Denial

Tonight, I worked with three students who are going on to compete in a city/region wide English contest. 

Their challenge: Speak for 3 minutes about a Word that has Changed the World.

One of my students chose the word Denial.  She wrote that through people denying us and even self denial great things have come (Steve Jobs being fired from Apple etc).  However, the translation of denial from Chinese to English missed some connotation causing the native English speakers to question her usage of the word.

We spent two hours tossing around ideas for a new word...criticism, overcoming denial, failure, etc etc.  There was no word, no English word at least, that would capture her idea.  However, the word denial in its base form worked...it just had connotation and grammatical baggage that made it unacceptable.  So we talked, debated, and thought and thought and thought.

Finally, I simply said that we needed to acknowledge the word's failure and point out the weakness before the judges do.  By acknowledging the weakness, admitting the failure, we then became able to use the word...without its baggage.

And isn't that true in life?  When we have a weakness or a shortcoming, we need to acknowledge the weakness and admit the failure.  We can then take the good that is there and move forward...working with what we have but also drawing from our strengths.

We need to stop denying that we have shortcomings...rather, we need to face them, own them, and well...Just Do It.

Popcorn...the pop, pop, and burn.

Dear World,

 There are some universal facts that are undisputed and they are as follows:

• Nails on a chalkboard is a horrendous sound.
• Burnt popcorn is a horrible smell.

For this post, I will focus in on, "Burnt popcorn is a horrible smell."

For those of you who know me, you know I like popcorn.  For those of you who know me well, you know I depend on air, water, and popcorn for physical survival.  Sooooo, when I got to China I knew there was an issue to be dealt with.

I made it about a month without popcorn (the buttery microwave popcorn was NOT a good substitution for my stove top version).  And then, Laura showed me the way.  There are popcorn kernels to be bought and popped.  YAY!!

Step 1: Purchase and Take Home

Step 2: Popping on the stove

Step 3 (optional): Failure

Step 4: Try Again (a few days later with a little research done)

Step 5:  Success!!!

And that is a fine example of my life in China...sometimes it takes a little more effort, time, research, and energy...but it generally can be done!!

3 BIG Things Every Teacher Needs

For this past month, I have been doggie paddling, swimming, treading water, and frantically grabbing onto random floating objects...metaphorically speaking.

While learning to teach (an ironic statement if you think about it), I have discovered that teachers need 3 BIG things.

1. A Teacher needs a BIG Smile.
         Students respond to genuine kindness...at least Asian students do.  I believe they can see through the fake happiness, but when they see genuine happiness and kindness they respond.

2. A Teacher needs a BIG Heart.
         If someone was in this for the money, they would be:
            -disappointed when they got the paycheck
            -burnt out before they could say "burnt out"
        With almost 200 students, each day I teach a classroom full of young lives with intricate stories to tell.  I hope I have the ears to hear and the heart to help and guide.

3. A Teacher needs a really BIG Back Pocket.
         Teaching often involves "pulling something out of my back pocket."  Every 5 minutes, I am mentally reviewing my lesson plan, adjusting to the clock, and searching my student's faces for understanding.  If I do not see understanding I have to add (out of my back pocket).  If I see understanding faster than expected, I have to move on which may mean "pulling something out of my back pocket" later.
          As a new teacher, I have to intentionally plan my "back pocket" activities.  However, I'm reading TEFL journals/methodology books and making my own journals with the hope that one day I will have a natural, built in back pocket.  Until that day...

One of my Freshman Classes

Dizzy...not Lazy.

On Tuesdays, I teach listening to a class of teachers.

For some Chinese, my name is hard to say/hear. One of my teacher-students said, "I told my daughter that my teacher was Lizzie (child heard lazy) and she thought that wasn't good."

So for a listening exercise we did:

Lizzie can be dizzy, busy, or frizzy.
But
Lizzie is not lazy.

Growing up, I would get so mad when people would sing-song my name, "Lizzie is dizzy 'cause she's so busy!" "Dizzy Lizzie!"

Now, I encourage it.

Oh, how the tables have turned.

The Wheels on the Bus don't always go round...

Yesterday, I walked 20 minutes and got on the 102 Bus.
The 102 Bus then got stuck behind an accident.
The people in the accident yelled for awhile, exchanged cash, and went on their way.
My bus then got into an accident.
The people in the accident yelled for awhile...and then we got off the bus.
I got on another 102 Bus and it took off like a rocket.
Before I could grab onto a bar...I fell on my butt.
The Chinese graciously looked away to save me face.
I then road on the 102 Bus for 20 more minutes.
I arrived at my destination and got off the 102 Bus.

I paid $2 and took a taxi home.

Likes and Dislikes

In America, I disliked the following:

·      Rain

·      Getting up at 6:00am

·      Ambiguity

In China, I have the following often:

·      Rain

·      Getting up at 6:00am

·      Ambiguity

So, l have learned some things.

Rain is wonderful!  It clears the skies, it brings moisture to a very dry place, and it cleans streets.  In Beijing, it allowed us to see the Mountains for a day (and then they went back into hiding).  Bring on the rain!

Getting up at 6:00am is OK.  (reader, you were expecting a radical heart change…weren’t you?)  Actually, I’m getting used to it.  The sun sets early here.  Getting up early, allows me to have a nice breakfast with Father and then get to work while sitting next to a window with sunshine.

Ambiguity…well, I’m embracing it. 

I am learning that likes and dislikes are just opportunities for change.*
*I hope I never see that cross-stitched into a pillow.

Early Breakfast

Blue Skies after the rain!

Today's Taxi: Scenes 1 and 2

Shelley: Take us to the Metro Market
Driver: No, I will take you to a better market
Shelley: No, take us to the Metro Market
Driver: I will drop you off on side of road...but not charge you.
Shelley: No, take us to the Metro Market like you agreed.
(repeat about 5 times)
Driver: Americans are bad

Silence.
Taxi pulls into an ally. Driver gets out.

Lizzie: uuummmmm

Two new men get into the taxi.

Lizzie: ummmmmm
New Passenger: How old are you? About 24?
Shelley: Close enough
New Passenger: I would marry you
Shelley: *Laugh*
New Passenger: (points to Lizzie) You are so white...you are so beautiful.
Lizzie: ummmmmm

New Passenger gets out.

New Driver: That is my friend...he is fun to play with.

We arrive at destination.

Lizzie: ummmmmmmm