Two MORE Questions for Ms. Sarah

I had two more post graduate classes, and I thought I'd share some more from their cards:

From the "About Me" section:
1. I am a shy boy and a serious boy
2. I like to watch TV (The Big Bang Theory)
3. Sometimes, I'm very lazy
4. I want to lose weight

From the "In your class, I want to learn..." section:
1. I want to learn yoga (not sure I can teach you that)
2. I want to learn how to drive a car safely (In China? Good luck)

From the "Questions for Ms. Sarah section":

Apparently, most of my students on Thursday were only interested in learning about my love life:

1. Why did you come to China? For a boyfriend? (no)
2. Are you married? (no)
3. Do you want to find a Chinese boyfriend? (no)
4. Do you want to get merry when you go back to USA? (Haha- I always want to be merry) :)
5. Do you want to marry a Chinese man? (no)
6. When will you get married? (I don't know)
7. Do you have a boyfriend? (no)
8. Do you have a boyfriend in China? (no)

Several of these were repeated on other cards. Oh my my.

And... several students asked me to sing a song for the class... Maybe one day, I'll sing the Beard Song for them. :)

Typical Bus Ride

Or, not so typical...

Today, I rode on a very crowded bus, but that is pretty normal here in Zhengzhou. Anytime I need to go to town, I take the bus (only 1 yuan vs. 40 yuan for a taxi). It takes about an hour to get where I want to be. Normally, I get a seat on the way there, since my campus is close to the start of the bus line.

Today was not one of those days. There were SO MANY people waiting at the bus stop. I wasn't in the mood to shove my way on, so I waited, and was left without a seat. Oh, well. Sometimes I prefer to stand anyway (more energy burned).

Every stop, the driver would yell in Chinese over the intercom. I have no idea what he was saying, but I assume it was something like, "Everybody cram in as tight as you can!!!"

So, I took a picture... before I was crammed even more... This was my view, from about half-way back.

Two Questions for Ms. Sarah

Yesterday, I had my first group of Post Graduates for the semester. They are great students, and all clinical medicine majors, with specialties ranging from oncology to obstetric to artificial reproduction. It should be a good year, and I am hoping to include lessons on English medical terminology and patient care in the class. I'm excited.

On the first day of my classes, I make my students fill out information cards on index cards. It has basics like their name, contact information, major, and hometown. On the back of the card, I have them list three things:

1. Two things I want to learn in this class
2. Two facts about me
3. Two questions for Ms. Sarah

Under the first section (two things I want to learn in this class), the most common responses are:
1. Better pronunciation
2. American culture
3. American medicine
Some random ones from this year:
4. I want to know some things about tennis
5. I want to understand what you said in class
6. I want to be able to speak like a Native American (that one just made me laugh... you mean Cherokee?)

Two facts about me:
1. I want to travel around the world.
2. I like delicious food.
3. I'm an introvert boy. 
4. I like swimming and sleeping.
5. I listen to music when I am happy or sad.
6. I am lively and make friends with others
7. I like English very much.
8. I like the Gossip Girl.
9. I am a girl who loves laughing.
10. I love NBA, my best star is Kobe Bryant!
11. I desire happiness and freedom in life.

Two Questions for Ms. Sarah (This is where things got interesting)
1. Why did you come to China?
2. What is your sport?
3. Do you love your job and your students? (yes yes yes)
4. Do you like Chinese food? (when it tastes good)
5. Do you have a boyfriend?
6. Would you date a Chinese man?
7. How long will you stay in China?
8. What are you fond of? stamps? music? (stamps?!?!? - so funny)
9. Do you like the weather here?
10. When are you free?
11. What is your vexation? (What? My vexation? Someone is trying to impress with the vocab)
12. Do you like anime movies?
13. Are you married?
14. What do you think of the name "Tyler"? (Umm... I think it's fine...)
15. May I be your friend?
16. Do you miss your family? (yes)
17. Can you sing a song for the class? (no)
18. Can you give me a hug?
19. Do you like to travel?

Awkward question of the day is...

20. Can I often touch you after we finish these classes?

Um... no.

I'm hoping that something was just lost in translation. They probably wanted to use the idiom "keep in touch" or something akin to that. At least, I hope so.

Not Sure How to Respond to That

I taught my first two classes of the semester this morning, and they went very well. I am happy to be back with my students, and am looking forward to teaching. I have so many new ideas, and I'm ready to use them. I will have two classes this afternoon, and I have an awesome lesson prepared!!

Oh, and there are now street vendors on campus selling pineapple on a stick!!!! What a magical place this is.

