Lesson Learned

I have been home for a week now and I have tried to consolidate in my mind what I have learned over the last six weeks. I wouldn't be a good teacher if I didn't wrap up the lesson with some self-reflection.

Although China is warming up to western ideas, it is still a communist country where religion/spirituality is not discussed openly. I really did feel a sense of "darkness" whereby people knew "something" was out there, but really couldn't put a finger on it, much less enter into a dialogue about it. Yes, Christianity is certainly not given the same equality in Canada as other ideologies or philosophies; but at least, I can share about Jesus, my friend and Saviour. I really missed not being able to go to church and be among fellow believers. Listening to sermons on the Internet is not the same as rubbing shoulders with other Christians.

I really missed my family--quirks and all! It is so easy to get irritated by the little things and just plain miss out on the big picture.

I have learned how easy it is to take things for granted. I appreciate clean drinking water from the tap. I had to use bottled water all the time, even when brushing my teeth or eating some fruit. I certainly appreciate cold water, with ice--everything I had was room temperature.

I took for granted the amount of resources that I had at my finger tips. Everything is so "easy" here: easy access, easy resources on the Internet (not everything as accessible by Internet due to restrictions made by the Chinese government); easy access to supplies, technology, etc.

Yes, I even took for granted things that I am used to like western toilets!! Although I was not tempted to kiss the throne, a hug for my porcelain fixture did cross my mind.

Another thing that I learned was perspective. For instance, my room, by our standards was very basic. It was adequate to my needs, but certainly not luxurious--from my perspective. However, from the University's perspective it was a 3 star hotel that they were offering to me. After all, the room, which is usually shared by 6 girls in the dormitory was all for me. It had air-conditioning that worked rather than just a fan. I started to look at things through their eyes which in turn, increased my ability for empathy.

Another lesson that I have learned was the ability to feel vulnerable--to be at someone else's mercy because they have what I don't--the ability to communicate. I really saw how frustrating that can be. This is such a prevalent feeling for my beginner students here in Canada. I have intelligent, well-educated people in my class who battle feelings of low self-esteem because there is the inability to communicate. Along with learning a new culture, trying to be observant, my students battle self doubt and questioning their decision to come to Canada in the first place. I can honestly understand what they feel; it is emotionally exhausting work.

I guess this is why I wanted to go to China in the first place. I needed to feel what my students were feeling in order to fully understand and then in turn, be better equipped to help them. You see, teaching for me is not just a job. I see my teaching as an opportunity to encourage my students during a difficult time and giving them the tools that they need in order to live out the dream of having a better life in Canada.

I think I came away from China a different person than when I left Canada. I hope that God continues to uses this experience to increase my awareness for others. I definitely have a better appreciation for missionaries as they have to deal with culture shock, both in the new country and when coming home again.

I want to thank you, dear readers, for following with interest. It has been my pleasure to regale you with tales; to tickle your funny bone; and maybe in part, to vicariously share my experiences with you. I hope that you too, have in some small way, been able to appreciate the small pleasures in life. I thank you for praying for me and keeping me in your thoughts. Honestly, that has been my sustaining power. It is through your prayers that I was able to learn the lessons above; to get along with a complete stranger; to cope with homesickness, strange food and the heat; able to stay healthy throughout the entire time; and to see the humour in strange events.

Thank you for sharing your time with me

Leaving

My last evening was spent with the teachers as we celebrated our successes over a dinner. The teachers treated us to a wonderful buffet. I didn't ask about some of the food, but I honestly enjoyed most of it.

On the bus ride on the way home from the restaurant, I was engaged in a conversation with one of the teachers about the religion, or lack thereof, in China. She admitted that it was not a good thing that people don't believe because it was, in her opinion, necessary to believe in something outside of yourself. She asked me if I believe in anything. I was able to tell her that there are many choices and I chose to believe and follow Jesus Christ and follow the instructions of the Scriptures. She wasn't sure about the matter of "choice" because she felt that the higher power would come to her. I guess, in essence, she IS correct. God does come to us, but we still must choose to follow him. That was as far as our conversation could go. I only hope that this planted a seed of thought within her mind and that somneone else will come along and water those seeds.

