In honor of the major cultural event that is about to take place in a matter of days, I feel as though it is appropriate to blog about it as it relates to my China experience. Some of you have had July 15, 2011 marked on your calendar for over a year now, while I'm sure several others of you have no idea what I am talking about. This is all in reference to the final Harry Potter movie being released, the closing of an era and an epic saga. Yes, I myself am quite caught up in the love of the series and story. What an incredible piece of culture that defines my generation. It is what separates us, yet unites us to those who are older, and younger. What defines the generation of my parents? Pac-Man. Although Pac-Man is also great, Harry is the hero for people my age. We basically shared childhood together. And although there are those in the older generations who absolutely love Harry as well, there's something special about sharing a childhood together than simply enjoying a series of books that some British lady wrote for kids.
There is a reason why this relates to China, and I'll get to it in a minute (I swear), but first must come an understanding of the books. You see, like any story, there is a battle of good and evil forces. Throw in some lovable characters, a moving plot, a few things that every child imagines about like castles, giants, and magic, and you have yourself a million dollar industry. I would like to focus on the good and evil that drives the series. We find out in book five why Voldemort, our evil character, is so eager to get revenge on Harry. Before Harry's birth, there was a prophecy that went something like this:
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches ...
born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies ...
and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not ...
and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives ...
the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies ..."
It is in this prophecy that so much is answered, and it is this prophecy that drives the remainder of the series. We, the readers, now know that a battle of sheer epicness has to take place. We know that Harry has to defeat Voldemort, and we know that Harry has a 'secret weapon' of some kind. This movie is the moment of truth; for so long we have desired to see justice on the big screen, a final scene to be stored in our memories forever. It literally is entangled in the heartstrings of almost every teen and young adult in America at this point. SO! In case you were unaware of what the big hoop-de-loo was over this upcoming movie premier, now you {kinda} know.
I say all of this because I recently recalled a memory that could be deemed as a prophecy in my own life. You see, they forced us to take English in high school. (Really, it's no big deal.) My sophomore year I was graced with a teacher whom I absolutely loved, and from whom I learned a lot. We were allotted about 20 minutes a day before classes started to wander the halls, get help from teachers, {cause trouble} visit with friends, so every day I would sit in my seat, just to be in the presence of this teacher. Even into my junior and senior year, when she was no longer "mine", I would still spend my mornings in her classroom, visiting, helping to decorate, chit-chatting about the woes and joys of life {I was never one of those kids doing homework at the last minute ;)}
My final day of senior year, the warning bell rang, and I gathered my belongings to head to class.
"Kayla, where are you going to school, again?" she asked.
"Messiah College. It's in Pennsylvania. It's ok, no one around here knows about it".
"And what are you going to major in?"
"Music education".
She shrugged. "That's kind of funny. I always thought you would make a really good English teacher. Maybe someday..."
...'someday' has come.
It's crazy how sometimes people see things in you that you cannot see in yourself.
Perhaps this will be my opportunity to give back as an English teacher what my English teacher gave to me.
~Sunshine
I am expecting so many hard things, Harbin. But you see, deep down, I knew you were where I am to be. Way deep down; there is nothing more that I can do than accept and enter with an open heart. Harbin, if you let me, I may just fall in love with you and your citizens. You have so much to teach me, I promise I will do my very best to repay the education and knowledge you shall pour into me.
