My first few days in China...... how to describe. Well it hasn't been easy. It has been nice having people around that speak Chinese and English so they can help me with stuff, but when I am by myself I don't know what to do. It's difficult when you don't even know how to say yes or no. And people stare! Wow do people stare. I knew people would stare because I am an American and supposedly they are fascinated by Americans but I also get stared at because I am not skinny like all the Chinese and Korean people. I wasn't really prepared for that.
My roommate and recruiter met me at the airport! It was so nice to be greeted in English by people I had been talking to the past couple of weeks. They are both super nice. The first thing my roommate tells me in the car is that we need to get me some Chinese tea. I was like okay. I've never had Chinese tea before. But I guess I wasn't paying too much attention because she later said that I don't need to worry about my weight. After a couple of months of drinking the tea and lite exercise (i.e. Walking around sweating) people won't be able to recognize you in pictures. I think it's awesome that Chinese tea can do this! I just wasn't expecting my roommate to fixate on my weight. She talked about it like any other subject, not making fun or anything just being nice. It's amazing the differences in communication between the US and UK.
A couple days later I was talking to my recruiter about my school and my classes. He was telling me some things to do. He said it is very important to be strict but fun! I have always struggled with this. How do you be strict and fun at the same time? I know I have done it but it's always confusing when they tell you this. He also told me to be prepared because the kids will make fun of my weight. (Thank God, Jesus is with me because He prepared me for this comment). He said it very nicely and said that a strict classroom with rules will help combat the comments. And to remember that they are just kids.
So I observed Jose's class today (Monday). Only one kid asked why I was so fat. The rule in the class is if you say something bad you have to say 3 nice things. So I didn't have a lot of comments but I did have a lot of staring. It's so weird because in the States we know it is rude to stare and so we disguise our staring. In China everyone stares and they stare for a long time. I am pretty sure they are staring first because I am American and second because I am bigger than all of them. Well I'm sorry I'm not a toothpick. How in the world do the girls here stay so small? Their food portions are just as big as ours if not bigger. (I haven't finished one serving here) Although I have noticed they don't have as many sweets. (If you need to detox from chocolate come to China; I have yet to see some).
I have noticed a lot of KFCs and McDonalds around every corner. I have yet to go inside of one. I'm not a fan of them back home so I'm sure they aren't any better over here. There are also some Burger Kings and Dairy Queens. The Chinese seem to be fans of ice cream. However I can't bare the thought of eating ice cream in this humidity. The dairy would just make me feel disgusting. So I have only been eating at foreign (to me) restaurants. I can't really tell you what they are but most of you would be surprised at what I ate. Things were touching and I never asked what I was eating. I just ate it because I was afraid that if I asked what it was then I wouldn't even try it. The only thing I have had thus far that I'm not too big a fan of is fish. I didn't like it in the States and I'm not a fan of it here. Except here you have to pick out the bones as you are eating it. Yeah. That's fun!
Sunday night my recruiter took me and two other TEFL teachers out for dinner. First off, it was great to meet other English speakers teaching here in China. They are super nice and I'm hoping we can hang out again soon! Back to the dinner... For dinner we had duck! This meal was fantastic! I really enjoyed the duck wrapped in a rice tortilla with onion and sauce (I don't know what the sauce was but it definitely added flavor). We also had some spicy chicken which was good. The spice definitely hit you after you chewed up the chicken. We also had garlic shrimp and stir-fried garlic broccoli. All of this was delicious. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the fish soup. I don't know the name of it but it definitely was not my favorite nor did it make my good enough to eat list. (I think my roommate added fish to a meal I ate at the house, it still wasn't my favorite but I ate it).
Well tomorrow (Tuesday) was supposed to be my first day teaching at my school, but now it's the 10th (Thursday). I am quite nervous. My recruiter has given me a lot of information but for me I need to see or experience the classroom. He is talking about making lesson plans and everything but I don't know what to expect so I am not too sure of what to do. He said its like teaching Kindergarten in the States. The kids are basically training for international schools here in China. So please be praying that God guides me through this experience and give me guidance and wisdom when creating lessons and working with my classes. I am praying that my experience changes once I start teaching and begin a routine. It's really hard trying to get acclimated to a new and foreign city and then begin working right away.
I'm praying that God shows me things while I'm here. Help build my confidence in myself as well as in Him. I am definitely learning not to care what others say about me. I know that Jesus loves me no matter my size or my clothes. I am also learning to trust Jesus more and more. He truly is with me everywhere. As much as I wish I was home I am sure it could be worse. And knowing that this is where God has me, helps me to not be as homesick. Although right now I am wondering how I am going to make it here a year, let alone 6 months. There are definitely times I wish I could just hop on a plane and come home. I am hoping that once I learn some of the language things will get a little easier. However at this moment I don't see me staying longer than a year. Everyone says after 6 months that will change. If it does.... great! If not that's ok, God knows the plans he has for me! I just have to keep reminding myself that I haven't even been here a week I am sure things are going to get better!
God is providing. I am constantly reminded of how great my apartment is and how great my salary is. I don't equate this to luck. I know this is all God providing everything I need to have a good experience. I pray that I continue to follow the path the Lord has for me for I know it is the best for me.
*on a side note* the clothing is China is different! Girls here wear very short dresses and shorts compared to the States. However I can understand why here. It's so HOT! Too much clothing and you will never stop sweating. Also it is common to see guys raise their shirts and walk around showing their stomachs because it is so hot. Also you see a lot of English on clothing, so I often find myself wondering if people know what their clothing says or if they are just wearing it because they think it looks cute. LOL. *random thought/question*
Who knows maybe in a couple of months I will be sporting a new outfit!