A Few Days in One

The last few days at No. 17 Middle School in Baoding where kind of a blur. We were super busy getting ready for the end of the summer camp performance, and I was still trying to fit in some of the fun activities I had planned for the kids.

Some of the activities we completed in class:

1. morning interviews (of course)
2. finishing our letters to USA students, and addressing the envelopes (more about that later).
3. field day!
4. watched YouTube videos
5. went out with more students
6. prize giveaway - using a raffle, I gave away all the souvenirs, t-shirts, candy etc that I brought over from the US. The students loved it! T-Shirts and pencils with my school name on them were a big hit. Also, books were very popular. I gave away Amelia Bedelia, and all the Halloween books, as well as others.

•  Who knew that Chinese people don't know their own address? Okay, maybe not all Chinese people, but literally every single one of my students, and the teacher who was my assistant, did not know their own address. They knew the street, or "area" but none knew how to write a formal mailing address. I was shocked! I kept saying, "So what if someone wants to visit you, or send you mail? - what do you tell them?" I was told that they don't use mail much, and that if someone wants to visit you tell them the "area" of town you live in and the building. Apparently the cities are sectioned off into communities or areas with distinct names so as to identify them from one another. My assistant, Mrs. Deng, went home the first night we talked about it and figured out her address. She wrote it on the board the next day to serve as model for the students. Some of them had asked their parents or done some research the night before, as well. I ended up getting addresses for almost all of my students, but I cannot believe what a hassle it was. I told Mrs. Deng and my students that in the USA students are required to learn their address in kindergarten in case of an emergency, such as getting lost etc. They thought it was so funny that little kids in the USA know their address but none of them did. 

         On a side note, I learned that in China, many employers, both public and private, own residential buildings where their employees may buy apartments and live with their family. One of my student's mother works at a bank and her family lives in the bank's building. Of course, you aren't required to live there, and once you buy it you own it, so they can't make you move out. But still. I find it quite interesting. I suppose they are giving the employees good deals on homes, and the commute is probably ideal, but I can't imagine living in an apartment building filled with people I work with (no matter how amazing they are). It's almost like they own you. The employer, I mean. They can find you at all times. They know where you live. They own where you live. Even the schools had teacher residential buildings. The Chinese didn't seem to see any problem with this way though, so who am I to say it's not good? Certainly a cultural difference.

• The last night and the day before our big performance, I went out with another group of of my students. Four precious girls, Zoey, Yuki, Sunny, and Nina requested to go out with me. Zoey's dad picked up us. He drove a Ford Escape. Upon saying hello I immediately pointed out that he drives an American car. He was very proud of it and pleased that I noticed. I was somewhat surprised. I guess because Fords are so commonplace here, it didn't occur to me that people would import them and find them desirable in other countries. We didn't see many when in China, so I took notice when I saw one.

Zoey's dad drove me and the girls and 2 other teachers, Gayna and Cheri, to a park in Baoding. The girls wanted to rent a pedal-cart (I don't know a better name) and asked if I would like to try it. I tried to act cool, but really I was super excited! I had always wanted to ride one of these things and now was my chance! Little did I know that it is actually super hard and great leg workout!

Nina, me and Yuki. I love these girls!

The other car.

Sunny and me and Zoey. Notice how these 2 are doing all the work while I enjoy the ride! :)

After the park we went to eat a traditional Chinese restaurant. When we got there Sunny said she had a special gift for me and asked if I was ready for it. I said sure and she gets out this headband thing. It's not something I would ever wear normally, but I ask her to put it on me, since I don't know how. She seems so pleased that I wore it all through dinner and for the rest of the night. Isn't it cute? LOL

This pretty much sums up the last few days. Tomorrow is the big performance. Pictures and video to come!