Lack of updates can be attributed to the fact that I'm sick, and not spending any time with my little elves. I'm a little worried, they've been through so much chaos, me being their 4th teacher this year. I assured the parents some consistency from now on.
Cup of Joe saved my life this morning though. I was out of town this weekend so my apartment wasn't exactly stalked with food. Erich delivered breakfast and REAL orange juice!!! Vitamin C - ing it up here in the apartment!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Poppy
Thankfully, most of my kiddos, or as my mom calls them, elves (for ELLs), are picking up English very quickly. I have one however who will repeat any gobbledegook he hears, no matter what language, without actually understanding the meaning of what he is saying. He's my little parrot. So this is happened.
Elf: "Book?" *Points to book with cars on it.*
Me: "Yes, this is a racecar book. The cars are in a race to see who will win."
Elf: "Please?" (read me the book)
Me: *Reads the book while elf watching pictures*
Elf: When the book was done, he's so excited he prances around holding up the book saying, "Racecar, racecar, racecar!"
Parrot: *Grabs a world atlas and follows the elf* "Racecar, racecar, racecar!"
Me: "This is a book, say 'book'"
Parrot: *Offers me the book to read* "Racecar!"
Awesome.
This is our classroom monster named, Poppy. In the spirit of classroom management, students tend to get along better when they create something together. And while we're singing "Head, shoulders, knees and toes" we might as well get something out of that vocabulary. So I had them create a monster. They decided how many eyes, hands, legs, and the expression Poppy should have on his face (angry of course, their favorite word). Then I had them create where Poppy lived, apparently under the sea with the sharks. The most amazing thing is that they LOVE Poppy. So I actually got them to play Simon says with the version, "Poppy says ... " And Poppy is also our moral compass. "Would Poppy be running in the classroom?" ... So it's turned into "What would Poppy do?"
And now on a completely unrelated note ... it is finally time for me to possibly try plugging in my camera. It's about to die, but I've been holding out for this moment because I don't want to fry it in the socket. Then I would have no camera at all (same result if the battery dies I guess). So I was talking to my TA and she said she'd look at it to see if she could tell if the voltage would be compatible. Wouldn't you know, she starts cracking up and shows me, "Made in China". Of course it is. But will it work in China ... ????????
Also, as a sign of how much I would REALLY like my body to adjust to the time zone difference, yesterday I tried putting body wash in my hair as conditioner. And this morning I tried to put my contacts in while still wearing my glasses. Time to adjust and no longer be groggy!!!
Elf: "Book?" *Points to book with cars on it.*
Me: "Yes, this is a racecar book. The cars are in a race to see who will win."
Elf: "Please?" (read me the book)
Me: *Reads the book while elf watching pictures*
Elf: When the book was done, he's so excited he prances around holding up the book saying, "Racecar, racecar, racecar!"
Parrot: *Grabs a world atlas and follows the elf* "Racecar, racecar, racecar!"
Me: "This is a book, say 'book'"
Parrot: *Offers me the book to read* "Racecar!"
Awesome.
And now on a completely unrelated note ... it is finally time for me to possibly try plugging in my camera. It's about to die, but I've been holding out for this moment because I don't want to fry it in the socket. Then I would have no camera at all (same result if the battery dies I guess). So I was talking to my TA and she said she'd look at it to see if she could tell if the voltage would be compatible. Wouldn't you know, she starts cracking up and shows me, "Made in China". Of course it is. But will it work in China ... ????????
Also, as a sign of how much I would REALLY like my body to adjust to the time zone difference, yesterday I tried putting body wash in my hair as conditioner. And this morning I tried to put my contacts in while still wearing my glasses. Time to adjust and no longer be groggy!!!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
The Ghetto Blaster
So the ghetto blaster, they weren't kidding!! Up here on the 12th floor with the windows closed, I can hear the music. And I can understand the lyrics in English!! It's like 90's pop music.
I think everyone knows that the Chinese stare at us foreigners with our very white skin and our very different hair. But one day when Dana and I were walking through the apartment complex, there was a man walking backwards about 20 yards ahead of us. I know they like to look, but this seems a little extreme. Apparently, he wasn't actually doing it to stare. Dana says a lot of the Chinese in our complex go for evening walks in the gardens, but they have this thing with balance. So on the first half of the walk, they walk normal, and on their way back, they just reverse the whole process.
