Skip to main content

Head Shoulder Knees and Toes

Our neighbor's first grade boy is in a Chinese immersion program at school. The other day he came over all excited and wanted to sing "Head Shoulders Knees and Toes" with Maylin. He started singing and when she didn't he got frustrated with her that she was not singing too. I told him that she doesn't speak Chinese and that when she came here she was a baby and didn't really speak Chinese. His grandma (she adopted him) said she explains to him every day that just because she is Chinese doesn't mean she can speak it. He still doesn't seem to get it.

They played together for several hours and I watched him try to teach her the song. He got so upset and said she wasn't moving her tongue right and why wasn't she forming her tongue right, because she was Chinese! Ugh!!! I tried to explain it to him again. I just had to laugh at it all. Maylin did finally get most of it and it was so cute to hear her sing it. The little boy did inform that she still wasn't saying it completely right and I informed him she still doesn't say some of her English words right for example she can't say her L's or her V's.

It was pretty cute and Maylin was quite proud of herself.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Maylin was a trooper to keep trying and go along with him! It was amazing to us in Taiwan they kept speaking to Em in Mandarin and expecting her to understand..even when we explained she didn't speak Chinese. They also insisted in giving her chopsticks:)
September 5, 2010 at 6:43 PM
The Brown Family said…
I can relate to Nate's experience...but when we adopted Pearl we were praised for her Chinese. The locals assumed we were adopting Grace because she's younger. We were repeatedly told how great Pearl's Chinese was and we were such great parents. Lucky thing they didn't hear her English then ;)

Kim
September 6, 2010 at 8:24 PM
Rebecca said…
Kids are great, it always makes me laugh when they don't quite get it. Cool that Maylin tried to keep up with him though! She is such a smart girl
September 8, 2010 at 11:14 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Did I just hear that?

Today I was at W*lM*rt and I had the WEIRDEST experience. I can't wait to hear what you all have to say about it. I was at the self check out and the worker that handles those came over to Nini and put her hands on Nini's cheeks and literally put her nose against Nini's nose. Okay....don't know you, plus it is serious cold and flu season. I pulled the cart back quickly. The lady was talking to Nini and asking her how old she was and telling her how cute she is (she is that). Then she said to me, "where did you get her from?" That question threw me. I have been asked where she is from, what nationality she is, but never, "where did you get her from?" I said China, but was thinking, "does she think I got her from a store or something?" This was just the beginning of what was the MOST outrageous conversation I have ever been apart of. She asked me her name. I told her and she said, "Thank you! It makes me so happy to hear that name."...
17 comments
Read more

Maylin's room

Here is an update on painting. The doors continue to be a nightmare. We don''t have doors on the girls bathroom and no doorknobs on any of the other doors. Hopefully next week. I love everything else. Many of you asked about the glaze in the kitchen. It is an oil based glaze that comes in black, white, brown. You roll it on with a small roller and then take it off with a rag, by blotting it. You can make it darker or lighter depending on how much you put on and how much you take off. Here are pictures of Maylin's room. I was scared to make a change with 2 colors, but I think I like it. I don't know if you can tell but on the pink paint it is a wash (first white swirly, then pink) with light white flowers like the top pink ones. I picked words to go around her room that may inspire her. The Chinese translation is underneath. Of course, we used Meng, that was her first name...Meng ni and they called her Nini. The words are in vinyl and the flowers were painted using a pa...
17 comments
Read more

Happily ever after

NieNie Dialogues: April 15, 2019 Christian is the most important person in Stephanie's life. She made this post about him. She wrote about how much she loved him and he loved her. Every year she dedicates a song to him as they enter another year as husband and wife. She said, "Everyday I pray to God, thanking him for Christian. I thank God that he is my husband, my protector, and greatest defender. I thank God that Christian loves and respects me.......And I thank God that I will be with Christian forever and even to infinity and beyond." I am not married, but I related to this post because I love my dad. He is my protector and my provider. He really takes care of our family. He is so great. I can tell my mom loves him too. Even though it embarrasses me, I love to watch my parents hug and kiss. I am glad we are sealed together. After reading this post, I decided I needed to write in my journal characteristics I want in a husband. These are the things I wrote: Must l...
Post a Comment
Read more