Chinese Fire Drill

Kunshan International School
Fire Drill, May 2012

As a student, I always enjoyed fire drills.  It was a break from the monotonous dull of class and a chance to get out into the fresh air where I might spot a friend I wouldn't normally see.  Well, as you have probably guessed, my experience was slightly different in China.  Here's the story of my first Chinese "fire drill" (May 2012):

Before starting my high school English lesson, I was approached by the class monitor who informed me of our 1:40 fire drill.  At 2:00, our panic-stricken class teacher ran into the classroom and urgently herding us outside.

"Did you hear the alarm, Wendy?"  I asked her confused.  

"No, and we're late!"  We shuffled downstairs and out the front doors of the school to see a small portion of the school's student body had been listening to two speakers standing around some fire equipment.  I was surprised to see that students weren't in regimented lines standing quietly in a location far from the building.  It was quite obvious from the sight that this wasn't a practice drill but a demonstration on fire safety.  And, the presentation was just about to begin...

Outside, there were no chairs, benches, or bleachers.  Students stood in clustered groups and apathetically watched as some of the KSIS staff worked together to create a fire pit.  Some standing, some of the more weary had brought themselves down to a squat, slumped over with their head in their hands. Looking around, I viewed teachers who had left their students and had moved to the back of the audience to talk quietly among themselves.  To my surprise, many uninterested students stood nearby, doing the same without any reaction from the faculty. 

It was at this time that the Dean of Students took the microphone and spoke out to the crowd.  Simultaneously, the school's security guard grabbed an orange bucket full of gasoline and poured it into the pit where four wooden sticks with rags tied to one side lay soaking. 

Then, the speaker set the pit ablaze.  All eyes held a steady stare into the fire, anticipating the speaker's next move.  

It was time to pull out the big guns!  First, the Dean of Students demonstrated how to use the fire extinguisher, but I could tell the students were expecting something more.  The longer he spoke, the more the students inched up closer to the fire pit.  A teacher had to come through and ask them to scoot back.  

And then, it happened.  In all its glory, a large white cloud shot out from the mouth of the slender red device and smothered the fire.  Students stunned themselves into a silence, then a large applause.  The security officer poured more gasoline into the pit and lit it.  The speaker looked around the crowd and began calling up students.  With guidance, lucky volunteers had the opportunity to distinguish a fire.

The show came to an end.  All students were excited and went back to learning in their classrooms.  

______________________________________________

In this experience, as in many I have had here in China, it is not uncommon to learn at the last moment of an event or function that you are expected to attend.  This is mostly because it just happens this way in China.  In fact it is quite common for wedding venues to be booked three days before the service, and for cancellations of major community events to be rescheduled up until the day of the celebration.

Bringing your western ideas of how people should be informed and how things should be run can easily get you frustrated  I can tell you that from time to time, I can find myself slipping into negative feelings.  It's then you catch yourself and realize that you are a guest in their country.  You redefine why you came to live in China in the first place.  I did not come to China to live the "western high-life."  I came here to immerse myself in everyday culture.  I want to live in China

For the students, the fire drill was exciting, like seeing something that for them would only happen in the movies.  For me as a teacher, it was a safety hazard.  The fire demonstration area had not been taped off, nor adequate seating arrangements made to keep students a safe distance away.  This meant that during the presentation, students in clear aim of the fire extinguisher were covered in a mix of chemical smoke and fire debris.   

But at the end of the day, and despite my very western view of how to run the event, we learned about fire, no one got hurt, and we went back to learning.  We covered most of the important components of a fire demonstration anyway, right?

Please take a look at exciting moments from the afternoon below:

Dousing the flame pit with some kind of flammable liquid.  Surely not a recommendation by Smokey the Bear.

Our featured guest, invited by Lisa our principal, along with the High School Dean.

Starting the fire.

Anticipation growing.

The beginning 

How to use a fire extinguisher.

The boring lecture before the cool stuff started to happen.

Students standing side-by-side awaiting fire demonstration.

Excited student body inching closer to the fire pit.

Smoke hurled into the air  Shifting the group of students on the left to cover their mouths and eventually move to a non-smokey area.

Calling all volunteers!

But first, a demonstration by the dean.

