Another week teaching!

This week has flown by, mainly teaching my family tree and then playing some games on the board, trying to get their confidence up and make them a bit more comfortable around me, some classes are more active and awake than others but I'm getting there. Got to think of something for next week now though! Maybe some TV.... My Family maybe? But another teacher wants to sit in on one of my classes so I need to think of a speaking exercise for this week, and then some TV next week? 

The young kid tutoring went ok, we were a bit more prepared for what to expect, and had another kid too so we are up to 6, its a nice size and we went through a few things, describing a monster then having them all draw it, then showing their different ideas, and then got the kids to describe a monster, moving on from talking about the human body and the various limbs etc. Got a few things up our sleeves for next week, hopefully we can do colours, thinking of making the kids a big sheet of colours names written in various different colours from the word, the kids have to say the colour of the word, not the word, it melts your brain after a while! 

It seems we did O.K. as a teacher from the new school has asked us to run another class for some of his children on monday as well! Another 300RMB between me and Chris but £15 for two hours work doesn't seem so great, even out here! but once we have prepared the lesson for one I guess it is not too hard to do the same thing again, and to be honest at the moment with eating at home/in the canteen we are living on about £5-£10 each a week, so that would cover that! Although the free rent sure helps....

As I was walking home on Tuesday across the school two students asked if I wanted to watch their kite flying class, I went back and picked up Chris and we went and watched as the kids all flew kites, with various levels of success! Just so happens that we walked past the headteacher as he was doing the rounds with some important looking people, so I think we earned our months keep right there! 

After school on Thursday Chris played some volleyball with some of his students, he had good fun but I think it wiped him out! I have no idea how to play but maybe Chris can teach me sometime! apparently he drew quite the crowd! watching the foreigner do anything seems to be a national sport around here! 

Thursday Lunchtime I was invited out for lunch by some of my students in the new school, they promised me my favorite food (XiaoLongBao) so of course I was in! I also brought Chris along and we headed to the local place that does them, we have been before but not with these students. A girl ChenChen with thick classes and not great English but is so keen to speak, and her friend with slightly better English called 'rabbit' (apparently she looks like one!) and also a few other random students who came along! They are all very sweet girls and fun to talk with, although very hyperactive! 

During the meal I mentioned that I wanted to learn how to cook XiaoLongBao as they are my favorite, the girls obviously mentioned this to the chef in the restaurant because as we left he offered to show me how to make them! I accepted and watched him make a few. They are small circles of pastry with a pork and vegetable mix inside, then they are folded/twisted up into a small parcel, and then steamed. After he had shown me some he asked if I wanted a go, of course I did! 
I washed my hands and gave it a try, it is so difficult! he makes it look easy but considering that there was no common language and only basic interpreting skills it was mostly done by watching and trying! Needless to say none turned out that well but I hope I can find a place online and with some practice go back in a few months and show him my new found skills! But a good laugh was had by all with the older restaurants owner (i think the young male chefs mother, who spoke no english at all!) watching over our shoulders and laughing at my attempts. Since the kitchen was right next to the tables with no divider the rest of the people in there must have had a show too! 

Friday came finally and we are so tired, I finished my last class of the week, class one, (lots of winter camp students), and so after chatting with them after class (something I always try to do) then I wandered back. As I left some music started and looking onto the running track all of grades 2 and 3 were doing their weekly run to ensure they stay healthy, not in sports clothes just their daily clothes, they dont seem to get changed for P.E., but then their daily clothes are tracksuits so I guess it is ok. 

The week now, tomorrow a few students asked me to do something so I will see if any of them turn up, if not, a relaxing few days! Although I think Sunday night may turn out to be a night out with the Canadians as they have Monday off! No clubbing for me though, no money and class the next day!  

Will put up some photos of the running and the kites, and one of me playing a game involving them writing all the animals they can on the board, with much shouting and screaming!

Also a picture I took of a student who kept taking pictures of me during class, I get that all the time, and students videoing me on their phones! And after class taking pictures with me! Crazy!