Alright so it's been nearly two months since I've arrived in China. How time flies - it's truly amazing.
February was a month of firsts:
- Flying over international waters and getting my passport stamped for REAL (Cancun Mexico is not "real" traveling. sorry.)
- Being in a country where I actually can't figure out the language
- Being in a country with a 12 hour difference with home
- Jet Lag
- Eating certain animal body parts that aren't ever on a Canadian menu
- KTV (chinglish for Karaoke)
- Using Chinese banks and ATMs, using Chinese money and convincing myself that it's NOT monopoly play money
- Chinese transportation systems
- Working for a mostly Chinese company
- Teaching, in general
- Teaching within the Chinese School System - and in a Chinese school
- Shopping, bargaining in Chinese
- Being long away from loved ones
- Blogging!
I can't say that life here has had too many surprises. I don't know if it was the large amount of research that I did beforehand, or maybe it's just my general carefree attitude that has made the experience easier than anticipated. And to be honest, I don't know if that is a good or bad thing. One of the reasons for coming to China was to expose myself to a different world - its customs, foods, people, habits, etc.
I blame Toronto for warming me up to the experience (i.e.: china town!), and for the media in north America for creating a skewed image of this country that I thought was going to be more "shocking". Of course, this makes me blame myself for being yet another Westerner who thought she could run off to this developing country and have it fascinate her with its crazy foods and crazier people. So far the disappointment lies in the fact that China has proven itself much more similar to Canada than anticipated.
Of course, I am in Shanghai and as a cosmopolitan city; it may not be as provincial in terms of reflecting the same virtues, attitudes, and interests as the rest of China. Hm. I must get out of this city soon and explore the rest of China!
Anyways, let’s get into the teaching as so many have been asking me about it.
Please check out this website: http://www.middlekingdomlife.com/guide/chinese-education-system-students-english-teacher.htm. If offers a great overview of the Chinese school and education system.
I teach primary kids, some as young as 5 and have found that I need to be as entertaining as educational in my classes to keep their attention – which in turn can be very tiring. Conversely, as the only foreign “oral” teacher here I have more freedom in what I can teach – as long as I can stick to broad themes I am good to go. I teach them vocabulary and useful lingo they can use in their daily lives, with a focus on speaking and listening. There is nothing better than a student being able to practice their English in front of family as a great motivation to learn English.
Anyhow, Discipline has not been a MAJOR issue yet so I’m glad I haven’t had to take out my stink eye. I work on a points system which usually keeps them in tow, or least gets them quiet when I need to bring back some focus to the main subject when they find something too exciting. That and stickers are worth their weight in gold ;-)
School life is also simmered down, although the students are definitely more comfortable around me and go through everything on my desk and board. I’ve had to start locking the doors during class time because the odd student will try and come in to say hello in the middle of a class, which I do not appreciate at all. There is nothing like having a whole class lose focus when someone barges into a class. It’s also frustrating more so because they would NEVER do this to one of their Chinese teachers so I try and demand the same respect from them as I would if I were a Chinese teacher, although I don’t reprimand if they give me a wrong answer. It’s a difficult balance.
My co-workers at school are incredibly friendly and constantly ask me out which I’ve come to accept only half the time (I’m a strong believer in keeping my work life separate from my social life) and they always try and show me a good time which I appreciate. I do love having a life outside school though and try and socialize with the other English teachers as much as I can, in which case I am out in Shanghai enjoying the big city life there.
The weather has warmed up considerably since I arrived (it has been the wettest spring here in many many years, or so I’ve been told) and ideas of travelling are popping up left and right in my mind. I’m finding it harder and harder to stay in for more than a few hours and the pressure of being in this new country sends me out to explore whenever I have a moment. I’ve always been a person who has tried to do the most with her time but I feel as though it is slowly developing into a neurosis and I often feel guilty if I don’t do enough with my free time. This is something that I need to relax on and force myself to enjoy the quiet moments here in China.
Well, it looks like it’s time for me to log off. More on this later.
xx
