It's early Monday morning and I am standing at the gate of a school in Jinyang, a suburb of Guiyang. I'm here to meet my director of studies and some colleagues and assistants, to hold a promotion at the school's open day. It's the second time I am here. The first time was more than a month ago and I was accompanied by my director of studies. I had to teach something for half an hour and she would do all the negotiations and the talking. 'We'll be done in an hour' she had said. Of course it took us longer. First because our driver took us to a different school, a public school next to the Canadian I used to work, then we had to find the way to this private school I am now, then we had to find the principal and her assistants, go to the room, set it up and wait for the pupils to come. 'Are you sure about the time?' I had asked. 'What about the flag raising ceremony?' I had asked. 'Don't worry about anything' was the answer I received. Well, since the pupils didn't show up, we went in search of them and discovered that they all were on their way to the flag raising ceremony.
The flag raising ceremony is a Monday morning event that takes place in every school in the country. All students, teachers and sometimes members of staff gather on a field, square, etc. of the school, three pupils carry the flag and raise it in very communist, very glorifying way. Everybody sings the national anthem, there are some speeches and awards giving, etc. Ceremonies might vary from school to school. But the ones I have seen so far in 3 - 4 different schools are identical. After 30 to 45 minutes (sometimes quicker if the weather is bad or the speeches and award giving don't take that long), everything is over and everyone returns to business.
It took us two hours that morning and since the driver had to leave, we took a taxi back.
This morning however, I am here at that very gate we entered the first time, but the gate is closed and locked, as it always is and the guard in the hut next to the gate has no information and won't let me in. I call my assistant Margaret to come pick me up, but she goes to the main gate. There's a bit of confusion when she sees that I am not there and since both of us don't know of the existence of a second gate, she has to ask someone to figure out where I am. It turns out that the main gate is where Margaret is and the gate I am waiting at is the side entrance that opens only early in the morning and in the afternoon when the parents come to either bring or pick up their children.
Anyway, we find each other and I am directed to the classroom I am supposed to teach for 30 minutes. Since it's Monday and since it's open day, we won't finish early. That's what my gut feeling tells me. Why? First of all, all of us, Margaret, me and three others have to teach, of course this doesn't happen at the same time. Secondly, it's flag raising ceremony and last but not least, a festive ceremony the school has organised for the parents will take place.
I mentioned in an earlier post, that businesses need a licence in order to employ foreigners. The number of foreigners has to be stated on that licence. In case the business doesn't own one, they can hire foreigners from a company that does. The requirements are very strict and in some cases the businesses have to wait up to one whole year to obtain a licence. This school is quite new and doesn't have one, that's why we are here today, that's why I was here about a month ago, to promote me, my skills, my school, etc.
I set up my room and go find the others. As I turn around the corner I bump into a group of pupils dressed in Miao and Han costumes. Miao are the largest minority in Guizhou province and Han are most Chinese. The kids get excited when they see me and I take many photos.
Many more students, parents, teachers and members of staff have gathered on the sports field to witness the show. As you can see from the attached photos and videos, it really is very colourful and beautiful.
After that, we all go to the classrooms. Of course parents come into the room, too and take photos and videos. After the lesson, pupils and parents are given a few minutes to ask questions. Of course the most important question is if you're married. They always ask this and many more personal questions, never anything related to work experience and qualifications.
The principal walks in and we're asked to vacate the room as it needs to be used by someone else. We walk around the premises in search of the others and when I spot Margaret in one of the classrooms, I want to enter through the open back door and watch her teaching. The director of studies grabs me by my backpack and holds me back saying, 'don't enter because you'll distract them'. I do a funny move and noise when she pulls me back, which is heard by some parents and pupils who sit near the door. They all turn around to see what is happening, and when they spot me, especially the mums, take their mobile phones and take some photos. I manage to take a few photos of Margaret in action before we continue our walk around.
Since I have come by my scooter, I don't have to wait for the others to finish and technically I am free to leave. Technically. Well, There's some meet and greet, some photoshoots with parents, teachers and pupils and lunch at the school's canteen. I had tried hard to avoid eating and walking anywhere near the canteen of the Canadian school, but here it would be insulting if I refused lunch. Lunch at a school canteen is horrible and should be forbidden.
