another session completed....

Another session is over and I am filled to the brim with every emotion possible.  I am sad the students I became so close to are gone, exhausted after the busyness of the session combined with being sick, excited about co-facilitating with one of the Chinese staff next session, and homesick for my family and friends.  That said this session really was amazing!  I had so much fun with my class.  I had so many amazing students and got really close with them.  We shared some tough stuff with each other, laughed together, cried together, learned together, loved together, and truly became a family.  At the end of the session we had a party where they sang many Chinese songs for me.  It was wonderful to be able to sit and listen to them while thinking back to the day they arrived and how far they have come. 

Now for some of the funnier moments from the session…

The students write in journals every night, and then once a week we pick them up and read through them.  They can write about anything, and usually tell about what they did during the day, and sometimes their entries are really funny, even though they are not supposed to be!  One student wrote the she couldn’t open her “mouse” and was afraid to open her “mouse.”  “Mouse” of course was supposed to be mouth.  Another student wrote that she was really “pool” at English instead of really poor at English.  They also have to write reading summaries every night.  As I was skimming through one of the students’ journals I saw she had copied an article about Viagra.  Obviously she didn’t understand what she was reading that day J

One of my favorite activities I did with my students was to make a list of how to show love to everyone.  Some of the things on the list really surprised me, but it was amazing to hear their thoughts, so I will end this post with their list, and challenge you to do something each day to show others around you that you love them!

Do things for others

Be honest

Be responsible

Respect others

Be modest

Give to others

Give a hug

Tell them you love them

Take care of them

Be available

Forgive someone

Don’t give up

Be kind

Be patient

Encourage someone

Don’t be selfish

Lift someone up

Give someone hope

Don’t be jealous