Your dad did what?” asked my daughter’s friends. He’s sending me to China for summer camp! “What did you do to piss him off?” Nothing! I was doing my homework one night and he just said, ‘I’m sending you to camp…in a different country…and you’ll like it.’ “WTF!” her friends pleaded.
As a second language, my daughter had always enrolled in Mandarin classes. And when COVID hit, the lessons simply went on-line for a few years. After that, her lessons became so bespoke, we just continued the one-on-one lessons with the instructor she’s made good progress with. And last year, there was a weeklong immersion day-camp in the city and I enrolled her in that. They learned how to speak to merchants asking about prices and haggling. They learned to read and write a few useful words. They ordered bubble tea. They sat for dim sum and a whole bunch of stereotypical Chinese activities. By the end of the week, the group discovered the city from a different perspective while roaming around the familiar city led by their instructors. This year, I suggested that she had graduated and instead of roaming in Chinatown in an English-speaking city, she can speak Mandarin in a Chinese city.
There was just pure silence. I’m sure my daughter was formulating a response to counter my assertion. But in reality, she did tell me that as much as she was hesitant about last year’s weeklong day camp, she learned a lot and had a great time. She also confirmed that immersion was a very effective way to learn any language. She understood my logic and had no rebuttal. Finally, she uttered one futile word, nooooooooooooo. “All this education and all you can say is ‘no’?” I replied. “And you didn’t even say it in Mandarin!”
This year, I suggested that she had graduated and instead of roaming in Chinatown in an English-speaking city, she can speak Mandarin in a Chinese city.
In the weeks that followed, she grudgingly agreed that my plan was sound. Her one-on-one teacher was also going. But dad, I don’t know anyone else. And I’m in a foreign country. “I’ve taken you to China before so it’s not that foreign. There will be a bunch of other kids from other countries going. You’ll make friends quickly. And you’ll be chaperoned by local counsellors who are used to working with international kids. You’ll be fine.” But….
She realizes that arguing with me was futile. She also knew that when I make a plan to send my daughter on her own halfway across the globe, I have figured out all the logistics, safety consideration, tech tools to communicate home and finances. She knows that even my backup plan has a backup plan. All she can do was to protest to her friends to gain a sympathetic ear. But I know in the end, it’ll be another excellent life experience.
During the two weeks she was there, the camp counsellors had daily updates with pictures and notes. I even video called a few times with my daughter. Initially, there was a bit of adjustment to sleep and meals, but after two days, they were fully immersed, physically. Not only was my daughter learning Mandarin, but she was also taught some Russians words by campers from Russia and others from Europe, Australia, Singapore and even Africans! She was getting mentally immersed.
Fast forward the two weeks, she couldn’t believe that the camp was over. Time flew for her. I picked her up at the airport and when she saw me hold up a placard with the word ‘daughter’ written on it, she guffawed, dropped her bag, ran and launched herself at me. It was a hug of immense gratitude. The rest of the ride home was full of stories that she’ll remember for her lifetime.
A few days of adjusting to jetlag, her friends asked her “So did you see the emperor?” She laughed and regaled them with stories.
