Wei Hai, Yantai,
China
Friday, June 23, 2006
Yesterday was the most classic China day ever - had all the right ingredients - crazy early morning, TV cameras, so many stares, last minute notices, singing, being bombarded, incredibly disgusting toilets, a ton of food, a million toasts and a lot of beer downing! Mhairi and I were asked to visit a rural school so we agreed despite having no idea what they wanted us to do there. We arrived to be greeted by a banner saying "Welcome Foreign Teachers" (they've never had a foreign teacher before), a TV camera and a super smiley staff team. We were then taken to the headteachers' office where they had piles of fruit and tea for us; when we ate the fruit, they told us to drink some tea and when we drank the tea they told us to eat more - was like having lunch with my family in Ireland!! We were then finally told the plan for the day - we were to talk to the teachers about England, education and how to teach English and then I was to talk to the students answering their questions whilst Mhairi carried on talking to the teachers! So, film crew in tail, we were sat at the top of the table in a board room in front of a load of teachers and then answered their questions - all felt very fancy and a bit scary - until one teacher gathered a noisy phlegm ball and spat on the marble floor - good ole Chinese habits! I was then whisked away to talk to the students - on the walk from one building to the next I was informed that I would be giving a 10/15 introduction about myself and England - thanks for the notice! So, somewhat nervously, I was seated in front of 70 kids (yup, 70!) whilst the headmaster said something in Chinese - and then it was my turn! Actually got through it fine - just babbled (slowly) for awhile whilst they all stared their hearts out. Then it was question time - which also went pretty smoothly - the students were so sweet and really friendly. Then Mhairi joined me and after awhile the room was split in two and everyone gathered around us to talk to us freely. Before we knew it, paper was being shoved in our faces with requests of autographs and email addresses as well as a few admissions of love! Was crazy! But the next bit is the best - Mhairi and I were asked to sing! We said we were rubbish but they all started clapping and looking at us expectantly. Realising we couldn't turn down a room of 70 Chinese people we had to oblige! So cringy! Sang "Lean on Me"! Had to then teach it to all of them - was a beautiful moment! It was then time to go, but not without an interview for the TV people first!
For lunch the teachers took us out to dinner, where we were presented with so much food and beer, it was incredible. Every five minutes a toast was made to which we had to finish our drinks - I have no idea how many wine glasses of beer I had to sink, but I do know the poor teacher next to me quickly became incredibly red-faced and had to spend a lengthy time in the toilets before stumbling back to the table and being encouraged to drink even more. The more drunk everyone got, the more I love yous and you're beautifuls were dished out - was so funny. Towards the end, Mhairi had given in to Sprite, but as I was sitting next to the teacher who could translate I became picked on as the one to have a toast with every other minute - not wanting to reject what they kept calling "their Chinese traditions" I got on with it much to my full stomachs pain. I actually got clapped every time I finished a drink and numerous words/looks of encouragement and approval were thrown my way - or at least that's what I interpreted them as with my beer goggles on! Before leaving we had the mandatory photo shoot - a jaw-aching 10-15 minutes of photographs with each person at the table - woo hoo! Got back to my room about 3, feeling dazed and confused and ready for bed - unfortunately I had tutoring so after a couple of hours sleep I had to get up with a big ole headache and teach some kids - it's a hard life!
Photos and possible TV footage to come...
