A seat on line 10!

I was able to “sleep-in” today, if you can call it that. While I am happy with where I am staying, it is very loud! There are always people yelling and there is always banging and hammering and doors slamming etc.


My original plan was to wake up around 10:00 and get my errands done. However, I realized this was the time all my friends were online, so it was a GREAT time to catch up with everyone. I figured I could do my errands in the evening, when everyone back home was sleeping! So I spent most of the morning lounging around and catching up with friends. It was much needed!



I wasn’t quite sure what time I needed to be at the school. Sabrina originally told me 1:20 was when the class started. But then I asked Amy and she said class at 2:00 but I should get there at 1:30? So my plan was to get there at 1:30. I took my iPod for the first time which was nice because my ears were hearing English! It also passed the time and meant that I now know the route and can do it without thinking!



My happy Chinese man greeted me again. He really is always so happy. I STILL didn’t know what to put in his mystery column but realized I needed to put the date in the next column! By the end of my trip I am going to know what he wants in every column!



I had no idea who I was going to be teaching with, but was quickly stopped by the headmaster (who continues to speak to me in Chinese even though it’s very clear I have NO clue what she is saying!)



She introduced me to someone (I didn’t even a chance to catch her name..) and she took me off to grade 2! I THINK it actually starts at 1:30 so I was RIGHT on time, but now that I know I will be early next time. Again, without any preparation, I was placed in front of the class and told to teach! They were learning sights around Beijing (The Great Wall, Forbidden City, etc.) which was somewhat exciting! But again, since they only know the vocabulary, I didn’t know what to do! I tried asking them, “Have you ever been to ___?” But they would just repeat my question until the teacher explained that they needed to answer the question. I was trying to think of interactive things, but they don’t know enough to have conversations with one another (I tried). So then I did, stand up if you’ve been to ­____. For my first class I also tried out my first book! We did colors (which they seemed to like) and it was SO helpful with the pictures. I also did, stand up if you are wearing ___ and then would ask them individually, “What color are you wearing?” I thought this was the best way to get them some practice individually. Then we went on to the second class, (still second grade) and I asked the teacher what she wanted to me to teach. She thought more of the sights in Beijing because they forget quickly. I didn’t mind doing that, but just didn’t know how to fill a class when their level of spoken English is so poor. I managed to get through the class again and was off!



While I was waiting at the bus stop I saw a man, his pregnant wife? and another woman looking at me. Finally the man came over and started talking to me. I felt awful because I couldn’t communicate with him. I told him I didn’t speak Mandarin and then tried to explain I was teaching English at the school. These are the times I REALLY wish I was able to speak their language. I would have loved to talk with him and learn about his life, but I wasn’t able to.



The trip back was mostly uneventful expect for MY SEAT ON LINE 10! Yay! I guess the key is to get on around 4ish and that seemed to be a down time. Also, sit in the last car! I was VERY excited to finally be able to enjoy line 10!



I am having a lot of trouble with my phone. After I was able to buy more minutes, I couldn’t get the phone to charge! I asked at the school today and they couldn’t figure it out. I asked at the hostel, they couldn’t figure it out. I went to the Holiday Inn which is right down the street. I had been in before to look at their map and the bellman was very nice, spoke some English and gave me a handheld map to have! I asked the woman at the front desk if she spoke English and she said a little so I tried to explain my problem. She looked at it and then the bellman (I THINK the same one) came over and tried it. I think he said it was broken, so I asked where I could buy a new one. I couldn’t quite understand what he was saying but next thing I knew he was taking me out to the street to a little kiosk! I think he asked the woman, but they didn’t have any! Have I mentioned how nice people are here?



I went to the bank and then decided I was going to try The Den for dinner! It was a pretty typical Bar and Restaurant and the wait staff spoke some English and I heard a lot of English. I got a tuna sandwich which was DELICIOUS and it was huge! A lot of people were smoking so I didn’t like that. I then went to the grocery store, the one down the street that’s a little bit further away but I think it’s cheaper. I bought new cereal (the kind I have now is very plain..), milk and laundry detergent! I had picked up a bottle (it took me a while to make sure I had detergent and not dishwasher soap or fabric softener) but a worker came over and said something and then pointed to something else. I had NO idea what she was saying (this happens a lot but people continue to talk to me in Chinese!) but then finally I THINK I understood. She was telling me I had picked up a bottle of “B” and she was giving me an “A”. I’m assuming it’s the grade of detergent? I then looked to see if it was a rip off because the A bottle was bigger but I think it was proportionally priced! My night ended with a shower and some sleep!



Hugs and kisses from a seat on line 10!