As I write this, Christina is playing with the cat. We are all listening to "9 Lessons and Carols" on the radio, live from Cambridge, England. It's Christmas Eve, and I'm actually home!!
The last day of school was quite interesting. I had moved almost all of the stuff from my current class into my new classroom, so the room yesterday was quite empty. We enjoyed some time with the kids coloring, handing out presents, and watching movies. I had to bring my suitcases with me to school, because we were leaving as soon as the kids did, at 11:30.
The ride to the airport went without a hitch. Very uneventful, which was actually appreciated :) I went to the airport with three other people, and we were all quite hungry when we got there. We found a Burger King for lunch, and actually ran into 4 teachers from another school in our system in the same restaurant. What are the odds that something like that would happen??
I was on the same flight as another teacher, so we parted ways with the other people from our city so we could go through security. I put my stuff through the scanner thing, and wasn't ready for what would happen on the other side--the guy asked me if I had scissors in my bag. I did, but I had made it through security in the US and Tokyo with them, no problem, since they were under the 4 inch limit. Both of those places would measure the scissors, and then hand them back. This time, however, the guy just took them away and didn't even measure them. He then asked for my passport, and wrote some information in a little book. I wonder if that has put me on some kind of watch list for Chinese security??
Got on the plane, and we were told that as soon as we were cleared for take-off, we would be on our way. Then, about 15 mins later, the captain came back on saying that something was wrong with their computers and that they didn't have required information for take-off. About 90 minutes and a visit from technicians later to reset circuit breakers, we were finally on our way. Flight was mainly uneventful, except for periods where I wasn't feeling too well. Thankfully those didn't last long!
We landed in Chicago about 5:10, Chicago time. My flight was supposed to start boarding in an hour...I was getting worried. I hadn't gone through customs yet. We taxied for about 15 minutes (thought we would NEVER stop!!) Once I finally got off the plane and to the customs line, I basically knew I wouldn't be making the flight. The customs line was humongous! It took about 20 minutes to get from the back to the line for the agent. I finally got through the agent, got the stamp, and high-taled it to get my check-in bag. There was a lady helping us figure out where to go. She saw that my flight was for 6:40, and told me that I had missed my flight. (It was about 6:25 when I got to this point.) I was so disappointed. I didn't want to be stuck in the O'Hare Airport on Christmas Eve. I got up to the counter to book another flight, and the lady told me that my flight was in Terminal 2, and actually had been delayed till 7:30. I wanted to leap for joy! I have never been happier to hear a delay notificiation in my life! I made it to the right terminal, through security, and to the gate, only to find out that the flight was actually taking off at 8:00 now. But I didn't care. I was going to be on the flight, rocketing towards Norfolk!!
The plane that we got on was TINY!! One seat on the left, and 2 on the right. When I was getting on, a guy made quite a funny comment about the size of the plane: "It's like a pack of gum with wings." This comment was so true! I have never been on such a small plane! Flight from Chicago to Norfolk was uneventful, except for quite a lot of turbulence.
When I finally landed in Norfolk, I was so glad that I didn't have any gate checked items. Practically everyone else did, so they had to wait for the suitcases to be brought to the gate. I, however, had a backpack and a laptop case. So I quickly made my way to the gate, through the terminal, and to where mom, dad, and Christina were waiting. Everything in me wanted to run, but I thought against it. It was SOOOO nice to be able to finally hug them again, and not look at them through a computer screen!!
The ride home was so fun, yet so strange. The thing that amazed me the most was how calm and quiet the traffic is here. No constant horns honking. No zooming in and out of traffic. Everything here is so organized! We made it home pretty late, and went to bed. My bed is sooooo soft compared to the one in China!! Bed in China: brick covered in cloth. Bed here: laying on cotton!
I am still trying to get ofer the idea that I am actually able to be home for the Christmas season!! Can't wait for the 4 weeks I get at home!! Yahoo!!!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
6 1/2 days and Counting
In a week, I will be on a plane, heading for American soil. It's hard to believe that it's this time already.
Tonight was our Christmas Jubilee. Our students have worked long and hard to put this play on, and all of the staff was worried about how it would turn out. It was quite an interesting beginning, when welcomes and instructions took really long. Welcomes and introductions were given by the adults in English, then Chinese, then Korean. Then the high school students came on, and gave instructions for how to behave during the concert. Those were given in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. Quite a fun time, and certainly not something you would see in the states.
Thankfully, our play went well, and it seemed like everyone enjoyed it. After everything was over, our principal went on stage and said several thank you’s. He began handing out bouquets of flowers to people that had helped with the play. I was quite surprised when I heard “Miss McKee” being said. I was not expecting anything for the relatively small part I played in helping, compared to everyone else. I was very appreciative, though J I had ridden my bike to school that morning, so I knew the ride home was going to be quite interesting. I managed to get from school to our apartment very carefully. The flowers didn’t fit nicely in my bike basket, so I had to carry them. I was somehow able to steer my bike using one hand and two fingers on my other hand. Thankfully since I was going back at 8:30 at night, there wasn’t much traffic on the roads, or else it would have been MUCH more difficult…
Continuing to look back at my time here, I realize that I have also grown more confident. I used to second guess myself a lot. “Can I really do it…” “Did I do that right?” etc., or want someone else to do it for me. Now, since I’m on my own, I have to do things for myself. I’m enjoying this newfound sense of independence and confidence. When I first got here, I wasn’t a fan of going to the store because I would get stared at, and constantly hear “Wai guo ren” (Pronounced “why gwo ren”, means: foreigner) everywhere. Now, it’s just a part of living here, and I could care less. I just go in, get what I need, and don’t really pay attention to the stares I’m getting. It is fun, though, to return stares with a smile and wave. They don’t know what to do when I respond to their gazes J
In the next few days, I will, once again, get suitcases down, and begin the “fun” process of packing. The one thing that makes packing easier—knowing your final destination and knowing that when you finish packing, you are heading for somewhere fun. As much as I detest packing, I know that it’s kinda necessary if I want to have stuff to take home J
Countdown: 4 ½ days of school left.
