Back Again

“I will never ever learn this language!” I uttered to myself for countless times–perhaps I told others, too. And so for a decade or two, I stuck to my words. I really did that’s why out of those ten languages I burned eyebrows to, Chinese wasn’t in the lists. 

Now that I have reached my goal to learn ten languages before forty, I have no more time for other lingos–not anymore–especially about a particular language my heart had no interest for many years. I thought.

But what’s going on with me? I’m back to language learning and have been eating my words lately. I didn’t see this coming. It wasn’t actually the real plan. In fact, if I had to study another tongue again, it would be Japanese–this one is out-and-out the opposite–I have been learning Chinese for the past two weeks. 

Surprise! 

I had reasons why–awful circumstances with a lot of Chinese people; prejudices against them; unfortunate experiences I had encountered with them, blah, blah, blah–and so these hindered me (I allowed myself to be impeded rather) from seeing and knowing the beauty of this culture–it’s beautiful. 

Thanks to an angel who opened my eyes in order to see things differently and beautifully–that I may behold the splendor of it all–like a butterfly in a cocoon. I finally stand corrected.   

He has taught me many wonderful things during our travels in Southeast Asia that turned in wonderful memories to apprize and cherish. He left in my heart the beautiful side of what I had perceived the irony in days of yore. And it was worth swallowing my pride. It is worth speaking his patois.

We met during my four-weeks-holiday in some parts of SEA countries. We traveled together–from Thailand to Cambodia to Laos–it was an unexpected detour and challenge of life–both a beautiful disaster and a lifetime lesson to remember–with an unexpected angel who becomes an amazing friend in the end. 

So grateful for this milestone–and if not for this new friend, I doubt would find interest in Chinese language–he is the main reason why I am back to learning another dialect again. I am very excited to converse with him in his own tongue in the near future. 

“There is a time for everything.” I read King Solomon’s words. Whether my encounter with this angel is relevant or not, I’ll cling to this wisdom still. 

For now–it is study time. I am enjoying it to be honest.