More gagging students in the midst of the smoke.

Teachers and students uniterested to the demonstration going on.  No one seemed to be bothered.

Our bravest students take on the task of extinguishing the fire.

Now, a firing line.

SUCCESS!

Long Time No See!

Hi Guys,

So its almost been a year since my last post.  So many things have happened since last August.  Chitrak and I have moved out to the West side of Kunshan, closer to my new job at the Canadian International School Kunshan.  We've finally settled into a beautiful new apartment complex overlooking the stunning Yangcheng Lake.  We've had to make a lot of adjustments to our lifestyle, but still can't imagine being anywhere else.

Ryerson Annual Party 2013

In the past year, we've had visitors from abroad stay with us.  We've been able to share with them a glimpse of our lives here in the East.  We've visited Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou.  We've said good-bye to many friends who have moved on to better things. We've faced many challenges and have had to make difficult decisions about our future.

During our time here, our language skills have strengthened... despite what we might tell you.  It's interesting that you don't notice how much you've learned until you interact with a newcomer. Our confidence and ability to be independent has also grown.  Instead of relying on the aid of others for things like moving, we have successfully found how to do it on our own. 

Moving to the CISK Teacher Apartments 2013

The longer we live here, the more and more we see ourselves as locals, and not as temporary foreigners that pass through.  Just recently, we have had some serious discussions on getting our driver's licenses, and with that, purchasing a vehicle.  We have since then decided to put it on hold.  Instead, we thought it more economical to upgrade to a newer e-bike (a moped with a rechargeable battery).  We stopped at no expense, finding the "Cadillac" of all e-bikes.  It even has cruise control.... 

Exploring with the new bike.  We finally found Metro!

We are Kunshan Ren.

我们是不是老外。我们是昆山人。

Please stay tuned for more stories....

I'm a Published Author!

I have always enjoyed keeping a journal and writing for self-pleasure, but when asked to undertake the Kunshan Expat Magazine column for my school, I was a bit apprehensive.  At first, I dismissed the idea wondering what kind of fool I might look like in a magazine that caters to general managers and CEOs in the area.  They might laugh at my writing and say, I can't believe she spelled this wrong! or worse yet, What's wrong with her?  She calls herself an English teacher?

I mulled over the idea for a few days, and with a little coaxing from Chitrak, I decided to do it.  I have now written, created, and published three articles showcasing Kunshan International School.

ENJOY!


1st Publication:
Here is a link to my first article publication: http://www.kunshanexpat.com/archives/KC08.pdf.
Find my article on pages 16-17, titled: What's Happening at Kunshan International School?:


2nd Publication:
Find my article on Pages 20-21, titled:  Kunshan International School:  An International Community of Learners.  http://www.kunshanexpat.com/archives/KC09.pdf


3rd Publication:
Find my article on Pages 16-17, titled:  Children Are Our Future.  http://www.kunshanexpat.com/archives/KC10.pdf.

Only in China...

You'll never believe what I encountered as I boarded the bus Monday morning!

Yep, that's a battery supplying power to the bus!  I think it was a "quick fix" so our driver could make his route and the kids could make it to school on time...no matter how safe (or unsafe) the conditions were!  Oddly, no parent seemed to mind as their young children stepped around it and sat in their seats.

Oh, only in China...

ENGLISH Rules!

This is my high school English class, from left to right:
Back: Samira, Miss Sarah, Stephanie, Jack, Miss Wendy, Martin, Josh, Dominique
Front: Lucy, Delia, Julie, Anna, May, Miss Megan, David

"I'm not even ISH now!" Jack said as he slumped back in his chair with an embarrassing chuckle.

"Yeah," chided Anna.  "Tomorrow you won't even have ENGLISH!"  The whole class roared with laughter.  Jack gave out an exasperated groan and buried his face in his hands.

Across the room, a boy named Josh tightly clutched onto his battered piece of paper.  It was a small, elongated rectangle with frayed edges.  In faded black ink, you could see ISH written in bold capital letters.  He tucked it away in his desk before anyone could see.  Despite his attempt muffle the shame it brought him, it was obvious to everyone, including me, how many letters he had left.  His classmates kept quiet, and instead used their time to proudly display their papers on their desk.  Some used masking tape, but one that caught me by surprise was Lucy, one of my struggling students.  She had taken her passing period to decorate hers with colorful jewels and purple lace trim.  It was definitely something to be admired.

