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Published: November 15th 2006
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After a slight snafu, I am pleased to be writing once again. I believe it has been over 2 weeks since my last entry, and for that I apologize. Living abroad is always a test of patience and flexibility; I have had to practice utilizing both in the past couple of weeks.
When I left off, I had just finished my very first day as a teacher. I am delighted to report that I am still as enthused about my students and this job as I was that first day. It is amazing how much planning and creative thought goes into each lesson that i teach! I am learning to 'read' my students' levels of interest. If they are eager and paying attention, I am a traditional teacher, walking around the room, answering questions and introducing new topics. If they are staring off into space or talking in Chinese to their classmates, I have to do a bit more of a song and dance number to maintain their interest in the task at hand. If I wasn't already, I am now truly perplexed why teachers don't earn more money.
As I'd eluded to in a previous entry, I have
Papa John's Delivery Bikes
My brother could work for Papa John's in Beijing! (And save money on gas). finally made contact with my host family here in Beijing. Last summer while I was interning at OCDF (Our Chinese Daughters Foundation), I lived with a Chinese family. We kept in touch and sent air mail back and forth throughout the past year while I finished up my degrees at the UW. Last weekend, I was invited over to their apartment for dinner. It was absolutely surreal to be walking that familiar path toward their front door once again. It was familiar, but at the same time, completely alien. The neighborhood has changed so much in the past year that I barely recognize it. That is the very core of China today: change. However, the greeting I received upon knocking on that door was very familiar. My host mom was beaming at me through her tears, and the little girl (who is now nearly as tall as me at age 12!) wanted to show me all of the things in her room, which was where I stayed last summer. We had a wonderful meal, and my host mom kept telling me she couldn't believe how much my Chinese had improved. She kept asking how that was possible; I'd been in
America for the past year, after all. It was very flattering. They were also excited to show me their newest addition: a piano! Unfortunately, many of the keys were broken, but I was still cajoled into playing a few lines from a couple of pieces for them. It was a delightful visit, and I hope to see them again soon (and remember to take pictures this time!).
Earlier this week (today is Wednesday, by the way), I was called into my boss's office. Uncertain how I could have possibly committed a fallacy so early in the game, I strode into her office with my head held high and my knees knocking together. Luckily for me, I was about to receive another honor. During my training, I had been selected to take on a corporate client (meaning, I will be traveling to a company in Beijing and teaching English to the executiveS). I was now being given what is called a 'VIP' client. These sessions are one-on-one and quite expensive. The client is a man who has spent 12 years in the United States (12!) but wants to improve his pronunciation to sound like an American. He was also in
the office, and as we were introduced, my boss told him that he was lucky to have me because I am "very beautiful and extremely popular". Wow! I couldn't ask for a better compliment than that! My knees were still shaky, but I recovered my composure enough to shake his hand and set up our first VIP session.
Each week, we have a teachers' meeting to discuss new teaching strategies and any problems or concerns we may have. We were in for quite a surprise this past meeting. We have been told that a new campus will be opening in Wangjing (a district of Beijing about 20 minutes away by cab from where I live now). The branch is set to open in early Januaury and will become the head office of the school, instead of where we are now. The unsettling bit is that about 10 teachers will be needed out in Wangjing to open the school. A new intake of teachers is expected in February, but until then, the responsibility lies with us. We will be taken to look at the new campus and surrounding areas sometime next week, and will have to decide if we want
Calligraphy class
I did this all by myself! It's so much harder than it looks... to stay where we are, or move out there. We are told that the air is fresher, it's more green and the apartments are nicer (how that is possible, I have no idea). Of course, the downside is that some of us may have to move away and our team will be split. if no one volunteers, we will be 'asked' (read: told) to go teach there, but will not have to move. Instead, we would be shuttled from here to Wangjing each day until the new intake of teachers arrive. I am very undecided about this new development. I am intrigued by the thought of fresher air and more greenspace, but there is a large Korean population out there and I am concerned that I wouldn't learn Chinese as well if I'm hearing Korean as well as Chinese in the neighborhoods. There is also not a very convenient subway stop in that area yet (but is rumored to be put in soon). I'll keep you posted as I found out more and make my decision.
Please enjoy my plethora of random pictures. Hopefully, the captions and descriptions will be informative. If not, feel free to email me at
Wen Lei and Me
My bestest friend is here studying in Beijing! merritt.wilsongmail.com.
I look forward to hearing from you.
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