The school made me 2 giant stacks of business cards. So I am now official! I just don't know what I would do with business cards ...
I taught one of my TAs the words "cranky" and "grumpy" today because some of the kiddos have been way oversleeping nap time, and I get the unhappy consequences. She finally told me that I've been coming in to wake them a full 15 minutes before they're used to. This has been going on for a week and a half!!! Whoops ...
Today was just too perfect. This morning at work time, two of my kiddos decided to dress up as a police officer and a firefighter. They then proceded to hold hands and skip around the classroom. Enter our damsel in distress. My little chica dressed as Snow White noticed a centipede in the classroom and said "Uh oh!". My TA Alice tried squeamishly stepping on it five times, but to no avail. The thing still wriggled. So she went to fetch my other TA. I took the hard police hat (riot police maybe???) and put it on top, like trapping a spider, and waited for my superhero TAs. At first my little firefighter was very upset that his police officer buddy didn't have a hat and he kept trying to pick it up. But then he followed my lead and stood guard over the hat and directed students around it like a traffic cop. Jean came back with a broom and dust pan, and all 3 of us adult women (Alice, Jean, and I) jumped and squeaked everytime Jean made an attempt to sweep the centipede up. Maybe we would've felt braver if we had police and firefighter costumes.
 |
| The "ballroom" dancers. Kind of like Zumba. I'm not sure where the ghetto blaster is. |
 |
| Beilun at night. You can see the dancers on the bball courts. |
The school made me 2 giant stacks of business cards. So I am now official! I just don't know what I would do with business cards ...
I taught one of my TAs the words "cranky" and "grumpy" today because some of the kiddos have been way oversleeping nap time, and I get the unhappy consequences. She finally told me that I've been coming in to wake them a full 15 minutes before they're used to. This has been going on for a week and a half!!! Whoops ...
Today was just too perfect. This morning at work time, two of my kiddos decided to dress up as a police officer and a firefighter. They then proceded to hold hands and skip around the classroom. Enter our damsel in distress. My little chica dressed as Snow White noticed a centipede in the classroom and said "Uh oh!". My TA Alice tried squeamishly stepping on it five times, but to no avail. The thing still wriggled. So she went to fetch my other TA. I took the hard police hat (riot police maybe???) and put it on top, like trapping a spider, and waited for my superhero TAs. At first my little firefighter was very upset that his police officer buddy didn't have a hat and he kept trying to pick it up. But then he followed my lead and stood guard over the hat and directed students around it like a traffic cop. Jean came back with a broom and dust pan, and all 3 of us adult women (Alice, Jean, and I) jumped and squeaked everytime Jean made an attempt to sweep the centipede up. Maybe we would've felt braver if we had police and firefighter costumes.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
The Apartment
As promised, pictures of the apartment. But first, I just have to brag a little bit. I was soooooooooooooooooooooo excited when I heard that one of my TAs was spreading some good news about the nursery. I guess she was talking to one of the parents who knew the class, and said the kids had a really good day and she was very impressed, things are improving.
I'm SOOOOOOO excited.
It's nice to get good feedback because these kids have been labeled as trouble makers who are on the verge of getting kicked out of the school. Which should so not be the case. When we went into the school production of Cinderella, the headmaster told me no one would think badly if I had to sneak the kids out in the middle of the performance, if they couldn't handle it. Boy did he have the look of surprise when he saw me walking out with them at the end of the performance with everyone else :)
And Ariana gave me the best compliment ever, the kiddos were so quiet in the theater, she didn't even know that we attended. That's right, we're that sneaky and quiet!
Okay, it's not perfect. It's not as clean as I'd like. And yes, I know I need some artwork for the walls and stuff. But here goes ...
This is my living room. The far window is where Skeeter, my new bug friend, is supposed to live. As far as I know he's still hiding behind the air conditioner in the corner.
Another view of the living room. Pinochle cards just waiting to be played with!! The far two doors are the guest bedroom and 2nd bathroom.
