Goodbye China! Goodbye my students! Goodbye my new friends! Goodbye moldy apartment! Goodbye sweet vendor ladies! Goodbye fresh mangoes, lychees, longans, etc! Goodbye to all that has been my reality for the last 10 months.
Hello Home! Hello family and friends! Hello bills, loans and car payments! Hello culture that I understand! Hello comfort foods! Hello Mexian food, fresh baked bread, BBQed chicken, and pizza! Hello old/ new reality.
Today's the day I fly home. Only a couple more hours and I will begin the long journey. I have packed my bags (mamamia!) and cleaned my place. I will be traveling for something like 32 hours! I have four different flights and and super long over night layover in LA.
Keep my in your prayers if you would for protection. The Lord's been faithful to me throughout this entire trip. I know his faithfulness endures. He's so good to me. I am so undeserving.
Brenda and I spent the day together yesterday just shopping, eating, hanging out. Ate at some of our favorite places one last time. Then we watched a movie while she finished up packing. She left early this morning.
I didn't get much sleep the past two nights, yet I feel pretty good and energetic. Maybe it's adrenaline from all the moving. The night before I was restless so I watched a movie til super late. Then lasst night I had a million mosquitos buzzing around me. So about 3 in the morning I was wide away chasing them down and killing as many as I could. It might be a good thing that I haven't slept much, that way I might be able to sleep better on the plane and maybe I will adjust to the time change quicker. We shall see.
I can't wait to see all my family and friends. I'm courious to find out what my life will be like from here on. I guess it's time to pack up the computer. Thanks for reading all this time. I hope I was able to share my experiences with you in a meaningful way. The next time I write here, I may be in the US! I don't think it's hit me yet. It hasn't sunk in that I am leaving and might never come back here, and might never see my Chinese friends and students again. Like I always like to say... Life is strange stuff.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Stuff up the WahZooo!
It is really embarassing how much stuff I have accumulated. I can't believe it. I honestly didn't really realize until I started to pack up my stuff and found that I had to send another box home or I wouldn't have made it. I am making a promise to myself that I will never do this again. What I mean is, I will never accumulate so much stuff on an overseas trip again. I think I went a little overboard. Yikes. Just this morning I went out with Brenda cuz she told me about this really cute fairly cheap place to buy traditional Chinese looking clothes, and I bought some more things. Then I started packing and, woa. When its spread all over my apartment it didn't seem like much. But trying to fit it all in a couple suitcases is quite the task. I'm worried about being overweight and having to pay airport fees. Would the Lord honor a prayer for weightlessness after my splurging?
Yesterday was my last day of teaching. I was determined to spend it well. It really was a nice day up until the end. I was surrounded by my students. Most of them had no idea I was leaving so soon and that I wouldn't be back. So just a few who really have taken the time to get to know me made it a point to seek me out throughout the day. The last class still was challenging. When it was over I was relieved. But at the same time I love these kids. My last thing at school was to be English corner. I had prepared a nice time. We were going to play a game and chat and take pictures. I was really looking foward to it as were the students who would go. As we walked to the English Corner classroom, about five students and I, we had a great time chatting and lauging together. I was getting really excited to make one last memory here with them. As we entered the classroom, there sat Lillian. In her perky manipulative voice she told us that she is cancelling english corner so I could help her translate something. What a kill joy. I was so angry. I told her that this is my last day and I want to spend it with the students not being used by the school. This was the last thing I wanted to be doing. So she smiled and said, oh! ok! I'll give you 20 minutes. Oh my goodness. I wanted to cry. And so did the students. I wanted so much to tell her off and refuse, but I didn't want to make a scene in front of the students and cause anyone to lose face. I was mad and she knew it. But she didn't seem to give a darn. All she was thinking about was getting her stupid translation thing done. So the kids and I took some pictures and said goodbye. And off I went to be a schmuck, a doormat, a chump, a pushover. Gotta love the thesaurus. They've never asked me to help them with translations before until this day. Anyother day I would have been happy too. Arg.
I really want to see a couple students before I go, like over the weekend. But there are so many things going on. And Arthur and Anna are leaving tomorrow morning and I'd like to say goodbyes to them too. It will be nice to be home where I can just crash when all these goodbyes are over.
I keep thinking of ways that this whole experience could have been better. I mean, how could I have made more of this time. I should have prayed more. I should have taken more pictures. I should have spent more time outside of my apartment. I should have been more open about my faith. I should have taken more chances like eating crazier things, going parasailing, taking the train. I should have taken more time to spend with my students. I should have done more physically active things. I should have taken more initiative in making friends. I should have learned more Chinese. I should have bought less!
I think these are my only regrets.
So I went to the post office today to mail one last box. I think the worker girl there was new because she was slow as ever. The last few boxes I've mailed went smoothly and fairly quickly. But this girl was so slow and so ditsy it was taking forever. I am so glad that this will be my last trip to one of the worst places in China... the post office.
While Brenda and I were out this morning we took some snap shots of the lovely faces we see everyday along the street. Then we had them printed out and gave them each their own picture. It was so cute! They loved it. Like Brenda said, this is the best gift we could give them. They are so great.
Yesterday was my last day of teaching. I was determined to spend it well. It really was a nice day up until the end. I was surrounded by my students. Most of them had no idea I was leaving so soon and that I wouldn't be back. So just a few who really have taken the time to get to know me made it a point to seek me out throughout the day. The last class still was challenging. When it was over I was relieved. But at the same time I love these kids. My last thing at school was to be English corner. I had prepared a nice time. We were going to play a game and chat and take pictures. I was really looking foward to it as were the students who would go. As we walked to the English Corner classroom, about five students and I, we had a great time chatting and lauging together. I was getting really excited to make one last memory here with them. As we entered the classroom, there sat Lillian. In her perky manipulative voice she told us that she is cancelling english corner so I could help her translate something. What a kill joy. I was so angry. I told her that this is my last day and I want to spend it with the students not being used by the school. This was the last thing I wanted to be doing. So she smiled and said, oh! ok! I'll give you 20 minutes. Oh my goodness. I wanted to cry. And so did the students. I wanted so much to tell her off and refuse, but I didn't want to make a scene in front of the students and cause anyone to lose face. I was mad and she knew it. But she didn't seem to give a darn. All she was thinking about was getting her stupid translation thing done. So the kids and I took some pictures and said goodbye. And off I went to be a schmuck, a doormat, a chump, a pushover. Gotta love the thesaurus. They've never asked me to help them with translations before until this day. Anyother day I would have been happy too. Arg.
