Some funny moments

Recently, my colleague and I have had some funny moments in the office. She is from Taiwan and has been in the US now for about 5 months. The funny moments usually happen at the end of the day when we are tired, cranky, and sometimes mentally weary. There is something about exhaustion that makes every little mishap seems that much funnier, every misunderstanding that much more laughable.

About 3 weeks ago, I asked her if she wanted a lift home. In Chinese, I asked her if she would like a "da bian che" 搭便车 (a lift). At least that's what I was going for. But my first tone was a bit off, and instead I said 大便车 which literally means "poop car." So basically I asked her if she wanted to poop car home with me. Ugg. She looked at me with big horrified eyes, and then I realized what I had asked her, and we both burst out laughing.

But the cookie crumbles the other way too, (and that's how we both stay humble.) About two weeks ago, my colleague asked me if I was going to go to some "banks" after school. "Banks?" I said questioningly. "Like to rob them or something?" And she realized her error, and again we had a good laugh and joked about robbing some banks.

And in general, I have been so blessed by hanging out with my colleagues. The last 2 week-ends, I've hung out with different groups of them on Friday nights. Yes, we're tired, but there is also something really necessary that happens when you interact with your colleagues outside the working environment: friendship, understanding, and grace.
I'm reminded of some doomsday posts I wrote back in October about my job. And now, I just feel so thankful that I stuck it out. There are lessons in the hard places; there is something to be said about not giving up.