Angry kid and midwest magic

So I have wondered for a while if it wasn't secretly a blessing in disguise that I only saw my niece a few times a year… I adore her--and we have a BLAST together… and in my too-brief visits I can really devote 90% of my time to her… On the other hand, another family I visit almost as often has two children who are NOT always happy when I visit them. And it makes for an interesting counterpoint… There are lots of reasons for the differences-- not the least of which being with two children I necessarily have to choose one or the other sometimes… ANYWAY, would extended visits make my niece get annoyed with me and "over" me to some extent? Would I see her "dark side"? Inevitably…

WELL… to a very small extent that question has recently been answered in a fashion. The little boy that's staying with me right now is almost the same age as my niece… and also very active and playful and creative and fun. It's amazing how much can get communicated without language at that age! I started out as his favorite new toy person. There's nothing like getting a little kid REALLY going and laughing so hard s/he falls down… This boy does that all the time… Calls out for me as soon as he enters the door… comes screaming for me, in fact. Makes sure to always give me a hug goodnight… And is an absolute mimic… That is really of everybody and everything, but I'm new and therefore more interesting to mimic, I think… (I think I am also the BIGGEST human being he's ever seen, and there seems to be some glamor to that…)

Once again, inevitably I made him cranky one day. Indeed, I hadn't actually known I had done anything… We were tickling each other…when the switch flipped and it wasn't fun anymore for him. He did the pout… bottom lip parade… But he had done that before as part of the game (whatever game that was for) and so I didn't really notice. (Also he can't just tell me to stop-- language barrier and all.) I did stop, of course, figuring that if he wasn't really upset he'd let me know by returning to the game. But he didn't-- he went back to his mom. This was fine with me-- as it can be VERY draining to think of exciting things to do to keep a 3-year-old entertained. So if he was in a bit of a snit, I didn't really think much of it, just enjoyed my moment of calm.

Later, though, after I'd forgotten all about it, he told his mom on me!! (Omg-- little tattle tale!) She told me that Rex was talking about me, but that I might not want to know what he was saying. Of course, I then wanted to know! And she said that he was very mad at me because I tickled him too much… I was a bit surprised at that… It had been a while ago by that point. But he was in a full snit-- didn't like me, etc. His mother/my translator tried to talk me/him down and explain that he's all hot and cold… not to worry… her reassurances almost made me more concerned that I'd now be living with a small child who loathed me. THAT can't be a good outcome! Eventually, she called her husband/his father, and had HIM talk with the boy. And the result of that was that we were told to share some food… he offered me fruit, I think… And then we were friends again.

AND we've basically been friends ever since… He screams for me when he comes home once again… He hugs me goodnight… We have had occasional snits--when the bottom lip makes a run for it against his face. BUT I'm starting to learn that kids have worse memories even than I do! He's pretty much over it in a couple of hours at the longest… And overall we're totally good!

Now, what are the implications here for my niece?!

One more little story… I got to introduce the trio to fireflies tonight… Yay!!! None of them had ever seen fireflies before-- I can visualize their plight well, having never seen them myself until 2 summers ago. I made some comment when I first got home about how cool they are and that they should be here soon. But that was just a cruel tease. After a bit--with the fireflies not appearing-- I stopped mentioning it entirely, but scanned the backyard frantically every evening hoping to see them. I would wait until I had something to show off before I did anything.

And tonight I was hanging out-- theoretically reading my book in the cooling evening-- though my little buddy was entertaining me and demanding me entertain him as well… And finally FINALLY I saw one small firefly bouncing around on the deck. He saw it too--and understood that this wasn't a bug to squish, but a friendly awesome bug. Of course, the fairy quality of the bug might have had something to do with it. Who wants to squish a magic bug, after all?? So he just chased it, got as close as he could, and then talked really quietly just near it…

Then, we saw a neighbor's cat-- only slightly more afraid of him than my 2 cats, I imagine-- and he tore inside the house to share all the excitement with his mother and grandmother. They came out--the cat was still there to be seen and the birds were putting on a show… But there weren't any other fireflies around and our little friend seemed to be napping. Maybe 15 minutes later, though, they started putting on a bit better of a show. He ran in to re-gather his mom and grandmother, and out they came. And we watched the fireflies for 15-20 minutes, in low voices and a lot of silence, as they just bounced along and once again made me wonder if fairies MIGHT really be real… :) It made for a lovely moment!!