I really want to see a couple students before I go, like over the weekend. But there are so many things going on. And Arthur and Anna are leaving tomorrow morning and I'd like to say goodbyes to them too. It will be nice to be home where I can just crash when all these goodbyes are over.
I keep thinking of ways that this whole experience could have been better. I mean, how could I have made more of this time. I should have prayed more. I should have taken more pictures. I should have spent more time outside of my apartment. I should have been more open about my faith. I should have taken more chances like eating crazier things, going parasailing, taking the train. I should have taken more time to spend with my students. I should have done more physically active things. I should have taken more initiative in making friends. I should have learned more Chinese. I should have bought less!
I think these are my only regrets.
So I went to the post office today to mail one last box. I think the worker girl there was new because she was slow as ever. The last few boxes I've mailed went smoothly and fairly quickly. But this girl was so slow and so ditsy it was taking forever. I am so glad that this will be my last trip to one of the worst places in China... the post office.
While Brenda and I were out this morning we took some snap shots of the lovely faces we see everyday along the street. Then we had them printed out and gave them each their own picture. It was so cute! They loved it. Like Brenda said, this is the best gift we could give them. They are so great.
A'Tad
I promised Eva I'd write every day til I went home, but it's already past midnight and I haven't found the time to write a propper post. Hopefully tomorrow I can share more. I have so much to do and so many people want to see me before I go. I feel pulled in a hundred different directions. I've got to get some rest. Good night.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Saying a Thousand Goodbyes (at least)
Some Students and me from Class 19It's been such a sad and busy week. Every time I go into a class I know it is the last time. So every day is a last time. The last couple days I have stayed at the school and had lunch with my students in the school cafeteria. So we just hang out and chat.
Tuesday night the school took us out for a farewell dinner. We went to a nice place and ordered to our hearts desire. Grace, Maggie, Mark and one of the vice principals were there with Brenda, Arthur, Anna, and me. Brenda brought her laptop and showed a slide show of some of the pictures I have taken throughout the past year. The principal asked us many questions about how we thought of the school and the students, and they thanked us for our work. Then they gave us each a parting gift... these really funny kung fu figurines.
Each day as I get closer to going home I feel sadder and sadder, yet more excited! It's the weirdest feeling. I'm so excited to go home, yet so sad to leave.
I've been really busy trying to get my things together and sort through things. I had a huge pile of stuff that I knew I wasn't going to take home so I let maggie rummage through it and she took most of it, which is great. She's like me, hates to see anything go to waste. It's so hard to believe that tomorrow is my last day of teaching. And that in 4 days I will be going home. The feeling that I might never come back here or see these people again is really sad.
I'm sorry, I feeling like I'm really depressing right now. Ok, happy thoughts. I had such fun in class today. We are playing "Dice of Fortune." It's like Wheel of Fortune only with dice as you may have guessed. It's such fun. They really get into it, especially when we play boys vs. girls.
Tonight we may go to the HaiBin hotel one last time for a swim in the spa. Most of my time before I leave is already booked with things to do and people to see.
When Brenda gets back from class today her and I are going to go to all our usual spots and take photos of the great shopkeepers that we see everday, and the ladys on the street where we buy our veggies. They have the best faces and sweetest smiles. Most of them probably never get their picture taken. So we're going to get the pictures all printed out and give them a copy. They'll love it.
Monday, June 19, 2006
The Beginning of the End
Wow. It's the beginning of the end. This is my last week. today I taught three classes for the very last time. It kind of felt like any other day. I thought the kids might make something more of it, but nothing really. It's not like I'm going to throw myself a goodbye party. So we took some pictures and played a game. And that was that. It's hard to know what they're thinking when they're all together like that. It's when I talk to them outside of class that I find out how they really feel.
I spent all of Saturday cleaning my place and kinda putting things together for packing. I still have so much stuff. I can't believe how much I've accumulated.
I know more happened this weekend, I just can't think right now. My stomach is still feeling queezy. Brenda suggested I go on a liquid diet and give my digestive system a break. She's probably right, but I'm so hungry!
It hasn't been easy to be with her as much as I am. She's the most cynical and ethnocentric person I've ever met. I just put up with it cuz I have no one else to hang out with. She's really cool otherwise and I'll miss her. But it's also going to be refreshing to be away from her. I feel aweful saying it, but it's true.
Sunday night we went to Lillian's home again to make zongzi. Her mother taught us how to make. You put rice, bean, peanut, meat, or whatever you want into bamboo leaves and fold it up tightly, then preasure cook them for and half hour. Yummy. It was a nice time. She has a really nice family. Here's some pictures of us making zongzi, and the finished products wrapped up. They're really good, trust me.
Just got back from shopping with Lillian. She was helping me find some things. It's a great night. The weather is so hot during the day, so it's great when it cools off a little in the evening.
