I am getting married in China!

Before coming to China, I never envisioned finding true love. My sole intention was to hone my craft as an educator and interact with the natives, in order to learn the language and understand the culture. While I have not steered from this course, I have developed an unbridled love for a mister.

Initially, we started off as platonic companions. We would interact for very short periods during the day and sometimes at night. However, over time, we became inseparable. We started cooking together, having lunch together, and engaging in nightly rendezvous.Although only a month has passed since we sparked a connection, the attraction has climaxed, and we have therefore decided to officially tie the knots for a lifetime. 

Who is he? No, not the taxi driver who gave me the wad of cash to hold before taking it back, and no, not one of those men who regularly beg to be photographed with me.

For starters, he is well lettered and hence bears a befitting name. I call him "My Energy Buddy," but many of you know him otherwise. Can you guess who he is? Well, I will spare you the agony of making wild conjectures! He is reading --- the simple act, the simple bliss, my personified prince charming :)

The truth is, I was never an habitual reader. I mainly read what was mandatory or necessary to satisfy personal, professional or academic goals. In fact, a lengthy piece of literature was akin to a baby's lullaby. I would usually feel sleepy from as early as the prologue, or I would start a countdown to the final page or line, even before fully digesting the first sentence.

With my internet moving at a sloth's speed and Netflix and YouTube buffering every ten seconds, I had to find another form of regalement. Thankfully, my dear Bajan friend and mentor started supplying me with varied literary and motivational forms of literature. I would then spend most of my days curled up in bed, completely rapt in reading and expanding my bank of knowledge. 

Interestingly, I have managed to engage many of my Chinese students with notable tales from my literary voyages. These have allowed them to imagine and understand life outside their censored society, while learning the target language.

I have also made a habit of relating many of my discoveries about the Chinese culture to our daily instructional foci. On one occasion, I was able to extend my students' descriptive vocabulary by presenting materials on prominent Chinese moguls whom I met through reading. The minute I projected a picture of Edison Chen, a popular Chinese actor and singer, my female students turned crimson. One of the quietest girls in the class became very vocal and squirted highly suggestive epithets to describe him: "Hot! Handsome! Sexy!" This heart-throb sure had her smitten. Of course, the  males responded with an erect posture and ogling eyes upon seeing the Chinese femme fatales! They were interested throughout the lesson, and expressed sheer enjoyment at the end of the class. Yes! The beauty of reading, knowing and being able to relate!

Presently, I am taking daily dosages of inspiration from Dr. Broderick-Scott's Life Lessons from the Heart. This beautiful exposition conflates psychological theories, biblical quotes and real life experiences to illuminate abysses of despair and engender hope for the future. 

In light of my metamorphosis, I can now personally identify with Dr. Seuss' testament: "The more that you read, the more things you will learn. The more that you learn, the more places that you'll go."

Keep reading!