Mr. & Mrs. Monkey!?

I was SO tired when I woke up Tuesday (although that’s what happens when you wake up at 1:30am for an internet date and spend the next hour and a half waiting for the computer to connect to the internet yelling “I just want to talk to my boyfriend!”) I was out the door by 8:30 and on my way! I was supposed to be teaching 7th and 8th grade but when I arrived at the school Michael told me their schedule had changed so I was going to be with the 4th grade (this was all after I entered the school and couldn’t find my happy man so I kept walking until his friend grabbed his attention and he RAN over to get my sign in sheet! I still think I am doing it wrong but he always smiles and laughs and lets me in.) I was actually happy about 4th grade because Michael was going to be teaching and I was so tired and not feeling so hot. I might be getting a cold (which any one of the 290,348 people on line 10 could have given me). My throat is scratchy and sore and I am stuffy! So needless to say the thought of “sitting back and relaxing” didn’t sound too bad! I was bummed though that I didn’t bring any of my books or flashcards as a backup! So Michael showed me the book again and then asked for my ideas about how they teach in America. I wanted to say I had no clue, but before I knew it we were off to class! As class was starting he asked me if I had a lesson prepared and I sort of looked at him and almost said, “I just found out 2 minutes ago I was teaching this class!!!” But instead replied, “Well, no” He seemed upset, although I think it is a cultural thing because often I think they are upset and they aren’t. Anyway, I quickly recovered with, “But if you want me to go over these lessons I can!” He seemed happy with that response and off I went!

The headmaster, who ALWAYS speaks to me in Chinese, was “sitting in” on the class, which made me really nervous. But then I thought hey, what is she going to do, fire me? I think the class went well, I REALLY enjoy 4th grade. They are old enough to understand yet young enough to still laugh with and play games.

I went through the lessons they already knew to practice pronunciation and speaking. The part I am struggling with is thinking of things to do. They have really big classes, so when I try to do individual things, everyone has side conversations so that doesn’t seem to work. So I have decided group exercises work best (occasionally calling on students to make sure everyone gets it). But then, I really want THEM to be talking a lot, rather than responding to me talking.

For example, in 4th grade we learned about the classroom, schoolbag and friends. So for the classroom I would say a word and they would point to it or vice versa. With the school bag, I might ask them to hold up things or “put your notebook under your backpack” things like that. For my friends, they LOVE the game, “I have a friend. She is short, has long hair, etc” because they love guessing. I also use, “Stand up if..” because it’s a whole group exercise and gets them moving. So in both classes I would say something like, “Stand up if you have long hair..if you are tall, etc.” But then in the second class they must have moved faster because all of a sudden I was done with the lesson and still had 20 minutes left! So “Stand up if” became my lifesaver! I used all their vocabulary words AND moved on to “Stand up if you are wearing red AND have long hair, etc”. I like the game but it doesn’t really involve much talking (for them). I am thinking I will still do the game but add a talking component. All you teachers out there, I am VERY open to suggestions!!

Amy sat in on my second class and after she and Michael told me I did great! It is nice to hear, but I really would love feedback from them and I told them that. They asked me to teach like “Americans teach” but since I have no idea how, I just make something up. I guess they think ANYTHING is good. I think they are definitely under false pretenses (or I got tricked!) because I was NOT expecting to be thrown in front of 40 students and told to teach. If they thought I was an English teacher coming from America then I guess that would make sense, but somewhere along the line someone got confused because I don’t think I am what they think I am!

Michael said the headmaster was happy and wanted my notes! Ugh! I have started taking notes after class so I can remember what we did, what they need work on and what the next lesson is. Because I am ALWAYS thrown into a different class this is the only way I can come somewhat prepared! I tried to explain they weren’t notes on teaching, but now I am going to look for some ideas to give to her! Oh China!

I was happy it was lunch time and was looking forward to my new bowl! Amy and Michael told me to stay in the teachers’ lounge but then another teacher asked if I needed to get lunch! So I tried to explain I had a bowl and that Amy was going to get it but then she wanted me to follow her out! So I did, and ran into Amy who asked if I had a bowl. I explained how I left it after lunch on Friday and then she remembered and we went to get it! BUT as we were going to get lunch Michael was already coming back with two big plates for me! Steve, have you ever gotten me lunch before you ate yourself? Hmm..Michael: 1 Steve: 0. I thanked him and of course looked at the MOUND of food I needed to eat! But it wasn’t bad. Rice and Chinese bread and then the concoction of who knows what! My potatoes were in there (not the sauce I liked but it was good) as well as white broccoli and some meat! There were other spices and things in there but I couldn’t tell you what! Today I discovered I like dipping the Chinese bread in the soupy stuff, yum. The edge of the Chinese bread gets soggy, maybe from the rice? So I don’t like that part.

