No more uniforms!

Colin finished elementary school!  His school is K-8, so he will still be at the same school next year, but middle school is set up a lot differently.  He is excited to move around to different classes and interact with new classmates. 

His “Moving On” ceremony was wonderful.  He was awarded a President’s Award for Academic Excellence, along with one for Chinese excellence (only three his grade was awarded this one), and a couple of other awards.  This boy, he makes me proud every day. 

Colin’s teacher this year, Li Laoshi, was a gem.  She told me that her one problem with Colin was that he could not stay sitting in his chair – he was always standing up .  She always joked with him, asking if there was a tiger in his chair…but for practical reasons she always just assigned him a desk where he wouldn’t block anyone’s view when he stood up.  This made me love her – she just wants her students to be successful and she appreciates their strengths.  I got to be in her class a few times and they responded so well to her.

Colin with two of his good friends.  I had to leave the guy on the left in the picture because he was just too awesome to crop.

Can you tell I love him?  Can all of you believe this is the same little guy we all oohed and ahhed over in Provo? 

Colin with his good friend Charlie, who is in the French program and goes to the same church and scout group.  Charlie’s mom is obviously way more awesome than me, with all those leis. 

Gabe happened to have lunch during Colin’s program, so I grabbed a piece of cake and took it to him.  Speaking of good friends, the little guy peeking out behind Gabe has been such a kind friend to him this year.  He has just made Gabe’s social life.

Mardi Gras Parade at Waddell Language Academy

Okay, I have to admit that it is a little weird to do two posts in a row with masks, but I had to share some pictures for yesterday’s Mardi Gras parade at the boys’ school.  The French Immersion program puts on a rousing parade every year, and parents are invited to come line the hallways.  This was my first time going and I am so glad I went.  My pictures don’t capture it, but the energy was great.  The kids, who are used to wearing unifoms every day, got to wear costumes or green, purple or gold, and you combine that excitement with the permission to march through the halls chanting and blowing noisemakers…well, I am sure the teachers were pretty happy there wasn’t much class time left after the parade, because I am sure the kids were pumped up for the rest of the day.  The French classes were particularly boisterous.  I honestly don’t get out of our own Chinese program much, so it was fun to share their day.

Where was Carina?  Whimpering and clinging to my shoulder.  Waay too much for her.

Happy Chinese New Year!

 

Gabe and Colin both had Chinese New Year celebrations last Friday at their school.  They have scaled back the celebration the last two years and Colin’s was an student-only party.  But I got to attend Gabe’s and the anticipation of this party nearly killed him all week.  He asked me about a dozen times if I was going to come, and the night before when Chad said family prayer, Gabe fell apart because Chad neglected to bless Gabe that he would do well at his party. 

The kids sang us some songs and we played a very fun “fruit basket” type of game, all in Chinese.  I just had to learn the word for firecracker and run fast to a chair and I was set.  Then the kids feasted on noodles, fried rice, dumplings and fresh fruit.  I had to admire the vigor with which Gabe dug into that food.  He was so excited that his hands were shaking as he ate it. 

 

 

As I was on my way out, I prodded him to scoot closer to Addie, his friend that we carpool with, so that I could get a picture of them together. He firmly looked in the other direction and scooted away, highly offended.  I prodded him again, and then I heard his teacher say something very firmly in Chinese.  All I understood was “Cuh –yu-guh” (or however you write his Chinese name in pinyin) and “Ma-MAH” but he quickly moved back by Addie and let me take a quick picture, so I understood that she was telling him to listen to me.  I felt bad because I could tell I embarrassed him but it is nice to know he listens to his teacher, I guess.

I took a picture of his “100 Days” project in the hall on my way out.  I always love going to their school and seeing a peak of this world that they spend so much of their time in.  Honestly though, it makes me a little heartsick because it reminds me that they spend so much of their life away from me.

This year is the year of the snake.  People born under the sign of the snake are supposed to possess gracious morality and great wisdom.  The kids and I had a fun time last week looking at the years we were all born under.  Gabe and I are both “roosters” which means we are supposed to be deep thinkers who are very honest.  Colin is a a ram, which means he is supposed to be tender, clever, and kind-hearted.  Oliver is a rat, which a good sign for being smart and wealthy.  Carina is a rabbit, which is supposed to make her sensitive and merciful. And last but not least, is Chad, who was born under the sign of the monkey.  We always say his is the most fitting because it people born under this sign are supposed to be very playful, athletic, and quick-witted.  Click here to find out what sign you are born under and what it is supposed to say about you.