Karate Kid

I’m sorry for the silence lately, but I’ve been pre-occupied with my new charge (either that or it’s the final three weeks of the semester and I’m buried in piles of grading, exam-making, and neglected post-graduate work).  This week I acquired a new pet.

Growing up, aquatic creatures were banned in our household.  We tried our hand at fish, but for some reason, they just couldn’t survive very long in our house.  We were even prohibited from fish-sitting after we managed to kill off a few fish during friends’ week long vacations.  There were also the tadpoles from the science lesson at school that became frogs…one of whom escaped from his cage and was discovered as a shriveled carcass behind the piano months later.  The simple fact was that we were most definitely dog people, not pets from bodies of water people.

One of the sad parts of being in China for me is that fact that it’s not possible for me to have a dog.  Much to my (and my teammate Jennifer’s) chagrin, dogs are not allowed in our building.  I’ve considered getting fish or a turtle before (the approved pets for the building), but due to our family’s track record, have always decided against it.  I just don’t have it in my heart to kill innocent aquatic creatures.

But this week the Clements had to find a new home for their turtle, Karate Kid, and I reluctantly agreed.  Sure enough, the poor thing attempted suicide within three hours of being at my home.  He must have sensed my inability to care for aquatic creatures.  I had put him (as instructed) in a tupperware container with his food while I went to the bathroom to clean out his large bowl.  I returned to my bedroom ten minutes later to discover the tupperware container empty.  He somehow had climbed out of the container, across the window ledge, and then jumped off of the three foot high ledge.  At the moment, he was making a mad dash (or as much of a dash as a turtle can make) for the door.  When Karate Kid first came to the Clements, he had a brother.  But the brother, after taking a similar nose dive off of a table, died within 24 hours.  Consequently, I was convinced I had killed Karate Kid within three hours of getting him.  However, two and a half days later he’s still alive and kicking, although each morning when I wake up I half expect to find him dead.

Way more exciting than my attempts at turtle care, though, is the reason why I have embarked on turtle care–the reason the Clements had to get rid of Karate Kid in the first place.  You see, they had to baby proof the house and make room for this little sweetie.

I don’t know about you, but I find her way more darling than Karate Kid.  The Clements were recently approved to foster a baby from the orphanage, and Mia joined the team this week.  We’re already quite smitten with this one-month tiny little princess.

Sorry Karate Kid, you’re just going to have to get used to life in my house.  Now that I know your suicidal tendencies, I’ll be watching you that much closer.