I'm A Teacher!（我是一个老师）

Okay, I haven't posted as much because I was able to call my mother on Skype three days in a row last week and that satisfied my need for contact with the outside world. Now it's been another three days since my mother has answered her phone (Yes, I can take a hint) so I guess it's time to start posting again.

I've been teaching a lot these past few weeks. As previously stated, I teach English language classes to individuals of varying ages and varying degrees of language proficiency. The youngest student is 7 years old and speaks better English than I do Chinese. The oldest is a woman who has a 30-year-old son. The latter's vocabulary is extensive, to say the least. She uses terms like "geothermal" and "subterranean heat". However her pronunciation leaves a lot to be desired. If she could communicate in English by writing and never opening her mouth she would be nearly unstoppable.

For most of my classes there are books that are provided by the school and we are asked to follow the "scripts" so to speak with only minor deviations for short activities a.k.a games. In addition there is usually a Chinese speaking English teacher that accompanies me in the classroom to serve as a translator when necessary. The only real purpose I serve in those types of classes is to have an American accent for the students to imitate. In addition I'm here to clarify when there's a tricky word that the students and other teachers are having a problem pronouncing.

Things will be a little different for the next two weeks as I have been asked to teach what's called Winter Intensive Spoken English courses for both Higher Level and Lower Level students. This is the time when I'm able to actually use some of the techniques that I learned in the Canadian Institute of English's TESOL class. I love music so I'm concentrating a lot on using that element in my teaching and so far that's been a hit with the students. Today we played Musical Bingo and sang a song. I'm ashamed to say the song was taken from Disney's "The High School Musical". Oh well.

Linyi is not a materially poor city. Many people have a lot of money, drive nice fancy cars, and shop for expensive toys and gadgets. In fact, when speaking to some of my students and colleagues about the economic downturn in the States they said that they weren't seeing any of that here in Linyi. I don't see it either. What I do see though are people looking for happiness. I gathered this from what one of my students said in my Do It Yourself (DIY) Class.

The DIY class is self-explanatory. I have a class of 3-4 adult students whose English language skills are exceptional. There's no Chinese-speaking teacher, there's no script. I have to do everything myself. Basically they, the students, pay money to come and speak to a native English speaker for an hour a week about any topic of their or my choosing.

Earlier this week in the DIY class we watched a YouTube movie called "Validation". We talked about the benefits of optimism and positivity. One student commented on how hard it is to be optimistic and positive and that happiness has eluded her despite her success in life. Another student unexpectedly said that she wants to imitate the good people that I’m MOST familiar with and that she delights in conversation about these types of people. Dude, are you kidding me? :-) I was wondering before how to get topics for this class but now I know from where exactly I can take them.

I feel like my job is satisfying and I can help people as much as my Boss will allow me. In fact, I’m happy I have this job and am able to listen to my students. I'm learning so much. Isn't that what I came here for anyways? To teach and to learn. Lots of work to do and I’m loving it.

我有很多工作要做!

Day to Day Living

I am beginning to work myself into a bit of a routine. I finally have a steady work and study schedule neither of which have been fully implemented yet.

Almost every day I walk 15 minutes to my school. The walk to work is always either entertaining or frustrating. It all depends on my mood that morning. I'll explain why.

Linyi and it's surrounding counties boasts a population of 10,000,000 people. At last count there are 50 foreigners living in Linyi. Of those 50 foreigners I believe I am the only Black person. Now I did meet a young woman from South Africa my first night here but she could easily "pass" as she was of some sort of mixed descent so I'm not counting her.

I have caused near accidents simply by walkng down the street. People stop and stare. Drivers oogle and smile. Bike riders too nearly run into pedestrians or cars trying to get a glimpse at me. I am so different and don't look like anything that has been seen by many of the residents in real life. This is so shocking to me, a girl who hails from from Miami where EVERYBODY looks different and diversity is so prevalent.

In many ways I am alone here but I still don't feel lonely. Maybe because it's been such a short time or maybe because I make sure to call my mother often or maybe it's because I try to keep up a constant schedule of feeding my mind with important things that remind me of my family, my love for them and their love for me. Maybe it's a combination of all things.

Though not always at the same time every day I do get in all of my studying and I am learning quite a bit. In fact, this morning I got in some studying and realized that I can't wait until I meet some of my friends so that I can share with them all that I've learned. I have a fire in my belly and it's not "la duzi". ;-) I can't wait until I can get to work!

My Apartment

I am living in a modern apartment building. Here are some specs:
My apartment is shared with two other co-workers; both are the managers at the English language school. One is the Chinese manager and the other is the English manager. The English manager hails from Ireland and the Chinese manager is from Xi’an in Shaanxi province. We have separate bedrooms but share the bathroom and shower room.
The apartment bathroom has a Western toilet but we still have to put the used toilet paper in a basket rather than flush it down the toilet. The bathroom has a smell to it that I don’t think words can accurately describe but my roommates attribute it to a broken pipe that the building manager will have to fix.
The kitchen doesn’t have a fridge, oven, or a range but there is an induction stove that the managers purchased prior to my arrival. I don’t know what to do with it and I haven’t observed them using it so I’ll continue to eat out everyday until I can figure it out.
The living room has a fridge, TV, DVD player and a couch. The first day I sat on the couch and watched a movie but I haven’t been back since. My room is much warmer and I’m bootlegging someone’s Internet connection in my bedroom so I haven’t really felt a need to go out there.
The shower room is a room with a shower in it. It’s a huge room and could probably fit a small family of four if need be. This is my second favorite room because there is hot water here. When temperatures outside are in the teen’s it’s nice to be able to come home and take a hot shower pile on layers of clothing and then lie down on top of the electric blanket in front of the oscillating space heater.
My bedroom is next to the laundry room. It’s a room with a view. Since I live on the 25th floor I have a nearly unobstructed view of the entire city of Linyi (that is, when the pollution clouds aren’t too thick). At night the view is really very pretty. The city is obviously not concerned with their electric bill because the entire city gets lit it. Perhaps there are more lights now due to the nearing of China’s Spring Festival. Whatever the case, everything is lit up and it’s quite a sight to see from my bedroom every night.

