Because I've been back at it for over a week already I thought I'd give you all a little update. It has been great! I have taught every class at least once again and each time I walked into the classroom the students would instantly stand up and clap and yell "AAAAH...WE MISSED YOU"- quite a warm welcome!The Thanksgiving lesson ended up being really fun (it's hard to tell ahead of time how the students will respond to it...I just sorta wing it and hope for the best). First I taught them about the history of Thanksgiving after which I would explain, using
pictures, what a traditional Thanksgiving dinner was like. They couldn't believe their eyes when they saw an entire cooked turkey on a platter... Afterwards I told them what I was thankful for and asked them to also think of things they are thankful for. I had prepared little pieces of coloured card stock so that each of the students could write down at least 5 things. After they were all finished we hung the pieces of paper up in the classroom so that the students can be reminded of the fact they have many things to be thankful for. Definitely something simple but the students were very excited to decorate the
somewhat ugly/old classrooms.Two of my classes (Tuesday and Thursday morning) are usually held in the old school library. The library has been somewhat gross (dusty - spiderwebs etc.) and there were only 5 stools and 1 table for the entire class. So, we've been having class in my living room -see picture- for 3 mornings now (the students say they prefer that over missing class). I had asked the school though to provide some more chairs and tables/desks. This morning, for my Thursday morning class I went to the library
for class and I opened the door and there were still no more chairs or tables. Then I waited till about 5 minutes after the bell had rung and there were still no students. I was confused. So, even though it was early in the morning, I messaged the class headmaster (also an English teacher) "I am in the library. There are no chairs. There are no tables. There are no students. I am confused". I headed home and got a call from the guy and he explained that for the rest of the week the students will have examinations meaning...I don't have to teach for the rest of the week. Wow...here I thought crazy - hectic life had just started
again only to find out I am getting another extra long weekend. I shall not complain. I shall enjoy.This week I have also had many students over again. With one of the groups of students I ended up having a little pizza dinner. I invited them over on Saturday and taught them how to make pizza (they'd never had/made pizza before). However, literally about 13 seconds after I turned the oven on the power went out - ah, I could have screamed but I controlled myself (the power had already been off for the previous full 2 days and I had
assumed they were done with whatever they were working on). Anyway, I ended up having the students over for dinner again the next day, Sunday and we had a super fun time. Even though I told them they could eat pizza with their hands they insisted on using a fork and a knife (also the first time in their life)...it was hilarious! To me it is hard to comprehend how someone can't eat with a fork and a knife but the girls said that they were glad they were born in China so they could use chopsticks. Ah, to each their own. (And a final picture of them playing Uno together...they LOVE the game and run for it the second they come in my door)Lastly, I have also received some extremely lovely carepackages...thank you, thank you! You have NO idea how exciting it is to get things like salad dressing, jeans that fit a North American sized behind, taco seasoning, and...aah yes, Ferrero Roches (I can have 1 every 200 hours while I am in China to make them last until my departure)!
Hmmm...I already said 'lastly' a while back so I'll leave it at this.
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