came and went and (I still didn’t care about it a whole lot) so we can just skip that and move on to Valentines day!!! We had a huge celebration at our house including decorations (that are still up…just in case someone wants to get married) and prizes, roses, games, spaghetti, music, and the story of St. Valentine. It was so much fun – one of the best valentines I’ve ever celebrated (second probably to 4th grade. You just can’t beat homemade mailboxes filled with 80 cards and candies to take home to your mom.)

So for the next few months I’m borrowing a car from a friend who is in the states who wanted someone to keep her car moving while she was gone. I said – “uh…YES PLEASE!” I was so excited and was like “I have learned stick shift for this very reason and can’t wait to get on the road and…wait it’s automatic?!?!?!? WHERE ARE WE??” I literally don’t think I’ve ever driven a car this nice, even in America, and therefore have taken it almost zero places.

However, there are so many advantages to having a car. Namely that you can drive it, and so I decided that  it was time to get outta dodge and use that air conditioning and cooled seats!!! (and like…explore…whatever…did you read that the seats get cold?!?!?!?!) Me and a few friends were able to get our tourist on, and check out some cool places around the city. Old places. Old old oooolllld beautiful places. I used as little english as possible, and found out some more words I don’t know, and also found out that I can communicate more than I thought.

 

 

I expected that there would be times when I didn’t know what was happening, and I was absolutely right. (I think we might have snuck in the back to visit a friend who was working there? Uh…sorry…tourist…place…) But it was beautiful and incredible and I’m so thankful that it’s nearby.

I’ve been trying to review the past few weeks, looking through pictures to glean what I can take from the time and rethinking how I can change. I think that pictures say the things that my self-critical mind cannot see. Relationships are being built. I’m growing in independence physically and depending more on the Father as I go. My friends here are some of the most courageous and faithful people I’ve ever met, and I have so much still to learn from them. Cheers to month five! See you in March!