My School Day
Well, it was bound to happen sooner than later. I finally had a clash with a teacher; unfortunately she is in my classroom. Why we need so many teachers in one class is beyond me. Without me there are 5 staff in one class! The TA and Life Skills (nicer than lackey) do more than the supposed trained teachers. Except me - I work very hard, in English - in a Chinese class.
Today things came to a head when one of the T's did not appreciate that Vlad's class joined our class for lunch. They and another class had already participated in my class because their rooms were too cold. I had understood they would be joining us for lunch. Then the Chinese teacher took his class back to their room - no idea why. I told Vlad his class might as well stay seeing as he had already brought a table and chairs.
Well, I guess this did not go over well with the teacher who has the poorly placed name of Sunny. I believe she actually called the person sort of in charge while the principal is away to complain that Vlad was in our classroom with his class. Oh my - how dreadful. Of course Yoki, (where do they get these names?) came upstairs to confront Vlad - asking, in a not too friendly manner who made the decision that he could join us. Also why he did not tell the other Ts. So I stepped in for two purposes, Sunny was raising her voice, which meant others were too, and I felt it was my decision based on what I had understood.
I literally had to step in, quietly, but with conviction, asking them to take their argument out of the classroom as it was not a healthy environment for the children. I think that surprised everyone.
So, we got to freeze in the hallway while we discussed what had occurred. To me it made absolutely no sense - Sunny does not do any real teaching. I came very close to saying that, and it is my class not hers. However, she seems to be under the impression everything has to be passed by her. I found out later that Shelley, the teacher who had to leave, had problems with this teacher also. I will continue to stand my ground, asserting my position if absolutely necessary. I am of the opinion this one teacher should not be in an English speaking class - she is constantly speaking Chinese to the children, even while I am teaching.
Then we had to rehearse for the Christmas show, which was planned for 3:00; surprise, surprise my class was nearly 20 minutes late getting to the auditorium. It made things quite rushed to get anything done with 30 children who had never heard our Christmas song - plus teachers. The principal will only have to worry about the performance if anyone dares try to sabotage the efforts of the children. By the end of the day, and it was past my time to leave, I had a headache.
I still need to make playdough - think I will use it to soothe my nerves.
kld
Dec 13/11 Sick in Taiyuan
Well, the cold classroom has finally gotten the best of me. I am definitely sick. So far mostly a drippy nose, but I can feel a fever trying to settle in. It is not any fun being sick, half way around the country and no one to look after me. Not even my kitty.
Temperature in my classroom today was a bit warmer, I think we managed to get up to 15 C. by the afternoon; it started at 7 C. The hallways remain near freezing. As do the offices and the library. My class is the warmest. No wonder I am sick - along with the fact most of the children have had colds.
I am feeling sorry for myself; I need a warm blanket, some of Rachel's magic drink - all I have water. Perhaps I will venture out tomorrow to find lemon juice, honey and cayenne pepper. Well, perhaps not the pepper - no idea how to find that amongst all the Chinese herbs.
So, if anyone other than my immediate family does not hear back from me right away I am not ignoring you - I am having a pity fest.
Snuffle, snuffle.
kld
Dec 15/11 Ninnys (or is that ninnies?)
Bit of a blow up today - it has been boiling to bursting point all week, and today it bubbled right over. I called the Shanghai office today, then send a very long email detailing events and what finally made me so upset.
I am not accustomed to being insulted, not regarding my ability to teach, and especially not in front of other teachers. It was not even my teaching that was at issue, it is the lack of communication with the other teachers. All I am doing is trying to communicate with them! Some of them went running to their mummy, the principal, who seems to have a bee in her bonnet regarding salary as it is, and wanted to meet.
I finally became so fed up I said I would call Shanghai and talk to them. I took half a day the next day as a personal day I felt bad about leaving Vlad to deal with the whole Christmas Show on his own. All this because one newly graduated ninny's nose is out of joint. I think she has been given too much authority and it is going to her head.
The principal might say she can do the teaching, but English is not her first language - Chinese is.
Damn, damn, damn!
kld
Dec 16/11 How Much Was That Popcorn? (Including an impromptu poem)
First, thank you Rachel and Elizabeth - you remembered what we missed the most in China. The coffee press is wonderful - I could barely wait to get home to have real coffee tat was brewed properly. Books, conditioner and the silly hand tattoos will definitely be appreciated.
I guess this means the parcel arrived! Yeah! MMMMM, fresh popped popcorn and fresh brewed coffee!
Popcorn in the pan, sizzle, sizzle, Popping like mad, sizzle, sizzle.
Oops, pan's a bit low
pour it into a bowl
popcorn in the pan sizzle, sizzle.
A little on the floor
and even more out the door..
popcorn in the pan sizzle, sizzle.
Yikes, how daft
It's heading for the elevator shaft.
popcorn in the pan sizzle, sizzle.
Over the sink
and down the brink
twenty one stories down
Watch out - don't drown!
popcorn in the pan sizzle, sizzle.
Over the cars, bicycles and dogs
quickly seized up any cogs.
popcorn in the pan sizzle, sizzle.
slipping sliding along thin ice
try to stop it - no dice.
dancing up the steps
just what is its depth?
popcorn in the pan sizzle, sizzle.
Into a school
that's pretty cool
up to a classroom
Quick everybody - grab a broom!
popcorn in the pan sizzle, sizzle.
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