Open House Week . . .

So it is open house week, and I was (key word) planned to give 2 open house classes. This means that parents get to come watch my class. This isn't really too big a deal since I've already given many of these classes at a part time job. I obviously put more planning into this class since it is my primary job, but instead of being nervous like the other teachers I was full of confidence.

The day before the most important of the 2 classes I was told that instead of getting half of the oldest kids (11 kids) I would be getting the entire group put together. The principal told me that those kids didn't have open class with a foreign teacher last year, and that since this is the last year before graduating to elementary school I would do all the oldest kids together in one class. I took it in stride, and didn't even complain when she decided to the same thing with the other age groups (meaning the 2 classes I WAS planned turned into 3 classes). My attitude really caught her off guard, she expected I would try to get out of doing it or complain about the extra work. I think I bought myself some points without even realizing it.

I approached this class pretty seriously, I felt like if I did a good job of winning the parents over it could mean not only immediate bonuses but a good impression that can pay off later down the road. The admittance of kids into my kindergarten is, after all, based on the parents' notoriety in Hangzhou and ability to improve the reputation of our kindergarten. I suspect there is also a lot of behind the scenes money to make sure a child is admitted, but I didn't say that. In any case, knowing this means I am always looking for ways to build relationships with the parents.

The class was this morning, and I must say it went perfectly. It must have been the best class or one of the best I have ever given. Absolutely nailed it, and when I heard that the parents thought I was amazing I wasn't surprised. I even thought I was amazing, I never thought it would go so well. I feel so great right now, I only fear that this confidence will lead me to be too overconfident when I give the younger children's open house classes tomorrow and friday.

In other news, I think I'm part of some odd practical joke. Two weeks ago the cover a part of my motorbike went missing. It is a small 6 inch by 6 inch plastic covering that covers what I'm told by several repair places is an unimportant engine component. This particular cover is different from average models. I went to 5 different places that told me that the stock pieces they had wouldn't fit, and that I would need to order one. I ordered it, waited 3 days, then got it installed. It was fairly inexpensive, only about 2.50 American. Today the cover is missing again (after it being in place for 7 days). I am very confused as to why there seems to be a thief of inexpensive unimportant motorbike engine piece covers in our neighborhood.

Traveling with a chicken

I realized the other day I hadn't posted anything here in awhile. In
fact, I hadn't really let anyone know I as alive for a short time. I
got a bit busy.

Everything is still going smoothly. I go to work and I love it. I know
I need to eventually find another job, but I enjoy this so much I will
be sad when I have to leave.

I went to visit Zoey's family last weekend. I took a number of pictures
from our excursions there, and I have about 100 new stories from the
trip alone. The best involves me somehow ending up with a chicken that
I had to take with me back to Hangzhou for Zoey's brother. Chris Marco begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Chicken Delivery, that is what I was playing.

The chicken actually came in handy several times on the way home. And
by came in handy, I mean entertained me. At one point in the bus
station there was a Chinese Christian evangelical woman going from aisle
to aisle giving a rehearsed speech on Christianity and damning everyone
to hell if they didn't convert. She noticed me and got all excited. I
was teaching Zoey how to do the Rubik's Cube in Chinese, and she pointed
at me and said I was an example of how Jesus can help people, and that I
had been able to learn Chinese because of my faith. I was a bit
offended in general by being used as some type of prop to condemn
everyone around me, so I decided to have some fun. I spoke up that it
was indeed because of my faith that I was able to learn Chinese, but
that the chicken I had just bought was Buddhist. Despite my best
efforts, I was unable to convert my chicken and was very sad. I asked
her for her help in converting my chicken, but she instead got very
upset and stormed off.

After we arrived in Hangzhou, I had to take my chicken and my suitcase
to line up for a taxi cab. There were several beggars walking through
the line hassling people to give them money. Every time one approached
I told them in a very concerned voice to, "Please leave. My chicken is
very easily upset and having a stranger so close really makes him
nervous." The response from the 3 beggars that came up to me in the 10
minute waiting span was all the same: marvel at my Chinese, look at my
chicken, then realize they had met someone entirely insane and walk away.

To top it off, in line in front of us were 3 very American looking
tourists. Seeing a Chinese person with a chicken would be novelty, but
seeing a white guy with a chicken was something they weren't quite
prepared for. They kept staring at me, and obviously wanted to say
something, but I guess they couldn't quite figure out what.

All in all, I pretty much enjoyed the attention me and my chicken got.
I have to admit I was a bit sad to turn him over to Zoey's brother. He
in turn was not exactly happy to receive the chicken, I'm 99% certain he
has no idea how to kill and prepare it.