This young girl, not even 6 years old had never swam in natural water, had never climbed a tree (or seen big trees in a forest), had never pet a cat or ridden a motorcycle.
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| Benton, the cutest Aussie ever! |
We fixed that!!
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| Elin wearing a mask at Chachokum |
During her month here in America, Elin had many many opportunities to try activities which she would have never had in China.
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| Elin admiring the beauty of Anacortes and Puget Sound |
Myself, being a kid at heart, took this as an amazing opportunity.
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| Elins first night ever camping in a tent. |
Soon it became a game for me, to find new ways to challenge her, to engage her, to stimulate her, all the while not speaking the same language.
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| Elin first lesson on splitting wood, getting the axe out of the piece of wood! |
I would split wood, (no pun intended) and she would want to help. But you can hardly let a 5 year old swing a sharp axe. So I'd bury the splitting maul in a wet piece of wood and tell her (if you can get it free you can try to split wood!"
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| Elins first time on a bike, ever. |
With these challenges I presented her, she shined. She saw opportunity and jumped at it. sometimes she passed the test while other times she didn't. She never did get the maul out or get to split wood!
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| Elin on the Ferry headed to Whidbey Island |
But she certainly had a desire to participate and was easily coaxed up a tree or onto a swing.
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| Elin climbing a tree for the first time ever. |
She even participated in the butchering of our too aggressive roosters and the subsequent BBQ
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| Elin buries the Rooster head |
She attended Calyx summer cam with a bunch of not chinese speaking children. Lisa, the facilitator, was confident in kids abilities to communicate without language and she was indeed correct. Elin did great at camp and had a wonderful time.
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| Elin helps with the Roster clean up |
I sometimes wonder what it is that children have that we loose as adults which prohibits us from having fun and interacting just because we cannot speak the same language.
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| Elin and Yessi in our Garden |
It seems with every lesson I taught Elin, I learned a lesson too.
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| Elin and Xiabo, her first interaction with a cat, ever! |
The time while she was her was fantastic and I look forward to not only her return, but for her little sister Celine to visit us as well.
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| Elin and Mia after a day at camp Calyx |
Perhaps someday I will be lucky enough to have them both visit for an extended period. Wow, would we have fun!!
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| Elin at the Park |
As you can see, Yessi and I had so much fun with Elin, that we have way more pictures of the Cutest Chinese Girl ever than we have words to describe how much fun we had!
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Elin creating another wonderful piece of art.
This particular one for Ferris and Jaime. |
So with this I leave you with a few more pictures and the thought that perhaps children can teach us as much as we should teach them!
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| Elin, a boy and his dog! |
Elin, the Cutest Chinese Girl I ever saw.
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| Elin and Joan |
And my family agrees.
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| Elin swinging at the FrEdLey residence |
And our neighbors agreed!
And her Grandma and Great Aunt agree.
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dbBrad and Elin both admire a BAPOW
(Bad Ass Piece Of Wood) |
Elin, the Cutest Chinese Ever!
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| Elin and Yessi on the beach |
Elin, Xiao Gong Zhu
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| Elins first time playing in the ocean surf at La Push, Beach 2 |
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| Elin at La Push, washington coast |
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| Elin and Yessi at 5400' in the Olympics, Hurricane Ridge |
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| Elin running down Hurricane ridge, Olympic National Park |
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| Elin eating a Sunday in Port Townsend |
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| Elin on the Quad |
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| Elin in front of the Entry gate at the FrEdLey residence |
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| Another one of Elins wonderful art pieces. |
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