As you might have read, our timetables were changed mid-week, which threw us a bit of a curve ball. It meant that the classes we had already taught we would teach again today - which made for some frantic lesson planning! Being first time teachers and having to come up with all our own material is very draining, but we will start to stockpile some lessons so that we have minimal preparation during the week. So we gave our classes a "filler" class today so that the others can catch up next week. Marcus found a great lesson plan on the internet, which we basically just copied and it worked pretty well. Well...when I say it worked well, it worked in the classes that are the good kids! We each seem to have a fairly even match of great classes, ok classes and downright ugly classes! My first class today was involved, and whilst I struggled a bit to fill the time at the end, I did ok. Second class - messy! The kids were noisy and disruptive and I had whole groups who just didn't want to say a thing. In the end you just sort of have to be a bit pushy and make them, which I don't like doing, but eventually you get something out of them, even if it is undecipheralbe, or like in this class, where I had 8 (count them 8) boys in a row tell me that the only thing they learnt about another student was that they loved the teacher (aka me). This grew old very quickly, let me tell you. However, it seemingly didn't grow old for the students, who laughed hysterically each time.
But my last class for today is my fave so far, Class 2 and they are little gems! All of them are interested, even the cheeky ones, they all speak, if things start getting too noisy the other kids tell the noisy ones to be quiet...they really are a dream class. So much so that I let them go a couple of minutes early (it is Friday after all!) and I think they will love me forever more because of it. There is one boy in this class who is fantastic - I seriously think he must have been put ahead by a year or two because he is TINY! I can't even tell you how cute this boy is, he is just adorable and he sits right at the front next to my desk so I enjoy watching him!
Mr Pan has been popping in and out of our days the last couple of days. He was there when we signed our contracts, thankfully as he really is the only person in a level of "power" who I completely trust so far. Whilst I'm sure the other guys are fine, Mr Pan (as it was explained to us by Raymen) is responsible for our lives...and I'm quite happy to put my life in his hands! He is a genuinely happy, honest man and just continues to do so much for us and is constantly thinking of us. After we signed our contracts yesterday, we took a visit to the school nurse (nurse my foot! Try woman in office) to get me some cough medicine. I left with golden throat lozengers of which you will see the picture below. Obviously the doctor looking guy is supposed to make them look very official. We then went to the Finance Department to receive our first monthly pay, which I thought was very nice of them as I had assumed we would be paid after a month had gone by. This was such an embarassing situation, considering how much we get paid. Other teachers were receiving their salaries too, and it was so difficult accepting this huge wad of cash when we know that it would take 2 or 3 months for them to earn the equivalent.
Then onward to phone shopping! Yup, we finally got our hands on some Chinese "cell phones" and what a wacky experience this was. We spent probably just over an hour in China Mobile with Mr Pan, and even now we have no idea what we signed up for or how any of it works! We had the choice of two deals - a) we could pay 300 yuan and buy a simcard with a certain amount of credit on it, or b) we could pay 700 yuan and get a nokia phone, a simcard, a certain amount of credit and....bicycles?? Yes...not a day goes by where we are not utterly confused by our surroundings or interactions! So we toss up what to do and figure what the heck, let's get some bikes! Might I add, Mr Pan was pushing for the bike option so that I could ride to the shops when I go to buy our groceries rather than carrying them back. I tried to explain that Marcus could also buy groceries but I think the concept was lost in translation ;-)
So like I said, what felt like days passed as a million forms were printed, signed, examined, re-examined, stamped, phone numbers chosen (hopefully Mr Pan chose auspicious ones for us!) and passports copied. Finally we were presented with our phones..bikes naturally...and the ultimate part of the phone deal....4 litres of laundry detergent?!?
It is at this point that I come to the title of my post "Yes, No and Definately Maybe". I have officially given up on the idea of ever understanding China, it's logic or it's people! The most used word I have heard since arriving has been "maybe". They must learn it as their first English word. Everything is coupled with a maybe. As in:
"Yes, you catch bus #80 to city....maybe."
"Yes this is pork...maybe."
"You have textbook to work from...maybe."
"No, you wont have taught these kids before...maybe."
I am slowly learning that any seemingly affirmative statement, that is followed by a maybe, is most definately incorrect!
Whilst we have been here such a short time, I find myself making judgements on people, places and cultural differences. It's hard not to judge what goes on around you when you are totally immersed in a new culture that you will be surrounded by for quite a long time. And I don't remember being so quick to judge or label when I have previously been overseas...maybe (there's that word again!) because previously I have been in holiday mode, or because I have only spent limited time in each place I've visited, I don't know what it is, but I find myself more hesitant in this country than I have before. For the first time I feel really really far away from home, I think because I know we wont just be away for a few weeks, and Marcus and I are really relying on each other for basically everything at the moment.
The Chinese people fascinate me, as much as I fascinate them. I really don't know whether we will get to the end of the year and have much more of an insight into them than we do now. Obviously we will make friends and socialise with people (hopefully other than just poor Mr Pan all the time!) but I wonder exactly how much we will be allowed in to their thoughts and culture. Their culture seems so intricate and difficult to understand, the people so drilled to be perfect and fine that I don't know whether they will truly open up to us. I'm sure some will along the way, but I think a lot will remain somewhat guarded.
I am constantly humbled walking around the streets. People here either have so much, or so very very little. Even though I try to live the best way I can in Australia and be aware of all social and environmental causes, things here are on such a different scale and I am constantly amazed by how little people have, yet how...either happy they are, or how resigned they are to their lives. Family is everything here, and you really get a sense of that from the people. It really is an eye opener, and whilst I'm sure we will return to Australia and continue life as we have, I hope that the experiences we have in this country will stay permanently in our minds.
Speaking of experiences, we really are having some great ones! Whilst it has been hard, and the teaching frustrating, we are still so amazed that we are actually in CHINA, doing what we spoke about for so long. We have so much that we want to see and do here, every day is a new challenge at the moment, and I fear that every day in China will be a challenge! But things are on the up. Tomorrow will be spent exploring the glorious city of Wuxi some more ;-) Then next weekend we are planning to get down to Shanghai -that I can't wait for! Time to start using Wuxi as our base, and exploring what is around us.
On a final funny note, I finally managed to find a bottle of body lotion, as I didn't bring any with me. Every single moisturiser has "whitener" in it. I am not kidding! Everybody here wants to be white, like everyone at home wants to be dark! So..I am experiementing with my new Shanghai Soft and White lotion, to see how long it takes me to look like one of those fascinating white foreigners...oh wait! I already am one!
Have a great weekend all, speak soon =)
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