The globalization of the word/phrase "OK" is something really amazing to me. I was talking to my buddy Dave tonight about it (he's travelled Europe a lot, and he's just smart) and he says it's not just in China, that everyone knows "OK."
But, the meaning's often pretty unclear. I'll get frustrated sometimes with a taxi driver, for instance, who responds to all my questions (I'm speaking the best I can in Chinese, keep in mind) with "OK." Wait, I asked if you understood what I said... "OK"... do you understand? "OK." Do you know the place I just asked you to take me to? "OK." Can you take me there? "OK." Okay, I say. And we go... did he understand? Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
I might ask, are you from Beijing? "OK." Are you married? "OK." Got kids? "OK." You like robots? "OK." Do you understand anything I'm saying? "OK." Okay it is.
And then there are my students, who when I ask, "okay?" in class, they often respond with their classic negative reply: "nokay."
Okay? "Nokay." Okay...
"OK."
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A Chinese/Western musical comedy starring Joe Kuai and his trusty steed Cha-shui.
Me as Joe Kuai.
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What's this all about?
From August 2005 to June 2006, I lived in Beijing, China, teaching English to 4-, 5-, and 6-year old Kindergartners. It was year that flipped me "upside down" in more ways than one (wow that was corny), but more than that it was a year in which I followed the call of my Heavenly Father and was overwhelmed by His goodness and provision . This blog was my way of journaling my experiences with students, teachers, friends and telling folks back home about all my adventures from tuk-tuk rides in Thailand to strolls to the local grocery store. Read, scroll the archives, and I hope you gain a glimpse of my year overseas and what living out the Lord's calling meant for my life.
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