Halfway Through

I've hit the halfway mark of my time here in China.  I have to admit that last week, I was ready to cut it short a week.  My cats are unhappy back in Thailand and it seemed like I had  left a bigger job than planned for my pet sitters.  I'm extremely grateful that they are willing to pick up after my cats and put up with their 'presents'.  
I decided to stay my original planned time here.  I felt like I hadn't heard God confirm that I should leave and I really wanted to hear that before I changed anything.  I won't deny that I do miss my home in Thailand.  I've been gone for most of the summer already and it was harder in the second half than I had originally thought.  I think part of it had to do with what I'm doing and where I'm at.  I'm in Shenzhen now after spending my first week in China in Dongguan.  The two cities are about an hour and a half by bus apart.  I had thought that Shenzhen would be easier because I've been to this Social Welfare building before and I know a few people in Shenzhen.  I also know a little about how to get around.  But now I'm staying at the Social Welfare Center and that is challenging.  Its a small room that I'm in with 3 bunkbeds.  There are 3 rooms total in our little apartment.  We share 1 shower and one toilet for all the rooms.  If all beds are filled, then its 10 women.  We have a sink outside both the shower and toilet rooms with multiple faucets which is helpful.  I wash all of my clothes by hand and hang them outside our bedroom.  Its not the cleanest and or nicest of living areas but it doesn't cost me anything and its convenient to my volunteering location.  I've spent the weekends so far at the Bauer's and at Amanda's house-my 'boss' at Bao'an-Shenzhen.  Its a nice change to have a bedroom of my own on the weekends.  Its a luxury now.  I eat all my meals usually at the center also.  I've been able to get away on one and soon to be two occasions during the week to have dinner with an old friend and her family.
Volunteering isn't easy I will admit.  Its easier doing a short stint and I chose to do 4 weeks.  I've had to completely rethink how I teach because what I have done in the past doesn't work here.  The kids don't have the structure from the school year but they do need things to grab their attention.  So I've been doing a lot of games and music during English class.  I don't have to think as much for the cooking class since its planned a little more in advance and doesn't meet as often as English.
The kids are adorable of course and I think a lot more have warmed up to me.  I remember some from my last visit.  It can be challenging to know how to engage so many different personalities and adapt to disabilities  that are so diverse and most of them don't know any English.  I'm trying to find ways to engage the students that the teachers typically put in the back of the class and ignore.  Those kids light up when they are included.  I'm hoping that in the time that I'm here, I can show them ways to keep including all students, not just the ones who are less disabled.

Week 1 in China.

China-Dongguan-Sunshine Academy

Day 1- flexibility is key.  What I planned is not necessarily what I am going to teach.  So I am quickly making changes.  Huge language barriers but everyone is very kind.  I like my co teacher Crystal for cooking.  She tries very hard to get past the language barrier and has great ideas.

Day 2- I’m starting to get a feel for how to lead a class with every fiber of my being and to do it 5 times.  I was tired by the 3^rd time.  It’s a completely different way of teaching for me. It’s probably what preschool teachers are used to if they aren’t tired.  At least cooking class was amusing for the kids.  Language class is more challenging for me partly I think because I’m not the person creating the activities so I’m trying to do someone else’s project.  So I have to remember different parts and today I was forgetting the order of things and having to make modifications on the spot.  The Ice cream lesson in cooking had varying results.  One class actually had some solid ice cream.  One class had mixed results and one was liquid.  The kids enjoyed it anyways.

Day 3

My first day running up against noticeable cultural differences and what happens when I can’t effectively communicate to people I am with.  I learned another way to make French toast after teaching the children the American way.  Crystal made a Chinese French toast for me.  I also discovered that cooking without oil is completely foreign here.  I probably should have said yes when they offered.  I was not able to tell the other ladies what I wanted the children to do so they were worried about children getting burned and in the end the children were barely even involved in the process and more in the waiting.  I didn’t want to spend time explaining in front of the children so I let it go.  The kids are excited generally when we come into class to cook.  They look forward to it.  Tomorrow I will try a new class.  Hope they are equally excited.  Another thing I noticed is that the kids are not used to picking things up with their hands and eating it.   Some kids figured it out quickly.  Others looked at the food for a little while and had to be encouraged to go for it.

I’ve also noticed that the kids have a lot of good independence skills.  I’m guessing that they were learned out of necessity.  The first graders can get in and out of wheelchairs and around on the floor with amazing speed.  All of the kids have great smiles.  Most are very curious.  One student wanted me to name everything.

The rainbow kids gave me hugs and kisses today.  They are so sweet!

Day 4

Cooking was great today.  The kids love the taco salad or rather our version.  I did a class with the Eagles today.  Discovered how great they are.  Craig was my little organizer.  He wanted to make sure everything on my cart was in its place. I love how curious the kids are.

I visited the younger kids at Sunshine Academy–the 2 yr olds I think.  One just wanted to hug me the hold time. I could totally take her home.  She was so precious.  

Day 5

Today was my last day in Dongguan.  It was a little shorter than I expected but it made it so I got to Shenzhen at a reasonable hour.  Sad to leave the kids but looking forward to my next bunch.  I'm spending the weekend with my friends, the Bauers.  I will most likely see them next in American the next time I'm there as they are moving.  Nice thing about Shenzhen, is that I know my way around a little bit.  So I have a plan of some people I want to see and places to go when I have a moment.