My plan was working!!

It started out as a way to encourage my high school students to speak English throughout our daily, three hour English class.  Every Monday during the month of January, ENGLISH was written at the top, right hand corner of the blackboard.  If anyone spoke a language other than English inside the classroom, I made an over exaggerated gasp, a quick flick of the wrist, and poof! the letter was gone.  The reaction from the class was astounding—sometimes they would playfully tease the student who had messed up crying “WHY? WHY?” into the air with dramatic presentation, other times they got so frustrated that they corrected the student’s grammar and would persist its use for the rest of the day. 

Rule #1:  Speak English in class without the use of a translator. 

The first week was rough, with only a quivering, solitary H, fearful for its life as it sat atop the vast open board.  Impressively, the class was able to make it to Friday but just by the seam of their pants.  As promised, they were given a short 30 minute film in English.  Of course, I provided them with work to complete, but this did not discourage their interest.  It was such a great fit for not only the students, but also for me.  I continued this way for a few weeks but knew I couldn't keep it up, so I instated another rule.

Rule #2:  ENGLISH must remain on the board for 2 weeks.

It didn't take long for students to find a way to take advantage of my simple rules.  Some became near-professional actors, miming all their wants and needs to others so they wouldn't accumulate vanishing ENGLISH letters.  Others were even sneakier, whispering and mouthing words in Chinese, and during the most desperate of times, sharing Chinese words they had written on their notepads.  I definitely didn't make a specific rule to cover that issue. 

Oh how hard my students work to avoid working in class!

I also noticed that my class was surprisingly quiet.  Too quiet.  All students were behaved, sat up straight, listened intently... but they never talked.  During class, they would become saturated with questions and conversation, but they waited.  They held out until the next break where they could, without consequence, expel all their thoughts in Chinese to their friends inside the classroom.  


Problem: this won’t work.  Therefore, I created Rule #3.

Rule #3:  You must speak English in the classroom during your break.
                   (This includes the time from 1:00 to 4:00 PM). 

DING DONG!!!    The class bell has never sounded so sweet.  At the moment I dismissed my class, each and every one of them poured into the hallway like a school of fish.  

I realize that the rule wasn't exactly a huge change to what they have already been doing, but indeed it was significant.  At the induction of my new rule, we were facing one of the coldest winters Kunshan has ever experienced.  As it is, classrooms are heated and cozy, but the hallways are lined with open window views of the school's front yard.  Cold breezes bellow down the narrow walls, circling around you with a chill that sends shivers down your spine.  It was so cold I even feared going to the restroom in case the phrase “freezing your butt off” was not a myth.

Just 3 weeks ago, I implemented my 4^th rule.  I had begun to notice that many of my students were beginning to speak more and more English.  Their shift from the freezing hallway back to the classroom was gradual, but eventually, they came.  It is still very quiet in my room, but I’ve never heard them talk so much in English before.  Now that we have only a few short weeks left together, some students are getting lazy.  (Lazy is a word they know very well in English.)

Rule #4:  Keep ENGLISH on your desk, and you will watch a movie every 2^nd week.

Each student has their own sheet with ENGLISH.  To keep ENGLISH on their paper, they must score 75% or better on anything that I grade, they must speak in English, and they must have all homework completed.  If not, they must tear a letter off the paper and place it in the trash.  It is their choice to do publicly or by themselves.

And this is where my beginning anecdote starts.  Yesterday was our first Friday Movie with my newest set of challenges.  If it hadn't been for our shortened week due to midterms, there most definitely would be 3 students who would have had to forfeit the movie for a “study date with Miss Megan” out in the middle of the (now warm) hallway for all passerbys to see.

ENGLISH rules!!

I couldn't be more proud of a group of students.  They have come quite a long way this year.  


What will my next rule be?  I’m not quite sure yet, but I'm always watching, always waiting.  When I notice that the game is becoming too easy, I know I will have to tweak it again.  Maybe I'll change their word from ENGLISH to WIN.  :-)  We'll see.