The dining room table. It's still full of miscellaneous things that Dana and Ariana left for me. I just haven't had the chance to go through it all.
The study. I'm not really sure what to do with this room.
The kitchen :) with the baby oven, the first year the teachers have had ovens in the apartments. Too bad no one bakes here and I can't even find flour! I did find a substitute pan for the brownie mix though!
My gigantic bed. I've only ever had a twin size, or dorm beds. So I feel like I'm swimming in this one.
Bathroom and mini closet situation. I love the full length mirror that pops out of the closet. You can't see the bath tub.
I'm SOOOOOOO excited.
It's nice to get good feedback because these kids have been labeled as trouble makers who are on the verge of getting kicked out of the school. Which should so not be the case. When we went into the school production of Cinderella, the headmaster told me no one would think badly if I had to sneak the kids out in the middle of the performance, if they couldn't handle it. Boy did he have the look of surprise when he saw me walking out with them at the end of the performance with everyone else :)
And Ariana gave me the best compliment ever, the kiddos were so quiet in the theater, she didn't even know that we attended. That's right, we're that sneaky and quiet!
Okay, it's not perfect. It's not as clean as I'd like. And yes, I know I need some artwork for the walls and stuff. But here goes ...
This is my living room. The far window is where Skeeter, my new bug friend, is supposed to live. As far as I know he's still hiding behind the air conditioner in the corner.
Another view of the living room. Pinochle cards just waiting to be played with!! The far two doors are the guest bedroom and 2nd bathroom.
The dining room table. It's still full of miscellaneous things that Dana and Ariana left for me. I just haven't had the chance to go through it all.
The study. I'm not really sure what to do with this room.
The kitchen :) with the baby oven, the first year the teachers have had ovens in the apartments. Too bad no one bakes here and I can't even find flour! I did find a substitute pan for the brownie mix though!
My gigantic bed. I've only ever had a twin size, or dorm beds. So I feel like I'm swimming in this one.
Bathroom and mini closet situation. I love the full length mirror that pops out of the closet. You can't see the bath tub.
My New Friend
Dad can attest to how loud my scream was. We were skyping when I noticed him crawling on my pillow an inch from my arm. He did not stay on the window sill according to our agreement to peacefully live in the same space! Once I had collected myself I found him on my purse. I think it was too much commotion though because he has finally retired to the corner behind my air conditioner. Thank goodness. I was worried when he crawled inside the purse that I would never have access to my keys again! You know ... until I found a nice security guard to come up here and take it outside.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Logistics
My apartment is so big, I can't say this enough. I found a closet in my bedroom today that I never knew I had. Woah.
I have a new friend, he needs a name. He's a gigantic bug. I think he's a cross between a beetle and a spider. I don't know how he got in, but he lives on my living room window, and as long as he stays there, we're going to get along just fine :)
Mandatory firework photo. There are always fireworks going off. ALWAYS. These ones we set off for the 4 person birthday party. They exploded about 5 seconds apart and I was so skiddish, I jumped everytime.
Everyone has an IE. That's what I'm calling them. In Mandarin it literally translates to "aunt" but the position is actually more like nanny or maid. But when people say the word, it sounds like they're just abbreviating Internet Explorer. I can't imagine needing a maid to pick up after just me, though maybe I'll hire one just to teach me how to clean (I can't read the the labels to remember all the cleaning products I bought!)
Utilities: I have mini credit cards for my Hot and Cold Water (separate I think) and Gas Stoves. When the water doesn't come out one day, I can swipe my card on the water meter on the landing outside my apartment for a 3 day emergency supply, then I have to go reload the card at the store. Same goes for the Gas Stove. Electricity I haven't figured out yet. My culligan water thingy I have to order once it gets low. I guess an IE might order it for me, which would be nice because English is still very much my primary language. It all makes sense now. TJ pointed out the hot and cold water meters to me on my first day, and his face told me it was very important. But I was still thinking, why would I need to know where the water meter is?!?!?!
First solo grocery shopping trip to RT Mart:
- The grocery store is an assembly line. You enter and immediately go up an escalator ramp. The isles are set up to go through the whole upper floor before you reach a different escalator back to the main floor. Then in the back of the main floor you finally reach the check out. After check out you're let out into a mall at a completely different point from which you entered.
