I always lament having to come inside on a day like today. Not only is the weather phenomenal, but there are all these wonderful people outside. Pretty much every time I go outside, I see students and teachers who are incredibly dear to me. Standing outside for fifteen minutes brings unfathomable joy as dozens of said beloved people walk by on their way to the shops, to class, to the dining hall, to the street, etc… They stop, we talk, we smile, and we love every minute of it – all of the awkward language fail and satisfying language success moments.
Today was special. Since the semester wound itself down – rather abruptly, if I do say so myself – I had an afternoon free. Unsure if it would rain, I grabbed my book and didn’t stray too far from my building. I sat down on a bench adjacent to the first dining hall and immersed myself in the world of Janie Crawford. But not for long. I was joined by a woman who works at our school.
At first (and for most of the conversation) I had no idea what she was saying, and before she realized how bad my Chinese is, I think she was asking if I could teach her how to read English. But we quickly moved on from there as she pulled out a small purple device and started singing along to a recording of herself.
It was so lovely listening to her sing. Her voice was clear, her songs so peaceful. After a few songs she said something I understood and she smiled widely, pointing skyward. Ohhh she’s singing hymns.
We tried to talk a little more – my Chinese is so bad. But amid many communication fails, I gathered that she has four kids, she has worked in our dining hall for the past ten years, she is a disciple who goes to a different fellowship than we do, she’s twelve years younger than my parents, and she really didn’t mind that my Chinese is terrible. She learned that I have two older brothers, that I’m 23, that I’ve been in China for 11 months (not since November which is what I said first), that I wish my Chinese was better, that I’m also a disciple, and that I think she sings beautifully.
I love that sat down with me. I love that my student brought me ice cream in the middle of the conversation.
And I love that she filled the many awkward silences by singing.
Today was special. Since the semester wound itself down – rather abruptly, if I do say so myself – I had an afternoon free. Unsure if it would rain, I grabbed my book and didn’t stray too far from my building. I sat down on a bench adjacent to the first dining hall and immersed myself in the world of Janie Crawford. But not for long. I was joined by a woman who works at our school.
At first (and for most of the conversation) I had no idea what she was saying, and before she realized how bad my Chinese is, I think she was asking if I could teach her how to read English. But we quickly moved on from there as she pulled out a small purple device and started singing along to a recording of herself.
It was so lovely listening to her sing. Her voice was clear, her songs so peaceful. After a few songs she said something I understood and she smiled widely, pointing skyward. Ohhh she’s singing hymns.
We tried to talk a little more – my Chinese is so bad. But amid many communication fails, I gathered that she has four kids, she has worked in our dining hall for the past ten years, she is a disciple who goes to a different fellowship than we do, she’s twelve years younger than my parents, and she really didn’t mind that my Chinese is terrible. She learned that I have two older brothers, that I’m 23, that I’ve been in China for 11 months (not since November which is what I said first), that I wish my Chinese was better, that I’m also a disciple, and that I think she sings beautifully.
I love that sat down with me. I love that my student brought me ice cream in the middle of the conversation.
And I love that she filled the many awkward silences by singing.