Teaching at Kunshan International School

Kunshan International School

I have been working at the Kunshan International School for over 6 months now.  It has been quite exciting, but far different from my experiences in American schools.  Come take a closer look at a typical school day with me.

I'm up by 6:30, shuffling around our apartment, lost in my morning routine.  I must make sure I get around on time because I have a 10 minute drive to work.  No, I don't own or drive a car, I catch the school bus... yes, a school bus!  It comes every morning at 7:50 to the gate of our apartment complex, Yong Jing Wan.  I have three alarms on my cell phone that let me know when I should leave.  When the third bell rings, I lock the door, ride down the elevator, and make a brisk walk to the gate where I meet 3 mothers, waiting with their children at the bus stop.  There is a set of Taiwanese twins in middle school, a young girl from Malaysia in 5th grade, and a 2nd grade Chinese girl whose hair is always in pigtails.  On occasion, a bratty boy runs up with his IE (nanny) who trails behind him carrying his book bag.

The school bus I take to work.

We stand near the busy street of Bai Lu Lu.  I position myself at the edge of the sidewalk, watching for the top of our yellow school bus through the bushes.  The bus is coming.  It quickly takes a U-turn around the center divider and pulls up after nearly being struck by oncoming highway traffic.  (This is typical:  cars will turn into traffic, regardless of what is coming.  It's just the rules of the road to slow down.  For a first-timer though, it may feel like a near-death experience.)  Our bus parks along the side of the road, which means we are still in the street where traffic continues to flow.  There is no stop sign on the side of the bus to warn others to stop and take caution.  Instead, cars, buses, and mopeds zoom by us in the left lane as we board the bus.  The door slides open and a Chinese teacher greets us from inside the cabin.  She offers her hand to help the little ones climb the steep steps to the aisle, where they find their seat. Once everyone is situated, the bus driver closes the door, and we are off.

Now compared to the big yellow school buses we have back in The States, these buses are SMALL.  The one I ride holds only 15 people at maximum capacity, and that wouldn't be a comfortable ride.  Our route has three stops and carries 8 passengers, including the Chinese teacher and myself.  I always sit in the back seat because I have a little more room, and I get to be alone in my thoughts... but it is the bumpiest!  We have driven over bumps and potholes that have sent me airborne for at least 3 seconds.  The students and I have timed the bumps and look forward to them.  Some start a countdown "3...2...1...WHOA!" they'll scream, while the others laugh hysterically.

Get this--I am the only international teacher that has chosen to live off campus; therefore, I am the only one who gets to experience this early morning thrill!  Everyone else lives at school in furnished, two-bedroom apartments.  (They don't know what they are missing!)  But, if I had gotten this job before signing our lease at Yong Jing Wan, we most definitely would have done just that--it's very convenient to live on campus.  Location-wise, we are 6 blocks from the nearest full-size grocery store and three blocks from the high speed train station.  It's also very cheap.  Since we are international employees, our apartment is provided free of cost.  The school also supplies free internet, free gas and electric, oh, and did I mention?  The school also provides you with free meals three times a day!

We reach in 10 minutes.  It is at this time our horn peaks its highest usage.  Beeping at cars and mopeds congesting the parking lot, we finally reach the security post outside the school.  The guards have opened the collapsible gate, and we park the bus near the entryway.  I gather my bags and walk to my office.  Usually, Nini (a piano teacher and Kindergarten coordinator at our school) is sitting inside, with the heat already on.  The office is nice and toasty. 

Yes, I have an office, along with all the other teachers at school.  All students, from grades K-12 stay in one classroom all day, and it is the teachers who move around each period.  There are no lockers (not in elementary, middle, or high school).  You also may have noticed that Nini is not only a teacher, but she manages certain activities at school.  This is the case with every teacher I know.  Teachers will give instruction typically 20-25 hours a week, and the other 15-20 hours are spent in their office grading papers, preparing lessons, and caring for other managerial tasks.  So teacher friends, you must be asking, do they ever take work home at night or on weekends?  HEAVENS NO! 

My office.

Something I really enjoy is hearing the students come into school.  They run down the tiled floors, laughing, giggling, and talking with each other.  There is little supervision, and might I say, very little trouble.  If the weather is nice, students will make their way out to the track and complete morning exercises.  Teachers lead them in structured motions, and after 15 minutes, the students walk back to their classrooms.  

