Not long after my two wonderful weeks with Tom, I set to work at my summer job, teaching Chinese exchange students. This summer marked my fourth program. The first year I did this program I taught in Eugene, the second year I taught in downtown Portland, the third year I taught in Newberg, and this year I was back at the downtown Portland program. The first two years teaching in this program were great. Actually, the first year was an absolute disaster. The group coordinator was losing her mind (literally) and continually blamed me for things I should have been doing, though she never told me I should be doing them. Two other teachers quit during that summer because of her and I stuck it out...somehow laughing the entire time. During that program, I ended up having to host a Chinese teacher and a student, as well. It actually makes me more angry thinking about it now, than it did when I was in the midst of the situation. The second program I did was excellent. I got to work with another teacher and she was fabulous. She really knew her stuff, even though she told me everyday she was just making it up as she went along. She was clearly a professional to make it look that easy. The group of kids we had that summer were fantastic. Really smart and really capable high school-aged students. The Newberg program on the other hand was another disaster. The kids were really young, none of them spoke English, and none of them would listen. It was horrific. Additionally, the two chaperones stayed outside and chain-smoked all day. I really didn't think I could do another program after last year. But.....I did.
Of course, I did! The human resources gal got in touch with me late this spring and asked me if I would do it. She also told me I'd have my choice of programs. I perked up at that! I told her I'd do it if I could work in the downtown program and if I could work with Mary Frances. Mary Frances is a group coordinator and she is fabulous! She takes every single issue, problem, concern, and complaint in stride. And, believe me, there are always many issues, problems, concerns and complaints. The students we get are typically from elite families in China, meaning they have dolla, dolla bills, yo. They send their kids to the USA for about five weeks. The kids this year told me the program costs between $10,000 and $14,000 for them to make the trip. Now, take that with a grain of salt. There is plenty lost in translation when trying to figure these things out. I don't know how much the program costs but it is expensive, especially when families send thousands of dollars with their students to buy "gifts" for their family members. This year's top gifts were Coach bags and Nike shoes. Oh, and luggage. They always end up buying more luggage here. So, the program is a homestay program meaning the students stay with host families for about three weeks. But, Monday through Friday the students have classes and outings. So, I would teach Monday through Friday from about 9-noon. Then, we'd break for lunch and we'd typically leave for our outing about 1 pm and return back to the educational center around 5. This year, I was able to work with another teacher and we had two classrooms. It couldn't have been more perfect. We were able to split the group so that I would teach 14 students at a time. I would focus on reading and comprehension and she focused on speaking and listening. This structure was so great. We could really assist the students that were struggling and we had high school volunteers that were able to work with the really high level students during these sessions as well. It turns out that these students were super fantastic. They were absolutely willing to try most everything we had them do. Here are a few of the highlights...
First of all, just reading their applications for the program is absolutely awesome. I like to devote about an hour to this process. In their applications, they write a letter to their host family telling about themselves and some things that they like. A few applications caught my eye.
One boy wrote, "I am sunshine boy!" I think that means he's happy a lot of the time?
Another boy wrote, "I love cats. I love Siamese, and (some other type I can't remember) and (some other type I can't remember) but, I do not love Canadian hairless. I cannot accept her."
Yet, another boy wrote one of the captions accompanying his picture, "In this picture, I am a little black."
And...the hits just kept a' comin'....
The first day of class we take them on a walking tour of downtown Portland. This day is painfully slow because I don't know if you've ever walked with a group of 30 or so Chinese people, but they walk slooooowwwwwww. So, it's not a fast afternoon by any means. It takes us at least three rotations to get through a crosswalk signal. Ridiculous. But, on this day, one of the students approached me on our way to the Safeway (where they could get a cool drink or a Starbucks).
Student: "Judy, have you heard of secret menu at Starbucks?"
Me: "I've heard of many secret menus, but I don't know if any of them work."
Student: "I want to try it!"
Me: "Go for it!"
So, we arrive at the Starbucks and as I'm sitting there talking with Mary Frances, a student runs up to me...
Student: "Judy! The most amazing thing has just happen!"
Me: "What?!"
Student: "Secret menu at Starbucks! It's really true!"
Me: (laughs hysterically)
Student: "The boy working is so impress I know secret menu!"
Me: "I'm impressed, too! So, what is on secret menu?"
Student: "I don't know. Maybe something like 'zebra mocha'?"
