Thursday, September 2, 2010

July 4, 2010 Colette family update


Hello everyone,

Here's our latest update (forwarded below). Dorothy has joined us, much to our delight. Fei Fei isn't seeing much of her since Jazz and I elected not to pull her out of any program activities to have special time with Nona (the girls will have two week in Montana in August). But Zhou Zhou has been soaking up all the time and attention. Today they had out to Wangfujing together, along with Ciele and Alia (our former neighbors in Beijing). There are a great walking area there with outdoor sculptures, and a wonderful tall department store with a floor dedicated to Chinese musical instruments and another with art supplies. Dorothy and Ciele are both on a quest for art supplies. Ciele's little sister, Aliah is also six, so Zhou Zhou will get some much-needed play time with a peer.

Zhou Zhou is working hard on her Chinese. She now greets the wait-staff, housekeeping, and teachers with enthusiasm and can now effectively get a few things she wants in Chinese (like ice water without lemon!). Yesterday she spent the afternoon at the Sony museum in Chaoyang Park with Li Ayi and returned with the biggest rainbow colored spiral lollipop I have ever seen. She told me all about seeing five weddings there at the same place and about she and Li Ayi getting lost finding the museum. She was about to burst with excitement (and sugar?). I think she may have blue and orange lips forever.

My highpoint of yesterday was a leadership workshop Bonnie conducted with the kids on emotional intelligence. We talked about empathy and its importance for our ability to really listen and hear the needs of others. She also introduced them to "the Platinum Rule"--treat others as they would want to be treated (striving to understand them on their own terms and meet their needs as unique individuals). I'm learning a great deal from this collaboration.

Much love to all of you,

Colette

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