Afterwards, I sit at my desk and prepare for my kindergarten classes.  I teach two kindergarten classes, which are an hour long each.  I pack a shoulder bag with flashcards of pictures and vocabulary, then saunter up to the third floor.

Morning Exercise

My kindergartners are always excited.  English is considered the "cool" subject here, much like PE when I was there age.  You must be wondering how I communicate with them, considering many are beginning to learn English with me… well, I don't run into too many obstacles.  The kindergarteners are very eager to learn, and I am assigned a Chinese teacher who helps me with translate my instruction and deals with disciplining students.  But on occasion, the teachers will leave the room; it usually happens more frequently as holidays come up.  Then, I am left with 30 wide-eyed and extremely excited kindergartners jumping all over the place.  The problem is—I don’t know enough Chinese, and they don’t know any English.  It can be an intimidating language barrier!

Kindergarten--Galaxy Class Teachers

Kindergarten--Universe Class Teachers

I must point out that our kindergarten teachers are kept very busy.  If they leave the room, it is usually to prepare for other projects they are mandated to complete.  Even though there are 3 teachers assigned to each Kindergarten classroom, each teacher has different responsibilities.  I always see them working, even in my class.  They usually will be flipping through assignment books and writing notes to the parents.  Now that the students are familiar with me, the Chinese teachers typically never intrude on my lessons, even if things are going wrong.

My lessons are pretty intense.  If you watch me, I have about as much energy as a monkey on Red Bull.  I am bouncing around the classroom with over exaggerated gestures, songs, chants, and expressions.  The students sit in small wooden chairs organized in two long rows with their palms down on their thighs.  They giggle, watch, and practice along with me in English.  We usually have time for a game at the end, like Marco Polo, Duck Duck Goose, or relay races where students practice the words they have learned.

I do have students in class that would be considered for Special Education.  I have a student in kindergarten that is particularly a handful.  He can't sit still, won't listen to teachers, and is always being naughty to other kids.  Teachers were concerned about the boy and told his parent’s they must take him to a doctor for a diagnosis (a lawsuit waiting to happen in the US).  They did.  The boy went for a full day of testing in Shanghai and was diagnosed with ADHD.  Labeling does exist in China, but there are definitely not as many here as you might find in the US.  There is no special education teacher in our school to carry out accommodations.  No IEPs.  No RTI.  The teachers inform parents that they must take care of it, and whether or not the parents follow through is their responsibility.  

Next is lunch.  The school offers free meals to all teachers.  The first few weeks I ate at the cafeteria with fervor:  I didn't have to be organized, and most importantly I didn’t have to cook!  I enjoyed getting to know all the teachers in school and listened as they spoke to each other in Chinese.  Now I bring meals from home and eat in my office where I catch up on my work.

Otherwise, you would have caught me eating at the teacher’s lounge eating Chinese food.  The teachers’ lunchroom is separate to that of the students.  It has its own queue where you retrieve your meal.  When you arrive, you stand in line, tell a cafeteria worker which food you wish to eat, and then you take your thin, tin tray to an open table. 

The room is bare.  There are no TVs or microwaves; no carpeted floors.  It is a tiled room with long brown tables.  You must fold down the chair if you wish to sit down.  Flavor pastes and large stacks of napkins are stacked in the middle of each table.  The food tastes good for the most part.  I liked the curries, but thought the vegetables were very bland.  Every meal has rice, a bowl of soup, a piece of fruit, two vegetable dishes, and two meats to choose from. 

After indulging in my home cooked meal, I sit at my desk and check emails.  I do my planning and grading for my three-hour high school class.  This is also the time I write magazine articles for the Kunshan Expat magazine.

My afternoon class is three hours long.  It is mostly comprised of 17 year old Chinese students, but there is one Korean girl who is 18.  We focus mainly on discussion, but also do a lot of work in grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension.  At 4:00 class is over.  There is no dismissal bell, but I know it is time for me to leave them.  I gather my things, say goodbye and walk back down to my bus who is waiting for me and 5 other students for our voyage home.  (My high school students remain in their classroom and wait for their next teacher.  They finish school at 5:00.)   


