When we answered the call, he was sitting there smiling holding up a Happy Mother's Day card he made. His teacher wrote in the inside, "I love you, Mama! I want to see you soon! Love, Charlie"
We had some wonderful interaction. I really just expected to get questions answered and I thought he would be more reserved. He was quiet (he would whisper to his teacher) but he was animated. He gave us high fives and kisses. He was right up on the screen, so he could see, and the teacher said he was studying our faces, and kept pointing things out. One of the first things he noticed was Stephen's glasses. We held up our cat to the screen and at first he didn't think it was real, but then he thought it was funny.
I told him I love his face and want to kiss his whole face, and he said I could kiss his lips too.
His teacher who speaks English very well, not only translated for us, but did a wonderful job facilitating and encouraging interaction. I have never even used Skype before, and really didn't know what to expect, but Teacher Fang had great suggestions, like playing Simon Says and singing each other songs. He sang us about 3 songs, one was really long and dramatic and he was really into it-- hilarious. I sang him You Are My Sunshine. I don't think he knew what I was saying, but his teacher said he knows that song and he was smiling.
When we played Simon Says, we'd say "Simon says point to Mama's nose, Simon says point to Baba's glasses, touch your hair," etc, all in English and he'd do it!
We found out so much about him. Some things we already knew, some things we didn't. He loves animals. His teacher said he has no fear of animals. In English, he said his favorite animal is a sheep. Stephen asked him what the sheep says, and he said, "Baaaaaa!" His teacher said his favorite game on the iPad is Feed The Animals. We'll have to find that one.
He loves to sing, and has a good voice! His favorite types of music are Blues and Funk. He likes to play the guitar. He loves cars and wants us to get him a blue toy car. He likes things that make sounds and light up and "need batteries". Lol. We'll have to get working on that too. He doesn't really like Legos because to play with them he has to sit still, he is very active and his teacher says he runs everywhere. He loves to help. One of his jobs is serving snacks to all of the students each day at 10:00am and his teacher said he is very proud of that role and takes it very seriously. (She said we had to schedule our call at 10:30 because of this.)
He asked who would be his roommate at our house and we said Sam. He said he saw Sam has bunk-beds and he thinks he would like to sleep on the top. (That is where Sam sleeps, so we might have to work on that one.) At one point during the call, Kate woke up and came down to say hello. He said hello, but then kept asking his teacher why she was up? She is just a kid and it's very late. Why isn't she in bed? Lol. I thought that was funny. I don't know if he was really confused, or if he liked having us to himself. She was happy to go back to bed, she was pretty zombie-like at that hour.
When we asked what his favorite foods are he said rice and noodles. We said those are his sister's favorite foods too! His teacher said he also likes American food, like hamburgers and french fries. Well what do you know, those are some of your brother's favorites! Stephen said that I (Mama) cook a lot of Chinese food and Charlie raised his eyebrows. Not sure if that was out of surprise or doubt.
His teacher said that he has been learning some English Braille and he doesn't like it. I said Kate doesn't either. He said he was excited about going on a plane and when we told him we have 2 cars at home he opened his mouth really wide, like WOW. I asked him if he likes to ride in a car, and he said yes. I asked him if he likes the car to go fast or slow, and in English he said "FAST!"
No surprise there.
At one point his shoe dropped on the floor. As he leaned over to get it, his teacher said, "His slipper dropped. He loves these slippers." When he picked it up, he held it up to show us. It was a yellow croc. I told him we have him some blue crocs (his favorite color is blue). I went and got one to show him and he said, "That's mine? Where do you keep it?" We said he has lots of things already ready for him in Sam's room. When the teacher translated that for him, his whole face lit up. He seemed so surprised.
By the time the hour was over, I thought he was getting pretty bored, but then when he could tell we were about to say good-bye he said, "Wait, what are you going to do now?" and we said go to bed! (It was 11:30pm and I had to be up at 5:30am for work.) He asked when he would see us and we said in about a month. I think he looked a little sad. I'm a little sad too, but it'll be here before we know it! We gave kisses and said good night. And I didn't sleep a wink! So thankful for this amazing gift!
Wonderful! Blessings
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