- A little boy was chattering away to his dad as they passed me. The boy must have been seriously distracted because just as he's passing me, out of the corner of my eye I see his whole body stop, I hear his voice stop, and his mouth just drops. I'm not sure how long he stood there staring at me.
- At check out I was prepared for all of the questions and the order they would come in. The, "Do you have an RT Mart card?" I shook my head. The "Would you like to pay for a bag?" I showed her the grocery bag I brought with me. The "How will you be paying for this?" I gave her my fancy Wall of China credit card. She was giggling at me. I could tell she knew I couldn't understand what she was saying, but that I just knew the process. What I did not expect while she was ringing everything up was for her to ask me a question and hold up the sack of oranges. I shrugged my shoulders. I got no oranges. I later learned there is a person in the fruit department that weighs them and puts the price tag on them before checkout.
It is still sooooo hot! I thought we were having our cold snap, just like the rest of you, but no. It's still hot enough for the a/c, though I stoutly refuse to use any of the 4 in my apartment (partly because I don't know how to work the remotes to run them and partly because I'm anti a/c). I'm ready for winter :) I want to bundle up in some scarves, fuzzy socks, and blankets.
Quiz Night! Ariana is our quiz master and she hosts a bimonthly international trivia night at Cup Of Joe's for 20 rmb. Dana, Torsten and I formed a team. Dana and I expected to get 4 questions right between the two of us, but Torsten (from Germany) pulled through and we got 25/30 and won the pot! The losing team gets french fries ... the others, well, try again next time!
Friends at the pig roast for 4 person birthday party. Liz, Julie, Ariana, Dana, Erich and Torsten. EVERY foreigner within a 20 mile radius was there :) All of our school families were there so it felt like one big school party. Except my favorite part was probably the guys who brought the blue culligan jug full of homemade sangria!
On Friday I saved one of the milk/yogurt boxes that one of the kids took but never opened at lunch. Later at snack time, it was up for grabs but I forgot to grab the straw that normally pokes through the lid. When I peeled the top off for one of my students to drink it, (which they're not used to), he went off on me in Korean, pointing at the lid. It took me a moment, but then I realized his babbling must be international kid language for, "I would like to lick off the lid". Sure enough when I held it back out to him instead of throwing it in the garbage, he stuck his tongue out excitedly. See? We can communicate just fine!
I have a new friend, he needs a name. He's a gigantic bug. I think he's a cross between a beetle and a spider. I don't know how he got in, but he lives on my living room window, and as long as he stays there, we're going to get along just fine :)
Mandatory firework photo. There are always fireworks going off. ALWAYS. These ones we set off for the 4 person birthday party. They exploded about 5 seconds apart and I was so skiddish, I jumped everytime.
Everyone has an IE. That's what I'm calling them. In Mandarin it literally translates to "aunt" but the position is actually more like nanny or maid. But when people say the word, it sounds like they're just abbreviating Internet Explorer. I can't imagine needing a maid to pick up after just me, though maybe I'll hire one just to teach me how to clean (I can't read the the labels to remember all the cleaning products I bought!)
Utilities: I have mini credit cards for my Hot and Cold Water (separate I think) and Gas Stoves. When the water doesn't come out one day, I can swipe my card on the water meter on the landing outside my apartment for a 3 day emergency supply, then I have to go reload the card at the store. Same goes for the Gas Stove. Electricity I haven't figured out yet. My culligan water thingy I have to order once it gets low. I guess an IE might order it for me, which would be nice because English is still very much my primary language. It all makes sense now. TJ pointed out the hot and cold water meters to me on my first day, and his face told me it was very important. But I was still thinking, why would I need to know where the water meter is?!?!?!
First solo grocery shopping trip to RT Mart:
- The grocery store is an assembly line. You enter and immediately go up an escalator ramp. The isles are set up to go through the whole upper floor before you reach a different escalator back to the main floor. Then in the back of the main floor you finally reach the check out. After check out you're let out into a mall at a completely different point from which you entered.