As much as I appreciate the fact they get me food (and always ask if I need more) and offer to clean up..I HATE it!! I hate being catered on and I hate feeling like they think I am better than them. I don’t know if they really think this, but they are always doing things for me like I am a princess (wait a second..I am!!!) All joking aside though, they are so accommodating and kind and sometimes seem to put me on a pedestal, when really I want to tell them I can’t do anything in their country because I don’t speak the language!

Anyway over lunch I could understand the teachers saying, “You are a monkey” to Michael. He explained that his family name, his last name, sounds just like the word for monkey in Chinese so I guess they were calling him a monkey. So THAT got me thinking..Julie Monkey? And then if you bring kids into the picture, won’t they get teased? Michael: 1 Steve: 1.

I ate a majority of the food but left the meat. I guess they didn’t get the memo that I am a Prime Rib and Filet kind of girl. I have watched the others eat the meet and it still has bones so they sort of eat around it..but it also looks really fatty. I always feel bad about leaving it because I am sure people like it. So today Amy told me she was full (and left her potatoes) so I said I was full and asked if she wanted the meat! She didn’t but another teacher did and then I heard her say something about dog. I asked her again and she said the meat was dog. I sort of looked at her and then at Michael. I thought maybe they thought it would be funny to play a joke on me. I asked again if it was really dog and they said yes. I don’t think they were lying but I am going to find out the real deal tomorrow. (Although..maybe that is why there are so many dogs there..tomorrows lunch!)

If it is dog I will have to try it tomorrow! When in China…! Actually the thought of eating dog doesn’t bother me. Now I don’t condone cruelty to animals, but I am also not an animal person. I eat cow and chicken, so what’s a dog! Details to follow after tomorrow..

Before I left I wanted to ask about my phone! I showed Amy my charger and then she gave it to Sophia. I tried to explain the situation and she tried a few times and then told me to wait a minute. She went upstairs and then returned with my charger but no battery. She explained it was broken (which I pretty much already knew..) and then handed it back to me. I asked where I could get another and she said the supermarket..I love that place! I then asked if I could have my battery. This is where it got complicated. I did not understand what she was saying about my battery. FINALLY I got it..she was charging it upstairs with her charger. She kept asking when I was going to leave and then it made sense because she was going to charge it for me (they are too nice!)

I explained I was actually leaving right now, so I could either take the battery with me or I could get it tomorrow. But THAT went nowhere and I was getting more confused by the minute.

Finally Amy came back into the room (which everyone was thankful for..we needed a new translator) and I tried to explain I was going to buy a new charger etc. Then another teacher (who doesn’t speak English) said she could pick one up and bring it in to me tomorrow! I was SO thankful (because I had NEVER seen chargers for sale) so I gave her some money and hopefully tomorrow I will be the proud owner of a new charger!

So I wasn’t sure what to do about my battery. I tried to explain to Amy that I could take it home with me and then charge it tomorrow, but then they kept asking where I lived! I tried explaining that I could also leave the battery at the school overnight. But then it got very confusing because they were saying how it gets cold at night. I think some people live at the school (my phone was charging in a bedroom) so I am not sure if they thought I wanted to sleepover with my battery? Or if I was going to bring the charger home and then someone was going to come and get it?

I finally convinced Sophia to bring me to my battery (which is when I found out about this bedroom upstairs!) She kept explaining how it got cold and showed me the blanket and asked how to say it in English. I really think she either thought I wanted to stay there with my battery or she was offering. I spotted my battery plugged into the wall and quickly snagged it! She kept trying to hand me the charger as well, but I kept handing it back. I didn’t want to take it home with me, especially if they thought they had to come pick it up later! At last I was able to leave with my battery.

It still amazes me how EXHAUSTED I am when I am done! I am only there for about 3 hours but it feels like forever! Kudos to everyone who teaches a foreign language, it is tiring! Michael: 2 Steve: 2. I still want to spend an afternoon with the little kids, but need to rest up first! I also think the commute is tiring..an hour and a half each way really adds up! And since nobody really speaks English well (besides Michael) I feel like I spend most of the day trying to understand what the heck is going on!

