Well it’s been quite a week again! We left home a month ago today! In some ways it seems much, much longer. I am now becoming familiar with  all the confusion, the  lack of understanding (my lack), and the rich, pungent smells and sounds of a foreign city!

I must say I love living in the middle of a busy metropolis – yes there are lots of honking horns, etc., but it’s life!  People seem to be “happy”, and  I know that sounds trite, but we sense a  contentment  and enjoyment of life, the driving materialism in modern China not withstanding. If you smile at people, they always smile back!  We are fortunate that our bedroom faces an inner courtyard, which is fairly quiet so  there’s no excessive noise.

The highlight for me this week was meeting my English students for the first time. My first class was on Tuesday, and I had 30  eager, expectant faces looking at me, and wanting me to produce for 90 minutes! Sometimes they say things which take me aback – how do I respond to ” We are so happy to meet you, and you are so much more glamorous than we thought you would be”.  Really? Glamorous? I wonder what they were expecting!!

 Then on Thursday, I was anticipating to meet the same 30 students, but instead I had 40 new ones! Apparently the 30 on Tuesday had enjoyed it so much, that a whole new batch of students went to the administration, requesting to take my course.So  on Thursday I was greeted with 40 new students! The administration decided that they would make 2 classes  because of the high numbers, so the students could only come once a week instead of 2 times as they were expecting.
  I can’t begin to tell you what a rich experience this is turning out to be – and I’ve only had 2 classes! The students are all post graduate, quite a few painters, some of  them are traditional chinese painters, some modern,  a number of design students drama (actors) students, composers, pianists, singers etc. Their knowledge of the English language is all over the map, but they are all eager to learn. But really, I am the one who is learning so much. It’s a conversational class. We talk about everything under the sun.

 They are all without exception, from a one child family. Shocked when they learn I have 3 children. I asked them, so what happens if there is an “accident” and your parents have another child. They said there is very harsh punishment, and “you don’t want to know”. I didn’t pursue that any further! They have many questions, and the trick is to redirect the questions to them and get them talking.

Most of the students have English names which they have chosen for themselves. A few said they had an English name but couldn’t remember it because they never used it!  One of the sweet shy girls asked if I would give her an English name – what an honour and responsibility. So next week I have to have a name for her. I must mention Candy. When I asked her why she named herself Candy, she said, because candy is sweet, and children love candy, and I want to be teacher to sweet children!  Very sweet indeed!

As I said we cover many topics. We talked about important events that happened in the world, and one of the events that was mentioned was the tsunami last year in Japan. They all agreed that it was horrific, but one girl  was vehemently outspoken saying she didn’t feel sorry for the Japanese, because they had tortured and killed her great grandmother in the Chinese Japanese war. Whew!  Next topic!!

We talked about travel, and where would they like to travel if they could go anywhere in the world. Surprisingly, (or maybe not), very few wanted to go to North America. Mostly, it doesn’t register on their  radar! I was deeply moved by one young design student who, when asked where he would most like to travel in the world, he said in a very halting English, he would like to travel in “time” he wanted to study “human, and Why am I”. And he pointed to his head and said ” I can’t say word”. And I said, so you would like to study philosophy, and he jumped up, and said “yes, I could not think of word”! 

There are many hilarious moments of “misunderstanding”, and we all have a good laugh about it and carry on. They are all very respectful, always stand up when they answer a question, and many come and shake my hand after the class, and thank me. I am totally exhausted, but exhilarated after such a session, and on Thursday I pretty well lost my voice!

We are eagerly anticipating our first Canadian guests this weekend – it will be wonderful to see  familiar faces, even though they are staying for only a very short time.
I do miss my friends and familiar things, but I feel so very fortunate in experiencing this baffling, not always easy, but exotic and endlessly stimulating  world!

Love to all,
Maggie.