6 ½ days in China.
Tonight was our Christmas Jubilee. Our students have worked long and hard to put this play on, and all of the staff was worried about how it would turn out. It was quite an interesting beginning, when welcomes and instructions took really long. Welcomes and introductions were given by the adults in English, then Chinese, then Korean. Then the high school students came on, and gave instructions for how to behave during the concert. Those were given in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. Quite a fun time, and certainly not something you would see in the states.
Thankfully, our play went well, and it seemed like everyone enjoyed it. After everything was over, our principal went on stage and said several thank you’s. He began handing out bouquets of flowers to people that had helped with the play. I was quite surprised when I heard “Miss McKee” being said. I was not expecting anything for the relatively small part I played in helping, compared to everyone else. I was very appreciative, though J I had ridden my bike to school that morning, so I knew the ride home was going to be quite interesting. I managed to get from school to our apartment very carefully. The flowers didn’t fit nicely in my bike basket, so I had to carry them. I was somehow able to steer my bike using one hand and two fingers on my other hand. Thankfully since I was going back at 8:30 at night, there wasn’t much traffic on the roads, or else it would have been MUCH more difficult…
Continuing to look back at my time here, I realize that I have also grown more confident. I used to second guess myself a lot. “Can I really do it…” “Did I do that right?” etc., or want someone else to do it for me. Now, since I’m on my own, I have to do things for myself. I’m enjoying this newfound sense of independence and confidence. When I first got here, I wasn’t a fan of going to the store because I would get stared at, and constantly hear “Wai guo ren” (Pronounced “why gwo ren”, means: foreigner) everywhere. Now, it’s just a part of living here, and I could care less. I just go in, get what I need, and don’t really pay attention to the stares I’m getting. It is fun, though, to return stares with a smile and wave. They don’t know what to do when I respond to their gazes J
In the next few days, I will, once again, get suitcases down, and begin the “fun” process of packing. The one thing that makes packing easier—knowing your final destination and knowing that when you finish packing, you are heading for somewhere fun. As much as I detest packing, I know that it’s kinda necessary if I want to have stuff to take home J
Countdown: 4 ½ days of school left.
6 ½ days in China.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Different Perspectives
When we are kids, we want time to go by faster so that we can be a grown-up. We don't take the time to enjoy life, instead we rush through it. However, as the years go by, our perspective on life changes. Instead of wanting life to speed up, everyone wants it to sloooowwww ddoooowwwnnnnn.
I have noticed recently that I feel the same way. I am finding it hard to believe that I will be back home in VA, 3 weeks from tomorrow. It seems like just yesterday I was leaving Norfolk on my way to China. Now, I'm leaving China...going back to Virginia for a month. Have I really been here for about 4 1/2 months??
Looking back on my time here so far, there are many ways that I have changed, or am changing. I am truly blessed to work with amazing people. This is my first full year of teaching, and I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially being in an International School setting. During my college years, I had some difficult times relating to practicums and Student Teaching. There were times that I wanted to give up the education major all together. However, something (or Someone) told me to keep at it, don’t give up. I endured some not fun experiences, and finally managed to persevere, and make it to graduation. However, I still harbored many negative feelings about my abilities in the classroom. Since coming here, I have discovered that all my feelings due to experiences in college are thankfully not how things are going here. There have been several times when I have received compliments on how I am teaching…from my principal, other teachers, and the Pre-K teacher that works with me a lot. I have found myself gladly leaving behind the thoughts, feelings, and memories of experiences from college, and happily embracing the world of knowing that I am capable of not only teaching, but doing a good job. I like this new world, and I sure am looking forward to all the experiences that are yet to come :)
I have noticed recently that I feel the same way. I am finding it hard to believe that I will be back home in VA, 3 weeks from tomorrow. It seems like just yesterday I was leaving Norfolk on my way to China. Now, I'm leaving China...going back to Virginia for a month. Have I really been here for about 4 1/2 months??
Looking back on my time here so far, there are many ways that I have changed, or am changing. I am truly blessed to work with amazing people. This is my first full year of teaching, and I wasn’t sure what to expect, especially being in an International School setting. During my college years, I had some difficult times relating to practicums and Student Teaching. There were times that I wanted to give up the education major all together. However, something (or Someone) told me to keep at it, don’t give up. I endured some not fun experiences, and finally managed to persevere, and make it to graduation. However, I still harbored many negative feelings about my abilities in the classroom. Since coming here, I have discovered that all my feelings due to experiences in college are thankfully not how things are going here. There have been several times when I have received compliments on how I am teaching…from my principal, other teachers, and the Pre-K teacher that works with me a lot. I have found myself gladly leaving behind the thoughts, feelings, and memories of experiences from college, and happily embracing the world of knowing that I am capable of not only teaching, but doing a good job. I like this new world, and I sure am looking forward to all the experiences that are yet to come :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)