While I LOVE the school, it is nice to be on my way back and able to rest and relax! It amazed me when I got on the bus (which was actually crowded) to find ALL eyes staring at me. It is definitely a different feeling.

When I made it back to the hostel I decided Starbucks was needed! My throat still wasn’t feeling good and the thought of a warm drink sounded great! I was at Starbucks in a comfy chair when a guy came up to me and asked if he could sit down across from me. He was actually kinda cute (NOT as cute as you Steve!) Anyway we got talking and he was really a great guy! He had asked me if I was staying in the hostel (and I couldn’t remember the name haha!) But I said I thought I was and he said he thought he had seen me coming in earlier in the day (once he said that I did remember seeing a group outside, but knew they weren’t speaking English..probably German!)

His name is Florian and is from Germany and has been here for 2 weeks with a foreign exchange type program (7 students and 2 chaperons). I think he is a freshman in college. We ended up talking for an hour, about everything! His family owns a restaurant in Germany and he has traveled all over Europe. He has never been to America but his older brother spent time in Newburyport, MA! Small world I know! We talked a lot about Beijing and traveling and school and languages! His native tongue is German, but we spoke in English (his English was very good!) and then he speaks Spanish and is learning Chinese and Russian! It REALLY amazes me when people know all these languages. I LOVED talking to him, mostly because he wasn’t creepy and I could tell he wasn’t hitting on me or trying to scam me, he was just interested in talking to someone in English! I was actually bummed to hear he was leaving later that night and had stopped by Starbucks for a coffee and a snack before he left! I guess he had been at the hostel before I got there and then was somewhere else for a week and his group came back tonight to head to the airport! It was getting later to when I was suppose to meet Ali for dinner, so I explained I was having dinner with a friend and needed to go!

We parted ways and I headed back to the hostel to get ready for dinner! I was leaving my room to go to the bathroom and who did I run into? Florian! I actually felt awful because I was afraid he would think I had been trying to escape him earlier (when I really liked talking to him!) We laughed and said, “Hey long time no see!” We were in the hall talking and this girl walked out who spoke English as well. I introduced myself and her name is Bronwyn. She then said she knew Ali and was going to join us for dinner! I felt better since Florian was there and heard how I really was going to dinner! The 3 of us spoke for a bit and then I left to finish getting ready! I met Ali, Bronwyn and Randi for dinner!

Bronwyn is from South Africa and I am still very confused as to why she is here! She was saying she is here to take exams and had been in London for the past year. So it sounds like she goes to a University and is able to travel while she takes exams!? She was saying she picked Beijing because it was cheaper than going home but I know tomorrow she has to study. Everyone else seemed to understand and I didn’t want to seem dumb on our first meeting so if ANYONE understands this please help!

Randi is Ali’s coworker at the magazine internship. She is older than us (40’s it seems) and is from New York. She told me she was a lawyer, so I asked if she had to leave her job to come here. She told me she got laid off (oops!) and said she has always wanted to come to Beijing but would never leave a full time job for it so this seemed like a good time! She wants to be a freelance travel writer which is what her internship is..or is suppose to be. It sounds like she isn’t happy with it because she’s not getting the help and/or exposure she was hoping to get!

So the four of us were off and it was great to have company and be able to talk in English! We decided on a Mexican Restaurant (and by we, I told myself I would eat at whatever the group decided!) It was actually a great place. Ali and Bronwyn know some Chinese, so it was fun to hear them order. It was Taco Tuesday, so we decided to get 6 beef tacos and 3 chicken tacos and split it between the 4 of us (so we could also get dessert..I like these people!) We had a really nice dinner AND crepes for dessert. Everyone is sweet and the conversation was nice as well!

When it came time to pay Bronwyn asked a worker walking by (in Chinese) for the bill. He looked at her and said, “Does my face look Chinese!?!” We all laughed (he looked like he was from South America..) He told us he was from Cuba so we spoke English with him and then he understood.

After dinner we walked around a little bit and ended up at the Bookstore! It’s really cute and I was able to get my ticket for the Murder Mystery thing on Friday night. We also found a magazine that said on Saturday night there were discounted tickets and a Halloween thing at an amusement park! I told Ali we should definitely go to this, so that’s the plan for Saturday night! I looked up Happy Valley Amusement Park online and it is legit! It’s like Disney World, the place is HUGE! My guess is it is going to be VERY crowded, but I am excited!

Hugs and kisses from a Mexican Restaurant with friends!