If I had any hesitations about going to SISU or even coming to China, they have completely vanished. I am very happy here and have completely settled into a routine. I am in three challenging class which focus one reading and writing, speaking, and grammar. All three combined, push me to learn and apply the language to my all-encompassing “real-life” classroom. I have found that getting around is easier; I am not as timid as I used to be, and I am able to better communicate and further conversation with my flat-mates, who have turned out to be just wonderful. I could not have ended up with a better couple.
Living in Shanghai and enrolling at the University has opened up many opportunities such as going to the World Expo for half price, taking elective classes in paper-cutting art and calligraphy, which I have yet to start, and meeting other international students. The other opportunity that I mentioned in a previous e-mail is being able to earn some money by teaching two Oral English, first year college classes, which has turned out to be more fun then I expected. There have certainly been some highs and lows but overall, things are going really well and I am very happy. Here are some of my stories.
Wednesday September 15th. I wake up as usual at 7:00am and like every other morning am dressed and out the door within half an hour. I walk into the elevator crowded with scooters, bags, people, children etc., stand awkwardly in silence for 30 seconds and rush out as soon as the doors open. I then turn the corner and head for the local 包子管（baoziguan) dumpling stand, pay 2 元 - 0.30$ for breakfast, and start my morning trot towards my campus. I get to class right on time and am ready to learn. However today, half way through class, a faint pain starts in my lower abdominal area. Familiar with this monthly occurrence, I reach into my bag for Advil and…oh crap, I don’t have any. “Oh well” I think, “It can’t get too bad, I will just stick it out. If I focus hard enough on the new grammar structures, I should be just fine. Mind over body, mind over body, mind over body…”
Ten minutes later, my body has decided to assert itself in full force, so much so that the rule explaining why “the structure particle “地“(de) is not used when the monosyllabic adjective modifies the verb…” isn’t even able to make it through one ear, never mind out the other. I decided to excuse myself from the class and walk around to see if movement would alleviate the pain. In doing so, I passed by what looked like and office with, women! Assuming that cramps were common amongst all women, I figured that at least one of them carried some kind of painkiller. In my disheveled state, I forgot that I was no longer in the U.S. where everyone walks around with pills, and that I was in a country were apparently women do not use tampons, nor do they experience severe discomfort every month.
Trying to describe what was wrong with me without making them think that I needed to go to the hospital, or that I was insane, must have been a sight. I kept on pointing at the space between my legs, grimacing formulating the phrase “every month, women’s problem!” in broken Chinese, and then pinching my fingers and pretending to eat something and then pointing back between my legs and smiling! Then I tried in English and with the combination of both languages, they finally understood. My relief was short lived when no one said that they had anything except hot water. The youngest girl seeing my face suggested she go with me to the nurse. “No, no, no, um…no need. Um… can I just rest here for a few minutes?” She nodded.
Lying on the couch in the corner of the room, doubled over, tears streaming down my face, feeling embarrassed and foolish for not being better prepared, was a new low. When the hot water had no effect, I finally decided to go to the nurse. The young girl who kept peering at me from over the desk kindly escorted me. When I finally got to see someone, I went through a whole ordeal about explaining that the pains were normal and that all I needed was a painkiller. Fortunately, while shifting through his cupboard, a small box with pain relief diagrams fell out and I jumped and said “This! This is what I need!” So, he gave me the box and that pill was down my throat faster then you can say IBprophin. Now emotionally relieved, I thanked the nurse and headed back to class. Before I leave the building however, I am stopped by the clerk and am charged 20元。Twenty yuan for a pill! I pay and with my head hung low, I hobble back to class, which is over by now, collect my things and head back home. Not a good day.
Thursday, September 16th however, was a very different day. First off, it was pain free so I was able to focus in class. It was also the day that I taught my two freshmen Oral English classes for the first time. At the beginning of the first and the second class I gave every student an English. A side note to parents, if you thought that naming one, two, three, even four kids was hard, try giving 35 Chinese students English names that sound similar to their native ones. Not easy, but certainly a lot of fun. In fact, I think the students in both the first and the second class enjoyed themselves and were pleased with my teaching style. The teacher-student dynamic was good, aside from certain cheeky personalities, and teaching the material came quite naturally to me, which I was grateful for, especially since in the second class I had to keep the students focused on the material rather than on my skirt. Oh, did I mention that the second class was almost all boys? Rambunctious, sassy, horny, self-aware, teenage boys? Yes, that’s right, and believe me, I know they were very pleased to have me as their teacher.
When I entered the room to teach my second class, all the students were sitting at the front, ogling me like they had never seen a western woman before. While trying to ignore this slightly voyeuristic behavior, I started the class the same way I had the previous one: with names and introductions. One exercise that my oral Chinese teacher did which helped us to loosen up, was to get us to ask her questions so that we not only got to know her better, but we also practiced our speaking skills. Since this exercise worked so well for us, and worked well for my first class, I thought that it would be a good idea to do the same for the second class.
The enthusiasm was not lacking however, as soon as questions such as “do you have a boyfriend?”, “are you married?”, “how old are you?” and “do you like Chinese men?” followed by hysterical laughter were asked, I realized I should have phrased “you can ask me anything”, to “you may ask me any question from the textbook”. A worthy note to make for the future. In an attempt to not let them get carried away, while trying not to crush the excited level of participation, I evaded each question conservatively and moved on to the next exercise. Unfortunately every other exercise carried the same tone and it was a challenge to keep them focused, although I think they actually did learn something. If anything, they know how to get a girls’ number.
The four boys at the front were particularly noisy and as I walked up to them during a group exercise, I noticed them hustled around a piece of paper. When I got closer and saw the contents, I snatched it up and told them to come and see me after class. In case you are as curious as I was, here is what was written:
“Do you find a Chinese boy for your boyfriend?”, “Do you want to marry to a Chinese boys?”, “Do you want set up a family in China?” and “What is your telephone number?”
To top it off, there was a poorly drawn sketch of what looked like me.
As they approached me at the end of class, I was very clear with them that this kind of behavior was unacceptable and that if they did it again, I would make them leave my class. Although I was stern, I also didn’t want to be hated in the first class. So, my words went something like this:
“This is unacceptable! Not good! I am your teacher. I am here to teach you English, not be your girlfriend. I am very happy that you ask me a lot of questions but these questions are not good. If you do this again, you leave my class. Ting Dong le ma? Do you understand? Good, alright, see you next week”.
“Sorry teacher, sorry teacher” they kept saying and then finally left giggling harmlessly into the hallway. The minute they left, I myself burst into laughter. Knowing where they were coming from, I hadn’t actually been offended. If anything is was a nice change from being called fat by my former acquaintance. However, I still wanted to assert myself as their teacher. But really, I found it rather endearing, and above all, so hilarious I couldn’t help but laugh the whole way home.
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