"katie teacher, i want to give you something. this is some tea from my taiwan. it is for my mother, but she doesn't like tea, and i love you like i love my mother, so i will give it to you instead."

i have cried at work a few times, usually out of frustration or complete and utter exhaustion, but today i felt my eyes well up with a different kind of tears. i thanked the student for the tea and went into a small corridor so she wouldn't see my happy tears.

it has been truly amazing to come to taiwan and teach these little children. at first i was horrifed because i had no idea how to deal with anyone except 10th graders, and i still feel like i am never doing a good enough job. and even as many days as i end up in my office smashing my head into my desk because they still can't remember to add an "s" to third person verbs or that prepositions of time go before the measure of time or that the first letter of an english sentence is a capital one...moments like this remind me that i must be doing at least one thing right.

ps- mom, happy happy mother's day. i really wish that we could be together on this day! i miss you so much everyday. i can never be thankful enough for everything that you have done for me: for the trust you have always put in me and my decisions, the sacrifices you have always made, the encouragement and praise you always give, and most of all, the unconditional love that you show. you will never know how much those things mean to me. i love you so very much, and i hope you have a very happy mother's day. xxx