my world. my thoughts. my journeys.
Introducing…Miss Martin aka Ma Laoshi!
As the newest addition to the middle school faculty, I have assumed my role as “Miss Martin” or Ma Laoshi (it translates to ‘Teacher Ma’, Ma being my Chinese last name) and have begun shadowing the current Chinese teacher who will be relinquishing her duties and enjoying maternity leave once the kids leave on spring break. I spent two days with the kids, and am scheduled to shadow another four days before officially taking over the job on April 5th.
I really enjoyed my first two days, getting to know my students and co-workers and getting a feel of the vibe of the school. It’s a completely new environment for me; not only is this my first “real” job post-college, but it’s also my first experience in a private, all boys school. I teach a very introductory 5th grade class, 2 sections of 6th graders, a 7th grade and an 8th grade class. My students cover the full spectrum of puberty, with my pint-sized 6th graders and my I’m-not-in-high school-but-will-be-soon 8th graders that are an average a foot or two taller with voices a few octaves lower than my other sections. Overall, the kids seem incredibly enthusiastic for the language and have some real skills and in the relatively few instances that I’ve really gotten to work with them on Chinese, I feel this great excitement for the upcoming months.
Coming in as a newbie, in addition to being a young woman in a male dominated environment, has it’s perks and pitfalls. I’m one of three female teachers in the middle school, but I also have the element of surprise not being Chinese. No one quite expected someone who looks like me to be the new Chinese teacher and I’m trying to use that to my benefit. I’ve also caught wind of a few rather hysterical stories of some of the students’ excitement over the new “Miss” in town (we are apparently few and far between and these guys don’t get to see too many girls as it is). One of the more outgoing boys I sat with at our lunch table on Friday asked me how I was fairing in the ‘all boys’ atmosphere, and his question made me laugh. It’s definitely a new world, but I’m more and more happy each day that I’ve ended up with this job and can’t wait to see what happens over the next few months.
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Mikala ma na!
about 1 year ago - No comments
“The foreigner has come back!” I quickly learned this phrase in the Dai language the more people spotted me in the village, and as more children were crying in the vicinity of our house. Despite the good number of people who were happy to have me back, the smallest kids are the ones who would rather see me go. Being a head and shoulders taller than most people in the village (really, we’ve yet to find a single person taller than me), and that I have the dreaded curly hair and unfamiliar eyes…I’m a monster to most. Some kids take the avoiding route, and simply take a wide angle turn around our house. Others are often brought into what they see as a “danger zone” against their will (aka carried on someone’s back), that is usually followed by waterworks, screaming, and the child being carried away. Some kids are just weary, and are fine so long as I don’t get too close.
You speak what?
about 1 year ago - No comments
I speak Mandarin Chinese, or what most Chinese people refer to as Putonghua (common speech). It is the language used for the government, in schools, and on television, but once you get outside of Beijing, Putonghua begins morphing, and when you get into minority territories like my village, their ethnic languages take precedence.
The end of my quest
about 1 year ago - No comments
I made it to the Xishuangbanna Airport ready to make the trek to the village, but was also anxious (and nervous) for what lay ahead. I then continued my journey to the bus station to buy my ticket to Menghun. Here’s a clip of the station (I was trying to be inconspicious so please excuse…
A walk down memory lane
about 1 year ago - No comments
I had no idea the natural charm of Kunming would throw me back as much as it has to the days of my study abroad in 2006. I have enjoyed the overwhelming nostalgia and the luxury of familiarity- I know how to get to the places I need, and despite a few renovations, can still navigate the area. I can walk through the campus streets of my old university and remember playing basketball with Chinese people, or I can walk past the old train tracks and remember strolling down them in the evenings to find street food for dinner. My time this trip has been amazing, but not because I’ve been packing in a ton of activities. Having been here twice before, I’ve already seen it’s main attractions, so now I just get to sit and marinate in the city’s awesomeness.
