Lost...no, Found in Translation

Ni hao

I have been tutoring a friend in English. His name is Qiao Ming, he's 29, from China and works at a grocery shop. He has a program on his laptop that translates Chinese and English (the translations are pretty funny in English so I can imagine what he thinks I'm saying in Chinese). I also have a Sesotho tutor & Qiao Ming knows a little Sesotho so its interesting to watch us both speak in second languages to do lessons. He has taught me some Chinese phrases (Wo hen hao, I am fine, Qiao Ming zai na li? where is Qiao Ming? and etc)

I have to say that one of my favorite experiences so far is communicating with people who know little English, mainly the caretaker at the farm and Qiao Ming. I find no feeling of frustration that they don't know my language and I hope they aren't aggrevated that I don't know Chinese and Sesotho (though I am slowly learning both). I think they sometimes want to run and just find a translator, for instance Qiao Ming broke his computer so he thought we shouldn't do lessons this week, but I convinced him that we could work it out. It's an all around humbling experience because it's a combination of charades and picture books and patience. I truly take joy in the experience, and everytime I leave he says "bye bye teacher" and I say "zai jian!"

Speaking of which, last Sat my translator wasn't there again for children's classes. It's much more difficult when talking about God and virtues with 18+ kids but we made it work. We did the lesson on trust and truthfulness, I literally said -we're speaking about trust and it's important to speak in truth and don't lie-, because that was pretty much the extent of my Sesotho when it comes to complex topics. Still, the lesson was effective, we did drawing and the trust fall. I had one kid stand on a big trashcan and all the others linked arms to catch them (i'm sure you are familiar with this) so everyone got a chance to go. The funniest thing is I didn't let them look behind them, I just said 1,2,3 and told them to fall, expecting them to be fearless (of course I made sure all arms were locked before I counted) and then the kids said "you go, you go!" And I'm said, no I'm too big -because the kids are around 10 and younger- but they were insisting, so I got up there and they counted 1,2,3!!!

... and GOODNESS ME, I was so scared lol. I was like I'm sorry I can't do it. Of course I contemplated how can I teach these beautiful young believers about trust and not act on it, but that trashcan was higher than I thought lol. So I had the largest boy go (again) and then made sure everyone was there to catch me. I got back up there, put my arms to my side and fell straight back (b/c I had learned from watching that if you sit into the fall it makes it worse)

... and they caught me! from head to toe. What a great reminder of how you can be a student and a teacher. A punk and a prophet, so to speak.

The other wonderful news is that I started my dance club at the office!! Whoop, whoop. And they thought it couldn't be done (I don't know who they are but I'm just saying I wasn't getting much support lol). I went to the local highschool and invited 12th graders to come afterschool and perform in the Talent Show. Now I have 8 dancers, we are dancing to Face Drop by Sean Kingston. I have a few more acts too: 2 poets, a rapper, 3 models, another dance, and a singer. So if I can find a way to borrow a mic and speakers (for free), the 11th of April will be the "Ke rata bophelo!" talent show "I love life!" Wish it luck!! Stopping by the highschool and showing some dance and rap was a little bittersweet because it got me some great acts but also made this kind of fan buzz so when I try to stop by there now, the youth crowd around me and ask me can we play a game or when they see me around town they want to touch my stuff and be my friend and tell me that they love me. Of course I don't mind having conversations with them but it can get overwhelming and I feel very unworthy of the attention. (My friends are saying... what, Andrea, you love attention!! lol yeah but hey I like to earn it)

I haven't been teaching much lately because it's almost Easter break and the kids have had end of semester exams. I'm hoping to do a teacher workshop at each school so I can tell them the methods and games I have been using. Break is April 1-6 and shortly after I'll be moving. It's even more sad now that I have a dance club and really getting comfortable here but on to new adventures I guess. Lihlahleng advised me to start with dance right away at Butha Buthe so I have longer to connect with youth my age.

Besides having a stomach ache this has been a GREAT week, I got some good news from my sissy Liz and an emotive email from my mummy. People have been asking for pictures, they are no longer loading to my blog so maybe I will send them to facebook or wait it out.

I'm feeling renewed, maybe because of the Baha'i New Year. In that spirit, this is the short poem I wrote while in Maseru for Naw Ruz (New Year)

Naw Ruz

Today is the new beginning
Today is the Savior's song
Today is the Promise of Peace
My children, don't you be alarmed
while we set ourselves aflame by the fire of His loving charm

For today is the call
Today is bound only by His will
Today is renewing beauty in His scriptures
My children, tell me do you feel?
the crystal waters of His Fountain will no longer stand still

For today is the dawning of yesterday's hope
but only, my children,
if we make it so.