On to the main story for the day: I finish teaching and begin walking down the hallway. One of the Chinese English teachers, whom I have spoken with a few times, stops me and says, "Hello, Sarah. You are more beautiful this semester because you are thinner. It must be because you have not adapted to Chinese food."

Um... thank you???

It's funny to me that Chinese culture can be both more vague and more blunt than American culture on different matters. They are very vague when discussing plans or schedules or agreeing to do anything. On the other hand, they are very blunt when talking about weight, salary, possessions, etc. Very interesting.
 

Welcome Back

This sight greeted me yesterday as I arrived back on campus from a trip downtown:

Yes, those are blankets.

 

If you walk around campus, you will find thousands of comforters hung up in every available space. Every building is capped with them. Every grove of trees has comforters hanging from the branches. Every balcony has one hanging over the side. The students are back, and they need a clean and dry comforter! No dryers here.

Jennie in Zhengzhou

I have the most wonderful sister who traveled around the world to see me!!!

Here are some highlights from Jennie's time here:

1. Christmas

Chinese tradition is to give apples to friends on Christmas Eve. Here is my haul:

most of the apples have cool designs on them

What to do with all of these apples? Jennie and I made apple cake!!!! Yum!

On Christmas Day, 80 of my post-graduate students showed up at my apartment to wish me a Merry Christmas. They gave me a photo album with a picture from each of them and a note they had written. I cried. Then, they each wanted a picture, so Jennie and I smiled for about 80 pictures. It would have been great, if I wasn't so sick (stomach bug). But, I'm glad I stuck through.

Some of the notes that were inside:

"Dear Sarah,

You are my first foreign teacher. We love you very much for your beauty and humor. You have been a qualified teacher and even better friend. Thank you for all that you have done. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Lara"

"Dear Sarah,

I like attending your classes, and I felt very happy in your classes. You taught me cooperation and how to think. I love you. I hope that you are always leading a happy life.

Yours,
Hope"

"Dear Sarah,

Welcome to China! Merry Christmas! 

Enthusiastic, kind-hearted, patient Sarah with the brightest smile. You always see person from the best side, which makes you really beautiful. Do you think that we could be friends? Call me maybe.

Catherine"

Love them! My students are such an encouragment.

2. Cooking

I invited some of my sophomores over to cook with Jennie and I. They ended up kicking us out of the kitchen and did most of the cooking themselves. But, it was a fun time, and it gave Jennie a chance to get to know some of them. I love these girls

Jennie and I also did some cooking of our own. We made Mexican dinner for my team, and other random dishes throughout the week. Jennie is a great cook, and it was so nice to eat her yummy food (especially her famous mashed potatoes!!!)

3. Shaolin Temple

This is the birthplace of kung-fu, and is only about an hour away from where I live (though it takes a bit longer to get there using public transportation. Jennie and I had a great time exploring the sites.

4. Puzzle!

I love puzzles, and Jennie gets them as gifts for me often. She always tries to find really challenging ones. This year, she brought one for my birthday, and it was awesome. Here it is finished:

Oh, and we had hot pot!

Can you count how many layers I had on?

The Question Master

A while back, I was asked to be a judge at a Provincial-Level speech competition. That competition took place towards the end of December. I traveled to Kaifeng, expecting to judge. However, when I arrived, they told me that I was no longer going to be a judge, but instead I would be the question master. Dun Dun Dun.

Every contestant would give a prepared speech, and then an impromptu speech. I would need to ask each contestant one question after their impromptu speech. I was able to see the questions the night before, and wrote most of my follow-up questions then.

The whole weekend was interesting. I traveled with the other judges and formed some unique friendships. Here I am pictured with two of the judges:

I had the most exciting conversation with one of the judges. He asked me where I am from, and I replied, "Texas." When I say "Texas", to a someone here, the two most common responses I get are either, "Oh, that is where George Bush is from," or "Oh, that is where Sheldon (big bang theory) is from!" The first thing this man said, however, was "Oh, have you heard of a place called Lubbock?"

Squeal of excitement from me!!!!!!

Yes, I've heard of Lubbock! That is my home!!

He goes on to explain that his son is studying there, and we talk about Lubbock for the next hour. Small world. Big Father.

At the end of the competition, I was asked, once again, to give a speech. I've learned to be expecting this, so I had something prepared. It is a little bit intimidating giving a speech at a speech competition, but I felt confident.  The Father must be preparing me for something with all the speeches I'm having to give while living here.

My seat, front and center, with the microphone. Sometimes, I step back and say, "Is this really my life?"

To top it all off, I received a free ride to the airport to pick up my sister, and a free ride back to campus. The Father is good!

The winners!!