Shell in China

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

How do you get a cold when it is 100 degrees with 70% humidity?



This is me talking to Matt via Skype! Yeah for the Internet!
Ni hao! It is time for another update from Chengdu, China. This have been crazy and busy here for the last week. We are doing Pre-Service Training. We’ve been split into three hub sites to study and prepare for the coming two years. Our site is Sichuan Normal University- Main Campus. I have really enjoyed everyone that is at this site. We all seem to get along really well and have a good time hanging out. (Or as the Chinese would say, “playing.” That seems to be the verb of choice for all recreational activities. It is something we will work on in Oral English.)
Our home-stay is going well. Thad and I are thrilled to have Internet access in our bedroom. It has been great to use Skype to talk with my family.
The food here tends to be really spicy, which just isn’t my thing, but I am dealing with it! I eat a lot of rice and some potatoes and other odds and ends. Also, I keep stocked up on cookies from the store on campus! Yeah healthy eating!!
We have started “Model School,” which is basically a crash course in teaching skills. We have each been given an Oral English class to teach for the next three weeks. Some people teach four days a week and some teach five. Of course, I got five! Also, I have forty-one students, while some people have fifteen! I am not sure how that works out, but it isn’t a big deal in the long run. Three weeks is such a short amount of time to do anything; I’ll survive.
We were talking about driving and bike-riding skills in Model School today and I asked my class if they purposely aimed for the “lao wai” (foreigners) when they were out and about! They said no, but it sure feels that way sometimes. There are always bikes and motor scooters and cars coming my direction. The kids thought it was funny that I asked.
Our next three weeks are pretty routine. We have language class for four hours in the morning, prep-time and then Model School. The only variation is Wednesdays are set aside for medical information. Last week we learned more than anyone would ever want to know about diarrhea (including WAY too personal of stories from some people!) and this week is Avian flu.

Chendgu is an interesting city, but I do look forward to finding out where our site placement will be. We were told that we would know sometime in the beginning of August.
Until then, zaijian from Chengdu!
Michelle, 4:38 AM

0 Comments:

Add a comment

Blog of a Peace Corps China volunteer serving as a TEFL teacher in Cheng Xian, Gansu, China.

About Me

My Photo
Name: Michelle Ross
Location: Chengxian, Gansu, CN

In America, I teach 8th grade English and reading and really enjoy spending time with middle school students. Some people think I am crazy for it, but Marsing has a great group of kids and I love being a part of their lives as they grow up! Right now I live in China and teach English and teaching methods to students who want to be teachers. I am here through Peace Corps, which I think is a fabulous experience and something that more people should look into doing! The application process can be a bit of a pain, but it is well worth the time and effort. Check out Peace Corps and give something back to the world that has given you so much!! Teaching runs in the family, as just about everyone is involved in education in one way or another. My dad is retired, but he was a teacher, counselor and principal for 30+ years, my mom is an elementary counselor, my sister and husband are both teachers and my brother will finish his teaching degree this next spring! "Those who can, do; those who can do magic, teach!"

View my complete profile

Archive

My links

Blogger