And it's definitely one of the midwest's best displays!!

There's no way I'd be able to get a picture of fireflies, natch…though I will work on it now that I have cool fancy camera… but for right now I feel weird not putting in any images here… SO

http://www.firefly.org

Intro

Adventures continue…

I finished my adventures in London to a not-empty home. (Don't worry-- I knew it wouldn't be empty!) I had arranged a house sitter to stay at my place while I was away--to watch the cats and turn lights on and that kind of thing… She is a very nice visiting researcher from China… Over the semester, her son and mother came to stay with her-- help out and all that… :) She is here for a year, but I only needed her for the semester… so for most of my time away, the plan was that she would get her own place when I returned. 

Shortly before then, though, I realized that it is fine with me if she--if they all--stayed. What would I want, if the roles were reversed? It would be a hassle to move and find a new place and potentially have to furnish it just for one semester… Anyway, I went ahead and invited them to stay… On the VERY important condition that I get my bedroom/bathroom/BED back… And that was fine with her… and so that is how the house looks now.

I am in the master bedroom (only fair, as it is MY home)… she and her son are in the "guest room" and her mother is in the "office." The living room, which I really never use… is in full family mode. The mother (by that I mean grandmother) is a wonderful cook and works in the kitchen much of the day… The son is a sweetie, too… three years old… doesn't yet know English but is picking it up like a sponge… And so far everything has been just fine!

In fact, this is kind of cool! I just came off a very successful Airbnb stay-- or 6. And how else would I ever have my OWN Airbnb hosting experience here in little old Rolla without doing something like this? AND I would SO do Airbnb--or run a hostel--or something like that--if I had the opportunity. SO, this is the way I can do so. NOW you understand!! ;) 

AND I decided that I'm still in the blogging mood--even though I'm not in London anymore. There will be fewer stories of seeing West End shows. BUT there will be more stories about using Google translate and learning the occasional Mandarin word… (My pronunciation is atrocious, btw!) There are already funny stories… and I can only imagine that there will be more. 

One quick example: The son is picking up English faster than the mother can keep track… (As is always the case--even without it being a 2nd language, I think.) One night, she was on Skype back home with a man… I wasn't sure if it was her husband or father (both back in China). So I asked the boy: Is that your daddy? (Shakes head "no.") Is that your granddaddy? (Shakes head "yes.") And he was right! The mother was so surprised! She didn't realize he knew Daddy and Granddaddy! 

Another funny ridiculous story was a multiple day translation fail experience. The grandmother was trying to tell me where mother and son were, and kept saying "Good where." Which just meant NOTHING to me… But she kept repeating it, sometimes slower and sometimes louder… BUT of course, we all know that doesn't help! So I just had to go away without knowing (I also think this was before I downloaded Google Translate which has many issues, but is still a wonderful AMAZING tool!) Later, the mother started saying "Good where," and then described it as somewhere one can buy pre-worn clothing and such… I thought-- that's cute, and corrected myself to "Good wear." What a witty name for a store. THEN, she spelled it: GOODWILL!! OMG! I laughed for 5 minutes or so!! 

Today the son came home hollering "Casey! Casey!" I am officially the new/cool auntie-type person. And therefore worthy of one of his Pringles!! (It's ok-- I bought fortune cookies at the grocery store just cuz I knew he liked them--and that there is NOTHING Chinese about them-- so it's a bit of a novelty for him!) He's a cute kid-- and CLEARLY has great taste!

Another funny issue-- the grandmother made yummy food AGAIN for dinner. I had NO IDEA what to call them. This is awful of me, btw. The visiting researcher (can you tell I'm trying to avoid using names?? I want to be totally on the up-and-up here--and so think I should keep it private that way… I'll think of code names soon… Until I get creative, they'll be boy/son, mother, grandmother...) I attach a picture. The mother told Google translate the Chinese name for them, which got translated as "package." I'm pretty sure that they're NOT called that!! :) Some kind of dumpling item--though decidedly NOT that-- I was corrected quickly when I said that. :)

SO-- I'll keep you posted as I have new funny stories regarding translating fails…