My First Day At School

Spring 2002

Today I visited a local Chinese middle school. I asked Ben, Tim's translator to call the school and ask if they would like an American volunteer to help kids with English pronunciation. They accepted my offer, asked me to give a little talk, and said they would send a car to pick me up at 2:30. I prepared a little show-and-tell that included a map of the world, some US currency, a couple US magazines, and some English and herbal teas. At 1:45 I got a call saying they were on their way. Things do not run early in China in general, so I had a feeling this was considered a big event. A van met me with 7 of their staff of 20 English teachers. They were all beaming and thank goodness all spoke quite clear English so it was easy to converse. I introduced myself to the woman beside me and she introduced herself to me. I repeated her name which was 3 words, surname first and then a two word given name. She complimented my pronunciation. I thanked her and then said that I would also have to apologize now because I knew the chances of me remembering her name were slim. They found this very amusing and then Ben suggested that they give me their English names. I agreed this would make it much easier and they seemed happy to use them. The three-syllable-named woman became Sally and there was a Silvia, a Tracy, a Shirley, and some other very American names. Then the department head said his Chinese name and they all giggled. One of the women said his name was the color yellow in Chinese so I could call him Mr. Yellow.

When we got to the school I was very impressed and said so. It was enormous and well designed. They have about 2000 students from age 13 through 19. There were several three story high buildings that were all linked together by open air hallways. Some of the hallways formed courtyards that had attractive plantings in them. As we walked up to the building I felt a flurry of butterflies in my stomach. What was this all about? I came to help out with English but what were their plans? We walked by many classes of students reciting Chinese and English in unison, and some quiet classes of kids studying. There averaged about 40 kids to a class. The school had a very good feel to it. It felt much more open and friendly and yet also much more focused than my memories of junior high and high school. I relaxed and enjoyed every minute of the tour. In every stairwell was a piece of classic Chinese brush and ink painting. They were beautiful pieces that reminded me of a book I was very fond of in my undergraduate days. They showed me the library and study rooms, language labs, and computer labs. It was enormous and quite spacious. I don't know what I expected, but I was very impressed.

We went back to a conference room where they had a long oval table and this was when I realized what a big deal my visit was. This was not just about helping with English pronunciation as far as they were concerned. They had many kinds of fruit in baskets and bottles of water all around the table. If you ever notice on the news when there is a conference in China, this is the set up that is used to welcome important guests. We all sat and they spoke for a few minutes in Chinese and then Tracy turned to me and proposed that I come back again on Friday afternoon and meet with a few students and teachers. I said I would be happy to do that. Then they suggested I speak to a class of students and then meet with all the English teachers. On our way to the class of 13-year-olds, Sally told me that this was going to be a big surprise for the students. When we approached, some of them saw me through the windows that opened out onto the open air hallway. Their looks of amazement truly stunned me. Sometimes I forget how unusual I look here. Sally introduced me as Miss Debbie and they all beamed and applauded. I first introduced myself and told them I was American and then asked if they could understand me. Only one girl said yes, but I could tell from their expressions that they could, so I continued as slowly as I could. I gave them my show-and-tell, telling about the similarities and then the differences that I had observed between the two countries. I pointed out on a map where we were and where I was from and got a soft, sustained 'whaaaa' from the group. I told them how it takes 16 hours nonstop in a jet and I knew their minds were reeling. Mouths fell open. I compared our Iowa weather to Beijing weather and how the town I live in is about the same size as their village. I talked about food similarities and differences and how Chinese food is the most popular foreign style food in the US. I showed them some US currency and American magazines. I explained how America is made up of people from all over the world, and that this was one of the things that made it a wonderful place to live. I talked about my impressions of the Chinese people. I told them I found the Chinese people to be very friendly, warm, and welcoming people. At this point I felt a wave of gratitude from these kids that just about knocked me over. Any more would have brought tears to my eyes. I had to stop speaking for a couple seconds. Then I added that I liked the Chinese very much and thought they were very good people. I have never seen so many attentive, clear kids in my life.

When I finished my presentation, Sally told them I would come back and meet with them on Friday. As she was speaking she accidentally referred to me as 'he'. In Mandarin, the official language of China, the word for 'he' or 'she' does not specify gender and to confuse this is a very common mistake that is made even by very good Chinese translators. I was impressed to notice that the class caught this mistake immediately. As Sally corrected herself, the kids giggled a bit at her mistake, looking from her to me, to see what my reaction would be.

Later a teacher asked me what I thought of the class. I commented that they were very focused and bright looking students. She said that in general, the classes were like that, but also I was the first foreigner many of them had ever seen and that they were very interested and curious. This was no surprise. When I asked the class if anyone had any questions, I could feel that they had a million, but were too shy to ask. I tried to encourage them by saying to please not be shy and that I was sure their English was much, much better than my Chinese. This brought big smiles and giggles from the group, but they were still too shy to ask anything. Finally one boy stood up and said he was very glad I came. I thanked him and told him I enjoyed it very much. As the teachers were escorting me out, I turned and waved and said good-bye in Mandarin and that totally broke the ice. If I had stayed I am sure the questions would have rolled in like a tidal wave.