- A little boy was chattering away to his dad as they passed me. The boy must have been seriously distracted because just as he's passing me, out of the corner of my eye I see his whole body stop, I hear his voice stop, and his mouth just drops. I'm not sure how long he stood there staring at me.
- At check out I was prepared for all of the questions and the order they would come in. The, "Do you have an RT Mart card?" I shook my head. The "Would you like to pay for a bag?" I showed her the grocery bag I brought with me. The "How will you be paying for this?" I gave her my fancy Wall of China credit card. She was giggling at me. I could tell she knew I couldn't understand what she was saying, but that I just knew the process. What I did not expect while she was ringing everything up was for her to ask me a question and hold up the sack of oranges. I shrugged my shoulders. I got no oranges. I later learned there is a person in the fruit department that weighs them and puts the price tag on them before checkout.
It is still sooooo hot! I thought we were having our cold snap, just like the rest of you, but no. It's still hot enough for the a/c, though I stoutly refuse to use any of the 4 in my apartment (partly because I don't know how to work the remotes to run them and partly because I'm anti a/c). I'm ready for winter :) I want to bundle up in some scarves, fuzzy socks, and blankets.
Quiz Night! Ariana is our quiz master and she hosts a bimonthly international trivia night at Cup Of Joe's for 20 rmb. Dana, Torsten and I formed a team. Dana and I expected to get 4 questions right between the two of us, but Torsten (from Germany) pulled through and we got 25/30 and won the pot! The losing team gets french fries ... the others, well, try again next time!
Friends at the pig roast for 4 person birthday party. Liz, Julie, Ariana, Dana, Erich and Torsten. EVERY foreigner within a 20 mile radius was there :) All of our school families were there so it felt like one big school party. Except my favorite part was probably the guys who brought the blue culligan jug full of homemade sangria!
On Friday I saved one of the milk/yogurt boxes that one of the kids took but never opened at lunch. Later at snack time, it was up for grabs but I forgot to grab the straw that normally pokes through the lid. When I peeled the top off for one of my students to drink it, (which they're not used to), he went off on me in Korean, pointing at the lid. It took me a moment, but then I realized his babbling must be international kid language for, "I would like to lick off the lid". Sure enough when I held it back out to him instead of throwing it in the garbage, he stuck his tongue out excitedly. See? We can communicate just fine!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
The Classroom and Dancing
Naturally the most important update :)
My Classroom:
- One student grabbed my hand, pulled me over to the art table, pointed, and said, "Ewwww!" I could see eraser shavings sprinkled all over the table, so I grabbed a garbage can and helped her sweep them off the table. Then I showed her how the eraser, when used, will make the shavings. She took the eraser out of my hand and threw that in the garbage too!
- The nice thing about Chinese culture is that there isn't a personal space bubble, which is a blessing when I have little ninos that haven't quite figured out how to control their growing bodies and are constantly bumping into each other. But here, that's just normal life. There is such a problem of overcrowding that in the supermarket no one bothers to say excuse me, or sorry to bump into you, because you'd just be saying it all the time. Same goes in the classroom. Such a turnaround from last year when a light brush would turn into, "He hit me!".
- I already said umbrellas are serious business. But seriously? We have a classroom set for both the early years and kindergarten. Each student got an umbrella to walk maybe 30 yards to the main building so we could watch the school production of Cinderella. On the way back, I skipped the umbrellas because it was only a drizzle. The kids complained to me in their respective languages and pointed to the rain drops on their clothing. My response? Deal with it. Then, one mom came to pick her kid up, she changed him into rainboots, put him in a full on ladybug poncho AND gave him an umbrella. My kids are either witches, or made of sugar.
- At first I used to take in every detail while I walk on the streets. But now, since I don't understand the Chinese characters, I've started to tune them out. I just realized I barely notice them anymore. My eyes just skip over them. So I'm really hoping that's not how my students feel about the English alphabet! I am teaching many lessons on the the letters, so hopefully that will be the difference!
- For those of you who don't have facebook, I also posted this story: I'm not sure why, but all my little ELL's favorite word in English is angry. It cracks me up because they love the word so much, they're almost always smiling when they say it. So I shouldn't be suprised when I wished my class a very Happy Halloween this morning and one student replied, "No, Angry Halloween!"
