"Mate, watch fah cahs," Nick announced while reaching out a protective hand in Bennett's direction as we approached the main road into Capital Paradise - a neighboring compound housing many of the boys' friends and quite a few teachers from ISB. Our new found Aussie friends (well Tassie as they refer to themselves indicating that they are more specifically from the Island of Tasmania) invited us over for Tim Tam's, coffee, and Halloween festivities, even though this was only their "third go round with Halloween, mate."
The cars rolled by and then Nick repeated, "Bennett, look again for cars, mate."
Benne looked both ways, then turning to look back in Nick's direction, laughingly repeated,"Mate, watch fah cahs," in his finest Tassie accent.
Despite the lack of Halloween experience for many folks living around here, we did spend much of the weekend Trick-or-Treating around Shunyi with our kind friends and Bennett honing his accent at every opportunity. "Hey mate, look at that tree." "Mate, what's for dinnah?" "Mate, you wanna play Wii?" "G'day, I'm watching football today mate."
Speaking of football - oh and not the Aussie rules kind which Parker is now learning at school, or the kickball kind which is popular here and written like futbol, but the NFL kind, you know, American Football as it is called here - this Monday I tuned into the Eagles live at 8:20 AM. In spite of the hour of day and the fact that instead of sipping a cold Yuengling I was holding a cup of morning coffee, I attempted to maintain some viewing normalcy, jumping up and yelling at the TV when the Eagles went in to score, or letting out a "Pick it" every time Romo dropped back to pass. Coffee and the NFL – doable, though certainly different from our Sunday procedure back home in which we "jerseyed up" the boys and focused all Sunday activities around the kickoff time for the game. We actually get quite a few games in live broadcast here thanks to AFN. When dad was here we watched the 1o'clock game live at 1:00 AM following a little evening nap. Next week it looks like I'll be able to try the morning routine again when I can catch the Eagles/Bears Monday night football game live on Tuesday morning.
Prior to our trip home for R and R we stayed pretty busy on Sundays, but since our return we have opted for a new Sunday routine: fire in the fireplace, boardgames, maybe a movie to see us through; or we play softball with the Marine detachment if the weather is decent. Decent days, however, may be running out. The weather has been bad lately, and since our return we have seen only a handful of blue days – a bad sign if the Winter proves, as professed by those with more China time than we have, to be bitter cold and smoky. http://iphone.bjair.info/
We did have a marvelous swing home. Spent dad's 70th with him, and Joanne ran her 8th marathon in Albany, but generally we were fortunate just to spend time with the people whom we miss most while living abroad. I got a chance to re-walk the halls at FHS and speak to former students and classes about our experiences. It felt great to be back in front of the class, but man, while talking to those kids in Mrs. Duggan or Miller's, Parks' or Lorber's class, I felt changed. They looked at me with inquisitive faces, and as they asked questions in turn about life in China, I could not help but think that a mere 8 months ago I was asking the same question - I had no clue what China would be like. Man, have I changed. China is on me now. China is on my family and children now. I know that sounds funky, and believe me, if you consider the pollution indexes(http://iphone.bjair.info/) we have been seeing since our return, having China "on" you is a reality. Nonetheless, I am proud that my children have China on them from a cultural standpoint; I am proud that, thanks to my beautiful bride, I have this chance too. I think it took going home, and then coming back "home" - yeah, that's what I called it – to feel like we've settled in. I caught myself the first time I said it, recounting to Ted or Justin, Derrick or Luke, Alex, Darren or Robbie what our scheduled itinerary was while stateside. I'd list the destinations in order for our East Coast tour: Reston, Arlington, DC, Richmond, Philly, Back to DC, Warrenton, Ashburn, back to Philly, New York, Springfield, back to Philly, DC, Dulles - but then I'd say it - "then we go home." It was easy to say, rolled right off the tongue making it an even more shocking revelation just how quickly things change.
The boys had a little jet lag when we returned to Beijing, but not too much to deal with – been there, done that. They went right back to school, reunited with their friends from Australia or China, Israel or America, got to fall asleep hugging their little Chinese mutts once again. Joanne returned to a full schedule at the office, team mom duties for the Marine softball team, work outs, and making sure her boys are all safe and sound. I returned to baseball. A clinic for Sports Beijing on Sunday then the APAC tournament during the week. Our ISB varsity team finished 3rd in the tournament, and much like game 6, you know THE game 6, that I once again found myself watching on the treadmill and then over coffee on a Friday morning. Our Dragons team tried our best to lose the 3 versus 4 consolation game in the tournament. We made some awesome mistakes(including the worst baseball mistake I've ever seen, EVER*), but got bailed out when our 8 hole hitter launched an extra-inning, walk-off homer onto the rugby pitch about 400 feet away. I wouldn't have guessed that Dan could even hit a golf ball that far; nonetheless, the dog pile ensued(minus the shredder) and I felt, well, baseball! I wasn't sure I'd feel that again for quite some time when I said goodbye to the Falcons and went wheels up for China.
I sub a few days a week at ISB for a PE, Math or Humanities class; I hold tutoring sessions in writing and revision to please hovering tiger moms; I throw BP; I manage and run baseball clinics on Saturday afternoons; I've made some friends; I watch the NFL.
Yeah, I've changed a little in my world view as I discovered in front of those kids in Warrenton; moreover, I'd say it took the return trip to America to even identify this change in myself at all, but what I see more than anything is that this change isn't a bad thing, it is not a strange thing, not a scary, surprising, or even a rare thing, it is just one indicator that we have settled in.
Here is another -
"Hey, nice to meet you. Where are you from Bennett?"
"I live in China, Mate!"
*Following his game tying RBI double a player to remain unnamed attempted to steal third with two outs and was thrown out. As bad as getting thrown out at third to end the inning is on its own, if only this vapor lock of the brain had occurred one pitch earlier, our big boy would have hit to start the next inning, but no, it was the 4th pitch of his intentional walk.
Paul Koch (@pkoch9999)
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