The first few weeks in Shantou were filled with new discoveries and every day was a new adventure. But now we’re almost half-way thorough the semester and life is becoming routine. That’s not to say that it is boring. There’s lots to do grading quizzes and essays, preparing lesson materials for the STU students and the kids we tutor on Saturdays. But fun as it is, it’s still becoming routine.
It’s nice to have a bit of relief from adventures to reflect on our experience. As we talk about our shared experience, there are several things that make this time special. First, it’s nice to have a simple, understandable purpose. Our first few years of retirement were a great relief from the decades of “rat race” and it was great to slow down and enjoy life. But after a while, we seemed to have lost the small purposes that keep each day fresh. Teaching restores that sense of accomplishing something important every day. It’s also nice to be part of a tight knit community.
We’re certainly foreigners but we have become part of the fabric of life here at Shantou University. As we walk around the campus, we are continually greeted by students and faculty members. We occasionally stop to chat about the small things of life and take time to enjoy the exchange.
We just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. For the first time since our honeymoon, we are alone together. No responsibilities, few interruptions, lots of time. It’s so nice to have the time to enjoy the person you married without a child tugging on your pants leg or a soccer game to attend. We’re getting to know the persons we have become. This doesn’t mean we don’t miss our loved ones but we are taking the opportunity to enjoy each other’s exclusive company.
So that’s about it for this week. Not a lot new to report. Just another warm and pleasant week at Shantou University.
Tags: daily life
