5 best moments of my day

1. A student telling me he passed his CET4 English Exam, after the 5^th try. He bought me ice cream to say thank you for helping him speak English more confidently.

2. Getting a beautiful email from a previous student Emma, who told me she missed my classes and that she took my advice about how to maintain her English.

3. Telling a student I have English corner the next teaching hour, and seeing him bolt to the front desk to get a token for my class.

4. A while back, a student by the name of “Joy” and I were discussing HIS (yes, a guy!) name and I suggested that perhaps he think about changing it to a more suitable male name (*when in my life would I actually have the chance to do this? Change someone’s name?! That is insane. That is China) Anyways, I had later suggested the name of “Josh,” as it sounded similar to his Chinese name. He looked a little hesitant and said he would think about it. A few days after that, he informed me that he not only changed his name to Josh, but he got a new name plate on his office door and new business cards made up for himself. He politely handed me his new card, to which I accepted (in the Chinese way) with both hands.

5.English Corner. I gave the students 15 random pictures of men and women of different races, varying appearances and styles. Each group was handed questions to answer about these people. Eg. “Who would you hire for a job? Who would you go on a date with? Who would you talk to on the subway? Who is most likely to be married? Who looks the most trustworthy?” etc. I wanted them to answer the questions, based solely on the people’s appearance. We got into a very heated discussion about the information we use on a person’s face and appearance to make our decision about their identity. Apparently, "all foreigners are untrustworthy" and “an ugly man is not allowed to have children”

Solid gold.

reflections on second person

This week in my English corner I was discussing with the students, “If you could do anything you wanted, what would be your dream job?”

Now, one thing I’m learning about Chinese culture is that there seems to be little chance or space for imagination, without the practicality of money, their parent’s expectations or societies demands, seemingly getting in the way. As I sat there and talked with this group of eight students, I sensed there was a light that went off in each of them. Dim, yet still present. I knew this would be a challenge for them to articulate something that maybe they have never really discussed before. Here are the most beautiful answers I got from them:

“I would love to be a travel journalist”

“A farmer on an organic field.”

“An artist.”

“I want to be some one who judges food (a food critic)”

“I would absolutely love to be a Chinese art restorer.”


“An English teacher”

“A musician”

I think in Western society, a lot of these could be very well possible. In China, they are almost next to impossible for reasons that Western young people don’t even need to consider. After class, one of the students told me that it was really hard for her to express what she truly wanted or desired so candidly. Recently, in my classes I have noticed a trend in the way students express themselves.

I say, “Imagine you are a _______, what would you do?” Usually the answer comes in 1st person. Eg. I would/I could…etc.

In China, most students answer in 2nd person. “You would be able to/You can…” In class, I constantly find myself reminding them to say, “I.” This is no fault of their own, it is simple the Chinese way. Thinking of the group before thinking of themselves. I could talk until I’m blue in the face about this, but I’ve learned that I need to meet the students where they are at, and encourage them in what they are capable of doing. Also, I want to challenge them to develop their own thinking. Then again, I need to realize I’m not set out to change them, I first need to understand them, and understand myself.

I loved this English Corner the other night. The students and I somehow found a middle ground between each other. I love my job and the things I am caused to consider because of it.

Hi everyone. Just to let you all know, I still don’t have access to facebook. The reason you will be getting my blog posts on facebook is cause my blogger works with my facebook account. I don’t know when I will be back. This is the joy (sense my sarcasm) of living in China. I can't really give more details. Feel free to email me at jane.eleanor.jeanette@gmail.com if you want to keep in touch for now. I miss updating you on the funny little things that happen in my day to day life here. But, you can also check out my blog and pictures at www.myfeetandi.blogspot.com. I try to update this as often as I can!

diamond in the rough

I’m watching a show on tv at the moment, about a place a travelled to a few months ago – Xinjiang. I can’t believe I went there. The host is visiting the Uyghur minority families, dancing with the women, walking through the ancient city of Jiao He in the desert (the largest earth built city in the world), and visiting the drying houses for the grapes in Turpan. My eyes are locked to this screen. There is such a weight in my heart for this place, and I experienced many of the same things. Seeing generations living together, hearing a different language in my ear, smell bbq mutton on the streets, hearing beautiful Muslim music from people’s homes and being welcomed people I had only known for about 5 minutes.

I remember at how engaging and hospitable the Uyghr were to my friends and I. A diamond in the rough of China. I feel like this is what travel does to me. It makes my heart ache for places I have been, and almost homesick for places I haven’t been to yet. There is something continually that draws me in about this country. I think travel is one of those things that gives me the greatest feeling of timelessness. Moments pass slower and faster at once. You become more of who you are and nothing matters but finding those places you know will be etched in your mind forever.