The Chinese Dude I Married

I don't know at what point Tim became a Chinese man, I knew him long after his mutation. But it's been a fascinating journey being married 5 years, and within those years witnessing the events leading him to his version of Disney Land here in China.

He nowadays speaks more Chinese to me than English. I promise it's not annoying. I promise it's not annoying. But it is quite humorous to see Tim in his element. His first week at work he came home with a sore jaw. He couldn't figure out what it was from until he spoke Chinese to me when he got home. He realized he was using jaw muscles for Chinese pronunciation that he hadn't used for long stretches of time in over 10 years. He had a sincere look of gratification on his face as he leaned back in the office chair, his fingers intertwined across his chest... a huge smile.

The other day after eating dinner with some long time Chinese friends who had just came in from Utah, we had a moment of English to talk about it.
T: It was so great to see them
S: Yah, cool to have known them so long.
T: It was a bit awkward having them show up with a bunch of business colleagues wanting to get into business.
S: They're just excited you're here in China, their mother land
T: But it just feeled awkward
S: Did you just say "feeled"
T: What. (an honest confused look on his face)
S: Is English so foreign to you that you don't even know what you said?
T: What?! (still confused)
S: "feeled" (this time saying it slower)
T: Well, how are you supposed to say it?
S: Felt
T: (light bulb moment).
T & S: (outbursting in laughter)

Never mind the ruckus of Chinese at 2 am. He must've been frustrated with a character in his dream that night. And that hasn't gotten annoying at all, at all, at all, at all. Tim says he now thinks in Chinese, as if that's totally normal. When he starts sprouting black chest hairs, I'm notifying his mother.

But there's nothin' like watching someone achieve and live their biggest dream in life. I am so happy to be along for the ride. My boys are feeling the enthusiasm of their father, and are going to pick up on it too.