So it all began at the end of August last year. Now the first year is almost complete. The school year ends on July 4 (sort of ironic, no?). For my former colleagues back in the US, this is their last week of the year. Am I jealous? Hmmm...
This last month will go by quickly. I hope. It is crazy to still be in school when all the AP tests were completed in the first 2 weeks of May. But for the Chinese, there is always another test on the horizon. The one that they just finished studying for was this weekend - the SAT II subject matter tests. I don't think most US students bother with the SAT II (unless maybe the college they are going to requests them to take it). These tests are how the Chinese differentiate themselves, however. The high school transcripts here are subjective and pretty meaningless, so these international tests are their ticket. I never witnessed a student in the US studying for the SAT the way they do here- so it's really no wonder that their scores are so high... The next test they are studying for is the TOEFL - this one tests their English fluency and is undoubtedly their toughest one. If they would practice their English speaking in class it would be easier for them, but many are too shy or reticent. Typical teenage behavior I think. As far as the math classes go, we have already begun with next year's curriculum...
How have my Chinese language skills progressed, you ask? It's embarrassing. I keep waiting for it to 'click' with me, but it hasn't happened yet. I remember learning Spanish long ago, and in the beginning I didn't get it at all. And then suddenly it 'clicked.' Hasn't happened yet. Occasionally I will hear something that I think I understand, but my speaking is terrible. It's a tonal language and my ear hasn't adjusted to it yet. Take the word chou, for instance. It has one pronounciation, but depending on where you put the emphasis it can mean one of 3 things - a slap, ugly, or stinky. Using the wrong tone can result in embarrassment! I am not the only person that experiences this difficulty - the other english staff have trouble as well. This week, one guy who's been practicing profusely read a sentence in chinese to a chinese staff member and he couldn't understand a word he said. The only ones who seem to have a grasp of the language have been here 5 years or more. I don't see myself being here that long... so hopefully I can eventually go in and order a meal and buy some things in a store or on the street (where the real bargains are)... right now, I get by with nodding and shaking my head most of the time...
My plans for the summer are firming up. The Chinese are impressed. They rarely plan very far ahead - maybe 10 days at the most. After school gets out on the 4th, Sky's wedding is on the 6th (they haven't even sent out invitations yet).Then, the following day (7th), I fly to Shangri-la for a quick 5 day visit (I originally wanted to go to Tibet but that proved too difficult and expensive - Shangri-la is close anyways...). Then I get back to Xián on the 12th, and fly home to Portland on the 14th. The Portland stay will be interrupted from July 23-27 when I fly to Philly to visit Dylan and Jackie. And then from July 31- August 7 I'll be on a trip to Glacier National Park with Mom and Jan. I am looking forward to the clean air and blue skies of Montana! (Although I must say, the air in Xián has been good lately.) And, finally, returning to Xián on August 19. And then it starts again...
Being here is like being on a roller-coaster ride. It's got ups, downs, and loop-de-loops that will almost make you sick. But it has also been mind-opening. It is a very different culture that I think most people in the US don't understand. It is thousands of years old. I don't pretend to understand. I was on a bike ride with Jake yesterday and we were commenting on how you just learn to accept things. Like people riding down the lanes (both bikes and cars) in the wrong direction. It is very annoying. It is dangerous. But it's the way it is. You accept it or you go crazy fighting it. There are some english staff here who rant about it all the time - and they are miserable...
Friday night we went to an outdoor bbq area and had a leg of lamb. Some of the best meat I've had here. This afternoon a Chinese staff member invited us foreigners for a bbq at his place - I think he plans on having some western cuisine - could be interesting!
We've been having a lot of wet weather, which they say is a little unusual for this time of year. It's kept the temperatures down which I'm grateful for. This week is looking dry with temps in the 90's.
The cap-sizing of the boat on the Yangtze has been in the news a lot. The Chinese won't be travelling on that river for a while... after an incident like that they will be very reticent to be on the river. Much concern about the ghosts of the dead and other superstitions... Someone will have to take the blame for it and it will probably be the Captain of the ship - even if his decisions were following normal policy. The end result will probably be safer travel for future vacationers, however, so that will be a good thing.
That's it for now - zai jian
No comments:
Post a Comment