Advertisement
Published: January 2nd 2007
Edit Blog Post
Piano Lesson
Teaching "Chopsticks" to my host sister, Yuan Yuan Christmas has now come and gone. In some ways, it feels as though it was skipped altogether this year. This was the first Christmas that I was away from home and family. As I've detailed in previous blog entries, Beijing had all the makings for the Christmas season: decorated trees along the streets, lighted reindeer in front of office buildings, Christmas trees in many windows, Santa Claus' face pasted on the doors of many shops and so on. However, no matter how much it looks like Christmas, the reality is that I am 7,000 miles away from family and friends, and no matter how happy my Christmas was, it just wasn't the same.
Before you start to pity me too much, let me also say that I had a very merry Christmas, despite being separated from family by physical distance. I received several Christmas cards from friends around the world, as well as two big packages full of gifts from family at home. The wonders of modern technology made it possible for me to open my gifts with my family, via webcam broadcasting on Christmas Eve (in the USA) and Christmas morning (in China). [I will add that the time
difference between the US and China is 14 hours]. I spent a very enjoyable couple of hours opening presents and chatting with my parents, brother, grandmothers, aunt, uncle and cousins (and McKinley, too!).
On Christmas Eve morning, the entire teaching staff traveled about an hour outside of the city center to the migrant school that our school helps to sponsor. We received an enthusiastic welcome from the nearly 200 kids that attend the school. Their parents are all migrant workers who come to Beijing looking for work from (usually) poor, rural areas. One of the most precious documents that any city resident will have in their possession is their permit to live in the city. As a result of the huge population in China, competition is fierce to obtain one of these permits, and they are usually passed down from generation to generation. Because the migrant parents have no official documentation that allows them to live in Bejing, their children are not allowed to attend the public schools. Therefore, schools are formed on the outskirts of the city, where the migrant famlies live, to enable the children to receive an education. However, many of these schools lack the funding
Piano Lesson 3
In my host family's apartment, with their piano and my host sister, Yuan Yuan for even things as simple as doors or windows. Our migrant school was in a similar situation until as recently as October, when the charity drive sponsored by the school I work for raised the money to provide the migrant kids with doors and windows for their school.
I digress. Our latest project was to put together 200 shoeboxes full of school supplies and other necessities, such as toothpaste or long underwear, for the kids. We brought the shoeboxes out to the school on Christmas Eve to give to the kids in celebration of the holiday. We had also prepared a musical presentation to give them upon our arrival. As I've mentioned previously, I was put in charge of directing this presentation, and I think it went very well. Our quartet sang one carol for the kids, and then we all sang two carols together as a large group ensemble. I should mention that in addition to the teaching team, many of our Chinese students came along with us as well. Charity is still somewhat unheard of in China; it's interesting to me that in a culture that is so centered around community, giving selflessly to others is still
Migrant schoolchildren
Our welcoming committe at the migrant school on Christmas Eve so rare. Perhaps that thought should be understood as a culture that is centered around one's immediate community, like one's family or friends.
On Christmas Eve night, the teaching team was treated to a fabulous Western dinner at a restaurant called "Steak and Eggs". There was a set menu of a choice of steak, ham, turkey or salmon and sides of vegetables, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy and then a dessert of apple, pumpkin or chocolate mocha pie. Of course, my preference for vegetarian set off a flurry of confusion and chaos, per usual, but in the end, I enjoyed a bowl of cream of broccoli soup instead of meat. It was delicious.
As Christmas is not a recognized holiday in China, I had to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Many of the teachers were perturbed about this fact, as we were the only English center in the entire city that was working on Christmas (or so it seemed), but it was stated clearly in our contracts that we would be working on that day, so we begrudgingly went to work. It ended up being a nice day; our boss even treated us to freshly baked
Migrant School Xmas Eve
Chorus ... love the Santa hats! brownies and imported cheese and crackers.
Despite all of the festivities and the thoughtful cards and gifts I received, spending Christmas in China was difficult. Although I know the city well, speak Chinese and feel in my heart that I fit in, when I walk down the street, I will always stand out. My golden blonde hair and pale complexion screams 'foreigner'. It is tiresome to be constantly stared at and pointed at, even in a city that is already becoming hugely international. I've experienced this before, so it's not a surprise, but now that I've made Beijing my home for the year, it feels that much more intrusive. In America, we are taught not to make obvious those that are different, but here it is not rude to stare or point. ALthough I understand so much of the culture, I will never be 'one of them'. I could be standing in the middle of Tiananmen Square, surrounded by a million people, and feel absolutely alone. It's difficult to describe what it feels like and perhaps difficult to emphathize with if you have never experienced it yourself.
Although I've hit a couple roadblocks, I want to make clear
Classroom
After the musical performances, we visited classrooms and gave each student a shoebox filled with school supplies and personal items, such as shampoo. that coming to China was absolutely the right decision for me. My main purpose was to continue my education in Chinese, but I am learning so much more than that. I feel that by coming to China by myself, moving 7,000 miles away from everything that is native to me, I am taking part in my own 'amazing race'. Every obstacle that I meet and overcome only serves to make me a stronger person. Every day, I learn more about myself and grow more confident in who I am and what I believe in. That is the ultimate result I wish to walk away from this adventure with: confidence in myself and pride in who I am.
To all of you who are on the other side of the world-- thank you for the support you have shown me and will continue to show me-- and remember, I am only a click of the mouse away.
merritt.wilsongmail.com
Advertisement
Tot: 0.256s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 15; qc: 68; dbt: 0.1108s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Reid
non-member comment
Holidays
If it makes you feel better, I had to work ALL day on New Years Day...on 3.5 hours sleep. The good news is I was smart enough not to go out drinking the night before :-) I was just up late pulling the drivetrain out of my TA.