Some people are surprised I can teach kindergarten AND high school, but I think it is the perfect mix.  I get to be silly in the morning, and have a decent conversation with young adults in the afternoon.  The longer I am here, the more I enjoy it.  Maybe I will go back for my ESL License after all!

More pictures to come!

If you are interested in learning more about my school, you can visit their website at http://www.ksis.org.cn/.  Make sure you have Google Chrome, or an Internet browser that will translate Chinese to English!  

Book Adoption

A small conference room in a Shanghai hotel was crowded with a mix of Asian and Western educators attentively watching a presentation.  The speaker, an animated, middle-aged Irish woman proudly displayed the newest teacher and student text book editions from Pearson.

And where were we?  We were late, very late.

The early morning rain had made traffic irritable.  The clouds gave way to rains as thick as monsoon season.  It felt like the first day of snow in Indiana as we sat stuck in traffic on the interstate.    

Fortunately, we made it to our text book adoption meeting only 15 minutes after it had begun.  I accompanied my principal, along with two others from our school administration. We quickly made our way to the back of the room, where the remaining vacant chairs stood.

We had missed the entire introduction of the newest reading series of Scott Foresman and Language Central.  This would have been excellent to watch!  I thought, thinking of all the assessments we could use to track our students' progress.  The speaker changed to the next slide, the Envision math series.

I critically watched as the speaker brought up videos, games, and other interactive manipulatives that made their curriculum much better than their competitors.  There is no doubt that Pearson is an excellent book publisher with quality resources and curriculum, but I was very conflicted:  do Asian international schools really want a western approach to education?

We were given a short break to discuss some of our noticings.  I walked across the room and spoke with a Chinese group of individuals.  One man brought up the issue that all textbooks were in American English, not British English—this poses a problem, many Asian students choose to study in countries other than America because the requirement for college admittance is lower.

This was not the only issue concerning the American book publishing company today.  I walked across the room and spoke with an American whose teaching situation is similar to my own.  She told me, "Only Chinese teachers teach math at our school."  Yes, it's true.  Even in my current school, Kunshan International, only Chinese teachers teach math.  This is because many Asians think the American curriculum is not challenging, especially when it comes to math instruction.  

So, I guess math isn't Pearson's strongest selling product in China.  

I also noticed that the text book's use of vocabulary is very dense, something that a non-native English speaker might struggle with.  For example, my group of kindergarten students are learning basic English words like coat, shoes, and food (this is our word this week).  They do not speak English at home, or for that matter, any time outside of my class.  I can’t even imagine using Pearson's kindergarten material with my students.  It would be like handing them Shakespeare and expecting them to recite pages from memory. 

For me, the meeting was useless, but it got me thinking—What kind of curriculum would best suite a non-native English speaker in the early grades?  And, how can we take the strengths of both the Asian and western educational systems to improve our education in The States?

For further reading...

I found this interesting website that talks about what we can take from Asian teaching.  What do you think?  Check it out:  http://www.tdl.com/~schafer/Asian.htm.

I love... WHAT?

Today, I introduced a new question to my kindergarten class: What do you like to do?  This was meant to be a nice little review of the verbs they learned earlier this week (cook and study).

The students were to answer with a simple,   I like to... cook.   OR    I like to... study.

But as teachers commonly encounter, somethings don't always go as planned...

So after teaching them these new phrases, I randomly went around the room asking students to stand and answer the question.  They tried to stifle their excitement by sitting up straight, but their hands waved wildly and their bodies wiggled with anticipation.   

I called on the first student.  "James, what do you like to do?"  I asked with as much enthusiasm as a television salesman.

"I like to... cook!"  he shouted with passion.

I peeled a red sticker from off the sheet and placed it on his forehead.  Kindergartners go CRAZY for stickers.  Beaming with achievement, he took his seat, glancing proudly at his peers that had yet to be called upon. A few more students stood and answered with such accuracy it would make a teacher blush.  Then, I called on Sophia.

"Sophia, what do you like to do?"

Confidently, she rose from her chair, looked me straight in the eye, and with a smile said, "I like cock!"

