The little girl I teach is not the same one I met back in February.

Natlie has round cheeks and red lips. Her dark head of hair wisps around her face and she has bangs in a straight line across her forehead. She is a pickle.

When I first came Natlie didn't speak much at all. Her body expressions and guttural sounds got her what she needed and made people laugh (even in Chinese). Now she sings, dances, makes jokes, and has even almost learned the art of laughing at herself.

She couldn't read at all the morning after I arrived. Now she's burning through Brother Bear books like wildfire. She soaks up every word - even phrases like "You silly girl" and "Oh my goodness". The other day we were playing a game where we threw the ball around and made up compliments. I said "Splendid", "Fabulous", and "Fantastic". She spurted out "Excellent". I gave her a hug.

I'm not taking credit for her success. She just needed someone to piece together the language she knows and someone to challenge her thinking and speaking.

It's gratifying though.