First an interesting side note-I totally saw a deep fried turtle on my way home from work tonight...mmmm
So I'm finally in Weifang! And I've finally begun teaching-wooooo...I guess. Today was my first day teaching, and it was extremely long. I was at work from 8:45 this morning to 8:15 at night. Granted I only taught 7.5 of those hours it was still completely and utterly tiresome. Most of my classes and students were really great, pretty much all except the first class. My first class consists of four boys ages 5-6. I'm pretty sure they are in fact demon children, except maybe Jay, he is pretty well behaved. But Blue, Black and Paul (yes they are named blue and black) are spawns of Satan. They don't listen, the run around class, yell at me in Chinese, hit each other, refuse to answer questions and slam their desk tops up and down. An hour with them feels like eternity.
My other classes have students from as young as 8 to as old as 30 something. Those classes are really fun and the kids are really cute and smart. I think I'll survive teaching as long as I continue to have those students.
My apartment in Weifang is pretty great. I have my own room with a queen size bed (which I spent almost 1,000 yuan making comfortable) but alas -I sleep like a baby. My roommate, James, has the most adorable puppy named Yumi. She is part border collie and only 6 months old. We just found out she may have parvovirus, which is often fatal so please think happy thoughts for Yumi. She is pretty much the greatest thing about Weifang, but of course I'd say that, I'm pretty much gaga when it comes to dogs.
Yumi and my room.
The living room, not bad for China.
The bathroom...notice how it's a typical Chinese bathroom with the shower head right above the toliet. No bath tub here! The washing machine is in front of the sink as well. No dryer either!!
Anyway, my living conditions are pretty good. I think I'll survive living here for a year. Oh, for everyone who believed that Chinese kids were well-behaved students. Think again. The kids we teach are from rich families that can afford to send their kids to a privately run English school and with the one-child policy that usually means that these children are INCREDIBLY SPOILED. They get away with murder and they know it. Damn the little emperor syndrome!
Wish me luck,
Bonnie
5 comments:
Sounds like you are having a blast! Keep working hard :) Send me your address! I will sent you mine from The Gambia in a few weeks when I get it! MISS YOU!
Maggie
Hey man!
So I just read your entire blog and I'm pretty much addicted. China sounds pretty awesome, and I'm kinda jealous that you're there.
Say hey to Thev and Louise for me next time you see them.
and Good luck with everything!
-Jake
your bed looks comfy!
as for dealing with devil children, i've never had any so you're on your own. when i was younger i babysat these two kids that bit me and tried to run me over with little tractor bigwheel things.
Satan spawns come in all shapes and sizes. All you really need is a policy punisher.
Showering over the toliet! I had to do that in Turkey! Miss you soo much :(( Please email me your address so I can send you love letters!!
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