Several months ago I wrote about the experience of visiting ACCA’s pre-school Mandarin class at Emory University. It didn’t go well. Nevertheless we decided to enroll Penelope in the Spring semester class, accepting the risk of Penelope hating it. If she hated it we would withdraw her and forfeit the tuition. If she enjoyed the […]
Overcoming Talent
It’s been seven years since I took my first Mandarin Chinese class at the Atlanta International Language Institute. I should be proud that I’m still studying Chinese, but I’m not. It pains me to think how much I should know right now. I should be able to breeze through a simple newspaper article or take […]
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Yes, That’s How It Ends
The rains. They keep coming. Day after day. You’d think we lived in Seattle or England with the kind of rainfall we’ve gotten. I read somewhere that it’s rained more in the last couple of weeks than it did for all of 2012 and 2011. Friday afternoon was the first opportunity I’ve had to cut […]
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Little Busy Bee, Penelope, and Me
It’s difficult being an example of “how to sit still” when I can’t sit still. A small person is using me as a chair and a source of comfort. I’ve become a human shield, protecting Penelope from the unfamiliar people and new surroundings. Maybe even from the young Chinese woman sitting feet away and facing us. holding […]
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Let’s Get Learning
Penelope sat on my lap, sinking into my chest to get comfortable. Jenn sat to my right while Grandma Padgett observed from across the room. A group of children faced the Chinese instructor, responding to her questions in Mandarin. The teacher kept the lesson moving, seamlessly weaving activities, songs, and props into forty-five minutes of […]
