Shell in China

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Chalk ashes on my trousers? Oh no!


This is the note that was passed to me in class today as I sat at the back of the room listening to presentations:

"Mrs. Michelle there are some chalk ashes coated with your trousers."

Hehe...Yes, my trousers are usually coated with chalk "ashes" by the end of each class and it didn't help that I had black slacks on today! (This actually makes it sound as if I have taken my pants off and put them on a pile of chalkdust! Let me assure everyone that my pants did not come off during class! :) )

I don't know if Chinese chalk is dustier than American chalk or if it is just the hard floors that made the dust float around more, but I end up with chalk dust everywhere after each class. I am getting used to chalky pants and don't really notice it anymore, but I guess my students were worried that I looked like a dork. Hmmm, the real question is, does the chalk dust make me stand out any more than normal? Probably not, so I'll just go with it!
Michelle, 10:18 PM

2 Comments:

Hmm your mother wonders if the chalk dust makes your nose itch? It drives me crazy here and am so glad for dry erase boards? Maybe students should stay after and clean the chalk erasers like in old days! love,mom
Mom, at 2:49 PM  
Hey Mom! No, it isn't too bad as far as bugging my nose goes. I actually liked my chalkboards in the States and wasn't thrilled that they have already replaced them with whiteboards! The one bonus to that is the fancy new SmartBoard they put in at the same time.
Kids to erase the board during the break and after class. Since the kids are in the same room all of the time, they are in charge of housekeeping in it. They are supposed to keep it clean, which means some rooms are swept and dust-free (as much as possible) and others are a little less well-taken care of! It just depends on the group of kids in the room.
Michelle, at 4:50 PM  

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

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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!"

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