Glad you moved on! Sorry, I am reading your posts backwards, now that my student teaching is done and I have time to read them!
I totally understand about the flakiness of administration and your quitting. Americans who have never been to work in China don't know what it's like... I guess we are used to something different here, especially in California and the Bay Area.
Anyway, it seems like you're much happier now, and I'm so glad.
When we left China, we also felt bad for leaving our students. But it was just too much disrespect for us for too long... And not all of it was the Chinese administration, but the older Americans/English teachers taking advantage of their higher position (and I suppose as older people who had been there longer) - basically taking away the classes we had signed up for while we were away on our paid vacation, and giving us all the crappy ones. It was kind of the straw that broke the camel's back, and it had been a long time coming. Just because we're foreigners with no "connections" does not mean we're slaves, or that we don't need to have a schedule and personal time to ourselves...
I know exactly what you mean about many of the foreign (American/Canadian/British) English teachers being alcoholics, sleazy, or worse! We could tell you some stories...
I'm glad you're learning some Chinese. I wish I had had more time to do that when I was there!
Wonderful photos! I love seeing photos of you two, and the places you're going! We never got to see the Olympic structures, as we were there before they were built. Fabulous!
I read your most recent entry - sounds familiar. There was a black American our school hired without seeing a photo of him, and when he finally arrived, they changed their minds! OMG. You're right, though, it's only a matter of time before you get "old" enough to get hired for that position.
I'm sure the kids are loving you and that you're really good with them. Keep the posts coming! We miss you!
Love,
Colleen
Mow!! Hahaha! This reminds me of Bangalore. There are just so many people that they get used to touching each other while standing in lines. It's rather disconcerting when while standing in line the next person's crotch is perfectly lined up with your butt... oh dear. Yay! You are amazing for adapting to this incredibly different lifestyle. It's not something everyone could do (I certainly couldn't!).
Mow. mow mow mow mow mow. love.
Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt -- marvelous error!—
that a spring was breaking
out in my heart.
I said: Along which secret aqueduct,
Oh water, are you coming to me,
water of a new life
that I have never drunk?
Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt -- marvelous error!—
that I had a beehive
here inside my heart.
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures.
Last night, as I was sleeping,
I dreamt -- marvelous error!—
that a fiery sun was giving
light inside my heart.
It was fiery because I felt
warmth as from a hearth,
and sun because it gave light
and brought tears to my eyes.
Last night, as I slept,
I dreamt -- marvelous error!—
that it was God I had
here inside my heart.
- Antonio Machado
OMG duuude crazy crazy! just caught up on all the happining-on's and duuuuuuuuuude wowzers. well im glad you all are doing well! :D yay for little kids and [better?] pay! santacruz as a whole misses you both much (last night was first rain lolololololololol)
pwnage.
Picture! Yeh I like the picture. Glad everything is going great. Kindegarten sounds fun to teach. You teach them English. They teach you Chinese. It all works out wonderful.
Colleen
non-member comment
Glad you moved on!
Sorry, I am reading your posts backwards, now that my student teaching is done and I have time to read them! I totally understand about the flakiness of administration and your quitting. Americans who have never been to work in China don't know what it's like... I guess we are used to something different here, especially in California and the Bay Area. Anyway, it seems like you're much happier now, and I'm so glad. When we left China, we also felt bad for leaving our students. But it was just too much disrespect for us for too long... And not all of it was the Chinese administration, but the older Americans/English teachers taking advantage of their higher position (and I suppose as older people who had been there longer) - basically taking away the classes we had signed up for while we were away on our paid vacation, and giving us all the crappy ones. It was kind of the straw that broke the camel's back, and it had been a long time coming. Just because we're foreigners with no "connections" does not mean we're slaves, or that we don't need to have a schedule and personal time to ourselves... I know exactly what you mean about many of the foreign (American/Canadian/British) English teachers being alcoholics, sleazy, or worse! We could tell you some stories... I'm glad you're learning some Chinese. I wish I had had more time to do that when I was there!