The Chinese teacher in the classroom who acts as my interpreter never flinched, but noticed my hesitation.  Oh my, I thought, how do I possibly convey the meaning of "cock" to her in the middle of class?  You can't blame me for trying.  I felt it was important that she knew the students should not say it because of the negative connotation it carries, but I just wasn't successful.

"Megan," she told me, "We are taught to pronounce cook as cuck.  Is this not right?"  

Finally, I told her, "Juline, cock is a chicken.  It does not make sense to say, I like to chicken."  This she understood, and explained to the class.

Mission accomplished.  Tomorrow, I will yet again tackle another day of English!

International Spouse

The hardest part of being an international spouse is the fear of being jobless.

Well, maybe this isn't everyone's anxiety, as I am sure others have much better things to worry about.  You are probably thinking, geesh, can't you enjoy a little time off?  But if you know me, it's of no surprise that I would obsess over something, and that something was finding a job.

Let me explain...

Many wives and husbands who follow their significant others usually forfeit their careers back home to lead a new life working in a foreign land... if they can find work.  Typically, there are not many opportunities, especially in the field that you are educated.

I was not worried at first.  I am a certified teacher, and teachers are needed everywhere.  Where do you think all the expat children go?  I hardly think an expat family would send their child to a traditional Chinese school, right?

I was very fortunate to have the help of Chitrak's company, who scheduled all of my job interviews.  They even provided me with a driver and Chinese translator to all my potential job sites.  What could go wrong?  It was during June of 2011, when Chitrak was also having his final interviews with his company.  Schools were still looking for teachers, and I have many endorsements which allow me to teach a range of students.  I was certain to get a position somewhere.

But I quickly realized the schools where I interviewed were actually private after-school tutoring agencies in need of native English speakers.  Around China, there are many of these institutions, and they are in high need of foreigners to lead English classes.  This means, the requirements to teach are low, and so is the salary.

My heart shattered into a million pieces.  I had anticipated a hallway full of noisy kids shuffling to class, messy art stapled to bulletin boards strung down the walls of a long hallways, and the voices of stern teachers directing students back to work.

Instead, I entered a tiny lobby with a receptionist who led us to the second floor.  As I climbed the stairs, I passed by small, glass encased rooms that were big enough to hold no more than 4 people.  It was bare and dull, with only a table and whiteboard.  Business men and high school students walked around as if they were in between classes on a college campus.  Some where studying in sofas, with their feet propped up on the arm of their chair, while others were captivated with conversation and snacks.

In my mind, I told myself, you can do this.  It might be nice to have four students as opposed to 30, for once.  But the day continued, and things got worse.

They told me:

"Your schedule must be flexible.  You will be working most nights and weekends from 1-9pm.  We create a schedule for your a week ahead of time, so you know when you work.  We have a few shifts during the day, but they are very difficult to get, as most students and businessmen are at work."

I was almost sick at the thought of it.  I moved halfway around the world to see my husband when he gets off work.  I was not about to work in a tutoring agency that would hire any native English speaker off the street.  I am educated, and I want to see my husband!

I realize I must sound very cocky.  Please don't misinterpret my harsh words.  Can you imagine selling off all your valuables: your car, TVs, tables, and couches to live in a place where no one eats the same food, speaks the same language, or watches the same television shows?  Then to add to the frustration, throw in a job that takes away the only thing you hold dear, time spent with your family...  I just couldn't bear the thought of it.

My motivation kicked into hyper speed.

Shortly after Chitrak had been offered the job, I applied to private schools in the Kunshan area. No response. 

I reluctantly resigned my teaching position at Raymond Park Intermediate Academy, knowing it would be a while before I would teach in front of a real classroom again.  We moved to China.

The first few weeks, I stayed in our apartment and browsed the internet for jobs.  I studied maps of Kunshan and sulked in the fact that it was nearly the end of September, and with a month of school already underway, there was no chance at a teaching position at an international school.

There is a happy ending to this story.  I did get a job at an international school.  Although Chitrak had been working constantly once we arrived in China, I mustered up the courage to summon a taxi driver to take me around to local schools in the area.  It wasn't easy.  No one speaks English, nor do I Chinese.  I had no smart phone or translator to tell a taxi driver, Take me here...  I had no way of telling the taxi driver, Take me home.

