During our speaking final, we were
given questions for which to formulate and deliver answers. I had not
really prepared as well as I could have, but felt I did pretty well
on the first two assignments. {I had to speak about returning things
to a store, which I felt qualified to do seeing as how I have worked
the Service Desk at Meijer. I also told her how people wanted to take
a bite of a donut and then return it at Tim Hortons. I was also given
a list of words and had to use them all in a short paragraph of my
choosing.}
However, I had forgotten the very last
question she had told us about. I am not sure if it was just for
extra credit or what, because when I told her I had forgotten all
about it she said it wasn't going to effect my grade too much, she
just wanted to hear my thoughts on the question and asked that I
answer it anyway. The question was “Your most unforgettable
moment/person/place/thing/memory in China”.
Now, most of the people she was going
to be asking have spent about a year and a half in the country.
That's still a long time, but she felt sure that they would have a
favourite memory or someone that met that they were most glad for
meeting. For me, though, I have been coming to China since 2009! I
have met so many people, done so many things, have so many
memories.....the list just goes on and on! How do you pick one?
Because he had been on my mind lately
for some reason, I told her about the little boy I named Josiah. I
told her that I have so many fond memories and things that I will
never forget. And yet, I think the memory of holding that precious
frail little boy close, and hearing him laugh, will stay with me and
even haunt me the rest of my life. I hope it does, to tell you the
truth. I never want to forget what it felt like to have to put him
back in that wood and metal contraption and walk away. Because it is
a feeling I never want to have again. It is something I want to help
put an end to.
But, that's not what this blog is
about. It got me to thinking about just how much China has effected
my life. No, effect is not the right word. This place has a GRIP on
my life.
To illustrate this best, I need look no
further then Facebook. Just for fun, I went through my friends list
to see what kind of a friend make up I have. The results were more
then interesting! {I am wordy, remember? You don't need to go through
this trip down friend memory lane with me! If you wish, you can just
finish reading here! I will understand. Its ok!}
I have 47 relatives on my list. You
could say that they are just there because they are related and have
to be, but the fact that I have been unfriended and blocked by family
proves otherwise! This is also 47 total relatives from both
sides,....and I have more cousins then that on one side alone,
meaning there are far more people with blood ties to me that are not
socially networked to me! 7 of those, however, are my parents,
brother and sisters. Those seven I will say are there because they
have to be! ;)
A total of 26 of the people listed are
former co-workers or people I met through work! That kinda surprised
me to be honest! I didn't think I had that many!
8 people are from a time in my life
that will always be ranked as the best of my life! I had a really
hard time not counting them in the family portion of my numbers!
Though we do not really talk, I have an
old {and I mean OLD, have you seen my age?} Kindergarten friend, as
well as my favourite kindy teacher from my time at the private school
oh so many years ago!
There are those I met through online
communities like TFC {I actually have 7 friends from my time playing
that game!} And homeschool websites and forums! {YAY for, General
Grant, Miss Hopefulness,and the greatest Teek there ever was!!}
I am so thankful for Facebook! Three of
the ladies on my facebook friends list were kids when we met! {I was
a kid too I mean} And yet now, they are all three married with
families of their own! I was 13 when I met one, and 17 when I met the
other two, and yet now they are wives and mothers and I get to see
their kids grow up!
Even with all of that, neighbours, kids
I use to baby sit, people who knew me back before I can remember, and
even the random friend along the way....the largest category by
far....China.
I have over 300 friends who I met one
way or another because of my connection to China. The majority of
them are from BMH camp with a close second being, of course, my time
in school. There are a few too though, that I have met through my
travels in China, or are a friend of a friend whom I only met because
I live in China.
I even started listening to certain
music because of China! Before camp, I had never heard of Broken
Vessels or Joe Brooks {and if you haven't either please go look them
up!!} yet now you can find their songs on all my music playing
devises!
Sure, we are skipping over the fact
that as I type this, I am sitting in a dorm, thats in a Castle {I
just have to put that in anywhere I can. I am livin' the dream
people! I grew up and moved to a Castle! ;) la dee da!} on a campus,
in the middle of XinZheng which just happens to be in this place
called China.
It has made me realize....outside of
China, I don't really have much of a life do I? ;D Ok, so that is not
true {Have you SEEN how the Ducks are playing? YES!!} If you are
going to pick a place around which to have your life revolve, it may
as well be a place as large as China, am I right?!
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