Let's Go!!!

Today we are seeing a lot more of Joshua's personality.  After his good, long night's sleep, he awoke happy and ready to go.  He was pretty quiet yesterday, but today he woke up in a chatty mood.  Very energetic and trying to talk with us even though he knows we don't understand.  He is also trying to learn more English and imitating things he hears us say.  His first new English phrase was "Let's Go!"  At first we didn't understand it and it sounded more like "let's geeyou", but by about the 20th time, it was very clear.   It has been fun to watch this little boy delight in new experiences. The first event of the day was heading to the breakfast buffet.  Mark is only able to eat hard boiled eggs, but had some cereal bar before we headed down. Joshua had a great time picking food from the buffet.   After breakfast, we walked a few blocks to The People's Park – a huge city park.  We attracted a lot of attention on the street today.  If we were an oddity with my blonde hair and Mark's red hair yesterday, we were utterly puzzling when we added a Chinese boy today. The park was very interesting.  There were people gathering around in various places singing traditional Chinese songs, there were also older men playing interesting instruments, people in street clothes joining into traditional dances, people aged 5 – 80 using various exercise equipment and people playing some card game that looked like it required each player to hold half a deck of cards.   Joshua was so excited to arrive at the park.  He and Mark gave the exercise equipment a try and that was fun, but there was sheer delight when we found the little amusement park.  It was somewhat like an aged Oaks Park or traveling carnival type rides. Joshua was SO excited to see the rides.  The first thing he wanted to ride was a little train. He had the biggest grin.  He had a great time in a big play area and then we found a mini car track.  He was shaking he was so excited. He and Mark played a couple bumper car type rides.  On the first one, Mark slammed him a bit too hard and he bumped his knee.  He wanted to stop, but shook it off and was fine.  We kept playing around that area until Mark bumped his sore finger and it started bleeding again.   The boys were a huge mess by the time we left. It is actually cool today (in the 70s) because a big storm came in last night.  It dumped quite a bit of rain and it was muddy at the park. They came back and had showers and we were finally able to convince Joshua to change his shirt. As we had started out to the park, I had written :"Joshua" on his water bottle.  It had rubbed off during the morning. When we got back to the room, he brought his bottle to me with a pen and asked me to write "Joshua" on it again.  It was a blessing to see that he understands and likes his new name. He is also able to say it much more clearly than yesterday.   We went back to "Dicos" for more chicken, fries and dips.  After lunch, Mark wanted to go to the pool. We weren't sure what Joshua would think, but he was game to try. The pool required swim caps and also that we pay for a third person (I guess only two per room can swim free???)  While Pete and I were figuring that out, both boys hopped into a shallower water area. Joshua's head went under water for a few seconds before Pete got into the pool and Joshua decided he was done with the pool.  He and I sat and watched Pete and Mark play in the pool for about 20 minutes before he started looking for his swim cap to join them in the pool again.  It was amazing to see him jump back in the water with Pete. He started just having Pete hold him in the water, but by the time we left the pool, he was jumping in by himself, putting his face under water, trying to imitate Mark's swimming and having a water fight. It was a truly amazing sight to behold. He was again, just delighting in the experience. His laugh was making me tear up because it was just so amazing for me to see.     There was a man giving swim instructions to children at the pool.  He was pretty funny. He came to ask if Joshua was Chinese and where we were from.  When we told him "America" he went and found a flute (doesn't everyone take their flute with them to the pool?) and started playing the Star Spangled Banner and other patriotic American songs until all of his students arrived.  He asked about Joshua's arms and then told us it was very good that we adopt him.  It was nice to hear that after all of the puzzled stares today.   We just came back to the room for another round of showers. Joshua asked if he could have a bath – more delight.  Now the boys are fighting (in a friendly way) over a bag of popcorn – so utterly normal!    This morning, during my quiet hours, there were so many things I was pondering.  I kept thinking of the song that we have on the other blog that we called "Joshua's Song".  The real name is "When Love Takes You In" by Steven Curtis Chapman.  There is a line that says, "In a moment was has been is lost in what will be…" We are enjoying getting to know this little boy that is now part of us.  We know he will come with his own unique traits and challenges. Today we are seeing a strong and brave little boy who is able to delight in his world and it is a joy to see.