optimism

So yesterday we visited our new campus. Someday it is going to be a very impressive campus. Yesterday, however, it was a construction site. Our school is hoping to start classes on Monday, but the teachers have their doubts. Our building doesn't yet have all the things necessary for class. (blackboards, desks, windows, walls etc.) We tried out the route from our old campus to the new campus yesterday as well. It's only about a 20 minute walk. The problem is that it's up hill the entire way--much of it is very up hill. Our students are utterly unhappy with the new dorms. They aren't all finished so they are cramming six students into rooms meant for four. They have no desks in their rooms so everyone is wondering where they will do their homework. We are optimistic about the new campus though. The progress made in five months (the last time we visited) has been amazing.

Optimism. It is a wonderful feeling. Some of you know that this year we are living on the old campus and all of our students are moving to the new one. This was more than a little discouraging for us. We love spending time with our students and we fear that living so far away from them will make that more difficult. This fear often weighs heavily on us. But more and more often we are optimistic. These moments often come unexpectedly. Yesterday after touring the new campus we boarded bus K16 to go back into town. The bus takes you back into town by going the long route around the north edge of Shiyan. The traffic is very light there and the hills are beautiful. We came to a stop light and I spotted a small child waddling around in his split pants. His mother noticed us sitting on the bus, and she scooped her son up and waved at us with a pleasant smile. And if you live in China for a while you get used to being noticed. You get tired of being noticed. But her smile wasn't one of intrigue. It wasn't rude. She wasn't leering. She was telling us she was happy to see us, and I was overcome with optimism. This will be a good year. The Gardener will make everything ok.

John