Well, you can only get so far...
Also, on the first day of class, we asked students to make a name card that would stand up on their desks. Let's face it, the first time I see my groups, I never think I'll be able to distinguish who is who but yet, I always do. It continues to astonish me. On the back of their name cards, they were to write one thing they enjoy doing and their favorite animal. After they were finished, we had each student share these things. One boy stood up and said, "My name is Andy. I like playing soccer and basketball. I also like shopping...if I have a girlfriend. That will make her happy. But, I don't have a girlfriend." I was dying. I knew I was going to like these kids!
One of the days we were supposed to take the students bowling. The usual place we have gone bowling in the past is no longer there, so we had to try a new place this year. Well, when we got to the new place we learned that they had no space, and there was a serious miscommunication about making a reservation. Quickly, Mary Frances came up with another plan to take the students to Pioneer Place mall. There, they could shop, eat, see a movie, or a few could go bowling at Punch Bowl Social (which I love by the way). So, we wrangled them all onto another city bus to take us into downtown. I watched the students bowl for a little while, which was hilarious and then I began to walk around. We told the students to meet us at 4:30 on the bottom floor. I started to the meeting point around 4:15 and was waiting and counting up the kids. In this program, I'm forever counting kids. We were still missing a few (of course!) so we continued to wait. As Mary is trying to get the kids quiet to listen so that we can head to the Max train the fire alarm sounds and everyone starts evacuating....except us. We continue to count and try to figure out who we are missing. I'm acting as though nothing is going on around us, and finally a student comes over to me and says, "Judy, what is that noise?" I respond simply, "Oh it's a fire alarm." The student who is shocked says, "Well, I think maybe we should get out of here!" Reassuringly, I say, "No, no, it's just for practice." I had no clue what was going on, but I didn't want them to panic any more than they already were. After a while, a security guard did come talk to us and told us that it was fine that we stayed. She wasn't sure why the fire alarm was going off either. At this point, we were trying to tell the children that ride the Max train to Beaverton that they could stay on the train. They didn't need to get off the train where we usually do because it would just take them to Beaverton/Hilsboro areas. They nodded their heads like they understood us, but we were skeptical. I told a few boys who did need to get off the train at our stop to watch for me, and when I got off, they should get off. Kate told her boys that as well. So, sure enough we came upon our Max stop and I got off with my three boys. Kate got off with two of her three boys, and then randomly at the last minute, one of her boys, Hans, jumped back on the train and off they went towards Beaverton. I could not believe my eyes! Why did they do that!? So, now we had two boys who were supposed to be riding a bus to Happy Valley headed towards Beaverton on the Max. Luckily, Mary Frances was still on the train and she was able to get to them and get them off the train, with their teachers/chaperones, and get them on the correct course. That was a fiasco! I'd like to say it was the only time that happened, but it also happened the second to last day of the program, as well. All I could do was shake my head....
I've saved the best story for last. One day as we were heading out the door to catch the city bus, three boys dart into the boys bathroom. Clearly, I was annoyed because they have an entire hour for lunch and I neglect to see why they can't do those things DURING their lunch break! I volunteered to hang back with these three and told the rest of the group to go ahead to wait for the bus. I was praying we would not miss the bus because I'm barely even an amateur when it comes to navigating around Portland on public transit. Meanwhile, I can hear the boys laughing and talking in the bathroom. This was really aggravating me. I wanted to storm in there and yell at them! But, I couldn't just walk into the boys bathroom, so I knocked on the door instead. Soon, two boys appeared at the door. I tried to explain to them that we needed to leave so that we could get to the bus on time. One boy began protesting, "No! No! No! We cannot go!" Why? I asked. The other boy started to explain, "It's because Li....his stomach....it's broken." I could not keep a straight face. I know I began smirking, trying to stifle a laugh. I never question diarrhea but this was just funny! I tried to get more information, "Did Li eat something bad?" The boy explained, "No, no....it's because...he eat too much. Then he play basketball. He never give it a rest!" I can never predict my days! Needless to say, we did make it to the bus stop on time, and all turned out okay. Poor Li.
Lastly, one of my precious girls somehow talked me into singing Royals as a duet with her at the farewell party. That was purely terrifying. A video may or may not exist.
I'm so grateful that I got the opportunity to work with this group of students. I can only hope next year's group with be just as good. Whether, or not, I decide to do this work again is yet to be determined! :o)
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