I organized myself, having Chitrak print off a few of my resumes at work, I left for another job hunt.  

It was then that I stumbled upon Kunshan International School (http://www.ksis.org.cn/).  After a few interviews with the principal, Lisa Kan, I was hired on as an English teacher in their international program.  My job closely resembles that of a Spanish teacher in The States. 

Though the path to employment was difficult, it was worth the struggle.  Many spouses are not as lucky to obtain jobs similar to the ones they have back home.  Some work at tutoring agencies, while others happily become full-time mothers.  

I am happy to say I am now a proud working member of society at the Kunshan International School!

Pictures to come...

New Year's Resolution

So much has happened since I've written my last article, I have had trouble keeping up with my blogs.  Therefore, I have made a New Year's Resolution (yes, in February... I follow the Lunar Calendar along with my fellow Chinese colleagues!), I will update my blog at least once a week.

Hold me to it!

In my high school English class, I had my students journal about their New Year's Resolutions.  They were very aware of this tradition, and made general comments about how they want to better their English.  They didn't win too many brownie points with me though, as they are a pretty transparent class.  For example, the other day I noticed one of my students sauntering up the staircase during break.  As I smiled a hello to him, I caught a glimpse of his cell phone tucked within the sleeve of his shirt.  He turned a ghastly white when I caught him and began to apologize with the reason he had it with him.  With a stern look, I put the "F.O.G.," or the "Fear Of God," into the boy.  A proud moment in my teaching career, with a special thanks to Raymond Park Intermediate Academy.  I don't think he will be bringing it back into class again.

There are many dreams I have for the New Year.  I promise to keep you posted on my progress.

Happy New Year!  Or should I say 新年好

Mani Time!

Down at the nail kiosk!  Stephanie, Rachel, and Lisa came with me this time.

Last night I got the girls together for a manicure.  We walked toward Tingling Road, to venture into a hidden  "Nail Market" on the second floor of a department store building.  As you reach the top of the escalator, you see small kiosks stuffed side-by-side, with narrow aisles lined with eye brow waxing, lip plumping, makeup artistry, and of course, nail polish booths.  For a foreigner, it may not be the most comfortable place to be.  The room is not heated, nor air conditioned.  There is not enough room for "personal space" so you expect bumps and nudges from strangers, and in this particular store, you receive stares as though they have never seen a foreigner before.

We sat down at the nail salon I had been to before.  The people were friendly, but knew very little English.

I remember being a little overwhelmed the first time I had my nails done in China.  In our town, most of the locals do not know English.  They don't really need to because they only have a handful of international guests in the city.  How do you order your nails in Chinese?  The task is difficult, even with a translator.

We pulled out our phones from our bags, typing words and phrases, while passing them back and forth.  We were astonished to find out that gel polish (which is over a $60 USD treatment in the US) is only $10 USD here.  A basic manicure is 20 RMB, which figures out to $3.50.  We were in a girl's paradise.

After doing our best attempt at "Chinglish," we finally pulled out our dictionary.  I have begun composing my own dictionary of words and phrases I learn from others.  The workers were very excited to see it, and began to look through my book and sound out the English words.  

We had a lot of fun, learned a little Chinese, taught a little English, and got our nails done.

Until next time...

Our Home: Kunshan, China

Here is a short tour of our apartment.  Rooms in Yong Jing Wan came completely furnished.  We had to provide basic things like sheets, trash cans, and pillows.  Televisions, side tables, and couch were included. It is an expensive place to live in Kunshan, therefore expats mainly live here and very wealthy Chinese residents.

The apartment is very convenient.  At the entrance gate, you can find a dry cleaner, hair salon, small grocery (like CVS), and even a few restaurants.  Many taxis frequent the area, and a bus stop is not more than a block away.  A taxi is usually between $2-4 to take, depending on your destination.  The bus can be from $0.15 - $0.60, also depending upon your destination.  

Master Bedroom

The view from our living room.

View from our living room, looking down.

View from our office, zoomed in.

Guest room.

Dinning Room.

Opposite our dining room is the living room.

Entrance to our apartment in Yong Jing Wan.

View form our office at night.  The city lights up like Vegas.

View from our kitchen at night.  Sometimes you will see grand firework displays.