Please pray for my friend who was in a bad car accident. My mind is even more set on home.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Queezie
This week's been great so far. But I'm sad. These kids are making me so sad! When I tell them I'm going home soon they ask why. Then they get really sad and that makes me sad. Some even got upset. Like I'm stabbing them in the back or something. It's so hard! Like I said, loyaly is so huge here. People stay in the same place, have the same relationships, and have the same job for their entire lives. It's really hard for them to have someone come and go. I feel so terrible. Ok, so it's not all of them. Just a few. The majority just say we'll miss you. And then there are a few that could care less. But some classes have been so incredibly sweet to me. On Wednesday class 15 gave their performances, and did such a great job. Some groups sang songs like Backstreet Boys. They were so cute. This one boy got really into in and was singing at the top of his lungs and putting all this feeling into it. And the rest of the class was swaying back and forth like a concert. It was so cute. Another group, after singing, gave a little speach about how they love me. awe. so sweet. And another group was so funny. Their performance was based on some famous Chinese movie. Some guy died, and they made a chalk line around the body. They took a fake photo with a camera they made with cardboard and a toilet paper roll and fixed it up so you pull this string and a fake picture comes out that they drew. They gave me the picture and a lei they made. They're so great.
I replaced the USB flash disc I lost with another. But now I come to find they want the same exact one. And so it's going to cost me a lot of money. It's really frustrating. I can't believe I lost it. I hardly ever lose things. Just the important things I guess. Sheesh.
I feel so strange these days. I don't know how to describe it. It's such a weird feeling to know I'm not going to be here anymore. It makes me really sad. I really am excited to come home. So these feelings are so so strange.
Today was the first time I've really felt sick here. As soon as I got on the school bus something wasn't right with my stomach. It's been hurting ever since. It's really sensitive and I can't figure out why. Maybe it's nerves from all this moving home stuff. Who knows.
I replaced the USB flash disc I lost with another. But now I come to find they want the same exact one. And so it's going to cost me a lot of money. It's really frustrating. I can't believe I lost it. I hardly ever lose things. Just the important things I guess. Sheesh.
I feel so strange these days. I don't know how to describe it. It's such a weird feeling to know I'm not going to be here anymore. It makes me really sad. I really am excited to come home. So these feelings are so so strange.
Today was the first time I've really felt sick here. As soon as I got on the school bus something wasn't right with my stomach. It's been hurting ever since. It's really sensitive and I can't figure out why. Maybe it's nerves from all this moving home stuff. Who knows.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Strange Stuff
Let's begin with the first thing on my mind right now... bugs. Holy buckets they are sick. I was on the phone with my friend Danni when all of the sudden in a split second my entire place was filled with at least a million of those mayfly-type bugs!! They must've hatched or something. But it was so freakie!!!! I couldn't stop freaking out. It was like a surprize attack. We've figured out that they like light. So I turned off all my lights and left my door open so they'd follow the light into the hallway. It took about a half hour to get the situation kind of under control. In the dark I could hear their buzzing and it was so gross. It's like a bad dream. I took a peak out in the hall, and I could hardly see to the other side the bugs were so thick swarming around. Wow. So nasty. I called Brenda and she had them too. Now it's the morning after and there are bug wings and carcases all over the floor. Gross.
I killed my first cockroach today. Go me! Usually they freak me out too bad, so I make someone else do it for me, or I just sheepishly let it win the standoff and I run away. I've turned into such a sissy. But today I knew if I didn't get this guy I'd be dealing with his billions of offspring.
Another bugger has been the mosquitos. I check my place before I go to bed and it all seems clear. But as soon as that light goes off, it's like they all come out of hiding and buzz around your ears so there's no chance of getting a good nights sleep. One morning I woke up with five fattened-up mosquitos inside my mosquito net. They can get in somehow, but they can get out. They're easier to kill when their all fed-up anyway. So I just tell them to do their worst and stop buzzing in my ears so I can sleep. They'll just get it in the morning.
Well, last week was a doosey. I had given the students the previous two weeks of class time to work on their performances. So come performance day, so many of them were like, "Miss Leah, we're not ready, can we go next week." At first I was merciful, but then it just got annoying. So towards the end of the week I started to get tough. Some classes were such a delight, though! Some classes really had fun with this. That's what it was supposed to be! They did awesome jobs, and I am way way proud of them. There are those who I know their spoken English isn't great, but they still tried. Then there are those who I know can speak fairly well, but put zero effort into this and came up with a pathetic display. I was really disappointed in them. So it was such a crazy week with highs and lows. I wish I could remember all of the performances. I wish I had a video camera at times like these. Some classes, the kids gave me their script, so I can share with you a couple of the performances just to get an idea what it's like. They are so funny when the kids get into it and do the voices and actions. I will post it here word for word, mistakes and all:
Team Name: Window Shopping
Title: Cinderella
Backgroud: long long ago, there was a ball held by a princess in downtown. That night, a prince lost his ball-shoes on the stairs. Princess picked up the shoe and made up her mind to find the prince. So she took the shoe house to house. One day she came to the prince's house finally.
Servant 1: Is anyone here?
Step-Father: Who? Don't knock at the door so loudly! (open the door)
Servant2: Morning! Gentlemen! Our princess is looking for the man who lost the sport-shoes. Every man has a chance to try it on. If it's suitable for you, you can get married to our beautiful princess! (princess comes into)
Step-Father: Welcome! Welcome! Or beautiful princess! I'm sure that my son can try the shoes on! Come on, deer. (to elder brother) Cinderella, go back to the kitchen!
Princess: Oh, no! Please let him stay here. Everyone has the chance!
Step-Father: Well! If so, you just stay here.
(brother sits down, he is ready to try the shoes on)
Servant 1: Please!
Elder Brother: How cheap the shoes are! Oh, no! They are too small for me to try them on.
Step-Father: Oh, my dear! I can't believe that. Dear, try your best again! Now that let me have a try too.
Servant 2: No! No! you can't try the shoes. You're so old!
Princess: Let him have a try. (towards Cinderella)
Cinderella: A worn-out shoes. I think it must be the shoe which I lost last night. The princess is so strange! Why not buy a new one. I want a pair of new shoes. I want Addidas! Nothing is impossible! (Cinderella takes off his shoes)
All: How foul his feet are!
Cinderella: Don't say so. I'll be sad. Look! How fit for me the shoes are! Now, I can get married to my beautiful princess!
