10/03/17

Well, here we are after two weeks of classes that have just flown by! I have been so encouraged with all the feedback from the teachers who I work with. It is something so lovely and special to be part of a team of teachers who are completely for each other. These women in the English office with me are some of the kindest and supportive women that I have met who have helped me navigate the territory the past few weeks! For some it is the kind welcome every morning or those who go out of their way to help me learn more about Chinese culture. These women are powerful and have a deep inner strength and I am so glad that I have met them and get to work alongside them!

Teaching is not what I expected - it's even better! I love the joy of turning up to a class where the students are eager to learn, those who have a smile on their face and are excited for whatever the foreign teacher asks them to do next! I consider it a great privilege and honour to be able to guide these children whenever I have the opportunity! There have been tough classes of course where it feels as though none of the children want to learn, which can leave you feeling discouraged. But, thankfully, those are few and far between and are outweighed by the classes that bring such joy to my heart!

Last week I had the pleasure of going on an adventure with Jeff, his family and family friends. We went to the Jienzi Ancient Town, which was an experience! It was so lovely to be transported back in time with the beautiful architecture. I even had a few Chinese lessons from a precious twelve-year-old, named Icey, and I in turn taught her a couple of phrases in French and Spanish! Isn't it wonderful how languages can create such freedom between people and so many openings for new knowledge of each other's history and culture!

 Whilst there I enjoyed seeing the simplicity of life represented in the various sculptures dotted around the stream that flows through the town. It reminded me that there is something so calming about water, the way that it flows, it is always off to somewhere new. It is said that you cannot go down the same river twice, and I believe that it is the same within the school life. It may seem that every day is the same and to a child and maybe even adults it can sometimes feel monotonous that you are doing the same things over and over again day after day. But the reality is so different! Each day brings us closer to the person that we were created to be! Each day is opened up for new adventures! Each day we get to see where the river will take us! And each day as the students learn more and more, bit by bit, we are having a hand in helping to nurture the potential that is inside every single one of them! And that is a privilege for every teacher the world over.