Sadly... Google Blogger is Blocked / sorry again...

Sadly, folks, but China has blocked Blogger and I'm unable to update my blog as I would like. However, I am at another site which is not so effected. If you wish to continue to keep up with my experiences whilst in China, feel free in contacting me, and I'll gladly provide URL via email.

I do apologize for any inconvinence, but this is beyond my control.

If you are wondering how I got here to post this, let's just say, not a very easy task...

See you on the other side!!

had to make a few changes...

Happy Birthday to my 7th Grade Student Kate

Only 2 days before her 14^th birthday when I taken these photos. She is happy to share her news to those who were willing to listen, but her parents are not here to celebrate with her, no true friends to share her fun… birthdays is meant being those who love you, but for Kate, she celebrates alone.

Kate is Chinese, she lives in Sichuan, China, where I teach and she is my 7^th grade student.

I met Kate in passing after my arrival when Foreign Teacher/Coordinator was showing me around campus. Kate greeted us, but was steadfast to Coordinator, like a younger sister to her older sister. From our brief introduction, I immediately caught Kate’s English, very basic and child-like, not typical for a teenager.The traditional school bell blared loudly, and Kate waved goodbye. I watched as she walked alone whilst other students walked in groups. I felt as though I was watching myself during my high school days.

Coordinator had awakened me from my trance as she explained that Kate was very “special” and not like most teens. Her situation was sad to listen; in a nutshell Kate’s life is almost though she led an orphan’s life. Her parent located in America, and only has her grandmother here in which Kate sometimes goes home for the weekend whilst most students go home to their parents.

I was assigned regular grades 7^th and 8^th, and advanced 7^th grade… oh, those dreaded teens… Hmmm, was I really that much of a terror or nerd? Kate is in Regular 7^th Grade, and my first observation of her in class among her classmates … she is the most attentive.

There is one student, G, much smaller in size and loud outside whilst playing, but in class she claims she doesn’t understand lessons, always speaks to Kate after I had asked Kate to answer a question. From G’s tone, she’s reprimanding Kate for participating. I’ve learned most of these Regular grade students, especially the misbehaved one, usually commenting rude statements of and about me. Kate doesn’t join in, she keeps quiet.

However, this one particular class session, G went too far and said something to Kate after I had asked her to recite her assignment… upon which Kate kept repeating the same sentence over and over again. Her behavior really made me upset.

Kate listens, other times she doesn’t and becomes really quiet when she doesn’t know how to say in English, but knows the answer. Yet everyday, I see Kate not among her peers but helping the groundskeepers or cooks with their chores (which probably explains why Kate receives large helpings at the cafeteria). She is not like her peers, she is herself.

Her world reminds me so much of mine. I share her pain of being ‘different’ for I always did my homework, class lessons and respectful toward my teachers. True friends didn’t exist. I too was considered “special” because my process thinking from my peers and I kept to myself.… usually my nose was

(as usual now) in a book or alone somewhere being creative. Kate is me in so many ways... In two days she’ll turn 14yrs old and as 5 birthdays pass, she’ll be an adult. I wonder where I’ll be when she faces the world on her own; I just know that Kate will be someone great.

Delays in posting journal entries

We are getting ready for mid terms for English, so far, nothing else is interrupting my schedule. I'm so grateful that I always have lesson plans already prepared 3 weeks in advance, using almost same lesson but different planning due to learning ability. Sometimes, the same lesson can stretch for several weeks - literally. Of course, there are still of issues of misbehavior conduct, as well as unforeseen attendance required from "Foreign Teachers".

Since this past Tuesday at Teacher's Meeting, we were told to prepare for report card summary. Mine was finished that afternoon for I kept a journal (which Mom - retired primary school teacher - strongly advised all her teacher trainees to do) of behavior, attendance, lessons given, participation, etc... so writing summary for a student was quite easy. Although my largest class is advanced 7, I thank my military training and photographic ability to remember each student, not to mention great parents who knew how to discipline well...

Gee, I'm not a parent, but there are days that I feel as though I am...

This morning is MYP 7's English mid-term in review of vocabulary we started beginning of semester, how to unscramble sentences, identify and recognize, nouns, proper nouns, and how to write a sentence. My biggest challenge for them is matching vocabulary with similar meanings, also how verbs are changed to nouns, nouns to verbs, nouns to adjectives. These teens are not 'slow', only their comprehension toward English language is very minimal, especially to those who don't pay attention in class... (all classrooms have their share of mixed levels of students).

