Chinese Thanksgiving! Day 1

I left China and returned to the US in July 2017.  I have been home now for about one and a half years, or as I count my teaching life- three semesters.  To say I miss China, and in particular, my Chinese babies, is a huge understatement.

Don't get me wrong.  I love home. I love my country.  Most days I love humanity.  But I have had many 'eye opening' experiences, and these seem to be difficult times we are living in. Politically, socially, educationally, the very cultural climate of our country, is all a bit discouraging to me at the present moment. Maybe I am simply showing my age. It just seems to me that for all the advances and 'progresses' we have made in life, I am not buying the notion that we have progressed in our humanity.  We seem more divided, anxious, depressed, stressed, frustrated, and cynical than ever before. Or it could very well be that I am just an old fuddy-duddy.

Well, when I proposed the idea to Len of having Chinese babies for Thanksgiving, he got me. He understood that I needed to welcome them to our home, for a number of reasons. Building a life here in southwest Florida has been challenging. A new job, a home and boat under perpetual construction, and many of my personal relationships and time with my own family has been severely compromised by relocating here. These are the choices I have made; I understand that. Holidays are most difficult, and Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season, which for me doesn't end until my momma's birthday in February. With Momma gone, kids grown, and my home life here in SWFL, my sense of 'family' with large 'family get togethers' is really no more.  I try to reach back to the impossible, but it is not good for my own mental and emotional well being. So, as I did in China, I must face forward, and continue to build a workable and satisfying life here in the Sunshine State. I do love the sunshine!  And this leads me to Thanksgiving plans for a Chinese Invasion here in Turkey Creek.

In the three years I was at Beijing National Day School, I taught over 200 students Psychology. I literally built the program from the ground up, as I was the first teacher with a mental health background to teach Psychology there. A previous history teacher offered a General Psychology course, but it had just eight students. I was so excited to introduce my passion for Psychology in both the AP and Alevel programs.  My administrators were always incredibly supportive of my work, and I will forever be indebted to them for trusting me to bring 'these very American ideas' about studying human behavior in to my Chinese classroom!  The opportunity to teach Psychology abroad breathed new life into my own career, which seemed to have stalled with about every other area of my life when I hit 50 years old. What an amazing experience it was to teach Psychology to my Chinese babies! I am so pleased that a number of my Chinese babies have decided to pursue Psychology as their career choice. The mental health field in China is still somewhat in the infancy stages, as East continues to meet West. I am excited for the job opportunities that will await these kids when they return to China- in clinical work, research, human resources, education, etc.  The world truly is their oyster! 

Well, my Chinese babies are now in their freshman, sophomore, and junior years at university- all over the United States, Canada, and the UK.  Some of the juniors (by chronological age) are actually seniors, given the AP credits they earned while they were in high school.  The MAJORITY of my students scored 5's on the AP Psychology Exam- unreal. 'Dem babies is smaaaaaart!

Well, I never become 'friends' with students through social media until I am no longer their teacher or professor.  Dual relationships can be tricky business. I put out a call on Facebook in September, posting an open invitation for any Chinese babies who wanted to come spend Thanksgiving in Southwest Florida to send me a private message.  It was a little worrisome at first, as nearly twenty responded!  As weeks rolled by, and students began to get serious about shopping for airfare, I ended up with eight that booked their flights. Sadly, one boy did not have his passport, and could not board the plane the day he was due to fly down.

I did some serious party planning and travel sight-seeing planning over the coming weeks, and it became pretty apparent I needed some hands-on help!  My little neighborhood of retirees jumped at my requests for help, as they were looking forward to a Chinese Invasion in our sleepy little neighborhood.  I needed pillows, blankets, towels, board games, yard games, and even some extra golf carts were donated...and the people of Turkey Creek were very eager to lend a hand. Many offered their homes and spare bedrooms, and Miss Joy brought two gallons of ice cream and ice cream cones for snacks one evening "as her treat".  I love small town living!

I could not have done it without this gal, Karen. She, too,
is a retired educator, and came to visit me in China. She
jumped at the chance to be my right-hand woman for the
entire holiday weekend.  It started on Wednesday, picking
up the first wave of four girls from the Ft. Myers airport.
I had to teach on Wednesday, and could not make the
late morning/early afternoon arrivals. What a gal! I
texted the girls her photo, gave Karen their flight info,
and hoped for the best. It all worked out perfectly :)

She was the perfect hostess, treating them with fresh mango
smoothies upon their arrival.  They took a tour of her lovely
home and flower gardens, and got to see their power cat boat.

She then turned them loose in her kitchen while they made
lasagna for the first time ever.  They loved getting to cook
'American food' in an 'American kitchen', lol.

I left after work to bring the later arrivals to Ft. Myers back
 to my home in Turkey Creek. I was overwhelmed with gifts!
  It is the Chinese way :)

Such beautiful hand written notes, a candle,
chocolates, a mug from Vanderbilt, a travel kit,
a much needed hair stick (!), a beautiful shawl,
and an incredible Coach wallet.  Oh. My. Stars.
It was the first of the tears for the weekend.
I was SO HAPPY to see them all again!

After a late lasagna supper, Len played some music, told
some funny stories, and I joined in on the cajon :)
Not surprisingly, they all sang their hearts out to Country Roads.
I swear, every Chinese person knows the words to John Denver's
Country Roads...they must teach it in English language school! 

Before long, I poured us all a mango and coconut rum drink,
and we got out ALL the instruments...several drums, a banjo,
another guitar, a tambourine, a harmonica, a conch shell,
and even Papa Len's accordion. It got pretty rowdy :)
Ginger was hilarious with her boisterous triangle playing!

Tianchen gave it a gallant effort on the accordion.
Man, is it ever hard to play... and it is SO HEAVY.

It worked much better when Lavendar played the keyboard
(she plays piano) and he worked the baffle :)

It was well after midnight when Len started doing
philosophy with them.  They held their ground and
kept up for over an hour until the cobwebs began to
fill their heads.  I took them down to Kantiya for
them to decide their sleeping quarters during their
stay here.  Left to right is Ginger, Tianchen, Annie,
Celia, Rachel, (me), Seraph, and Lavendar.

What a jam-packed, fun-filled four days we have planned...

To think the first night I didn't get to bed until well after 2:30am- Oh boy!

G'nite, y'all!