My Taiwan Adventure

Dear Heart of Mine,

You are wrapped around kindergarten fingers sticky with goo. The nose-picking warmth of three to five year olds is your companion on cold, wet fall days. Young school children are desperate to get and keep your attention. They will happily yell "Teacher, Teacher, TEACHER!" You, my treacherous heart, round on them in irritation until remembering that they have no other words to talk to you become chastened and ashamed of your wrath.

Heart of Mine, have patience with Eric as he randomly pokes at the keyboard. He is new in the school and only clings to you because he knows nobody else. He is safe with you teacher. And yes, heart, I know that he babbles away in endless Chinese, giving you no respite until you find a way to shake him off, but it is love he speaks deep down.

Heart of Mine, do not break when the children like David who say, "I love you," in one breath, ignore you the next. It is the love of a five year old. In the moment it is spoken it is the truest thing in his universe. Do not celebrate too much when Oliver is good, he will be speaking to you with his butt cheeks tomorrow. Do not cry when they say "die fat pig" in Chinese, children taunt you because you are important enough to taunt. If they did not care, they would not include you at all.

Heart of Mine have wisdom on your bad days, have courage on your weak days, and have endurance for all the days that you will remain a teacher. Most of all, Heart of Mine, remain aware of yourself. Spare some love for yourself too, because with out it you will not have anything to share with the children.

Sincerely, The Brain

Post a Comment