On our first day of school, we did something different……instead of cramming into a classroom full of same-aged kids, we took them out for a swim with their friends of various ages 😊 – sunshine, fresh air and exercise are always good for the body, mind and soul – and doctors can’t recommend it enough!
And being with friends, exchanging holiday stories, making bubbles in the air, and just hanging out together after weeks of not seeing one another, is the best way to start the school year, me thinks! ☺️ It’s also called socializing 😉 something that our kids do very well, thank you!
We also did something new – a few of us moms decided to translate a story from Chinese to English – to be read to the children visiting the residents at the Valley of Hope this coming Sunday.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/343543782651657/permalink/384743365198365/
Here is our unofficial translation of the book “Nian” 年
《年》”Nian”
你们知道”年”是什么吗？——他是由寒冬里的孤独慢慢聚积起来的一只怪物。
Do you know what is “Nian”? He comes from the coldest winter and evolved into a lonely monster.
很久很久以前，有一个很孤独的怪物，他的名字叫作”年”。他住在高高的山上，从来没有人和他玩。
Long long ago, there lived a lonely monster named “Nian”. He lived in the tall mountains and had no one to play with.
每当到了冬天最冷的那一天，他就会感到更加孤独，于是，他不知道为什么，就感到特别生气。所以，他就从高高的山上冲下来，去吓唬那些落单的人。
Every time when winter approaches, he feels even lonelier. He doesn’t understand why, but he kept getting angry.
So he rushed down from the high mountain to scare the people down there.
救命啊！
“Help, help!” Cried the frightened folks.
于是在那一天，大家都会聚在一起，放着噼啪响的鞭炮，挂上五彩的年画，举着最火红的灯笼，做满座的菜，穿上火红的衣服，热热闹闹地一块儿过年。。。”年”就再也不敢出现了。
So from that day, everyone would gather together,
To place the crackling firecrackers,
And hang up colourful buntings,
And carry brightly lit lanterns,
And prepare table-full of delicious dishes,
And wear fire-red costumes,
Celebrating the New Year with merriment.
“Nian” had since not appeared.
一年又一年，人们在每一个冬天都会热热闹闹地过年。又过了很久，许多人甚至忘了”年”这个怪物。
Year after year, the folks would celebrate the New Year happily.
And after a long time, everyone had forgotten about “Nian” the monster.
过年是热闹的，可也总会有孤独的人。
New Year is very merry,
But there are also those who are lonely.
”年”会捉那些孤独的人。
”年”会突然跳出来，钻进他们的心里面。
“Nian” would catch hold of these lonely people by suddenly coming out and entering their hearts.
”年”会紧紧地笼罩孤独的人，使他们更加难过，更加寂寞。
甚至充满怨气，简直要发狂。
“Nian” would engulf them in the darkness of loneliness filled with resentment and fury.
不知不觉，有些人被”年”完全吞掉了。
Not long after, they are swallowed up by “Nian”.
不！不能这样！这个结果太可怕了！
“No! This can’t be. This ending is too frightening! You definitely do not agree to this.”
其实，要从”年”手中逃脱其实很容易。
If you want to escape from “Nian”, it’s actually very easy.
首先，你要有过年的颜色，要有许多许多红色。
Firstly, you need to have the colours of New Year. You need to have lots of red!
即使和谁闹翻了，也要在这一天说声”对不起”！让我们重新成为好朋友。向所有人说：”新年好！”
你还要忘记不开心，打电话给所有你认识的人，祝他们新年好!
Even if you had quarrelled in the past, you need to say “sorry, let’s become good friends again”.
Wishing everyone “Happy New Year!”
You also need to forget about sadness. Call up everyone you know and wish them “Happy New Year!”
别漏掉任何一个！对了，还有一位也别忘了。——”年”！新年好！”
Leave no one out—not even one!
“Nian”, Happy New Year to you!
于是，连”年”也有点不会意思了。。。红了脸。越来越红。。。变呀变。。。变成一个可爱的”年”了！
Hence, even “Nian” feels embarrassed and blushed profusely, and changed into an adorable new “Nian!”
A happy new “Nian”.
新年快乐！
Happy New Year!
现在，所有的孩子最盼望的就是——新”年”来到！
Now, every child looks forward to the arrival of the New Year!
The End.
(Translation team: Lees Low, Laura Lee & Wai Leng)
Learning Beyond Schooling 