(Princess falls in a faint)
Background: not long after they married, princess demanded to divorce because prince not only had a hong-kong foot, but also that there was stench came from him! He didn't sleep at night, didn't keep awake in daytime! Just ate and did nothing, searched the internet, met lots of girls! His lovest white horse was so dirty that became a black horse!
End
[ok, so they are a little crazy.]
Team Name: Capucino
Title: The Legend of Human and the Wolf
Long long ago, Red cap and his grandmother lived in a peaceful forest. Because of the drought, there is no food to be found in the forest. Until one day, Red cap's grandmother went out to pick mushrooms. she met a big wolf which had searching for the food for it's son.
W:Grandma, nice to meet you!
G: Nice to meet you.
W: are you searching for something to eat, too?
G: Yes, I got some mushrooms. But it's not enough to eat. My grandson is very hungry now.
W: I know. My son is also hungry at home now.
G: Oh! I have an idea! I can be your son's food. and you must take care of my grandson!
W: What! (very shock) OK, let's go!
So the grandma went to the wolf's nest to be the little wolf's food. Red cap was very sad when he knew this news. After a few years, both red cap and the little wolf grew up. One day there is a hunter breaking in the forest. He killed many animals include the big wolf. Whith the help of mother little wolf ran away. At this time he met the broken hearted boy, Red cap.
Red: Oh! you're a wolf! I will kill you!
Little Wolf: No! You look at me carefully, can you see something!?
R: I see some ocular secret.
LW: No, do you remember the old wolf? I am her son.
R: Oh! I know you! Nice to meet you!
LW: Let's drive the hunter out of the forest!
R: Let's go!
Hunter: Ha-ha! I'm a great hunter. I want to kill more animals to make more money!
R&LW: Don't move, hang up! Get out of our forest, or I will kill you!
H: Stop! I'll go by my self.
They drove off the hunter out of the forest and lived happily.
So there's an idea of some of the better skits.
Friday was the most interesting day. I was really encouraged by the morning classes, they were so so great. On group did the piece from the Sound of Music where she teaches the Vanderbelt children how to sing. It's like speaking and singing intertwined.. Doe a deer and female deer, etc. They were soooo great! It was all choreographed and everything. They were definitely the best so far. But then cam Friday afternoon. I knew they would be a challenge, because this class always is. But this time it was utter chaos. I could not get them to sit down and shut up. They were all over the place like it was free time or something. Kids were listening to their music, walking all around, chatting, wrestling with their buddies. It was so out of control. I had it up to here with trying to get them to cooperate, so I picked up my things and started heading out the door. It was the last place on earth I wanted to be. That place was beyond fixing with my puny words. As I walked out, only one boy noticed, and he asked me where I was going. I just said out. And he got really sincere, and was like... ok just give us 10 minutes to get ready for our performance! So I said alright and waited there very stern staring at my watch. The tone of the class slowly began to change as they started to realize how really really ticked off I was. Only two groups presented then. And it was a very sorry sight. I know these kids. They are great kids. They love talking to me. I know what they are capable of. I was very disappointed. After the sad performances. I knew I had to say something. So I gave them a bit of a lecture. This is the first time I have been so disappointed and angry with these kids. And they knew it. And they needed to hear it. After class a couple of the girls came to me appologizing and told me that the Chinese teachers say the same things about this class. So I know it isn't just me. One girl in that class has been a good friend to me this year, and I knew she was ashamed because usually she loves to chat with me after class, but I only saw her with her head on her desk. Ayekarumba. Afterwards I felt so bad! I kept having to remind myself that I am in the right! It's so difficult for me to be so confrontational and to cause anyone to feel badly. I know that hearing it from me was different then hearing it from their Chinese teachers. They expect it from them. So I really hope that next time they can shape up a bit. They will be my last class ever here, so I want it to end well.
We had English corner again, and this time Brenda led it. I just joined for fun. And it was really nice. The most memorable thing about it was when Amy spoke. We were all telling something about ourselves. And she told everyone something that I had told her in a letter. You know we have been writing notes back and forth for a few weeks. A while back I asked her if she believed in God and she replied that she hated God because he cheated her. Supposedly He told her she'd get a good grade on an exam, but she ended up failing. So I wrote to her telling her that we don't alway understand his ways. Like a storm, sometimes it seems terrible and like it causes harm, but in the end helps things to grow... something like that. And I told her that he really does care about her and her grades and that he loves her. So in English corner, she told everyone that God cares about her! It was so so so great! She was looking at me when she was sharing all these things and smiling. And I could have cared less who was listening or what they thought, because it was such a precious thing that just happened! I am so blessed to know that the Lord has revealed his love to her. Please keep prayin for Amy.
The weekend was very busy. I spent some time with my students shopping, taking photos, and hanging out. They are so fun. We went to this part of the shopping center that I'd never seen before. It was the music section. They have sound proof rooms you can rent to play piano. So bummer, I couldn't have been playing piano all year if I knew that! They asked me to play them something, but I have pretty much lost anything I had. So sad. It was neat to see all the traditional Chinese instruments there along side the electric guitars and drums.
Sunday I met some other students at McDonalds at 8am. On a Sunday, waking up at 7am feels more like 5am. So I wasn't good for much the whole rest of the day. I was so exhasted. We ate McD's for breakfast, then went to the public library to use the internet. Then we did a little shopping, and taking some of those little sticker photos. They love it. The girls who ran the little photo shop really wanted to take pictures with me too. They were so giddy when I agreed. Funny. Later we had lunch at "Tracy's" house. Her mom made a great meal. Shrimp, clams, jellyfish, dumplings, noodles, soup, vegies, and a special chicken (special cuz it had never laid any eggs in its life). But it was pretty quiet, cuz they didn't know how to talk to me really. And I was so tired. So I watched them play video games. They had the first Mario Brothers! Finally I went home and took a nice long nap before another dinner date...
