I'd say overall I have not been "shocked" by the culture here, I mean, I expected it to be a different culture, but I tried not to come with a lot of expectations other than that. So it has been good.
The things that I find unusual are typically very subtle and hard to explain. Maybe I will attempt to explain them at another time. :)
We spent more time training today and we got to make our first lesson plan and teach our first English class. It was really exciting! But as much as I like the teaching part of this program, it's even better to talk to the Chinese students during lunch and in between sessions, where I can really get to know them and hear about their lives and where they are from and all of that. It's really pretty amazing.
Today when I was having lunch with one of the students, she asked me: "What is mean by 'To make a difference?' What are those words meaning?"
And so I tried to explain to her as best as I could, "to make a difference" means to bring about a change, etc. And then that is when I realized that this is the very reason that I am here in China.
To make a difference.
I may not be able to cause a huge change here, and clearly, there is no way that I, as one person, would be able to impact the more than 1 billion people that live in China, but I have come to realize that one small change will make all the difference.
If I seek to connect with one Chinese student, and encourage them to be courageous and positive in their life and in their thinking, then hopefully they will be able to pass that one.
One small change can cause many more small changes, and in turn, that can make all the difference.
Pray that I can impact, even in a small way, the people that I meet here through the love that I have been provided with through God.
And that this love will make a difference in their lives.
