It's here.
Today, I cried as I pulled down the pictures and posters on my wall. It's funny how 3 months ago I arrived at this place and an empty apartment looked like endless possibilities, but now it just looks like the end of something wonderful, the end of an era.
Every time I leave China, my heart breaks. I don't think I'll be coming back and I don't think it'll be very soon, but then something happens, as if China is a magnet and I am the polar opposite. I find myself back much sooner than anticipated. Sadly, this time feels different. My heart is heavier and I feel like it's going to be a while. I try to trust my feelings and perceptions in general. When I left Nanjing, I felt deeply that I wouldn't be coming back for a while. A longer while than just 4 months. Longer than a year. China, please wait for me. I'll be back someday.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas!
To begin with, this has been the strangest Christmas ever. However, it has been a good one all the same.
This week has been SO bittersweet since we will be leaving and we've been teaching each class for the last time and saying goodbyes. It's also been Christmas and we wanted to be home with our family. China always does that to me. It rips my heart in two. One side wants to stay here in China forever and study Chinese till I speak like a native. The other wants to be home with my family and friends, in a country that speaks my language so I don't come home mentally exhausted every day.
On Christmas Eve, two of our classes threw us a Christmas party. They decorated their classroom with some Christmas trees and other things. Then, they had a whole show prepared. They read a speech about how sad they are that we are leaving, how grateful they are that we came, and how much they will miss us and love us. Then, there was a poetry reading, some singing, and it wouldn't be China if they didn't make Sadie and me get up and sing a song and say some things. Then one of the schools administrators gave us each a gift and talked about how grateful they are that we came and they know it's not easy and they hope we can come back again to the school some day.
The next part is the best. Their powerpoint said, "Time to give gifts to Sadie and Sarah!" The kids horded us with cards, small stuffed animals, chocolates, or art they had done. Then, they brought out a GIANT cake. The kids went crazy. One minute, I was standing right next to the cake, the next I was somehow not even within ten feet of it. It was like being on the floor of a really insane concert. Somehow I managed to get icing all over myself without even touching any cake. I love those kids. I'm going to miss them like CRAZY!
That evening, we invited Janny, Julie, and Heidi over for dinner and a small Christmas program/sleepover. We ate, read the story of Christ's birth from the bible, and watched the nativity video that the church made.
Christmas day was different. We woke up, Sadie and I exchanged presents, then we opened our stockings our mom sent us. We forgot to eat breakfast and had an early lunch before going to the shopping market to get our nails done. I also had to buy some new luggage since mine broke the first time I used it. Then we went to a hot pot restaurant with the foreigners and a few Chinese friends and followed that with KTV. Orange, one of our friends paid for the KTV as a Christmas present which was so sweet of her. It was a really fun day and unlike any Christmas I've ever had!
In the evening we Skyped with my family who was just waking up on Christmas morning. We watched them open presents and said hi to the family that came over for breakfast. This Christmas will not be one I soon forget.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! :)
This week has been SO bittersweet since we will be leaving and we've been teaching each class for the last time and saying goodbyes. It's also been Christmas and we wanted to be home with our family. China always does that to me. It rips my heart in two. One side wants to stay here in China forever and study Chinese till I speak like a native. The other wants to be home with my family and friends, in a country that speaks my language so I don't come home mentally exhausted every day.
On Christmas Eve, two of our classes threw us a Christmas party. They decorated their classroom with some Christmas trees and other things. Then, they had a whole show prepared. They read a speech about how sad they are that we are leaving, how grateful they are that we came, and how much they will miss us and love us. Then, there was a poetry reading, some singing, and it wouldn't be China if they didn't make Sadie and me get up and sing a song and say some things. Then one of the schools administrators gave us each a gift and talked about how grateful they are that we came and they know it's not easy and they hope we can come back again to the school some day.
The next part is the best. Their powerpoint said, "Time to give gifts to Sadie and Sarah!" The kids horded us with cards, small stuffed animals, chocolates, or art they had done. Then, they brought out a GIANT cake. The kids went crazy. One minute, I was standing right next to the cake, the next I was somehow not even within ten feet of it. It was like being on the floor of a really insane concert. Somehow I managed to get icing all over myself without even touching any cake. I love those kids. I'm going to miss them like CRAZY!
That evening, we invited Janny, Julie, and Heidi over for dinner and a small Christmas program/sleepover. We ate, read the story of Christ's birth from the bible, and watched the nativity video that the church made.
