Jikuai Feng Tiao Liang Cai (China)

Today we were driving through the neighborhood when Ian remarked that he could tell that a woman on the corner was a runner. I asked him how he knew that. He replied, "She is wearing awesome shoes, and her shorts are super short, and her hair is in a pony." Indeed, once the light changed, the woman took off on the next leg of her run, while we turned toward home.

We learn at such a young age, in our infancy really, to begin making assumptions and judgements about the world around us, to understand, to keep us safe, to categorize, etc. Malcolm Gladwell wrote a fascinating book on this titled, Blink. These often split second impressions are ones we can carry for life, but also can be challenges we face as we meet new people or explore new cultures.

This week I had faced my own assumptions on Kindergarten Open House night. Yes, Ian started Kindergarten this week, and I prepared Jikuai Feng Tiao Liang Cai, a cold Chinese chicken noodle salad, for us all to eat at the school picnic. But first we visited his room and teachers.

As we entered Ian's classroom, my teacher eyes and my mom eyes were taking it all in. My teacher eyes noticed the bright decorations and furniture in primary colors. Cheerful without being busy or overwhelming, the space was organized and clean. Each student's name was on the door, written precisely on funky little owls in rainbow colors. The teacher had prepared a room that was both functional and fun. As we moved farther into the room, my mom's heart warmed as a young woman's face lit up as she spread her arms wide, exclaiming, "Ian!" This person was so excited to see him back after his Kindergarten camp experience this summer.

This delightfully exuberant woman was so, so young to my eyes. She was wearing a cute peasant blouse over leggings, and was so fresh faced I swept my eyes around looking for the lead teacher. The other woman in the room was older, maybe closer to my age, and wearing a dress and cardigan that was one apple decal away from a cliche. So of course I moved to her to introduce myself to her who had to be the one in charge. Wrong! The delightful young person chattering away to my son as I tripped over my own assumptions was indeed the teacher I sought. This rash assumption threw me, and I've been thinking about this experience all week.

I am so excited for my son to start school. His enthusiasm for learning is so fresh and full of wonder. And as I move through this educational adventure along side him, in a new role for me who is used to standing in front of the classroom, I can't wait to be challenged and educated myself. Even as I want him to soak up the world around him, I can be reminded that I still have things to learn, too.