TGIF!

TGIF! I woke up a half hour earlier today because I needed to get a new phone card (I fly through those things!) I had yet to get the correct one on my own so I gave myself a little extra time. No problems though and now I have more minutes on my phone!
Helena and I were at the school a bit earlier again today because we weren’t stuck in any traffic. We had trouble getting in though. The gate was locked and my happy man was nowhere to be found. Finally, he arrived and we were off!

I gave Michael the books I had bought for the school and the teachers seemed to enjoy them and they were practicing before class! It was funny. I also brought in my perfume which everyone tried and I gave them a small bottle of Bath & Body antibacterial hand lotion, which they loved as well and kept smelling their hands!

Sophia brought me to grade 6 and asked what I wanted to teach. Part of me wished there was some consistency..sometimes they want me to do whatever and other times they hand me the book and say teach this! If I knew ahead of time I would have put in more effort to plan something. Alas, I am learning to go with the flow. I told her I brought my flashcards so we could use those. She seemed to like that idea and wanted to do the “random” flashcards. Socks, shoes, pants, scissors, bag, telephone, umbrella and cup. So off I went!

I now feel like a real teacher because I am teaching them new things! Before Wednesday (their midterm) everything was review so I was helping them. But now everything is new so I am a teacher! Or I attempt to be one! I have mastered the art of appearing to look like I know what I am doing.

The first class (grade 6) went fine, but I think grade 5 was the best because I had my plan down (I did the same in both classes)!

Sophia wanted me to ask them questions so I went to town on the blackboard. I first wrote questions like, “What is this?” and “Do you know what this is?” I asked and they would repeat until they figured out they needed to answer. Then I wrote the word on the board. We did this until they learned the words. Although, I realized quickly I had a problem. I taught them to answer by saying “This is a ____”. But then realized I was in trouble when I would say “What are these?” And they would answer, “This is a shoes”. So I made two columns on the board. One column was titled This is a and had bag, telephone, umbrella and cup. The second column was titled These are and had socks, shoes, pants and scissors. I tried to explain that words that ended in s needed to have “These are” before it. I am not positive they understood but I think it helped when they would look at the column to see how to answer.

Then I wrote on the board “How do you spell it?” We went through and spelled all the words. After, I wrote “What color is it?” And most things were multi colored so we did that too! Honestly, I don’t want to brag but I felt proud that I was teaching new words, spelling them AND doing colors! A much needed improvement from my first day of..“You want me to TEACH!?”

I then passed out the flashcards to the small groups and wrote “Who has the ____?” and taught them to answer, “I have the ____”. So then we did practice with small groups. I would say “Who has the cup?” And if their group had the cup they would answer, “I have the cup”. I would then ask them “How do you spell it?” and they would answer and then “What color is it?” and they would answer. I was so happy to finally be doing some dialogue! After I would switch it up so they really had to know which question I was asking. I really enjoyed it!

We had lunch, (no potatoes) and all ate outside since the teacher’s room is SO cold! The headmaster was asking Michael about us and in turn he would ask us how exactly we got to China, who we paid, etc. He asked if it was easy to get into China and I told him how the visa was the most expensive out of all of the 4 countries for me. Helena said how she only had to pay 25 euro but heard it was more expensive for Americans. I was surprised (I had no idea about this) and Michael was telling the headmaster and she responded with, “Well maybe it is because Americans have so much money.” I laughed and said, “Well not all of us.” But it really made me think. I really believe they think we have money to do ANYTHING. Now don’t get me wrong, I know I am much more fortunate than MANY people in this world, especially the people at the school. And the headmaster did not say or mean it in a mean way at ALL, but I really wanted to tell them that not everyone in America is a millionaire. It was very insightful into how they view Americans.

Now this also got me thinking about what happened yesterday. I saw Michael and told him how I loved it at the school and my family and church wanted to give the school (students and teachers) something since everyone has been so good to me. He thanked me a million times and spoke to the other teachers and headmaster and I followed (we were all outside). So then he said to me, “The headmaster wants to thank you so much..we would like a computer and projector!” I was like, “EXCUSE ME?” ok not really but I was like “OK a computer?” Michael said “Yes, remember when I asked you if you know PowerPoint?” (Which he did the first day) and he said “We would love a computer and a projector to be able to show the students…” (something about writing I am not sure) so I was like ok a computer and projector. I wanted to say listen just because I am from America doesn’t mean I can afford a computer and projector! But then it was time for class.

So I went to class feeling weird about the whole thing. I just felt like they are the school for poor children but they want a computer and projector? I don’t know what I was expecting, I guess more like paper and books and pens etc. But I looked around during class and every student had a backpack and pens/pencils and erasers in their pencil box.

At lunch Michael came up to me and asked“I wanted to ask you about the gift, there are different types and I didn’t know what you meant, maybe a computer/projecter is too big?” So I told him, “Well I don’t know about both but I will look into it..could you use any books or pens or paper, etc?” He looked confused..so I said “Or what you really think would be best is a computer?” He said “Yes!”

To be completely honest, I left the school feeling very..offended I think. I am a bit embarrassed to write this (but I am doing my best to be honest) I almost felt taken advantage of and used. Now I KNOW that I am SO blessed for all I have, please don’t get me wrong. But at the same time, I don’t go out buying computers like I do a gallon of milk. I just felt like they didn’t get it, they didn’t get that buying a laptop is a big deal for us too!

But, the more I have been thinking about it, I think I am just tired of the way Chinese look at me (in general). I am tired of being looked at, I am tired of being watched all the time, and I am tired of being “American” if that makes any sense. (I love being American though!) I am tired of always having to be “on”, of always having all eyes on me, of always having people trying to make me buy things. I am tired of people thinking that because I am from the US I have all this money to spend. I am tired of never being able to relax, never being able to blend in with the crowd. Ah! I feel much better now.

BUT, with all that being said, I don’t think the teachers are being greedy at ALL! They are the MOST kind people I have ever met (always sharing their food, making sure I am fed first and have a place to sit and don’t have to put my bag on the floor the list goes on and on…) And I don’t think I need to try to explain it to Michael..I think I just almost felt “attacked” if that makes any sense because I’m from the U.S. (I don’t feel like Helena is treated the same) So, in conclusion I know they meant NOTHING by it and really just don’t understand the whole situation. I think I am taking it WAY too personally and just sort of..in a way..fed up with the culture.

Enough about that..so I guess they didn’t need us in the afternoon today (I am confused as to when they have English classes..) so we were free to go! I enjoyed spending the afternoon uploading my pictures (which took forever!)

The original plan for tonight was to go to the Olympic Park to take pictures with Callum and Helena. But we decided not to because the smog is SO bad (disgusting really..) you couldn’t even see two buildings in front of you. So I think we will try again Sunday night!

I had read about a restaurant called The Tree that was supposed to have really good pizza..but was hard to find. Callum and I looked last night but to no avail. I did spend some time today looking at maps etc. to try and find this place and I was on a mission tonight! And we found it! Callum will tell you he found it..but really I did! It was down a VERY sketchy area (we had to explain to Helena what sketchy meant) I don’t think they use that word in Spain. But anyway it was definitely a place for expats but had great pizza!

We had a great dinner, but it amazes me that sometimes I am as confused with them as I am with people who are speaking to me in Chinese. Helena speaks English, but sometimes will pronounce words different, so that I finally understand what she is saying when she spells it out. Other times, she will say something that does make sense, but uses an expression we would never use in the U.S. Callum will also use words I have never heard of and I will have to ask him to repeat it. It just makes me laugh that I could be so confused with people who speak English! We had a great dinner and a great night!

Hugs and kisses from a smog filled China!