Sunday night was a lot of fun. Brenda and I were invited to a Chinese English teacher's house (Lillian). Lillian is married to "Golden" who is a hear doctor, and they have a ten year old son, "Sterling."She had one of her old friends come too, along with her eight year old daughter, "Grace". We had another fabulous meal. Brenda and I fixed a good ol' fashion salad with lettuce, carrot, onion, and tomato. Brenda even mixed up her own vinagarett. This was a new experience for them, and they really liked it! Lillian made some great fish, shrimp, soup, vegies, and dumplings. For desert Brenda fixed the kids PBJ's. This was a new experience for them, too, and they loved it! After dinner the kids put on an English music video, and we taught them the electric slide and macarena! What a riot. I brought my cards, so we taught them how to play Uno. What fun. They caught on really quick and it was a blast. The kids were halarious. The whole gang has extremely healthy lungs, so it was so loud! Little Grace was so fired up.
After that Sterling demonstrated his mad yo-yo skills. That kid is gooood.
Then Golden made us some really great tea and we chatted a bit til it was late and we had to go home. They sent us home with a big bag full of fresh picked leechees and Sterling gave us one of his yo-yos. Good times.
I have finally finished my Teaching Summary. As foreign English teachers we were required to write a teaching summary of the past year. I had kept track of all my lesson plans, so it was such a time saver to be able to cut and paste. We're to put the summaries on this USB flash disc drive that belongs to the school. Brenda put her's on there then gave it to me, but I lost it!!! I can't find it anywhere. Yikes. So I think I have to buy a new one. Dang.
Brenda's been sick on and off for the past couple weeks. She's had ear aches, stomach aches, head aches, sinus problems, bronchitis threats, and more. So ya'll praying for me, thank you so much! I know if it weren't for your prayers, I'd be in no better shape then her. The Lord is so good to me!
I'm trying to think of something really nice to do with the students for the last week of class. Can you believe it! I have only a week and a half left. Wowzers. Most of the time I am really looking foward to coming home. But the other night I was thinking a lot about the changes, adjustments, etc. and of all the things that I'm really going to miss... and I got really sad! For the first time I was feeling anxiety about coming home. There are some thing that I am not looking foward to, and things that I'm really going to miss here. I wish I could have the best of both worlds. It is really like being in two different worlds. I wish I could buy my vegies from these sweet ladies on the street. I wish I could have my family and friends close, as well as my students and friends here. I wish I could have a great body of believers to fellowship with, then go out for lunch at some road side dumpling shop. I wish I didn't have to worry about paying bills or buying gas or working 9-5.
Life is strange stuff.
I killed my first cockroach today. Go me! Usually they freak me out too bad, so I make someone else do it for me, or I just sheepishly let it win the standoff and I run away. I've turned into such a sissy. But today I knew if I didn't get this guy I'd be dealing with his billions of offspring.
Another bugger has been the mosquitos. I check my place before I go to bed and it all seems clear. But as soon as that light goes off, it's like they all come out of hiding and buzz around your ears so there's no chance of getting a good nights sleep. One morning I woke up with five fattened-up mosquitos inside my mosquito net. They can get in somehow, but they can get out. They're easier to kill when their all fed-up anyway. So I just tell them to do their worst and stop buzzing in my ears so I can sleep. They'll just get it in the morning.
Well, last week was a doosey. I had given the students the previous two weeks of class time to work on their performances. So come performance day, so many of them were like, "Miss Leah, we're not ready, can we go next week." At first I was merciful, but then it just got annoying. So towards the end of the week I started to get tough. Some classes were such a delight, though! Some classes really had fun with this. That's what it was supposed to be! They did awesome jobs, and I am way way proud of them. There are those who I know their spoken English isn't great, but they still tried. Then there are those who I know can speak fairly well, but put zero effort into this and came up with a pathetic display. I was really disappointed in them. So it was such a crazy week with highs and lows. I wish I could remember all of the performances. I wish I had a video camera at times like these. Some classes, the kids gave me their script, so I can share with you a couple of the performances just to get an idea what it's like. They are so funny when the kids get into it and do the voices and actions. I will post it here word for word, mistakes and all:
Team Name: Window Shopping
Title: Cinderella
Backgroud: long long ago, there was a ball held by a princess in downtown. That night, a prince lost his ball-shoes on the stairs. Princess picked up the shoe and made up her mind to find the prince. So she took the shoe house to house. One day she came to the prince's house finally.
Servant 1: Is anyone here?
Step-Father: Who? Don't knock at the door so loudly! (open the door)
Servant2: Morning! Gentlemen! Our princess is looking for the man who lost the sport-shoes. Every man has a chance to try it on. If it's suitable for you, you can get married to our beautiful princess! (princess comes into)
Step-Father: Welcome! Welcome! Or beautiful princess! I'm sure that my son can try the shoes on! Come on, deer. (to elder brother) Cinderella, go back to the kitchen!
Princess: Oh, no! Please let him stay here. Everyone has the chance!
Step-Father: Well! If so, you just stay here.
(brother sits down, he is ready to try the shoes on)
Servant 1: Please!
Elder Brother: How cheap the shoes are! Oh, no! They are too small for me to try them on.
Step-Father: Oh, my dear! I can't believe that. Dear, try your best again! Now that let me have a try too.
Servant 2: No! No! you can't try the shoes. You're so old!
Princess: Let him have a try. (towards Cinderella)
Cinderella: A worn-out shoes. I think it must be the shoe which I lost last night. The princess is so strange! Why not buy a new one. I want a pair of new shoes. I want Addidas! Nothing is impossible! (Cinderella takes off his shoes)
All: How foul his feet are!
Cinderella: Don't say so. I'll be sad. Look! How fit for me the shoes are! Now, I can get married to my beautiful princess!
(Princess falls in a faint)
Background: not long after they married, princess demanded to divorce because prince not only had a hong-kong foot, but also that there was stench came from him! He didn't sleep at night, didn't keep awake in daytime! Just ate and did nothing, searched the internet, met lots of girls! His lovest white horse was so dirty that became a black horse!