I attempted - again, literally - to review very simple definition for vocabulary and only a handful of students paid attention whilst rest were on another tangent of their own, idle chatter, 'class play', the usual stuff. I was becoming irritated then frustrated because there were students who wanted to understand but could not hear me explain.

Made known that whole class receives a -100 for lack of their attention during lesson, and 0 for their lack of cooperation of participation... yes, each advanced class is graded as a whole, 1 being the worst whilst 5 best... well, this week, certainly neither... we shall see how they do on their mid-term this morning...

New found friends

Jean and I went hiking on Saturday, was a very nice day for an outing... We met a Chinese family along the trail for they heard us over talk, meaning they heard me speaking English... the two women welcomed me to China, and I thanked them kindly.

Later during our trail, we caught up with the rest of their children, the one mother encouraged her son to approach me and offer me freshly hand picked cherries.

"Super" (I later learned his name) spoke in Chinenglish if I would like any cherries, I accepted and those little berries were both sweet and tart. Jean and I accompanied the family to the resting area (which was half way to the top) in which met the women's husbands. They so kindly welcomed us to their get-together in which they shared their snacks and refreshments.

Upon speaking with the parents, only the children spoke English, the young girl, didn't say too much for she was shy, which I can understand... Whilst the son's mother played games the daughter's mother with cab driver (who had driven us partly on the side of mountain) and another unknown gentleman.

The son's father shared his philosophy the importance in life is not just making money, but to share much time with family after doing whatever necessary at the office. One finds happiness within himself and personal surroundings as well as true friends who appreciate assistance. The daughter's father has a broken hip and the son's father had given this man an occupation at his employment. Despite of injury, daughter's father was still capable of handling his assigned duties in which Super's father firmly believes that look past one's impairment, doesn't necessarily mean the person cannot do the job.

Super's father was also in the military and served in France in which Super sang one of the tunes with this dad, I video taped... whilst listening I recognized origin. Jean was translator between us two and I told him that I too served in Army for US and stationed over Germany. He gave me a thumb's up of acceptance...anyone who served the armed forces is respected.

As time passed with interesting conversation, Super's family had invited us to stay for dinner... which we really didn't expect, and kindly accepted their offer. Super's father works in a factory in town and said that if she or I ever needed any help to feel free in contacting them (both mother and father offered their mobile numbers). Also, hopefully that we get together soon as friends and share another outing.

These people were very friendly and accepting... I truly appreciated their friendship. Please visit my picasa album "New Found Friends" (click on title) and meet those wonderful people.

Guangya School Singing Competition

New pics posted!

Return to sketching

When I was younger, I did enjoy to draw and most characters sketched where Bugs Bunny, Spiderman and Wonder Woman. Like writing, being artistic was an outlet for me ... a creative self wanting to be free and known. Eventually, I stopped as I became a teenager and become more interested in photography both high school and college.

There have been times, I truly miss sketching on paper and never thought I would ever draw again. Since my arrival in Sichuan, my primary school classes include art which I truly know nothing ... there is an actual art major and how she create her etchings, I'm wish I had continued.

I purchased art books of drawing from young children and I simply had to put my mind set as being a young child learning how to use a pencil and create an image on paper. After 3 days, here is what I finally accomplished.

Finding my groove

Although after a long holiday (time off in memory of 5 May 2008 earthquake), I managed in developing more lesson plans, researched interesting topics and new interesting ways of making class more fun toward end of semester. My goal is use same lesson for each class but at different learning levels.

Today with Grade 7 went smooth, not smoothly yet for one student still refuses to do any type of participation or class assignment. He simply got a D, a normal F, but I'm not certain if Chinese teachers know what 'F' grade. Either case, I simply ignored him with any questions, only to simply to keep himself quiet if didn't want to participate in class session.

One other male student, he is trying and I commended him for his efforts. Hopefully, that will encourage him into doing more. He is a very good student, but badly influenced by the bad seed. As for younger girl, her attention span is very short, shorter than Primary school students. Naturally, had to repeat what is expected throughout class, but teaching English that is required... then again, repeating is in any language, especially depending on students who are more involved with their studies.

I believe I've found my groove...