Beijing Pictures

I was only there a few hours and my camera batteries died on me so pictures are sparse but I'll post what I have.

1st Picture - On the train from Beijing to Linyi I had a little Chinese instructor. Her mother also schooled me on local etiquette and the importance of finding a Chinese husband.

2nd Picture - My aiyi, Li's aunt, and her daughter opened their home to me for a few hours. Took me shopping, fed me, and got me on the Linyi bound train.

3rd and 4th Picture - Buildings in Beijing I was able to snap pictures of before my camera batteries died.

Note: So far, China really is a beautiful country.

Roughing It

It's been an eventful few days. I arrived in Beijing at 5:30 a.m. local time Thursday morning and took a taxi from Beijing's beautiful airport to my Aiyi's house. The taxi ride was great and the taxi driver's first words to me after learning where I was from were "Obama!". Hmm...

During the taxi ride the driver served as my personal guide to Beijing. Since it was so early in the morning the streets were bare and traffic wasn't that heavy which made it pretty ideal for site seeing. Since starting Pimsleur about a year and a half ago I have been looking near and far for Chang An Jie (Long Peace Street). Guess what? I found it not to mention Tiananmen Square.

I arrived at Aiyi's house and she fed me and fed me and fed me and fed me. We talked. She knows no English and I barely know Chinese. Then she took me shopping for a coat at a pretty nice mall. I got a 90% down knee length coat for 530 Yuan (about $80 US). We were in a mall but she was still able to bargain. I think I messed her up though by proclaiming that I found more money in my pocket and so could afford the much higher price. Oh well.

Later, after dinner, she took me by taxi to the train station to catch the Linyi bound train that departed at 11:34 PM. Aiyi got me safely on the train and found me people that were heading to the same city and told them to watch out for me. They really did that helping me with my luggage and telling me how to maneuver through the crowds and where and when to show my ticket. They were all so helpful. I read a little on the train but mostly slept.

Anyway, the train took me to Linyi and I arrived 10:30 am. the next morning. My manager and a co-worker were at the train station to meet me and show me to the apartment which is really nice and spacious but lacks one very important and much needed feature - HEAT! It's freezing in this joint. In fact, it's often colder IN the apartment than it is OUT. Nevertheless I love it. :-)

I have been observing classes that my manager has been teaching and will be teaching my first English language class tomorrow...

I think Fridays will be my personal days to reflect on why I'm here and to make sure I can continue to find the motivation to keep me here...

Pictures are forthcoming...

Rundown

This morning I found myself in a fetal position rocking back

and forth quietly in a corner of my room. I think I was beginning to suffer from a minor breakdown. There was so much to do and I feel so ill prepared. I think I was doing too much by myself and wasn't humble enough to ask for help until the last minute. Well I got the help anyway so good. I'm well recovered....

The flight was disappointing and by disappointing I mean that I didn't do what I know I ought to have done because I was so tired and sleepy. I sat next to an interesting woman who seemed to be a female Indiana Jones. She told me where to buy a down coat in LA which I still haven't bought. Anyways, I regret not taking an initiative to talk to her about more substantial things.

This is where I am and where I plan to be: It's 5:20PM PT and I'm sitting at LAX airport waiting on the Air China ticket counter to open. so I have exactly 4 hours and 10 minutes to sit here and idle or finish up some last minute business before I can get rid of my checked luggage. It will be another 3 hours before the plane actually leaves. I won't be in Beijing until January 8th 5: 30 AM China time.

Then there will be the ride to my Aiyi's house in the taxi where I will get to practice my pointing and gesturing skills (I have notes) and then a ten hour staring contest with my Aiyi whom I've never met but who is obviously a very hospitable woman. After that it's back to Beijing airport to take a train that departs at 10:25 PM bound for Linyi, Shandong province. I should be there, barring any delays, by 9:45 AM January 9th. This is going to be so interesting...

Trevor, Tyler, and Olivia I miss you already. Because "I feel like I like" you all and you like me. ;-)

All My Problems Were Solved in Two Days :-)

Last week this time I was anxious. This week I'm awed by how well things have turned out. I know I got a lot of help.

Problems:
Leaving for China in less than two weeks and this was the situation:
1) No Visa
2) No renter for my house
3) No buyer for my car.

Resolutions:
In a matter of two days I
(1) Received my Visa
(2) Got a renter for the house (for a year!)
(3) Arranged for someone to take over the car payments.

You got to love Him!

I'm just about outta here...