我們要學會說漢語

We are learning to speak Chinese!  We have hired a tutor from one of the local Chinese immersion elementary schools to come to our home every other Wednesday to teach us the basics of the language so that we can travel more comfortably in China this summer as well as communicate with Elliott in those first few weeks before he starts to pick up English.  I also speak Spanish, but learning Chinese is a totally different experience.  I love the challenge!  YiLing, our fabulous instructor, is also filling us in on some of the cultural differences we might experience while we travel throughout different areas of China.  The advice is priceless, and we are so grateful for her time and effort to help us out.  I have three sets of flash cards made up, and have two books and two CD-ROM's from the library on continual check-out (Matt returns it, I check it out, I return it and he checks it out.....).  I am SO motivated!  When I think of how scary it's inevitably going to be for Elliott to come live with us: strange new people who look and smell different and eat weird food and don't speak his language and take him from everything that is familiar and safe....  Even though I know in the bottom of my heart that this is going to be good for HIM and for US in the long run, it's going to be hard and heart-breaking for him at first.  So, I am learning Chinese for my son, so that he will find just a small amount of comfort in hearing his new Mama say to him, in his language, that I will take care of him and love him and that he is special and safe.  :o)