Life in a Bubble

Life for the last couple weeks has been in a real bubble. That bubble is going to pop when we get on the airplane to go home.

One of the bubbles we have going is that of communication. When we were in Xi'an, our coordinator/guide, Jane, was dedicated to our family. She was extremely helpful and patient. She fielded a thousand questions from us and patiently explained things to Abigail that we wished to communicate to her. She was able to tell us what Abigail was saying to us, and also spent time just chatting with Abigail. Every time we met Jane in the lobby, Abigail would dash over to her and greet her joyfully.

The communication bubble got a little smaller when we came to Guangzhou. Our guide here is responsible for four families, so we rarely see her. She is not available for those questions that come up.

We were in a play area yesterday where there were lots of kids playing and lots of parents watching or chatting. Abigail went off to play, and a couple minutes later, when Deb went to check up on her, she was very subdued. She was not her normal, bubbly self. Someone must have said something to her that affected her deeply. And we had no way to ask her about it. It took her quite a while to recover. We have it quite a bit where someone will speak with her in Chinese for a while and we have no idea what they are saying. By the time we were able to ask our coordinator to ask Abigail about it, the crisis had passed and Abigail didn't have much to say about it.

Three of the children in our group are old enough to have acquired the language, so Abigail has a couple kids to talk to when we get together. I'm sure this will be an adjustment for her when we get back and there is no one close by and immediately available to talk to.

Pop, goes the bubble.

I just wonder when the adjustment bubble is going to pop. Other than a rough first day, we have had no grieving spells to speak of. Abigail wakes up REALLY grumpy in the morning, but breakfast usually cures that, and then she's a bubbly, giggly, silly nine-year-old who drives her brothers nuts. She willingly holds our hands when we are out and about and even enjoys being carried occasionally (although at nearly 50 pounds of live, squirmy weight, Baba can only take so much). She hugs us goodnight (rather anemically, although our comparison up till now has been two boys who can hug the life right out of you, kind of like comparing Snow White with Sampson), and I think a kiss on the cheek is a new concept for her.

She is generally well behaved, even with her strong personality. We have had a few battles of the will, particularly at bedtime, but we have managed to prevail in these so far. She may have a strong personality, but Mama has a stronger personality, and Mama says that Mama is the queen of this household, and there is only one queen. The sooner Abigail recognizes her rank as princess, the better.

That being said, it is now time to get the princess out of bed. This morning it is my turn. It's not a pleasant task.