Ni hao Shanghai!
about 1 year ago - No comments
After more than 14 hours on a plane, aside from a little turbulence from time to time, it’s easy to forget you’re flying through the air. My flight was flooded with Chinese people, but it wasn’t until walking around the Shanghai airport last night that I really began to realize I was in China. Actually, my thoughts were more along the lines of “I’m in China!! YIKES!”
Middle School Musings
about 2 years ago - No comments
The faculty at school have had an opportunity to address the middle school with an “ethics speech” of their choosing. I chose to give them a snippet of my life and some lessons I had garnered along the way. This is geared for a middle school audience, but I hope that you enjoy it!
Say what!?
about 2 years ago - 1 comment
We’re all accustomed to hearing “Oh girl!! You are lookin’ FINE right now!” on an episode of Jersey Shore, but when I heard that phrase in my classroom from the mouth of a seventh grader, it was a different experience. I’ve learned in my job that unexpected situations are like being on call for a 9 alarm fire.. if you don’t react immediately and appropriately… well, you’re toast.
Thanks for the memories, Mrs. Obama!
about 2 years ago - No comments
About a week and a half ago, my principal sat me down and told me that one of my student’s moms had gotten us some state department invitations for an event at the White House hosted by Michelle Obama and (GASP!) President Hu Jintao from China. Once I caught my breath, I was completely overtaken by the coolness of it all. Over the course of a few days, however, the details got a little less exciting.. the White House became Howard University, Hu Jintao became an “unnamed Chinese counterpart”, but thankfully, Michelle Obama was still hosting.
Following her speech, they held a panel discussion including 4 students who had recently been abroad to China. It was a good for my boys to hear a bit about what students are doing, and even career opportunities that would be available to them if they continue their studies. The students’ stories made me incredibly nostalgic for my own experiences in China and the connections I’ve made in China in the 4 times that I’ve been there. It was nice to reflect on it after the event with my students and share with them a bit about what made my trips so special.
My favorite quote from Michelle Obama’s speech was one where she quoted another student recently home from study abroad in China. He said “I’ve come to understand the world is more complex, more interconnected, and more beautiful than I ever could’ve imagined.” Those words resonated with me and brought all these wonderful memories, people, and interactions to the surface. I have been lucky enough to have the experiences that I have had, and that they have impacted me so deeply. It gave me a new desire to inspire this kind of exploration and experience in my students because I do believe it opens doors you can’t imagine until you’re there.
Revival for 2011
about 2 years ago - No comments
I got back from China last summer energized after a summer of writing only to find myself at the end the calendar year wondering just where the time has gone. I started my first year of teaching, inundated with the tasks, challenges, and surprises of my new job and then BAM! I’m on Christmas break. When I started blogging, I realized I developed eyes and ears that wrote stories as I observed or experienced things and I had no shortage of ideas to build upon. The last few months have been no different—full of stories and experiences that have shaped my year and affected me deeply. The only difference now that can explain my lack of writing is best described with the standard cliché: “There aren’t enough hours in the day”.
Life in Chengdu
about 2 years ago - No comments
We left behind the hype and buzz of whirling Beijing over a week ago to come finish the second half of our program in Chengdu, a big city in the southwest province of Sichuan. I was excited to leave Beijing. I like it there, but I’m definitely more drawn to the cultural allure of the cities far less affected by drives for westernization and modernity.
about 3 years ago
Congrats on the job kid!!! I can’t believe you’re teaching now!! Best of luck with the new job!!!
about 3 years ago
Hey Ma Laoshi (I can write it, but I can’t pronounce it). Well look at you!!!! I could read the excitement. Where are you teaching? Is it in Washington? Now you say you are covering for a teacher going on maternity leave, but could this turn into a full time position?
Brit, I always tell you, “Life is for the living.” Everytime I read about one of your adventures I know you agree.
I’m proud of you kiddo.
Joe
about 3 years ago
hi joe! thanks for the comment- i always love hearing from you. the job is outside DC, and still working on spinalpedia too. and i love your ‘life is for the living’– its such a good mantra! hope to see you soon