Christmas day was different. We woke up, Sadie and I exchanged presents, then we opened our stockings our mom sent us. We forgot to eat breakfast and had an early lunch before going to the shopping market to get our nails done. I also had to buy some new luggage since mine broke the first time I used it. Then we went to a hot pot restaurant with the foreigners and a few Chinese friends and followed that with KTV. Orange, one of our friends paid for the KTV as a Christmas present which was so sweet of her. It was a really fun day and unlike any Christmas I've ever had!
In the evening we Skyped with my family who was just waking up on Christmas morning. We watched them open presents and said hi to the family that came over for breakfast. This Christmas will not be one I soon forget.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night! :)
Friday, December 20, 2013
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
Last post, I mentioned that some of my students were doing a short play this week. It was SO cute! We adapted a script we found online of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and 8 of my 7th graders made up the cast.
Here is the script in case you can't understand.
The day before the show was going to happen, Mary, our Liaison bought a Christmas tree and the 8 kids decorated it. They were SO excited and went a little crazy. I liked sharing in that moment with them because Christmas isn't something that people celebrate here really. I've helped decorate our Christmas tree ever since I can remember, but these kids did it for the first time that day. The look of excitment on their faces was priceless.
Here is the script in case you can't understand.
Scene 1
Narrator: Once upon a time there lived a reindeer named
Rudolph. The North Pole was Rudolph’s home. Everyone in Rudolph’s town was busy
getting ready for Christmas.
(enter Elves and Santa)
Narrator: The elves were busy making toys. Santa
Claus was checking his list of boys and girls who were naughty or nice.
Scene
2
(enter Rudolph, have other reindeer ready)
Narrator: Rudolph was a unique reindeer. He was
different from all other reindeer. Rudolph had a red shiny nose that lit up.
(other reindeer come in)
Narrator: All of the other reindeer had small
brown noses. Sometimes the other reindeer would laugh at Rudolph and call him
names.
Reindeer 1: “Ha-ha! Look at his Red Nose!”
Reindeer 2: “He looks funny! ”
Reindeer 3: “We don’t want to play with you because
you are different!”
Rudolph:
“Hey! It’s okay to be
different. I like my red nose.”
Scene 3
(Rudolph, reindeer, Santa Claus, elves, sleigh)
Narrator: The elves were busy filling Santa’s
sleigh on the night before Christmas. The sky was filled with clouds and they
could not see at all. Santa was ready to choose his team to pull his sleigh.
Elves: Santa, what will we do? We can’t see because
there are too many clouds! How will you fly your sleigh to give toys to all the
boys and girls?
Santa: I have chosen a very special reindeer to lead
the way. Rudolph the red nose reindeer! Your nose is so bright; it will lead
the way on this cloudy night.
Narrator:
Rudolph saved
Christmas and became everyone’s hero. It’s okay to be different. We all have
special talents that we can share with each other.
Everyone: Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
We practiced twice, and I was so impressed by how quickly the memorized their lines.
The day before the show was going to happen, Mary, our Liaison bought a Christmas tree and the 8 kids decorated it. They were SO excited and went a little crazy. I liked sharing in that moment with them because Christmas isn't something that people celebrate here really. I've helped decorate our Christmas tree ever since I can remember, but these kids did it for the first time that day. The look of excitment on their faces was priceless.
My videos wouldn't upload on here, but I uploaded them on my Facebook so you can watch them there. There are two parts because they had to pause until some important officials that were visiting the school could see them doing the play. Also, Mary was translating a little during the performance. It's all about appearances here. Here's a few pictures.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
What Should I Call This?
Gosh. Time goes by so fast.
Just yesterday I was on a plane to China, and now, in only 2 weeks, I'm going to be on a plane to America. Tomorrow, I have my last Wednesday classes ever since the next Wednesday is Christmas and our school gave us the day off. No more favorite class and no more demon class. Sad.
I'm just trying to sum up my time here. Did I do what I came here to do? Did I meet who I needed to meet? Did I act the way I should? Did I learn enough Chinese? Though I feel mostly inadequate in all those areas, especially the Chinese department, I know I learned a lot personally that will change me for the good.
I'm leaving a little frustrated by one thing though. Today in class, I was trying to explain to a very confused student why we usually say, "He IS the same age as me," instead of, "He HAS the same age as me." When I finished a probably lame attempt, he said, "Can we ask our English teacher?" I was a little surprised and said, "You don't believe me?" "No, we believe you, but we must know for the exam." It doesn't matter if I teach them something because if their Chinese English teacher teaches them differently, that's the one they will have to remember because that's the one that will be important to their grades.