Travelling home was a very long day! I was VERY glad to be home. I was *this* close to kissing Canadian soil! Paris and Byron greeted me at the airport with hugs, kisses and flowers!! My luggage also followed me home without a hitch. I've never been so excited to see a Tim Hortons!! Mmmm...my first iced cap in 6 weeks.

I'm still overcoming jetlag, but I am very glad to be home. I will have one more blog to write as I try to summarize to you the lessons that I have learned.

My Last Days

I had my last “prison break” today. It actually did feel like I was breaking out because I found a shortcut and crawled through a hole in the fence. It cut down on my walk to the BRT. I just sat by a small outdoor restaurant with a smoothie and did some people watching. I know that I won’t be sorry to leave this heat, that’s for sure. I remembered an adage that my teacher once spoke from years ago when propriety for young ladies was paramount: “Horses sweat, men perspire and women glisten.” All I can say is that I have been glistening like a horse for the last six weeks!
Tomorrow, I have an hour flight from Xiamen to Hong Kong; a 4.5 hour layover; an 11.5 hour flight from Hong Kong to Vancouver; customs, a 2 hour wait; a 1.5 hour flight to Calgary; an hour car ride—then HOME! That sounds very sweet. I have missed my boys incredibly.
Thank you for taking this trip with me. I will probably write one or two more blogs as I try to summarize, wrap up and bring my experience to a close.

Post-it Notes

Note to self: Don’t look too closely while driving by an area that has some trees—there could be a man taking a break (and I don’t mean coffee!)
Note to self: Don’t step in a puddle, it may not be water. Most babies do not wear diapers out in public.
Note to self: Don’t think you are necessarily safe in a vehicle. Nobody wears seat belts and there are no car seats available for children.
Note to self: Don’t think you are necessarily safe while riding a moped or bicycle. Nobody wears helmets and usually there are 2-3 riders at a time. I have seen moped drivers where the child is standing on the platform, the dad is driving the moped, another child behind the dad and in between the mother all while carrying a load at the back.
Note to self: It is not necessary to hang on to anything while standing during the bus ride during rush hour. The mere amount of bodies keeps you upright and securely in place. You don’t know what it means to have your personal space invaded (I’d prefer the word violated) until you ride the bus around dinner time. The words “pressed ham” come to mind as people are literally pressed up against you. Or another word picture for you: a 42 inch waist trying to squeeze into an 18 inch corset.
Note to self: The sidewalks are not just for pedestrians. Cars will park on the sidewalk if a spot on the street can’t be found. Likewise, mopeds will scoot on the sidewalks to avoid something or someone on the street. Pedestrians are at the bottom of the food chain; expendable, so watch out!

Hong Kong 5

As you can see, the streets are more narrow than the streets that we are accustomed to in Canada. Often taxis, cars, buses, pedestri-ans, motorcyclists and bicyclists all share the same space. Again, honking seems to get people out of the way and although I have not been privy to having a front row seat to an accident, I seem to have episodes of anxiety as I have witnessed a few near misses! The shops are usually street level and then residences are above the shops. Hong Kong has many high end clothing stores which makes it renowned for its shopping. At first a T-shirt seems rather pricey at $120.00 until you realize that it is about seven Hong Kong Dollars to our one Canadian dollar.

Hong Kong 4

The promenade along the harbour hosts “The Avenue of Stars” fashioned similarly after Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Of course, many of the Chinese actors are unknown to us, except for Jackie Chan. He is a HUGE hero in many people’s eyes. Chow Yun Fat is another Chinese actor that we would recognize from the movie “The King and I” with Jodie Foster and the also from the movie “Crouching Tigers, Hidden Dragons.”

Hong Kong 3

When China was defeated by Britain in the First Opium War, Hong Kong ceded to British rule in 1842. The area of Hong Kong is made up of several islands and Britain wanted to ensure that Hong Kong could be defended by claiming all the areas surrounding Hong Kong was under British rule by executing a 99-year lease in 1898. This monument commemorates the signing over of Hong Kong from British rule to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997. Hong Kong is a Special Ad-ministrative Region of the People's Republic of China, having a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defence affairs.