On a hot and humid Beijing July morning, Aidan graduated from a Korean kindergarten. Yang and I walked the 10 minutes to his school, through the starbucks, passed a row of simple restaurants offering everything from xinjiang food to casual italian, passed the international hospital, passed the cement twelve story apartment buildings, passed the small shops serving people’s daily needs. We crossed two busy streets, Elisa in stroller, looking both ways. We turned into a small alley and were soon at the school’s gate. The school is called GenMuZanDi which is as international as its name; you won’t find it in any of the school guides for foreigners here. The students are mostly chinese and korean with a couple foreign kids mixed in. From a preparing him for first grade perspective, the school served Aidan well. He had homework most nights, he can do math that some of my siblings would struggle with, he can read and write a fair amount of Chinese. On the other hand, as the small boy in the class and as one of the two mixed boys in the class he didn’t fit in all times. It got better as the year progressed and he came home with his toys and skin in tact.

When we entered the school this being the year of H1N1 they took our temperature readings and we had them take Elisa’s just for fun. The ceremony was held in the playground and after the principle’s opening statement – which was only tolerable if I imagined her as Steven Wright – Aidan and his classmates headed to the stage for the opening. Later Aidan gave a speech in English. A speech he had been practicing for weeks. A speech I had translated with Yang’s help but then the teacher changed back to be more Chinese English. A speech I was supposed to help him learn but in fact it was Yang that finally got him over the top. A speech that he said a little too fast but one that he nailed. A speech that I was proud of him for.

Lydia’s class sat off to the right of the stage, mostly sitting quietly, except for Lydia who would get up from time to time. Lydia appears to have no problem fitting in and she decides who the favorites are. The parents stood all around, snapping pictures, looking into their camcorders which were looking at their kids. By 10am it was sweltering hot.

Aidan made a third appearance on stage for the group kung fu act. Aidan has been practicing this for months and is quite proud of his opening moves and in fact he is one of the best at it. After the kung fu it was time to put the gown back on and receive his diploma. His father proud and touched and then late for work.

I guess now that he’s graduated Aidan can go out and get a job.