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.