Yuchen (Ken-Chan) - Day 6 - Sharing what is on our sleeves...

Quickly - I have to recount the rest of Day 5 before I go on to Day 6- because it was truly one of those memorable evenings....and, I believe, underlines precisely why families like mine welcome perfect strangers, with nearly nothing in common, in to their homes for brief periods: for a brief chance to learn a little about eachother, for the opportunity to blend together as "one people" as opposed to different people from different places, and to experience a little bit of eachother's joy.
Lauren and my mom came over - as we anticipated. We didn't make a big deal over dinner - although, as usual, Lauren created some incredible little vegan dish to get her through the evening and made a meal for Yuchen (we find, like any growing young man - he is hungry pretty much any time we ask - which is often!). During the meal - Yuchen conversed with "Grandma" and Lauren, and learned some new things about eachother. Afterward, Yuchen dashed upstairs and came back down with small, beautiful gifts. He bowed slightly with a gift in his hands for my mom (Grandma Eva) as he said, "this is for you, Grandma!!". Then he gently smiled as he extended a gift to Lauren, as well! He has this very generous and kind spirit about him - it's truly touching!
On our way home from The City, we asked Ken-Chan about teen activities in China. We were interested to hear that, although he loves music, the students do not attend concerts or dances of any kind. He had never really danced! (Ooohh, Project!!) So in the evening - Clarisse & Alexann found their favorite hip-hop CD from a class they had taken - and proceeded to show their routine to all of us. Soon - with much encouragement - we were able to get Yuchen to join in and they tought him a short routine which he "performed" for our family! We were all laughing so much - especially our new friend - and he, as he is apt to do - got out his camera for "family photos". He showed us how to use the timer feature - so we could all get in the pics. After pictures, Lauren fire danced for us all. (If you are not familiar with this process - it entails watching your beautiful, young daughter spin chains with fully ignited fire balls on each end - round and round over and around her body - with, of course, a crazy-sounding vibe of techno-pop blaring in the background!!). Yuchen was extremely thrilled to watch the dance - although, with some concern, he asked if I would "please hold a large glass of water to throw on sister". Really good stuff!

On Thursday, July 31st - we took Yuchen to UC Davis where he will spend the next few days at the 4-H State Leadership Conference. He was looking forward to the trip - although when I asked him if he was excited, he responded in his thoughtful voice, "I do not know what will happen there, or what I will be doing, and therefore I do not have any feelings about it". I pondered what Yuchen said for a while that evening- thinking how we (or at least 10 of my very closest friends and I) tend to "wear our hearts on our sleeves", often giddy with excitement when even the smalles event is up and coming. I noticed the way Yuchen takes a carefully considerate approach to many of the things he does and says. He seems wiser than me at age 16, and, in this way....has reiterated to me the value of small, careful steps in life.