Measuring Love in Hello's and Hi's

My day-to-day service looks like.....

• holding my neighbor's hand on our walk to school every morning and both us waving goodbye to her family as we go
• the same three 5th graders {who greet and walk with me every morning} waiting in the rain outside my gate for 20 minutes because its 8:20am and I leave at 8:20am. And then for the next 20 mins I hear through my window good morning teacher, what are you doing teacher, open the gate teacher, have you eaten teacher, you look beautiful teacher
• being asked what did you eat for breakfast and my response never not being funny (egg, bread, banana...hehe)
• getting trampled by two 7th grade girls who immediately steal my purse and umbrella and carry it the rest of the 50 yards to the grade 6 office after my walk back from the school office for morning attendance 
• taking walks around the school and teachers stopping class, peeking their head out the window just to chat with me despite that they were in the middle of their lesson. 
• a thousand hello's, hundreds of good mornings, endless smiles, some Teacher Kelly! Teacher Kelly! Hi!, and a few nice to meet you's everyday 
• catching frogs, geckos, crickets and throwing them at my toughest grade 6 boys who run away in fear and everyone laughing all day that teacher kelly is braver than the boys
• the quietest and most humble grade 6 teacher doing her duty and making me milk tea every morning
• grade 10 speaking class jitters that are dissolved as soon as your student opens his English textbook and tries to flirt with you....a whole new meaning to by the book flirting 
• the most rambunctious students inside the classroom being your biggest allies outside of the classroom which includes carrying your things, walking you home, and answering/politely correcting your language bluffs
• getting asked everyday are you happy? do you miss your family? will you remember us?
• consequently getting told everyday we love you. the children love you. we will always remember you. 
• instantly feeling overwhelmed by the warm generosity and abundant curiosity that makes Myanmar feel more like a strange new home.