95+123

Simply, I thought I was going to die.

I mean, who in their right and stable mind would volunteer to live on the 6th floor?

That's just the thing: I wasn't in my right and stable mindset. We had just gotten off a 9 hour train ride, after a month of training, on top of awaking at 4am to catch the 6am train. We hadn't a blessed clue as to where we were. We just knew that it was hot, and that we had approximately 130 pounds of our belongings that were itching to find a place called "home". To speed up the process, someone needed to volunteer. 

What I didn't know is that there would be 95 stairs to climb in the process of getting 'here to there' [and two inches of dust waiting for me at my new abode]. Now, in all seriousness, I'm not ridiculously out of shape. Sure, exercise can be painful, but that's true for everyone. Lets do the math. Doing those stairs at least 3 (if not more) times a day to go places, get lunch, get dinner, visit friends. It's a lot.

and that was before the first week of school.

Once we started teaching classes we actually had to report to the office. That office is in the building across the street, also on the sixth floor. In the beginning, I found it funny that the trek to the office was much more miserable than the one back to my own apartment, so I quested to figure out why. Then I found the answer: the trek to the office includes 123 stairs. Not 95! What were they thinking?

Those on my team who live on the 6th and 7th floors joke that we travel more vertically than horizontally to get to work everyday. There's not many jobs out there where people can say that :). Now it's November, and I can't even tell you the thousands, yes, even tens of thousands of stairs that I have climbed since coming to China. Even though for a few weeks I was sure that those stairs would be the death of me, I'm still alive and well and kickin'! {bah. bad joke} Truly, through all of those stairs and enduring them every single day, I've learned endurance. I've learned that things that may be an inconvenience at one point can, over time, become a part of your routine. And needing to endure things can help you set goals. And over time, you can look back and say 'man remember how hard that was then? Look at me/us/you now!" Eventually, things get easier. Although I'm here to teach English, I have learned one fantastic and crucial math problem:

95+123= killer calfs 

;)

Traffic

How many muscles do you engage while riding a Chinese bus?

All of them.

Anyone will tell you that trying to get around takes a physical toll on ones body, whether that be walking, climbing stairs [China loves stairs, but that's a post for another day], or even taking the bus. Often I wondered "why am I so tired? I just sat on the bus for an hour!" Little did I realize how often every muscle of my being was engaged to keep me from flying into the people around me, to keep me upright. Riding the bus is the equivalent of a Richard Simmons workout video.

Chinese traffic definitely fits every stereotype we may ever imagine it to be. Lucky for us, the city of Harbin is in the process of constructing a subway system. What does this mean? First of all, it means that transporting oneself across the city will be much faster and efficient. Key words: will be, meaning that currently, it is not. Secondly, it means that you take every stereotypes of Chinese traffic and condense it down to only two lanes [instead of six]. Then, add some massive construction vehicles every so often. Oh, and huge pot holes and the occasional flying sparks that attack the bus. Welcome to Harbin!

Smiles Guarenteed

Do you have a go-to smile button? You know, something that is guaranteed to make you smile no matter what kind of mood you are in?

I found my smile buttons. All 140 of them. I thought I'd share three with you.

"He" by Vicky

I am telling their stories. They are stories of my students, stories that they write merely because it is a homework assignment. They have no idea how much their stories can touch the hearts of others. Even if they did, they have no venue to do so, to share.

On behalf of my students, I share this with you so that your heart can be touched, and a story can live on.

The assignment is this: 

'Like a tree, some people simply take root in our lives and never let go.' 

Write 12 or more sentences about a person in your life who will never 'let go.' Why do they mean so much to you? If they are kind, how do they show their kindness to you? If they are loving, in what ways do they show love?"

"Maybe this story have a little sad, but it is true. He--'like a tree simply take root in my heart and never let go.' He was my neighbor and we are the best friends! Though I was 5 years old than him but we played together until "that day". He had an accident. We were all worried about him. One night I dreamed him! In my dream, he didn't talk to me, only looked at me and smiled. When I waked up, my mother cried and said to me "He...passed away...". I was so sad and cried with my mom. I never believed I lost him. But to everybody's surprised, his parents agreed to donate their son's corneas to a two-year-old girl who had eyes disease. His parents said to the reporter "my son always help other at school. I think he must agree that we make this decision. And... I want to let my son can also see the beautiful world.

'Help others until the end of life.' A 15 year old boy leaves me this lesson. I will always help others like him. Just like the angel in heaven..."

Innie or Outie?

Have you recently been wondering about whether or not your outer appearance is more important than your internal appearance? I thought you were. If you’re ever in doubt, ask this question to a second language learner. Or, better yet, ask any question to a second language learner.They’ll grace you with some words of wisdom. In regards to outie appearance verses innie appearance I'll just let my students do the talking...

"We dress ourselves everyday at the same time we should dress up our heart and keep a good mood everyday." -Lourine

"Don’t let the bright appearance of your eyes covered. Open your heart window with knowledge. With the talent to open up your brilliant path to life."  -Veronica

 

"Although a clothes can make you energetic and good looking, it’s not reality. A long time later, your personality can decide your destiny." -Allen

"When the early man invented clothes, he probably wanted to keep warm. But I like to look beautiful sometimes." -Olivia

"There is no doubt that the out-looking is very important for me. I am sure that I must be a handsome boy forever!" -Colby 

Heart Strings

I have a degree in music education. I have a TEFL certificate. Within a matter of years I will be certified to be a k-12 school counselor. I can teach music, teach english, and counsel. There is no reason why I shouldn't have a job somewhere in some school system. Yet, when I think about my life the thought of teaching in a school is slightly appalling. Sorry--the vision of me doing so just isn't there. Nothing about me has ever been easy, it's never been simple. Why would obtaining a degree and getting a job be any different?

With all these certifications, with all these different outlets, there is still a type of student that takes the prize.

Students with developmental disabilities have a natural capability to break me. During the fall of 2010 we had to observe some music classrooms for a class I was taking. My group was assigned to a local elementary school at which we observed a stellar music teacher with various classes. One of these classes was a special needs class. Eight students, seven adults. At the end of class we played a Bugaboo dance game and we [as the observers] were able to dance with them.

I honestly can't give you any more details about the observation, simply because I can't remember them. What do I remember? Dancing. Twirling. Giggling.

The video below sparked my memory. Then I decided to share.