Kung Fu Camping

The kids are halfway through kung fu camp and loving it! The first day they came home sweaty and, no sooner were they in the door, Bud did a headstand. He can actually almost do it freestanding but prefers to use the wall for support. They love the food--"chicken and broccoli with soy sauce in a round silver container--and we got to choose!!" They've played various games from their teacher's childhood in China, including "Mother Hen, Baby Chicks, and Hawk" and something called "Triangle," where you chase people to tag them into your group and the biggest group wins. And lots of ping pong. (And a poking game that they and another, older girl they met at tournament, play together.) They have even meditated, first lying on the floor and then the next day, sitting up with legs crossed and hands on knees. "Mom, you think about your breathing and your nose," Bud explained. They both like it. They especially have liked learning Chinese characters and phrases, having forgotten completely every word from their two courses in Mandarin including the fact that they ever did take Chinese! Sigh. Anyway, they're relearning "hello" and such, plus "I take Chinese kung fu."

Oh, yeah. And they're learning a new kung fu form, too.