Today Daniel started trying to speak English.
He was copying a lot of what we said.
It started in the van, driving to or from the Sea World type park today, I don't recall specifically.
Cosette was playing “Bubble Gum Bubble Gum” with Ilene.
This is a regular game for Cosette, played at least once each time we are in the van, so Daniel has had plenty of opportunities to hear it.
All of a sudden I noticed him from the back seat quietly saying “babble gam, babble gam…”
He continued with some Chinese/English gibberish then went back to “babble gum…”
I pointed it out to John an
d we enjoyed listening for a few minutes.
Then John encouraged him and taught him the rest of the phrase “in a dish.”
That was enough for one lesson.
As the day went on, we helped him with English words and he happily repeated them, very well I might add.
He tried please, thank you, excuse me, and a bunch of others.
It’s fun to see him trying.
John and I have noticed an interesting difference between China 6 years ago and now. We have been in different cities this time, so it may be somewhat because of geography or northern culture vs. southern Chinese culture. Who knows? The people simply seem much happier. They smile in the streets and we hear laughter around us. The people seemed much more stern in 2002. It’s a nice change!
People in Dalian seem to have sharper features in their faces, more square shaped faces rather than a round or oval faces. They are also definitely taller and more stoutly built then the people we encountered in the south.
Dalian is a very beautiful city. It is on an ocean peninsula. The weather is relatively mild in September, “never too hot or too cold”, according to our guide, and this is our experience also.
It has been a great privilege to spend these four days
learning about Dalian and her people. When we walk the streets and see the people, I wonder, could that one be his birth mom? Will he look like that man when he’s older? And other questions, of course. We are preparing to leave Dalian tomorrow morning, and with her we leave all connections to Daniel’s birth and foster families. I am sad for Daniel. Our happiness, the addition of him to our family as our son, brings with it the prerequisite sadness and loss of his birth family and country. It is an emotional dichotomy that has haunted me for years for Cosette, and now for Daniel as well. We will do our best to bring a piece of Dalian and its people home with us in our hearts. We will teach him about our love for his country and hope and pray that he chooses to love her too, and not to resent her for the wounds inflicted upon him by her.
By God’s grace,
Tonya
Today Daniel started trying to speak English. He was copying a lot of what we said. It started in the van, driving to or from the Sea World type park today, I don't recall specifically. Cosette was playing “Bubble Gum Bubble Gum” with Ilene. This is a regular game for Cosette, played at least once each time we are in the van, so Daniel has had plenty of opportunities to hear it. All of a sudden I noticed him from the back seat quietly saying “babble gam, babble gam…” He continued with some Chinese/English gibberish then went back to “babble gum…” I pointed it out to John an
d we enjoyed listening for a few minutes. Then John encouraged him and taught him the rest of the phrase “in a dish.” That was enough for one lesson. As the day went on, we helped him with English words and he happily repeated them, very well I might add. He tried please, thank you, excuse me, and a bunch of others. It’s fun to see him trying.
learning about 
2 comments:
Tonya we've shared those same feelings for our three daughters from China as well, but you said it so beautifully. Thank you for inviting us to share in this part of Daniel's journey.
Jill G
I am not in China yet, 5 more days!! I have often wondered where her birthmother is, why she was abandoned and the emptiness that must be in her heart as she laid her on the steps with a bottle and formula and walked away. I cannot even imagine having to do that with my son. I wonder if she thinks about her now that it has been almost a year since she was abandond. So many questions wonder through our minds that will never be answered but know that it was God's plan from the beginning that these beautiful children joing our families.
P.S. I did meet you at Calvary when Cosette was about 4 (a couple of years ago). It was after our S.S. Class and Beth introduced us since we were in the process back then. I remember thinking what a tiny, petite, and absolutely adorable little girl Cosette was.
Pam F.
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