Students in China are VERY focused on exams. \During a Christmas activity, I asked some kids what they would want for Christmas. Most of them mentioned passing their exams. When I asked them about their weekend today, most of them groaned and said they got their exam scores back and it was not a good weekend. Poor kids. So much pressure.
When I first got here in October, I was really worried about Christmas. I was scared I'd be really homesick and my day would be ruined. I was sad to miss out on Christmas decorations, smells, and the spirit of it all while I'm here. Luckily, China loves the commercial side of Christmas so there are Christmas trees in stores, creepy Santa signs on doors, and so many people have asked about Christmas and what we'll do while we are here. So that parts covered. I've learned that Christmas is what you make it. The decorations, the candies, and other things are all great, but not necessary. Christmas is pouring out your love to those around you, softening your heart, and most of all, remembering Christ our Savior's birth and the joy he brought into the world. You can do that in China just as easily as you can in America. Sure, I'll really miss my family and being with them, but I have Sadie, and there's a strand of Christmas lights on my bed. There won't be snow, or a tree, or even a lot of gifts, but there will be something much more precious. Family, love, and a remembrance of the Savior. I never thought I'd need a lesson like the Grinch did, and it didn't hit me as hard as it hit him, but it's true, Christmas comes all the same.
Also, this week, one of our liaisons told us we have to put on a play for some visiting teacher on Thursday. 8 of my students will be performing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. It's really cute and hopefully I get some good pictures. When they were practicing the lines, our liaison, Mary was helping them. When they came to the word unique, she told them to pronounce it sort of funny so it sounded like she said, "Rudolph is a eunuch reindeer." We corrected the pronunciation and then Mary said, "Oh! We always say it like that." Hahaha!
Merry Christmas!
Just yesterday I was on a plane to China, and now, in only 2 weeks, I'm going to be on a plane to America. Tomorrow, I have my last Wednesday classes ever since the next Wednesday is Christmas and our school gave us the day off. No more favorite class and no more demon class. Sad.
I'm just trying to sum up my time here. Did I do what I came here to do? Did I meet who I needed to meet? Did I act the way I should? Did I learn enough Chinese? Though I feel mostly inadequate in all those areas, especially the Chinese department, I know I learned a lot personally that will change me for the good.
I'm leaving a little frustrated by one thing though. Today in class, I was trying to explain to a very confused student why we usually say, "He IS the same age as me," instead of, "He HAS the same age as me." When I finished a probably lame attempt, he said, "Can we ask our English teacher?" I was a little surprised and said, "You don't believe me?" "No, we believe you, but we must know for the exam." It doesn't matter if I teach them something because if their Chinese English teacher teaches them differently, that's the one they will have to remember because that's the one that will be important to their grades.
Students in China are VERY focused on exams. \During a Christmas activity, I asked some kids what they would want for Christmas. Most of them mentioned passing their exams. When I asked them about their weekend today, most of them groaned and said they got their exam scores back and it was not a good weekend. Poor kids. So much pressure.
When I first got here in October, I was really worried about Christmas. I was scared I'd be really homesick and my day would be ruined. I was sad to miss out on Christmas decorations, smells, and the spirit of it all while I'm here. Luckily, China loves the commercial side of Christmas so there are Christmas trees in stores, creepy Santa signs on doors, and so many people have asked about Christmas and what we'll do while we are here. So that parts covered. I've learned that Christmas is what you make it. The decorations, the candies, and other things are all great, but not necessary. Christmas is pouring out your love to those around you, softening your heart, and most of all, remembering Christ our Savior's birth and the joy he brought into the world. You can do that in China just as easily as you can in America. Sure, I'll really miss my family and being with them, but I have Sadie, and there's a strand of Christmas lights on my bed. There won't be snow, or a tree, or even a lot of gifts, but there will be something much more precious. Family, love, and a remembrance of the Savior. I never thought I'd need a lesson like the Grinch did, and it didn't hit me as hard as it hit him, but it's true, Christmas comes all the same.
Also, this week, one of our liaisons told us we have to put on a play for some visiting teacher on Thursday. 8 of my students will be performing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. It's really cute and hopefully I get some good pictures. When they were practicing the lines, our liaison, Mary was helping them. When they came to the word unique, she told them to pronounce it sort of funny so it sounded like she said, "Rudolph is a eunuch reindeer." We corrected the pronunciation and then Mary said, "Oh! We always say it like that." Hahaha!
Merry Christmas!
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