What a day!

First of all, we woke up at 7:00am. Almost an hour before we usually 

do. We were going to breakfast at about 7:33am and Tim, the 

coordinator, called Kim, my headteacher, to say that we needed to be 

at his office at 20 mins till 8. Kim said, "sorry we are going to 

breakfast and be there as soon as we can." she was still not excited 

about the speech she was going to have to give. Who would be when 

they were just informed the night before that there was even going 

to be an awards assembly for the teachers at Mayflora School? She 

didn't memorize the speech but she did fix the Chenglish. After 

breakfast, we went straight to his office, all dressed up as we were 

instructed. Kim practiced her speech with her 15 year old Chinese 

translator. The girl was a doll. She translated Kim's speech into 

Chinese so the rest of the school would understand. (Kim read a line, 

then the girl translated, then Kim, then Chinese. Back and forth 

until the speech was over. It was only a couple minutes long so that 

was good!!) 

Our Dear Tim

We filled into the gymnasium with "some of the students" from each

class (k-12) and teachers. Since we are teachers and obviously 

*special*, we got to sit on stools. While all the students sat on 

the floor. When it was Kim's turn, I recorded it. The assembly 

itself was... Well as exciting as most of my high school assemblies

...not very. Then to top it off- I couldn't understand what they 

were saying and I didn't have that attitude of "well at least we get 

out of class". Instead I yearned for my firm but WARM bed back in my 

apartment. As it lead on, I began to wonder if my toes would turn 

into Popsicles and they would serve them at our next meal. I tried 

to sit up straight and set an example for the students. The relief 

that came when kids and adults started standing and turning toward 

the back of the gym, was overwhelming. I gladly stood up and began 

to walk. Oh what pain it brought me! My feet were so cold, it 

literally hurt to walk. It was like needles slicing into my precious 

feet. The apartment seemed like an eternity away! 
 
Not to mention that while we were heading that way, I found out I 

would be teaching an ELE class( which are older students) earlier 

than originally planned. I figured, schedules change. Especially 

with assemblies and what not. 
 
Oh I forgot how crazy this day was until now. 
 
So as we returned to our humble foreign abode, I simply lied in bed 

and stuck my earphones in. I listened to dance music and I do 

believe my mind was running the whole time but I can't remember 

because I started to drift off. Alas, there was a knock at my door 

only 54 minutes later. Which seemed but a very small moment. I 

wheeled myself to get up and out the door. 
 
Angel, Kim, and I went towards the class I was going to teach. I was 

unprepared and had no idea what to expect. I was hoping for 

talkative kids and some getting-to-know-you ideas. Yet, I couldn't 

be more unprepared for what Angel had in store. She saw the book I 

was carrying and realize it was for 7th graders. Which was my ELE 

class. Apparently, Tim had added yet another class to our schedule 

and they were (what we expect might be) 9th graders. I decided not 

to be too worried, if they were older they could speak more English,

right? 
 
Wrong. The class wouldn't speak a word. I couldn't tell if they were 

just trying with all their might not to not talk to the American 

English teacher or they just didn't understand me. I'm guessing the 

first though because I looked over their books and they looked 

pretty advanced for English students and they were acting ...teenage. 

I was frustrated as all get out. At some point, I think Angel told 

Kim that I could just read the vocabulary and show them how to say 

it. I did that. They repeated each word. Then...
 
Silence. 
 
I was relieved when the bell rang and class was over. Angel was not 

happy with the students either. She said they were very bad and that 

she would talk to the head master. Kim says we won't teach that 

class. Thank goodness! What a disaster! 
 
I was just about to crawl back into dreaming about my bed when Kim 

mentioned my REAL/original 7th grade class. Oh yeah, had to teach 

that one in 10 mins. Great. 
 
We walked down some steps, across a walk way, and down a hall. 7th 

grade, was much better. They were just learning some basic things 

-where people live, likes,dislikes, and so on. So it was perfect. I 

learned all of their names (English names) and talk about siblings. 

Then we talked about food. Not bad. 
 
There wasn't much time to rest but I still wrapped my one 

comforter/blanket around myself and warmed my body before going to 

lunch. Lunch was good. This time there really were Lima beans! 

Delicious! Along with good sliced potatoes, spicy cucumbers, and 

rice ;) 
 
You thought my day was over. Nope. I slept back in bed and wished we 

could do what the Chinese have been doing and suddenly change our 

schedule. As in, tell them I just wasn't going to teach today 

because at this point, we still hadn't taught our regular youngsters. 
 
I picked the easiest to prepare for lesson and went to face the 

music. Five classes later, exhaustion was setting in. They weren't 

their worst today or their best. I still ran around grabbing them by their coats,

trying to keep them from touching things, from touching each other, 

being bewildered when they honestly wouldn't do anything at all, and 

yelling because the classes echo and I'm competing with 4-8 other 

voices and more if there are random Chinese teachers just in there 

talking to each other. Welcome to ILP in Linchuan Mayflora School. :) 

yet, the kids can be adorable and some kids are really trying. 

Sometimes they enjoy the activity and cooperate. There is however, 

another factor of tokens but I think I've gone on long enough. 
 
Dinner was basically cooked cabbage, cooked greasy carrots, and rice. 

Meager but I kept going back for more carrots. 
 
Now I must do lesson plans that are due tomorrow night and hope it 

all goes well.