I would imagine that it’s difficult to manage a class of 40 middle school students, but in Chinese? It’s definitely a challenge. (Big thanks to Jillian for managing the class so well without Chinese and for her creative ideas!) It makes me appreciate what we’re doing with English more, seeing how we’re providing opportunities to practice conversation. I remember learning Mandarin for tests as well and not having so many opportunities to practice real conversation other than Chinatown restaurants and a local barber shop. I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity to provide something to others, but honestly, I feel as though I might be learning more than I am able to give…
Host families!
I understand why I don’t know some of the words my host family’s 2-year-old has in his picture books, but it’s also extremely humbling. I’m thankful for the opportunity to learn firsthand what Chinese home eating is like, about tea in Guangdong, and what home life is like with grandparents at home. For my host brother--Roy--especially, I hope that I can share more than just English practice and tidbits about another culture; I hope that I can be somewhat like an older brother and share things that I’ve learned with him.
(EDIT 7/18/19: From the time we met, we already heard a comment from a teacher that we look similar, like siblings. We continued to hear this comment throughout the time we spent together, whether it was from family friends, from neighbors in the elevator, and even other host families. My host dad taught me a phrase, 缘分, which means predestined relationship. Perhaps it was, as we also did grow really close during our time together. Thank you Hsiao-Mei and Yanan.)
On Friday, we visited a center for children with autism, where we got to interact with the children as well as learn what their society, consisting mostly of parents, wants the future to be like for children with autism. I have limited understanding of how those with varying degrees of autism are treated in American education, so I will find out more after our time in Zhuhai to be better informed.
As of this week, it’s been three whole days where we were unable to carry out our duties. Last Thursday and Friday because of the 8th graders’ agricultural activities (学农) and Monday because of heavy rain. To say that I’m disappointed would be an understatement. It saddens me to have missed three whole days out of our already short stay in Zhuhai. That’s three days that I could have spent engaging more with the students, three days that I could have given more of myself and learned more from the students as well. There was one good thing that came out of Monday, though. I got to spend more time with my host family, shopping for groceries and talking throughout the day. Knowing that the time passes so quickly, I will try to make the most out of my time here!
Comments