We leave here on June 22, less than three weeks left!  We still have classes, grading, an English Corner, and some dinners to attend.  We’re paring down our “stuff” and planning for the summer program we will serve.

We have to change our visa from one category to another, and this change requires a trip to Hong Kong.  I’ve often wanted to go there, so I’ve reconciled the extra cost.  Also it will allow us to visit some former students.  That trip will take place at the end of this month.

There’s a lot of detail to take care of in these coming weeks, but we’re plugging away at it.  One exciting thing for me is the upcoming voice student recital, June 18.  I’m supposed to sing two songs, one a traditional American song usually sung in the Spring time, and the other a traditional Chinese song. For the American one, I have sung the tune all my life, but the words are different from the ones I’ve known.  I have to memorize both songs.  Wish me well.

My teacher is excellent.  She has taught me more in these few months than I have learned in a lifetime of choir singing.  When I was very young, I hoped to be a singer, but as time went on, that dream seemed impossible.  Now, however, this late in life, I will sing a solo.  My teacher wants her students to see that it is never too late to learn something new.

We’re quite excited about the summer program.  It is a new phase of this well established program.  We’ll be training teachers who will train other teachers.  So, it will be mostly methodology, not all the “cultural exchange” that happens in the regular program.  Our trainees have already attended the main program, and this will be considered “advanced.”   We’re honored to be part of this special team.

I’ll try for a few more posts in the next weeks, but then, there may a stretch of silence.  After we return home, I’ll start again.  Keep checking in though, you never know what you’ll find.