When we got back to the conference room, 20 or so teachers were sitting around the table waiting for me. They all nodded and smiled greetings to me and then there was another round of applause. They asked me to speak a bit about myself. I basically gave them a more in-depth version of what I said to the kids and then asked if they had any questions. Again there was the same curious, but shy quality I had seen in the kids, but soon a few started a conversation. They were very interested in setting up communication with an American school or American students. They even expressed interest in an exchange of students. I said I thought it was a great idea, and that I would try to organize something when I returned home. We briefly touched on Chinese-American relations when one of the teachers commented that Bush had been in Shanghai. I commented that I had followed the visit on the news. He continued that the countries were coordinating efforts and I said I thought it was very good that we were thinking and working together. There was almost a nod in unison from most of the teachers. I felt like an American diplomat and felt a responsibility to speak in a very clear, conscious way. I have not experienced this to this degree before. It is a very interesting experience to be 'the' American. I did not feel pressure from them, but being the only American here, it can't be helped that many of their ideas about the US may be based on the responses I come up with. Oh dear...

They asked if I spoke any Chinese and I entertained them briefly with my rendition of Mandarin. We finally worked our way down to movie stars, who were my favorites, did I like to shop for clothing, things I don't really think about. I told them I designed and made much of my clothing. They asked me to bring some photos of my designs from home. Around this time a photographer came in and took many photos of me talking to the group. My guess is that I will be in the local paper. I just wanted to help with English language classes! They pursued the movie start thing more and Jackie Chan was mentioned and I said he was very popular in the US and that I liked him very much. They seemed surprised that he was popular. They asked if I liked Tom Cruise, I said I preferred Al Pucino, who they did not know. Several of the teachers wondered if I had seen other parts of China yet and I said that my husband had been so busy with work that unfortunately we hadn't had the time. They made suggestions as to what I should see and then Tracy said I should go ahead without him and take me with her. Then a man said no, I should take him with me. They asked if I liked Chinese music and I said I liked Chinese classical music very much. This met with good reception and then a man asked if I liked to dance. I said yes and told them how Tim and I go into Hong Kong to do folk dancing with a predominately Scottish and British group. He suggested that I dance with the people there. I found this an interesting thought. Finally I left and was escorted out to the hall. Both Sally and Tracy gave me their phone numbers and suggested we get together when I return and I agreed that it would be lovely. As Tracy and I walked to the car, she told me about the beads she was wearing as a bracelet and then gave them to me as a gift.

There are certain qualities that I have witnessed in the Chinese people that I admire very much and my experience at this school helped solidify many impressions. There is a certain elegant, graceful, simplicity towards life and others that runs deep in the culture. I saw this in the peasant/worker level of society and was charmed by it. But when I saw it in the highly educated and business levels of society, I was in total awe. Tim and I went to one of the two biggest trade shows in China last weekend. It had 17 miles of aisles and I have no idea how many manufacturers were represented. I cruised 6 floors of one building that was only Chinese fabric manufacturers. Large amounts of fabric usually have the effect of inspiring me, but this quantity was totally overwhelming. I met with different fabric and garment manufacturers to explore getting some of my designs reproduced. Obviously from my questions I was new at this. I obviously was also not going to be a big sale. Still, people sat and attentively answered all my questions and made suggestions as if I was the most important person in the world. There was no pressure from their side, and there was a simple, pleasant quality about them that was very genuine. All of the people I spoke with I felt I would like to know better, just as individuals. I felt their approach was the ultimate sales technique. Who wouldn't want to do business with people like this! I was very impressed and felt so grateful.

While wandering the show we saw the most westerners we have seen the entire time we have been here. People from all over the world, all with their trusty translator at their side just like us, although most of the Chinese I spoke with had a very good command of the English language. It was good to see all these 'big' people like us, but then I started to notice how most of the westerners looked very businesslike, slick, wore too much perfume and too much makeup. They 'looked' good and you could spot the 'designers' a mile away in their beautiful all black outfits. However, the more 'sophisticated' people looked by our contemporary ideas, the more unfriendly, unhappy, and unapproachable they felt. Their facial expressions were hard and unappealing. When I wasn't repelled by them I felt either embarrassed or sorry for them. But then I began to wonder how much I looked like they did -- minus the beautiful black outfit that is. I looked at the Chinese and then the westerners and I didn't know how I looked, but I felt like I was an outsider to both.

Now, I want to clarify that I know these qualities do not apply to all westerners. What I am relating to you has everything to do with my personal perceptions that relate to things I need to see and learn about in my life. I am NOT anti-western and am in fact all packed and ready to hop on that plane to come home as soon as they will let me on. As I live between these two cultures my life feels like an ongoing movie. You know how movies can seem so intense because they condense at least several days worth of life changing experiences into an hour and a half or so? That is how my life feels here. It seems like every place I go I get flooded with impressions. They are mind boggling, inspiring, and shake my world at its very core. Where it is all leading I do not know, but I do know that it is all good.

When I got home from the school yesterday, my head was jam packed with yet more new experiences and impressions. I looked at the clock and was amazed to see that my visit at the school had lasted only an hour. I felt like I had been there all day! Suddenly I flashed on my first day of kindergarten.

The day was sunny and beautiful. I remember as I walked up the sidewalk I felt so small and had butterflies in my stomach. What were we going to do all afternoon, what were the other kids going to be like, what was the teacher like? Then I noticed that the big wooden doors of Laurie Elementary School were painted the same shade of green as the green in my favorite dress that I had chosen for this big day. I immediately knew everything was going to be just fine. I turned and waved good-bye to my mom and went through the big doors. Sure enough, it was just fine. In fact it was great. So, I will go back on Friday for another visit, and maybe even help with English pronunciation! I am looking forward to it, whatever the visit ends up being. I know it will be amazing and...just fine. Probably even great.