Candace, I'm lost for words. You made our London days so vivid just like that happened yesterday.
You even remember the sweet red bean soup, however I've forgotten this part.
Except the dessert, everything about you always keeps in my mind.
The emotional tears on your beautiful face, every single email and the card you painted are so precious for me. And I remember we almost could see each other in Bangkok but eventually missed that chance.
Farewell doesn't mean goodbye. I believe that we will reunite someday somewhere somehow with our loved ones.
Miss you evevy time your name just bumps into my heart.
Grace! Your comment has me tearing up just like it's 2011 all over again :) Working on this story brought back so many lovely memories from our time in London, and I will always be grateful that our paths crossed there at Kingston. And yes! I absolutely remember that time they almost crossed again in Bangkok -- that would've been too much fun to see you there.
I can't wait to see where in the world we meet again next, but until then, please know I'm sending love and hugs from Belgium to Taiwan 🙏🤍✨
I love this so much, Candace. For many years, I taught adult classes in ESOL. I had students from countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Mexico, Central and South America...all over the world. Sometimes I would come home with funny anecdotes, but other times, my students would turn to me for help with problems they were experiencing because they had no other place to turn and I did what I could to find answers or resources for them. I am still in touch with some folks I taught over 10 years ago, which brings me so much joy. But, the big takeaway is that I will always believe that I learned far more from my students about life and the world at large than the grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, etc. that I taught them.
Joan, thank you so much for your comment, and for sharing about your experience as an ESOL teacher -- I loved reading about it! I also couldn't agree more with you -- even in my own journey with Spanish in Uruguay, I found that learning the language was a conduit for so many greater life lessons. I learned to relax, to laugh at myself more when I made mistakes, and to not worry so much about speaking perfectly or becoming the perfect definition of fluent. I grew so much as a person through that journey, and I'll always be grateful for the role that languages can play in our lives -- as you expressed so beautifully! 🤍
Thanks! I don’t like to casually generalize but I have observed that most people don’t look beyond their backyard to really “see” people of other backgrounds. That’s what was so beautiful about my classes: the intermingling of people from so many places meeting and befriending one another. I’m glad you can give your daughter the opportunity to grow up with a world view. That’s a wonderful and unique experience.
This was a beautiful essay, Candace. We have traveled to China twice now - once, to adopt our daughter (Elena), and more recently to take Elena back to her homeland as a young adult. On both trips we were touched by the attitude of “ to know you, very happy,” shown to us with such graciousness and warmth. Your words brought it all back. With every essay you write, I feel the same - to know you (Candace), very happy. 🩷
Ahh, Roseanne -- it makes my day to hear you have such a personal connection with “to know you, very happy.” Thank you so much for sharing that, it's such an honor that I could help bring back warm memories from two such important journeys to China 🤍
I posted a couple of stories recently about a friendship in Zimbabwe that grew from a workplace relationship to one between a wise old uncle and a young nephew. It was a friendship in which we were both transformed.
Thanks so much for sharing these stories, Switter -- I loved reading them, and can only imagine how many more transformative friendships you made throughout your journeys 🙏
This was so lovely, as always, Candace. One of my favourite Chinese expressions is 慢走 (man zuo) which means "walk slowly" ('slow walk', literally) and can be used as a guest is leaving. I guess if they walk slowly, they don't leave you so quickly! It's used in the sense of 'take care', too.
And Taiwanese cakes are great - especially the famous pineapple cakes.
Ah! Another new expression I'm so happy you've introduced me to, Jeffrey -- I love the idea behind "walk slowly," thanks so much for sharing that with me 🙏
Candace, this is such a timely learning for me. We’re just coming off a yoga and meditation retreat at Stowel Lake Farm where we met so many lovely people. And now, I have the perfect phrase to share with them :), thank you🙏🏻
Michael, it makes my day to hear you've just been on Salt Spring -- have I shared with you before that I once lived in a yurt on the island for three months? So I can imagine first-hand how beautiful and restorative it must've been to be part of a yoga retreat there, that sounds like an absolute dream 😊 Thanks so much for reading and sharing that.
Thank you so much for reading, Joyce, and for letting me know you enjoyed the story -- I'm so glad to hear it! Wishing you an inspired rest of the week 🙏✨
Thank you so much for your kind words, Leo -- I'm so glad you enjoyed the story! And I couldn't agree more with you about the power of learning other languages. You might enjoy this passage I came across when I was doing my Mandarin class -- it's from a book by Deborah Fallows called "Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language":
“As I tried to learn to speak Mandarin, I also learned about how the language works -- its words, its sounds, its grammar and its history. I often found a connection between some point of the language -- a particular word or the use of a phrase, for example -- and how that point could elucidate something very “Chinese” I would encounter in my everyday life in China. The language helped me understand what I saw on the streets or on our travels around the country -- how people made their livings, their habits, their behavior toward each other, how they dealt with adversity, and how they celebrated.”
很高興認識你 means Nice to mean you!!!
Candace, I'm lost for words. You made our London days so vivid just like that happened yesterday.
You even remember the sweet red bean soup, however I've forgotten this part.
Except the dessert, everything about you always keeps in my mind.
The emotional tears on your beautiful face, every single email and the card you painted are so precious for me. And I remember we almost could see each other in Bangkok but eventually missed that chance.
Farewell doesn't mean goodbye. I believe that we will reunite someday somewhere somehow with our loved ones.
Miss you evevy time your name just bumps into my heart.