End
[ok, so they are a little crazy.]
Team Name: Capucino
Title: The Legend of Human and the Wolf
Long long ago, Red cap and his grandmother lived in a peaceful forest. Because of the drought, there is no food to be found in the forest. Until one day, Red cap's grandmother went out to pick mushrooms. she met a big wolf which had searching for the food for it's son.
W:Grandma, nice to meet you!
G: Nice to meet you.
W: are you searching for something to eat, too?
G: Yes, I got some mushrooms. But it's not enough to eat. My grandson is very hungry now.
W: I know. My son is also hungry at home now.
G: Oh! I have an idea! I can be your son's food. and you must take care of my grandson!
W: What! (very shock) OK, let's go!
So the grandma went to the wolf's nest to be the little wolf's food. Red cap was very sad when he knew this news. After a few years, both red cap and the little wolf grew up. One day there is a hunter breaking in the forest. He killed many animals include the big wolf. Whith the help of mother little wolf ran away. At this time he met the broken hearted boy, Red cap.
Red: Oh! you're a wolf! I will kill you!
Little Wolf: No! You look at me carefully, can you see something!?
R: I see some ocular secret.
LW: No, do you remember the old wolf? I am her son.
R: Oh! I know you! Nice to meet you!
LW: Let's drive the hunter out of the forest!
R: Let's go!
Hunter: Ha-ha! I'm a great hunter. I want to kill more animals to make more money!
R&LW: Don't move, hang up! Get out of our forest, or I will kill you!
H: Stop! I'll go by my self.
They drove off the hunter out of the forest and lived happily.
So there's an idea of some of the better skits.
Friday was the most interesting day. I was really encouraged by the morning classes, they were so so great. On group did the piece from the Sound of Music where she teaches the Vanderbelt children how to sing. It's like speaking and singing intertwined.. Doe a deer and female deer, etc. They were soooo great! It was all choreographed and everything. They were definitely the best so far. But then cam Friday afternoon. I knew they would be a challenge, because this class always is. But this time it was utter chaos. I could not get them to sit down and shut up. They were all over the place like it was free time or something. Kids were listening to their music, walking all around, chatting, wrestling with their buddies. It was so out of control. I had it up to here with trying to get them to cooperate, so I picked up my things and started heading out the door. It was the last place on earth I wanted to be. That place was beyond fixing with my puny words. As I walked out, only one boy noticed, and he asked me where I was going. I just said out. And he got really sincere, and was like... ok just give us 10 minutes to get ready for our performance! So I said alright and waited there very stern staring at my watch. The tone of the class slowly began to change as they started to realize how really really ticked off I was. Only two groups presented then. And it was a very sorry sight. I know these kids. They are great kids. They love talking to me. I know what they are capable of. I was very disappointed. After the sad performances. I knew I had to say something. So I gave them a bit of a lecture. This is the first time I have been so disappointed and angry with these kids. And they knew it. And they needed to hear it. After class a couple of the girls came to me appologizing and told me that the Chinese teachers say the same things about this class. So I know it isn't just me. One girl in that class has been a good friend to me this year, and I knew she was ashamed because usually she loves to chat with me after class, but I only saw her with her head on her desk. Ayekarumba. Afterwards I felt so bad! I kept having to remind myself that I am in the right! It's so difficult for me to be so confrontational and to cause anyone to feel badly. I know that hearing it from me was different then hearing it from their Chinese teachers. They expect it from them. So I really hope that next time they can shape up a bit. They will be my last class ever here, so I want it to end well.
We had English corner again, and this time Brenda led it. I just joined for fun. And it was really nice. The most memorable thing about it was when Amy spoke. We were all telling something about ourselves. And she told everyone something that I had told her in a letter. You know we have been writing notes back and forth for a few weeks. A while back I asked her if she believed in God and she replied that she hated God because he cheated her. Supposedly He told her she'd get a good grade on an exam, but she ended up failing. So I wrote to her telling her that we don't alway understand his ways. Like a storm, sometimes it seems terrible and like it causes harm, but in the end helps things to grow... something like that. And I told her that he really does care about her and her grades and that he loves her. So in English corner, she told everyone that God cares about her! It was so so so great! She was looking at me when she was sharing all these things and smiling. And I could have cared less who was listening or what they thought, because it was such a precious thing that just happened! I am so blessed to know that the Lord has revealed his love to her. Please keep prayin for Amy.
The weekend was very busy. I spent some time with my students shopping, taking photos, and hanging out. They are so fun. We went to this part of the shopping center that I'd never seen before. It was the music section. They have sound proof rooms you can rent to play piano. So bummer, I couldn't have been playing piano all year if I knew that! They asked me to play them something, but I have pretty much lost anything I had. So sad. It was neat to see all the traditional Chinese instruments there along side the electric guitars and drums.
Sunday I met some other students at McDonalds at 8am. On a Sunday, waking up at 7am feels more like 5am. So I wasn't good for much the whole rest of the day. I was so exhasted. We ate McD's for breakfast, then went to the public library to use the internet. Then we did a little shopping, and taking some of those little sticker photos. They love it. The girls who ran the little photo shop really wanted to take pictures with me too. They were so giddy when I agreed. Funny. Later we had lunch at "Tracy's" house. Her mom made a great meal. Shrimp, clams, jellyfish, dumplings, noodles, soup, vegies, and a special chicken (special cuz it had never laid any eggs in its life). But it was pretty quiet, cuz they didn't know how to talk to me really. And I was so tired. So I watched them play video games. They had the first Mario Brothers! Finally I went home and took a nice long nap before another dinner date...
