Patty Stephenson Email From China
June 17, 2008
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Tue, Jun 17, 2008 2:42 am
Subject: A short report...
Ni hao!
I feel badly that I haven't had much time to write to you, but the days are long and I have so much work. Tomorrow in addition to our regular classes I have to teach some impossibly hard English to a group of Chinese high school students. One part has a reading from at article aimed at CEOs of companies, others are a little easier but the questions would be hard for American college students! I can't imagine who thinks language learners can do it, but we'll see. Even I am not absolutely sure of some of the answers to the questions... Oh well, I'll do my best. The following was written at different times, so it is somewhat disjointed, but read on if you like.
This year's kids are younger than before which makes it a easier for them to do as I say. But in the last week I have accompanied them to the doctor 4 times and made 2 trips to the hospital with the world's most immature 17 year-old. She gets literally hysterical at a touch and the words shot or blood test make her scream. Unfortunately she did dislocate a shoulder (by picking up her backpack) but she has done it before and she was able to get it back in place. But of course we had to have it checked out. Then she ate so little that the ibuprofen was her, but I didn't need this. Somehow my days are almost as long here as at home. I leave for school at 7:00 (on the school bus) and have 7:30 to 9:45 to work on line corresponding with parents, handling issues with the new group that will be coming in August, dealing with the state department, etc. I am also supposed to teach during these hours when asked and then I hope to observe a few classes. Then I am in class with
the students from 9:45 to 4:30 followed by a couple (or more) hours of work in my dorm room (which I use for the internet and when not in class but not able to go home). Last week we got home before 10:30 only twice. At home I prepare lessons and try to find time to study Chinese (the same work as the kids) plus I get to talk to Yanli, Li and little Linda.
Over the weekend I spent Saturday morning with the kids visiting the Terra Cotta Warrior Museum , then had lunch with friends and worked at school until 6:00. Then Yanli, Linda and "grandma" (who lives with us most of the time) went out to dinner for "hot pot". Sunday I spent with Fan Hui and her family. Her parents are so kind and friendly! Unfortunately I had to postpone lunch to go to the hospital again, but eventually we drove to a beautiful mountain where we saw a "zoo" of native animals including 5 pandas, a leopard, bear, golden monkeys, etc. Nearby we saw the birthplace of Mentius (one of China's 3 most famous philosophers) who founded taoism - which is basically honor the earth - called "The Way". We were able to visit the kind of monastery which was so calm and there was no one else there (a rarity in China). Of course it rained all day and it was late, but still... The views of the
mountains and the tranquility of the place were amazing. There were a number of monks/priests? there wearing traditional clothes and hairstyles - and one with his cell phone! But the older ones were also carrying things with yokes across their shoulders. It was a lovely day!
Our trip here went well in spite of the late hour of our departure (1:40 a.m.). The flight actually left on time! When we arrived in Beijing it was 5:20 a.m. meaning that immigration went quickly. We arrived in the new terminal built for the Olympics which has a tram system to deliver passengers to connecting terminals. Unfortunately at that hour we could find nobody who was able to help us figure o ut where to go. So we got on the tram anyway and the last stop turned out to be the right one. However when we got our luggage everyone got his or hers – except me. I spent about 45 minutes filling out paperwork before we continued on. We finally managed to find our gate just in time to get on a bus taking us to the On our arrival in Xi’an at 10:30 a.m. we were greeted by both Yanli and Fan Hui, plus the principal, Madame Wang (who was the one who came to our school rededication last October) and all of the host families – who each brought us gorgeous bouquets of flowers. We had time for a picture and then each one set off for their new homes.
Yanli needed to work, so I was brought to my dorm room (which I can use when I am not in class during the day) where I was able to rest until we
headed home at about 6:00 p.m. Li (Yanli’s husband) came to pick us up with the car (we usually take a bus) and we ate a delicious dinner prepared by “Grandma” - Li’s mother and Li. Linda (7 years old) came home from school and we talked together.
Yanli and Li recently moved to a new apartment which is neared the school than where they lived before – but it is not as “interesting” because it is in a new neighborhood. Their old place was right downtown. It was lively and interesting at all hours of the day with vendo rs along the streets and lots of people. It feels more like China there. However the new apartment is lovely and I have a nice room with a shared bathroom right across the hall.
The next morning we got the school bus at 7:00 a.m. Each student was delivered to his/her classroom – most being in the same class as their host brother/sister. Being in class with 55-60 students is a new experience for all! The students attend that class from 7:30-9:45 when all students report to the playground for morning exercise or other announcements by the administration. That first morning we each had to give a speech in Chinese. I spoke first and presented a representative from the Chinese Red Cross with the $800 we had collected for the victims of the earthquake. The students appreciated this gesture. Then each student introduced himself/herself in two sentences and we were done.
Our daily schedule includes the first two hours above, and then two periods of Chinese language in our own classroom before heading to lunch. After we eat the students have some free time – when they play ping-pong in our classroom or talk
For the first week the students joined me in the staff cafeteria with the Chinese students who attended school at Saugus joining us – one group the first day, and one the second day. Now the students usually get their drinks from the student cafeteria and then we eat upstairs. I hope that they begin eating with their classmates soon…
I love you all!
Patty