So the translation for the above title: Hello class!
And that is what I (attempt to) say at the beginning of class. We both just finished our first week of classes to day. I am proud to say that I am really starting to enjoy it. Since I only taught one class today, I had plenty of time to read up on my China culture book and I learned a lot reading today.
One thing that Jordan and I have been doing is asking how old people are. What the book said that ask someone’s age is not a taboo subject but people are becoming a bit more sensitive about it. It said that most women find it uncomfortable to be asked their age and so they will just give a general age instead of specific one. That would explain why every girl we have asked is aged 26 years old. 😛 Opps.
Another thing that I learned is that the amount of time that someone spends with you after you leave someplace is a sign of respect. So for example let say you go to a Chinese family’s apartment for dinner. If the person respects you a lot, they will not only walk with you to the door, but down the stairs, out the door and possibly to your bus stop. This was something that we have noticed before and it is pretty cool to know what it is.
Now even with this knowledge, I did something I regret today. After my one class today, there was a kid in my class that came up beside me right after I left that class and started talking to me. He asked me how I liked his class and we had a good conversation about what I was doing at the school. Without thinking for some reason, I told him that I had to go and I left him.
Right after I did that I remember what I had read and I felt terrible. I shouldn’t have done that when the kid was making such an effort to speak to me. I really regret that I am going to make sure that the next time I see him that I spend some time with him. But I am here to learn and that was definitely an experience to learn from.
And that is what I am loving about this. I am learning so much about the Chinese and I am loving it. In the west we wouldn’t have thought a think about it but now I am starting to think different. It is great.
Anyway, I post some pics up top of my classroom and some of the kids from class 11. I love it! They are so eager to take pictures and have fun. 🙂