There has been something I’d been wanting to do since before we arrived in China way back in September. I had spoken to the Company’s head of communications in China last summer about starting a program in Haiyang, that mirrors one from the Company’s sister-site in Sanmen, China. Last week that goal finally came to fruition.
The majority of residents in Haiyang had probably never seen a Westerner until the past few years when the Company started work here – even though the children diligently try to learn English and about the cultures of the West (mostly the USA). It’s a very cute thing to see. The extent of English conversation I had with a random Chinese person in Haiyang is “Hello”. I can walk down the completely isolated street in front of our housing complex and randomly encounter a (Chinese) truck full of men riding in the back – and almost always, as they putter along, one will attempt to shout out “hello” (so long as I smile and try to a pleasant person). I’m sure that is the only word he knows. But hey! That just shows you how far the English language has permeated even the most rural of areas in China. Another situation I’ve encountered is a parent walking with a toddler who is just learning to speak. The poor kid looks at Westerners like WTF are you?? But the parent keeps poking them “Ni shuo ‘hello'” (say ‘hello’). I do the obligatory wave, smile, try to say hello to the kid, tell the parent “hao ke’ai de haizi” (cute kid), and go along my business.
Last week a bunch of wives and employees of the Company visited a local primary school for the kick off of a new language and cultural exchange program. We were greeted by this sign, which I cannot read but had translated for me:
"Welcome friends from *Company* for visiting Xinyuan primary school and providing coaching"
Outside the School
It was still morning when we arrived, so the children were out doing morning exercises. If you’ve lived or worked in China, this is a really common practice – even among adults. It is nothing to see a crew of workers in the courtyard doing stretches or arm circles before their shift. Next time we go, I will try to get a video.
Morning exercises
Now, the Chinese like to make a huge production and celebration for just about anything and everything. It was no surprise to me that we were greeted by the head of the Haiyang education system, the head of the local school, and a bunch of other Haiyang officials and well-connected (“Party”) people. The local news agency also showed up to take video, pictures, and interviews. First was an initial introduction from the ‘important people’ in what I think is a formal greeting room for important events. It was a soft lounge-type room. They offered us water, small oranges, and Haiyang cucumbers. Alright, the cucumbers may sound strange – but these things are friggin amazing! I hear they are only grown locally. BUT they are so delicious you can just sit there and chow down on a whole cucumber, or two, or five. (I usually buy 20 or so a week when I go to the market.)
After formal introductions it was time to meet the children in a very ceremonial fashion. We left the first building and walked about 100 meters to another building which housed a Board Room. This is the first Chinese school I have been to, but I imagine they are all similar. This one was set up in a campus style – rows of buildings that (to me) looked like apartments.
Upon entering the room was about 35 kids uniformly dressed in orange and black jumpsuits. They stood straight at attention until told, then the front row sat uniformly and (uniformly) crossed their arms on the table. Very cute little soldiers. I couldn’t help but smile! I know they must have practiced many times because it looked so perfect.
Children at Ceremonial Kick-Off Meeting
The important people gave a bunch of speeches in Chinese and I could only pick out a word here or there that I understood. I tried to act interested even though I didn’t have a clue what they were saying. The Company communications guy roughly translated once the speeches were done. Meanwhile, the children all stood and sat at attention. Two days earlier I had asked my good friend A if she wanted to come with my because I had no clue what was going to happen – and didn’t want to be the only woman there. *Eeeek* – poor thing was asked to give a speech in front of this roomful of people. I still feel very bad – but she was probably the best person to do it – thin, beautiful, smart, dark blond hair, and has this perfect way of connecting with Chinese. I can’t explain it – and even though I still feel terrible for getting her into it, she did a wonderful job and definitely ‘broke the ice’ after all of the formal speeches.
Finally came the fun… and kinda scary part! I had NO IDEA WHAT TO DO! Hahaha! I sat down with a table of absolutely beautiful girls and one adorably shy boy. I was stuck. I guess I didn’t think ahead that I was actually going to speak to children. I had no plan, no clue how much English they know, and I’m an ENGINEER, not a teacher. Awkward!! Thank goodness for little girls though! They started talking to me in textbook English. I was impressed at their initiative and took that as a cue. “Hello, how are you?” … “I am good, how are you?” I went around the table and was impressed at their perfect pronunciation. Ebonics has NOTHING on China!
At one point, their English teacher came over with their English book. I was a bit freaked out – but I wonder if maybe HE has trouble saying some words and wanted them to hear it from a native English speaker. THEN the pressure was on! Think about it – try to pronounce “clothes” perfect… when I speak ‘normally’, it sounds like “close”. Regardless – everyone at my table said it PERFECTLY!!! Next was “grandparent”… JEEZE… When I talk normal it sounds like “gran-par’nt”, worst of all, I call my grandmother “gramma” or “G-ma”. I made my best attempt to speak slow (something G-Ma always said I had problems with!), and I pronounced it properly. They imitated it wonderfully! I was so happy! Maybe it’s just me – I still speak a bit of Pittsburghese… For those of you not from Pittsburgh, it’s an old steel-town-kind-of-speech. I lived there my entire life before coming to China, so now my speech is a weird mix of Pittsburghese and Englese (English/Chinese).
Anyways… The most fulfilling experience came at a few different moments. First – one of the girls across the table from me wanted to sit right next to me. Second, after me talking to the table for 10 minutes, she wanted to give me a huge hug. THAT was the moment when I knew this was worth it. Once we were told our time was over and it was time to go home, the kids scrambled around to try to get our ‘autographs’ as fast as they could.
Later that day I got the request to be the organizer/point person for this exchange program. I’m probably the least qualified, but there is nothing I can’t handle.
After the short time I was there I realized a lot. Sometimes TIME is the best thing you can give someone. The children were genuinely interested in us. I have a few topics in store for our next visits. They want to practice English and are eager to learn about our lives. I am eager to learn about their’s as well.