Dancing:
- There are groups like "Swing Beijing" and "Shanghai Swings" but that's as close as I can get to the swing scene.
- I did find a ballroom in Ningbo, but when Ariana asked our taxi driver, he told us it's either a massage place, or a gentleman's club, so I'm glad I didn't go checking that out on my own.
- Ballroom Dancing, is apparently called Jiaoyiwu literally translating to “Friendship Exchange Dancing”
- The "ballroom" dancing they're talking about is actually more like zumba style, just different music. It's organized in public squares and parks. I actually have a good view from my 12th floor of the park across the river, I watch sometimes.
- My research on China's culture site revieled this fantastic quote: "Usually there is an organizer who brings along a huge ghetto-blaster, in goes a tape, and everyone is dancing under one or two good dancers' teaching or guidance."
Fun Tidbits:
- The two food items I have most difficulty tracking down are good chocolate and cheese.
- So you know all the gigantic streetsweeper vehicles play "It's a Small World After All" over the loud speaker? Today a man was trying to buzz into the apartment by calling one of the units. The ringtone was "Jingle Bells".
My Classroom:
- One student grabbed my hand, pulled me over to the art table, pointed, and said, "Ewwww!" I could see eraser shavings sprinkled all over the table, so I grabbed a garbage can and helped her sweep them off the table. Then I showed her how the eraser, when used, will make the shavings. She took the eraser out of my hand and threw that in the garbage too!
- The nice thing about Chinese culture is that there isn't a personal space bubble, which is a blessing when I have little ninos that haven't quite figured out how to control their growing bodies and are constantly bumping into each other. But here, that's just normal life. There is such a problem of overcrowding that in the supermarket no one bothers to say excuse me, or sorry to bump into you, because you'd just be saying it all the time. Same goes in the classroom. Such a turnaround from last year when a light brush would turn into, "He hit me!".
- I already said umbrellas are serious business. But seriously? We have a classroom set for both the early years and kindergarten. Each student got an umbrella to walk maybe 30 yards to the main building so we could watch the school production of Cinderella. On the way back, I skipped the umbrellas because it was only a drizzle. The kids complained to me in their respective languages and pointed to the rain drops on their clothing. My response? Deal with it. Then, one mom came to pick her kid up, she changed him into rainboots, put him in a full on ladybug poncho AND gave him an umbrella. My kids are either witches, or made of sugar.
- At first I used to take in every detail while I walk on the streets. But now, since I don't understand the Chinese characters, I've started to tune them out. I just realized I barely notice them anymore. My eyes just skip over them. So I'm really hoping that's not how my students feel about the English alphabet! I am teaching many lessons on the the letters, so hopefully that will be the difference!
- For those of you who don't have facebook, I also posted this story: I'm not sure why, but all my little ELL's favorite word in English is angry. It cracks me up because they love the word so much, they're almost always smiling when they say it. So I shouldn't be suprised when I wished my class a very Happy Halloween this morning and one student replied, "No, Angry Halloween!"
Dancing:
- There are groups like "Swing Beijing" and "Shanghai Swings" but that's as close as I can get to the swing scene.
- I did find a ballroom in Ningbo, but when Ariana asked our taxi driver, he told us it's either a massage place, or a gentleman's club, so I'm glad I didn't go checking that out on my own.
- Ballroom Dancing, is apparently called Jiaoyiwu literally translating to “Friendship Exchange Dancing”
- The "ballroom" dancing they're talking about is actually more like zumba style, just different music. It's organized in public squares and parks. I actually have a good view from my 12th floor of the park across the river, I watch sometimes.
- My research on China's culture site revieled this fantastic quote: "Usually there is an organizer who brings along a huge ghetto-blaster, in goes a tape, and everyone is dancing under one or two good dancers' teaching or guidance."
Fun Tidbits:
- The two food items I have most difficulty tracking down are good chocolate and cheese.
- So you know all the gigantic streetsweeper vehicles play "It's a Small World After All" over the loud speaker? Today a man was trying to buzz into the apartment by calling one of the units. The ringtone was "Jingle Bells".
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