I am not excited.
We are T-9 days from our Taiwan Trip 2017 and I am not excited.
I mean, I am excited for all the yummy foods and hanging out with my mommy friends in Taiwan, but… I am not excited about packing or traveling at very fast speeds in a metal tube with my four children for 12-13 hours.
At this point last year, I think I already started packing. I have not even bothered. Or tried. Or felt bad about it.
I don’t know if this means I have evolved or I am super procrastinating. Maybe both.
Does it count if I made my packing list about two months ago? And have been Amazon Priming like a BOSS?
But truthfully, I bought most of the stuff last year and I don’t really need anything else other than more bug spray/sunscreen combos.
And diapers. Lots of diapers.
But otherwise, my kids are going to the same camps (actually, one less camp so it’s even easier), we are staying at the same Airbnb, and my mother is coming with me for a few days and my cousin is flying back with me so really, what is there to worry about?
Then why is there a nervous ball of dread in the pit of my stomach? Why am I purposely avoiding thinking about this trip for fear of totally freaking out?
I have taken my kids to Taiwan before. By myself (and with friends and family). I have sent my kids to school there before. I have used buses and taxis and MRTs before. I have even ergoed a baby there before.
I can do this.
It will be fun. (Mostly.)
I will eat lots of delicious food. (Especially almond tofu shaved ice.)
I will see my friends.
I will see my family.
I will have a constant sweaty front because of Big Fat Baby Sasquatch permanently being worn.
I will not be pregnant. (Thank goodness for small mercies.)
I will be fine.
My kids will be even bigger and they remember stuff from last year so they are prepared.
We will be fine.
I have to keep repeating this to myself like a spell.
I will be fine. I will be fine.
And if I am really delusional, maybe I will be so fine I will consider bringing a toddler to Taiwan next summer.
I guess I should see how things shake out this summer before I do anything that stupid.
8 Comments
Oh! It will be fun (and hot!)!! Which camp does your children go to in Taiwan? And btw, new TSA rule: no aerosols allowed even in your check-in bags! So unless your sunscreen and bug repellent are non-aerosols, maybe just get it there? Safe travels!
Thanks for the tip on no aerosols! I don’t disclose where my kids go to camps but it should be fun. 🙂
Hi Mandarin Mama! I just purchased your book and read through it and saved links and recorded ideas and materials you listed! You have no idea how much of a blessing you have been.
I am non-Heritage and African American. When I was pregnant with my first child, we decided that Mandarin would be his second language. However, the school he currently attends, did not exist. My son’s class is the first cohert in the program.
Additionally, my 9 ad 7 year olds are currently enrolled in this 90/10 Mandarin Immersion school. Due to my health issues, I can no longer spend the time driving 40 minutes one way to take and pick them up. Therefore, I am strongly considering homeschooling this Fall. My 9 year old has completed four years and my 7 year old has completed two years. The 9 year old knows the pinyin very well. If I do a Saturday Chinese School in addition to other tools and techniques included in my CLE, do you think my nine year old will be helpful in helping my five and four year olds who have no formal Mandarin teaching? Since my 9 year old knows the pinyin very well, does this improve my success in guiding my children to gain fluency. BTW, the Saturday Chinese school has an adult class which I plan to attend.
Furthermore, in your book you answered practically every issue and concern that I have pondered for the last two years. Thank you for your insight, wisdom, and candor! Your wisdom is clearly apparent when you address the simplified or traditional debate. After reading your prospective, I am no longer struggling with this issue. There is so much I want to say, but for now, I give you my deepest and sincere gratitude.
Respectfully,
Cynthia
Oh wow!!! Thank you for your lovely review. Thank you so much! And I am so glad I could be helpful. And Good luck! So exciting!
Oh and in regards to your question, your 9 and 7 yo should be helpful in the CLE, but unless they are fluent, it will be very hard because they will have limited abilities to fully express themselves. That said, I say Chinglish is always a great resort! And you can set Mandarin times for them to speak only Mandarin to your youngest. 🙂
Thank you for the encouragement! After gaining a better prospective on fluency, I have set new goals and included tools and techniques in my CLE.
Again, many thanks and bless you Mandarin Mama.
Mandarin Mama. This may seem to be a benign question, what is the difference between Mandarin Summer camps in the US and sending children to a Mandarin school during the Summer is a Mandarin speaking country?
Cost, for one! But other than the fact that you are immersed in Chinese in a Chinese speaking country (which helps a lot), I don’t know about the content of the actual camps. Most camps in Chinese speaking countries also go on field/cultural trips as well as have native speakers. I do not know enough about US camps. But I don’t see why that wouldn’t be an option.