started studying minnan/taiyu and am now giddy that i can count 1-99 and say good morning, tho melancholy that the person i most wish to *impress* w these language skills isn't here anymore. but he is at the heart of my latest essay in @sinethetamag #16 https://twitter.com/sinethetamag/status/1297534095669391360

written at the corner of qingmingjie and passover 2020 — my friend-brother-colleague-teacher whose kindness i will tell stories about for the rest of my life

like the time he planned an elaborate bday surprise for me that involved a made-up school project for himself (which he pretended to work on for days sitting at the back of the classroom) and having a student feign illness + another take him to the nurse

it was all a ruse designed for the sweetest celebration, but also to convince me to let the kids watch a movie that week — so that i could have a break from doing... my job.... on my birthday!!!!

(I am also esp thankful to Grace for bearing with me during editing + the regional NY-NJ humor sensibility and Juliette for the illustrations)