"Everyone stand up, push in your chairs, and line up!" Then I said for my own benefit, "We are going on a mini-field trip."
We walked out of the classroom, and down the hall about 20 feet to the reception desk. I pointed out a medium-sized, yellow box on top of the desk. (This past month, Yew Wah had been asking for donations of clothing and school supplies to hand out to the students in a poorer village of Qufu. A small group of Yew Wah high school students and teachers were to travel there soon to spend time at the school and interact with the students and teachers there.)
In the few minutes that remained, my co-teacher and I gave a quick, bilingual mini-lesson about our partner school in Qufu, and what the donation box meant. We explained that they could show compassion by choosing some items to donate to the students of the Qufu school. I looked at the students' faces when we finished, hoping to see some sort of understanding.
Still blank looks.
I finished that day feeling disheartened, and slightly concerned about these future policy-makers, businessmen, and leaders. Yes, there was still time for them to learn, but would they?
My question was soon answered. On Wednesday, then Thursday, and even on Friday, our students brought stuffed animals, clothing, pencils, books, and other donations for the students in Qufu. It really came as a surprise after that cricket-producing lesson on Tuesday. My heart was very much warmed. Yes, there still was plenty of time.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
It Came as a Surprise
One thing about Yew Wah that sets it apart from many other schools in China is that it has a Character Education program. Each month is labeled with one particular character trait (e.g. honesty, charity). The students' homeroom teachers take one lesson each week and devote it to teaching about the monthly trait. This month of December, the character trait is "compassion."
The last week before the holiday, the Grade 1B homeroom teacher, my co-teacher and I each taught a part of the lesson on compassion. When it came for our turn, my co-teacher and I shared pictures of people showing compassion towards one another. To clarify, we acted some of the pictures out, and explained others both in Chinese and English. Afterwards, we began a discussion with the question, "What is compassion?" We asked the question in both languages, and explained to students that during this time, they were free to speak in Chinese or English. Two students were eager to share many stories and tell us what they thought about it all. As for the other students? Crickets.
I began a slightly new train of thought, and asked my co-teacher to translate. "Do all students in China have good clothes, good pencils, and nice pencil cases?"
The majority of the class replied, "You [yoh]" (Extended meaning: "[They] do have.")
I was stunned for a moment. They think everyone is like themselves! After taking a deep breath, I recovered my mental footing, and made one last effort.
To be continued in Part 2...
The last week before the holiday, the Grade 1B homeroom teacher, my co-teacher and I each taught a part of the lesson on compassion. When it came for our turn, my co-teacher and I shared pictures of people showing compassion towards one another. To clarify, we acted some of the pictures out, and explained others both in Chinese and English. Afterwards, we began a discussion with the question, "What is compassion?" We asked the question in both languages, and explained to students that during this time, they were free to speak in Chinese or English. Two students were eager to share many stories and tell us what they thought about it all. As for the other students? Crickets.
I began a slightly new train of thought, and asked my co-teacher to translate. "Do all students in China have good clothes, good pencils, and nice pencil cases?"
The majority of the class replied, "You [yoh]" (Extended meaning: "[They] do have.")
I was stunned for a moment. They think everyone is like themselves! After taking a deep breath, I recovered my mental footing, and made one last effort.
To be continued in Part 2...
"...a Chinese man?"
One of the lessons I consistently strive to impress upon my students is that "Everyone is different." To extend this theme, I try to choose pictures of people from all over the world when a lesson presentation requires a picture of a person. One such day I chose a picture of a woman who had black hair and blue eyes. This photo must have been especially mysterious to one of my students, for during the last English lesson of the day, she interrupted her small reading group to ask about the woman.
"Why she has black hair and blue eyes?"
Alright! I though. Another teachable moment! "Every one is different, right?"
"But Teacher..."
"My mom has red hair and green eyes! And my brother has red hair and..."
"Ohhh, she use the..." she stopped to fill in the blank by miming someone dying her hair.
"No, my mom has always had red hair."
She looked quizzical. "Oh."
I continued, "And my dad has black hair and blue eyes!"
Her face lit up with understanding. "OHH! Because he's a Chinese man!"
"Why she has black hair and blue eyes?"
Alright! I though. Another teachable moment! "Every one is different, right?"
"But Teacher..."
"My mom has red hair and green eyes! And my brother has red hair and..."
"Ohhh, she use the..." she stopped to fill in the blank by miming someone dying her hair.
"No, my mom has always had red hair."
She looked quizzical. "Oh."
I continued, "And my dad has black hair and blue eyes!"
Her face lit up with understanding. "OHH! Because he's a Chinese man!"
Saturday, December 15, 2012
White Elephant Gift Exchange
We are off for vacation!
