Growing with Steve: My Wishes Come True

This entry was written by Steve.

Before going to camp, I wrote, “I hope I like summer camp and Huiru. I want to have friends.”

I went to summer camp with Daddy and Mama. I liked seeing my penpal Huiru and the other children.

I met Huiru and saw her cat and her grandmother’s home. I liked Huiru. I like she talked with me. I told Daddy to let her know she can talk with me in Chinese.

I liked holding Huiru’s hand. I am very happy I met her. I miss her.

I liked meeting new people and telling them things by FC. I told the students, “I like to see how you are painting. I like how you work together to make art. I want to give this book about art of Monet.” The students had trouble speaking English but they could understand my FC.

They made a long mural about cranes and nature. Huiru painted her cat in the mural for me. The students finished the mural and had a party in my hotel room. I like Huiru gave me cake and put frosting on my face.

I made art on the computer with Val. I want to do more art.

I liked where we had summer camp. I went to the lake. I liked the wind and the mountains.

I rode the horse. I felt close to the fur and muscle, and I made my body move with the horse.

Some of the children were Mongolian and could not speak English or Chinese. I learned some Mongolian words, like “good” and “eat” and “fire” and “dance.”

At night, we had a bonfire and dancing. I danced with Daddy and friends.

I learned that I can meet new people and make friends. I can meet both new and old people and have fun. I now know that people can help each other learn to do new things.

Steve and Dad do facilitated communication (FC). Steve points to letters one by one on his communication card, to spell out what he wants to tell the students, who are working on their mural. Fourteen students worked together for days to complete their mural, missing most of the fun and action other students had during summer camp.

Steve meets Huiru's cat. Steve sees very well out of the corners of his eyes. He pays attention to many things even when he doesn't seem to be looking.

Steve visits Huiru in her grandmother's home. We are sitting on the family's kang, the traditional bed in northeast China that is heated by hot air from the stove that flows under and through the bed before going outside.

Steve and Liying also visit the captive red-crowned cranes at Xianghai Nature Reserve. The cranes are released to fly freely over the marsh, but one bird comes too close! Liying worked with cranes for many years. She knows what to do.

When the students finish their mural, they have a party with special cake to celebrate in our hotel room. Someone has the idea about frosting on faces!