Sunday night was a lot of fun. Brenda and I were invited to a Chinese English teacher's house (Lillian). Lillian is married to "Golden" who is a hear doctor, and they have a ten year old son, "Sterling."She had one of her old friends come too, along with her eight year old daughter, "Grace". We had another fabulous meal. Brenda and I fixed a good ol' fashion salad with lettuce, carrot, onion, and tomato. Brenda even mixed up her own vinagarett. This was a new experience for them, and they really liked it! Lillian made some great fish, shrimp, soup, vegies, and dumplings. For desert Brenda fixed the kids PBJ's. This was a new experience for them, too, and they loved it! After dinner the kids put on an English music video, and we taught them the electric slide and macarena! What a riot. I brought my cards, so we taught them how to play Uno. What fun. They caught on really quick and it was a blast. The kids were halarious. The whole gang has extremely healthy lungs, so it was so loud! Little Grace was so fired up.
After that Sterling demonstrated his mad yo-yo skills. That kid is gooood.
Then Golden made us some really great tea and we chatted a bit til it was late and we had to go home. They sent us home with a big bag full of fresh picked leechees and Sterling gave us one of his yo-yos. Good times.
I have finally finished my Teaching Summary. As foreign English teachers we were required to write a teaching summary of the past year. I had kept track of all my lesson plans, so it was such a time saver to be able to cut and paste. We're to put the summaries on this USB flash disc drive that belongs to the school. Brenda put her's on there then gave it to me, but I lost it!!! I can't find it anywhere. Yikes. So I think I have to buy a new one. Dang.
Brenda's been sick on and off for the past couple weeks. She's had ear aches, stomach aches, head aches, sinus problems, bronchitis threats, and more. So ya'll praying for me, thank you so much! I know if it weren't for your prayers, I'd be in no better shape then her. The Lord is so good to me!
I'm trying to think of something really nice to do with the students for the last week of class. Can you believe it! I have only a week and a half left. Wowzers. Most of the time I am really looking foward to coming home. But the other night I was thinking a lot about the changes, adjustments, etc. and of all the things that I'm really going to miss... and I got really sad! For the first time I was feeling anxiety about coming home. There are some thing that I am not looking foward to, and things that I'm really going to miss here. I wish I could have the best of both worlds. It is really like being in two different worlds. I wish I could buy my vegies from these sweet ladies on the street. I wish I could have my family and friends close, as well as my students and friends here. I wish I could have a great body of believers to fellowship with, then go out for lunch at some road side dumpling shop. I wish I didn't have to worry about paying bills or buying gas or working 9-5.
Life is strange stuff.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Whadaweek
I have a lot to say about this past week. But I'm in this net bar, cuz our internet's been down all week, and it's so very uncomfortable in here. I hope i don't forget all i want to say. So many interesting things are happening. I feel like I've gotten to know my students better in this past week then I have the entire past year. So it's becoming more bitter-sweet to say goodbye to them. This weekend I have plans to spend time with some of my studeents. One has invited me to her home for lunch.
Well, I've been here a while now and my clothes are probably saturated with cigarett smells. yuck yuck yuck. And my eyes are burning. More lata.
Cheers
Well, I've been here a while now and my clothes are probably saturated with cigarett smells. yuck yuck yuck. And my eyes are burning. More lata.
Cheers
Monday, June 05, 2006
Shots Fired
Brenda and I on the swinging benches on the ship
Brenda flying our kite
The Children's Day dinner
This is a mushroom that grew on the first floor stairwell of our apartments. This just goes to show how dank, dark, damp, and "sporey" our living conditions are!! It's a cute little guy, though.
Go Fly A Kite
Thursday was Children's day. I had dinner with a woman (Susan) and nine 10 year olds. I met Susan a while back. She runs a weekend English school. The 9 kids were her best students and her daughter. They were selected as excellent students and given an invitation to have dinner with a "foreigner"--me. And for them, this is a huge deal. I felt really odd, though, because they as their guest of honor they ordered me a ton of the most expensive food, which there was no way I'd ever eat it all. And every one else just got normal stuff. I hate being singled out like that and treated differently. But what can ya do? So I just gotta suck it up and be grateful for a nice meal that I don't have to pay for. It was at the "Western" resteraunt called "California Sunshine." But the Western food is not at all like we eat. I think it's cuz they serve steaks and fries there and offer forks instead of chopsticks. It's the same idea as Chinese food in America is nothing like the food is really like here. The kids didn't really talk to me the whole time, I'm sure it's cuz they have no idea what to say. But I tried to talk a little to them. I guess it was just cool to be seen with me, they didn't seem to be interested in talking to me. So I kinda just ate my meal and watched them play. But kids are cool. It was fine.
Friday I was to be in charge of English corner. We were supposed to have English corners throughout the year, but no one scheduled any until the very last minute. They probably thought, oh... we should probably do that now that there are only 4 weeks left. So now we're supposed to have one every Friday til the end. It's all good. It's basically a free talk time. I did prepare some conversation starters incase they had trouble thinking of what to say. I told them to chat with eachother and I would walk around, and if anyone spoke chinese I would take their picture. It was kinda fun. But they expect too much from me, cuz they're not used to free talk like that. I didn't want it to be like another class where I am up front and everyone pays attention to me. But it's so hard for them to get out of that rut and think that life can be another way. So I just chatted with them, and tried to make it non-class like. It was harder then I expected. But whatever. Thankfully there were only like 25 kids there, so it was a super small group, which was so nice. Isn't it amazing that I think 25 people is a small group. I'm used to 60.
Saturday I decided to fly the kite that Brenda gave me for my birthday. It was a super nice day. First her and I had a bite to eat. The best thing to drink these days has been iced lemon tea. It's so wonderful after walking in this scorching heat. The park we wanted to fly the kite in was pretty far away. Along the way, we stopped at the big ship. I have told about it before. It's an old Japanese cruise liner that somehow the Chinese took posession of and now it's like half in the water, half sunk into the beach. They use it for tourism and there's a restaraunt there. It was on this ship that I got the call about Nigel's death. I hadn't been there since. It was Brenda's first time. We found a spot on the front deck with swinging benches. So we sat swinging and talking for like an hour. It was so nice. It was such a beautiful relaxing day. From there we went to the kite park. There were like 100 other people there flying their kites. We are usually pestered a lot by people staring, watching us, or making us out to be a freak show for their entertainment... so I was kinda expecting it to be like that. But it was so wonderful, we just flew our kite like normal people, and most people minded their own business. It was a miracle! It's really hard to express how truly great that feels to be treated normal. Our kite was kinda weird, though. It didn't want to go as high as everyone elses. But it was fun, nonetheless. We saw some really cool kites. One kite was the coolest I have ever seen in my life. It makes my heart giddy just thinking about how totally cool it was! I tried to take a picture, but it's really blah. So wait til I get home and I'll show you the video clip. Hey, that won't be such a long way away!