Our Christmas break is from Sat Dec 15th - Wed Jan 2nd. After that, we have school for about 28 days, and then we have the ENTIRE month of February off! We are looking forward to doing nothing as much as possible.
Last night we had a small Christmas party, with drinks, dessert, and snacks. We invited all of the teachers who were still in town (some had left ASAP Friday afternoon). What was really cool is that we got to explain how a White Elephant Gift Exchange works to a couple of teachers from the Philippines, Britain, Korea, and China. I mean, how often do you find someone who has not heard of the game?
Anyway, we set a limit of 50RMB (~$9), and set to exchanging. I got #1. I looked at the pile of gifts, and I spied a small box with neat handwriting on it which said "Please Read Description." Now, I like small boxes because they usually are very funny, unassuming, and worth it, despite being small.
As I looked at this box, once I unwrapped it, I struggled to find out what it was. I shall now transcribe the story which was written on the box.
"In the 15th century, the Welsh country in the United Kingdom, there were a childhood sweetheart. The Boy grew up to be a heroic knight, following the King around the campaign, never to return. The girl was all day singing "You are my max," waiting for the boy's return. Since then, "her max" has become synonymous with the best boyfriend and spread so far ...
Can you guess what the item is?
Anyone?
That's right! HerMax brand condoms! Buy HerMax, a brand dating back to 15th Century Wales, become the best boyfriend, and die is some pointless English crusade! Only 50RMB!
Saturday, December 1, 2012
My Monkey Hat
It is amazing what a sock monkey hat can do.
Huh?
Yes, you read that correctly. A sock monkey hat.
I espied the hat in question at our local, crumbling mall called DeSheng. Of course, there are newer, fancier malls right down the same street as DeSheng, but DeSheng has its own funky flavor, which I enjoy. It is a 3-story yellow building, perhaps built in the 80s or early 90s, and designed to look like an old (Roman? European?) structure. It is complete with a mismash of stone elephant and Roman deity sculptures, and tall columns that rise to the Parthenon-like facade. Inside DeSheng, you can find practically anything in the old, dingy shops, and can try to barter the price down (unlike at the local supermarket).
Now that winter has arrived, many of the shops have rotated their stock to winter gear: hats, scarves, gloves, face masks, and other peculiar yet logical winter gear only to be found in China. In the children's section of one such shop, amongst many other cute and playful things, I found my sock monkey hat. After pretending not to be so interested in the hat, taking another tour 'round DeSheng, and returning to barter with the shop owner, I proudly took that hat home with me.
Prior to wearing the hat, I was stared at constantly because I am a foreigner. Children on the street, in the supermarket, and in the elevator either were shy and scared, or bubbly and curious. More times than not, they were shy and scared in seeing someone different.
Now, the times that I wear my sock monkey hat, these reactions have changed. Yes, I am still stared at, but now it is with a smile and friendly amusement; additionally, people will talk about the hat rather than just the fact that I am a foreigner. Children who used to shy away in fright are now curious about this strange person wearing a funny hat, and they have ceased to shrink behind their mothers, fathers, or grandparents.
I much prefer to be stared at with a smile. I think that my new hat is working out well for me!
Huh?
Yes, you read that correctly. A sock monkey hat.
I espied the hat in question at our local, crumbling mall called DeSheng. Of course, there are newer, fancier malls right down the same street as DeSheng, but DeSheng has its own funky flavor, which I enjoy. It is a 3-story yellow building, perhaps built in the 80s or early 90s, and designed to look like an old (Roman? European?) structure. It is complete with a mismash of stone elephant and Roman deity sculptures, and tall columns that rise to the Parthenon-like facade. Inside DeSheng, you can find practically anything in the old, dingy shops, and can try to barter the price down (unlike at the local supermarket).
Now that winter has arrived, many of the shops have rotated their stock to winter gear: hats, scarves, gloves, face masks, and other peculiar yet logical winter gear only to be found in China. In the children's section of one such shop, amongst many other cute and playful things, I found my sock monkey hat. After pretending not to be so interested in the hat, taking another tour 'round DeSheng, and returning to barter with the shop owner, I proudly took that hat home with me.
Prior to wearing the hat, I was stared at constantly because I am a foreigner. Children on the street, in the supermarket, and in the elevator either were shy and scared, or bubbly and curious. More times than not, they were shy and scared in seeing someone different.
Now, the times that I wear my sock monkey hat, these reactions have changed. Yes, I am still stared at, but now it is with a smile and friendly amusement; additionally, people will talk about the hat rather than just the fact that I am a foreigner. Children who used to shy away in fright are now curious about this strange person wearing a funny hat, and they have ceased to shrink behind their mothers, fathers, or grandparents.
China--go big or go home!
(Regular-sized bottle of Tsingtao beer, squash, and a honey pomelo)
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