Grace! Your comment has me tearing up just like it's 2011 all over again :) Working on this story brought back so many lovely memories from our time in London, and I will always be grateful that our paths crossed there at Kingston. And yes! I absolutely remember that time they almost crossed again in Bangkok -- that would've been too much fun to see you there.
I can't wait to see where in the world we meet again next, but until then, please know I'm sending love and hugs from Belgium to Taiwan 🙏🤍✨
I love this so much, Candace. For many years, I taught adult classes in ESOL. I had students from countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Mexico, Central and South America...all over the world. Sometimes I would come home with funny anecdotes, but other times, my students would turn to me for help with problems they were experiencing because they had no other place to turn and I did what I could to find answers or resources for them. I am still in touch with some folks I taught over 10 years ago, which brings me so much joy. But, the big takeaway is that I will always believe that I learned far more from my students about life and the world at large than the grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, etc. that I taught them.
Joan, thank you so much for your comment, and for sharing about your experience as an ESOL teacher -- I loved reading about it! I also couldn't agree more with you -- even in my own journey with Spanish in Uruguay, I found that learning the language was a conduit for so many greater life lessons. I learned to relax, to laugh at myself more when I made mistakes, and to not worry so much about speaking perfectly or becoming the perfect definition of fluent. I grew so much as a person through that journey, and I'll always be grateful for the role that languages can play in our lives -- as you expressed so beautifully! 🤍
Thanks! I don’t like to casually generalize but I have observed that most people don’t look beyond their backyard to really “see” people of other backgrounds. That’s what was so beautiful about my classes: the intermingling of people from so many places meeting and befriending one another. I’m glad you can give your daughter the opportunity to grow up with a world view. That’s a wonderful and unique experience.
This was a beautiful essay, Candace. We have traveled to China twice now - once, to adopt our daughter (Elena), and more recently to take Elena back to her homeland as a young adult. On both trips we were touched by the attitude of “ to know you, very happy,” shown to us with such graciousness and warmth. Your words brought it all back. With every essay you write, I feel the same - to know you (Candace), very happy. 🩷
Ahh, Roseanne -- it makes my day to hear you have such a personal connection with “to know you, very happy.” Thank you so much for sharing that, it's such an honor that I could help bring back warm memories from two such important journeys to China 🤍
This is beautiful Candace. Your work here on Dandelion Seeds is so inspiring.
I can't thank you enough for your kind words, Niamh -- they mean so much to read 🙏🤍
Gorgeous, succinct and emotive, as always.
Thank you so much, Medha! 🤍🤍
I posted a couple of stories recently about a friendship in Zimbabwe that grew from a workplace relationship to one between a wise old uncle and a young nephew. It was a friendship in which we were both transformed.
https://switters.substack.com/p/red-pill
https://switters.substack.com/p/why-kids-should-learn-history
Thanks so much for sharing these stories, Switter -- I loved reading them, and can only imagine how many more transformative friendships you made throughout your journeys 🙏
So sweet! Many thanks! 💖
Thank you, Vicki! I'm so glad you enjoyed this story 🤍
This was so lovely, as always, Candace. One of my favourite Chinese expressions is 慢走 (man zuo) which means "walk slowly" ('slow walk', literally) and can be used as a guest is leaving. I guess if they walk slowly, they don't leave you so quickly! It's used in the sense of 'take care', too.
And Taiwanese cakes are great - especially the famous pineapple cakes.
Ah! Another new expression I'm so happy you've introduced me to, Jeffrey -- I love the idea behind "walk slowly," thanks so much for sharing that with me 🙏
Candace, this is such a timely learning for me. We’re just coming off a yoga and meditation retreat at Stowel Lake Farm where we met so many lovely people. And now, I have the perfect phrase to share with them :), thank you🙏🏻
Michael, it makes my day to hear you've just been on Salt Spring -- have I shared with you before that I once lived in a yurt on the island for three months? So I can imagine first-hand how beautiful and restorative it must've been to be part of a yoga retreat there, that sounds like an absolute dream 😊 Thanks so much for reading and sharing that.
Yes, you have shared that you spent time on Salt Spring Island. In fact, “The Magic of Yurts” is my favorite story of yours, I think.
Another gift.
Thank you, Gérard! 🙏
So very touching Candace ! This recollection of lasting friendship warms my heart
Thank you so much for your beautiful words, Heather -- I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this story 🤍
This is delightful! Thanks for sharing this story--and your friend--with us.
Thank you, Jenn! Your kind words mean so much 🤍
Lovely. Thank you
Thank you, Sue! I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
What a delight ... as always. Very happy ... bowing.
Thank you so much for reading, Joyce, and for letting me know you enjoyed the story -- I'm so glad to hear it! Wishing you an inspired rest of the week 🙏✨
Thank you so much for your kind words, Leo -- I'm so glad you enjoyed the story! And I couldn't agree more with you about the power of learning other languages. You might enjoy this passage I came across when I was doing my Mandarin class -- it's from a book by Deborah Fallows called "Dreaming in Chinese: Mandarin Lessons in Life, Love, and Language":
“As I tried to learn to speak Mandarin, I also learned about how the language works -- its words, its sounds, its grammar and its history. I often found a connection between some point of the language -- a particular word or the use of a phrase, for example -- and how that point could elucidate something very “Chinese” I would encounter in my everyday life in China. The language helped me understand what I saw on the streets or on our travels around the country -- how people made their livings, their habits, their behavior toward each other, how they dealt with adversity, and how they celebrated.”
Thank you again for reading! 🙏