Three or so hours later I am finally free to go.
The flag raising ceremony is a Monday morning event that takes place in every school in the country. All students, teachers and sometimes members of staff gather on a field, square, etc. of the school, three pupils carry the flag and raise it in very communist, very glorifying way. Everybody sings the national anthem, there are some speeches and awards giving, etc. Ceremonies might vary from school to school. But the ones I have seen so far in 3 - 4 different schools are identical. After 30 to 45 minutes (sometimes quicker if the weather is bad or the speeches and award giving don't take that long), everything is over and everyone returns to business.
It took us two hours that morning and since the driver had to leave, we took a taxi back.
This morning however, I am here at that very gate we entered the first time, but the gate is closed and locked, as it always is and the guard in the hut next to the gate has no information and won't let me in. I call my assistant Margaret to come pick me up, but she goes to the main gate. There's a bit of confusion when she sees that I am not there and since both of us don't know of the existence of a second gate, she has to ask someone to figure out where I am. It turns out that the main gate is where Margaret is and the gate I am waiting at is the side entrance that opens only early in the morning and in the afternoon when the parents come to either bring or pick up their children.
Anyway, we find each other and I am directed to the classroom I am supposed to teach for 30 minutes. Since it's Monday and since it's open day, we won't finish early. That's what my gut feeling tells me. Why? First of all, all of us, Margaret, me and three others have to teach, of course this doesn't happen at the same time. Secondly, it's flag raising ceremony and last but not least, a festive ceremony the school has organised for the parents will take place.
I mentioned in an earlier post, that businesses need a licence in order to employ foreigners. The number of foreigners has to be stated on that licence. In case the business doesn't own one, they can hire foreigners from a company that does. The requirements are very strict and in some cases the businesses have to wait up to one whole year to obtain a licence. This school is quite new and doesn't have one, that's why we are here today, that's why I was here about a month ago, to promote me, my skills, my school, etc.
I set up my room and go find the others. As I turn around the corner I bump into a group of pupils dressed in Miao and Han costumes. Miao are the largest minority in Guizhou province and Han are most Chinese. The kids get excited when they see me and I take many photos.
Many more students, parents, teachers and members of staff have gathered on the sports field to witness the show. As you can see from the attached photos and videos, it really is very colourful and beautiful.
After that, we all go to the classrooms. Of course parents come into the room, too and take photos and videos. After the lesson, pupils and parents are given a few minutes to ask questions. Of course the most important question is if you're married. They always ask this and many more personal questions, never anything related to work experience and qualifications.
The principal walks in and we're asked to vacate the room as it needs to be used by someone else. We walk around the premises in search of the others and when I spot Margaret in one of the classrooms, I want to enter through the open back door and watch her teaching. The director of studies grabs me by my backpack and holds me back saying, 'don't enter because you'll distract them'. I do a funny move and noise when she pulls me back, which is heard by some parents and pupils who sit near the door. They all turn around to see what is happening, and when they spot me, especially the mums, take their mobile phones and take some photos. I manage to take a few photos of Margaret in action before we continue our walk around.
Since I have come by my scooter, I don't have to wait for the others to finish and technically I am free to leave. Technically. Well, There's some meet and greet, some photoshoots with parents, teachers and pupils and lunch at the school's canteen. I had tried hard to avoid eating and walking anywhere near the canteen of the Canadian school, but here it would be insulting if I refused lunch. Lunch at a school canteen is horrible and should be forbidden.
Three or so hours later I am finally free to go.
The school's sign at the side entrance gate.
Art
What I am teaching today.
Blue is Miao, white is Han.
Pupils concentrating, mums watching.
School's sign at the front gate.
Margaret in action, never in distraction.
The first time I taught in this school. Topic of the day was 'weather'. I am doing the rain.
The lady in front of the black board is the director of studies.
Videos may not show or play on iPhones and iPads.
Here's some more reading stuff by me.
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