Since the fall of 2010, I have volunteered in a Chinese school in Shenyang. Of course, I have written about it in the past. It started as one day a week, and now, sometimes, it is five. I chose it and I love it. I am so thankful that I was given this opportunity, that I took it, and that we made the absolute best of it.
Feeling that we may leave China in 2015, this school year has been a bit difficult for me. I have shared and learned so much over the years. How will I ever express how much they mean to me?
This experience is how I truly learned to say, “You’re welcome” and “My pleasure”, and really mean it. It helped save me at times when I didn’t like who I was, when I didn’t like some I spent time with and had to make more positive choices in my life. It is a place I remember how wonderful my real friends are because these amazing people are among them. Where someone can tell me I’m beautiful and I believe them. Where a simple thing means love. It is why pieces of my heart will always be in China.
I hope you all have a place like this, or that you’ll find one in the new year.
Enjoy some snapshots from my phone and ipod. For more, check out the link. http://youtu.be/ZeEqu02M0I0