POST SCRIPT
There are a few moments that stick with me most assuredly: golden hour at the Palguin, kicking back after joy laps and the cries of Ibis overhead; a first-ever roll- one first-ever roll from one student, in particular- who had dedicated hours, weeks, months… years to the skill; listening to my words of instruction be repeated back to the group in Mandarin and watching my students heed those words through translation; and the giggles, hoots, hollers, and exclamations of surprise when aptitude surpassed the expectations of a young person.