On our way home we took a side street we'd never been on before. We found the cutest basket shop ever! That makes me excited to! The baskets were sooo adorable. I wish I could have them all. Then we had dinner at another "Western" restaraunt, and this time drank lemongrass tea, which is so wonderful! And there we met an older guy from Iowa! It was fun talking to another mid-westerner... there's just something about mid-westerners, where we all just kinda "get" eachother. He's was probably a widower who met this Chinese lady he was with over the internet. It's a very common story. The woman's son goes to our school and might be one of my students!
Sunday, Brenda and I went out again. It was even hotter outside. We went back to the basket shop and had some fun. We drank more iced tea. We did some grocery shopping. And ... yeah, this is really kind of gross, but we happened to pass by two different grown men going number 2. What are the chances. Yeah, they weren't tryin to hide themselves at all, so it's not like we were looking for these kinds of things. Gross. Sometimes it feels like I'm in civilization and sometimes it feels like I'm no where near.
Every night at 10:30, the gaurds lock up all the steel gates around the school. You know that creaky door sound in scarry movies? It's like that, only it echos throughout the entire campus and goes on for about 15 minutes. creeeeeeeeeeeak...creeeeeeeeeeak. Eerie. Every night.
My Great Great Aunt Edna passed away one week ago today. She lived to the grand old age of 110. I praise the Lord he has brought her peacefully into his presence. He is truly good, isn't he? I am reading about the life of David now. I am so encouraged by his confidence in the love of God for himself. May our loving Lord come soon, so that we can join Aunt Edna in His sweet presence.
Friday I was to be in charge of English corner. We were supposed to have English corners throughout the year, but no one scheduled any until the very last minute. They probably thought, oh... we should probably do that now that there are only 4 weeks left. So now we're supposed to have one every Friday til the end. It's all good. It's basically a free talk time. I did prepare some conversation starters incase they had trouble thinking of what to say. I told them to chat with eachother and I would walk around, and if anyone spoke chinese I would take their picture. It was kinda fun. But they expect too much from me, cuz they're not used to free talk like that. I didn't want it to be like another class where I am up front and everyone pays attention to me. But it's so hard for them to get out of that rut and think that life can be another way. So I just chatted with them, and tried to make it non-class like. It was harder then I expected. But whatever. Thankfully there were only like 25 kids there, so it was a super small group, which was so nice. Isn't it amazing that I think 25 people is a small group. I'm used to 60.
Saturday I decided to fly the kite that Brenda gave me for my birthday. It was a super nice day. First her and I had a bite to eat. The best thing to drink these days has been iced lemon tea. It's so wonderful after walking in this scorching heat. The park we wanted to fly the kite in was pretty far away. Along the way, we stopped at the big ship. I have told about it before. It's an old Japanese cruise liner that somehow the Chinese took posession of and now it's like half in the water, half sunk into the beach. They use it for tourism and there's a restaraunt there. It was on this ship that I got the call about Nigel's death. I hadn't been there since. It was Brenda's first time. We found a spot on the front deck with swinging benches. So we sat swinging and talking for like an hour. It was so nice. It was such a beautiful relaxing day. From there we went to the kite park. There were like 100 other people there flying their kites. We are usually pestered a lot by people staring, watching us, or making us out to be a freak show for their entertainment... so I was kinda expecting it to be like that. But it was so wonderful, we just flew our kite like normal people, and most people minded their own business. It was a miracle! It's really hard to express how truly great that feels to be treated normal. Our kite was kinda weird, though. It didn't want to go as high as everyone elses. But it was fun, nonetheless. We saw some really cool kites. One kite was the coolest I have ever seen in my life. It makes my heart giddy just thinking about how totally cool it was! I tried to take a picture, but it's really blah. So wait til I get home and I'll show you the video clip. Hey, that won't be such a long way away!
On our way home we took a side street we'd never been on before. We found the cutest basket shop ever! That makes me excited to! The baskets were sooo adorable. I wish I could have them all. Then we had dinner at another "Western" restaraunt, and this time drank lemongrass tea, which is so wonderful! And there we met an older guy from Iowa! It was fun talking to another mid-westerner... there's just something about mid-westerners, where we all just kinda "get" eachother. He's was probably a widower who met this Chinese lady he was with over the internet. It's a very common story. The woman's son goes to our school and might be one of my students!
Sunday, Brenda and I went out again. It was even hotter outside. We went back to the basket shop and had some fun. We drank more iced tea. We did some grocery shopping. And ... yeah, this is really kind of gross, but we happened to pass by two different grown men going number 2. What are the chances. Yeah, they weren't tryin to hide themselves at all, so it's not like we were looking for these kinds of things. Gross. Sometimes it feels like I'm in civilization and sometimes it feels like I'm no where near.
Every night at 10:30, the gaurds lock up all the steel gates around the school. You know that creaky door sound in scarry movies? It's like that, only it echos throughout the entire campus and goes on for about 15 minutes. creeeeeeeeeeeak...creeeeeeeeeeak. Eerie. Every night.
My Great Great Aunt Edna passed away one week ago today. She lived to the grand old age of 110. I praise the Lord he has brought her peacefully into his presence. He is truly good, isn't he? I am reading about the life of David now. I am so encouraged by his confidence in the love of God for himself. May our loving Lord come soon, so that we can join Aunt Edna in His sweet presence.
