written by Rosie Hoile.
It’s day 11 in China now as I begin to write this.
Or is it 12?
I don’t know.
One thing I know, however–I have never not seen so many white people. It’s cool.
I’m driving to school now with Ashley (given name: LiLuo) and the person she calls her “driver”, but he seems to live with them as well. He is either her father, uncle, or a live-in maid that’s terrible at his job, as her mother does most of the cleaning.
But I’m in too deep to clear up any confusion; seeing as I leave tomorrow, I cannot clarify about basic family dynamics after four days of no questions.
Even though it’s long, I’ve begun to enjoy the ride to the school from her apartment. China, especially the cities, looks like one big paradox.
I literally just saw someone throwing huge fish into a pool into the back of their old and dirty van parked next to a shiny sky-rise bank, for example.
The neon lights and business hubbub of Shanghai never really shine on the people sleeping on the street or the beggars following you as you walk, and I’ve found the same sort of thing applies to Zhengzhou.
Although Zhengzhou was never advertised to be up to the glory or standard of Shanghai or Beijing, it still attempts to dazzle first and conceal its poverty second by building banks and sky-rise apartment buildings next to vendors and in poor neighborhoods, creating a very cosmopolitan (forgive the liberal usage) mixing of the classes, and that mix of people is what has surprised me most about this city. People with Chanel bags and Gucci sunglasses cross the street with the people who only own the pair of shoes on their feet, or have to sell knockoff Chanel and Gucci to provide for their family.
We’re at the school now, and I’m told the first class today is a free study time, which usually means I sit in the back and read with Kimmy and Jack, but today is different.
Ashley tells me she has a drama presentation today and is going to try and take her study periods to practice, since their planned practice after school yesterday did not go like they’d hoped.
To get to this classroom, however, you have to climb five flights of stairs.
It’s the worst thing about China so far, on par with the squatty potties. I’m already too tired at floor 3, and definitely out of breath at floor five.
I mean, everyone else is at least mildly winded as well, but I’m just a sad example.
Their school was built in 1959, I think, and I’m sorry to say I definitely believe them. The ability to touch or wall or use a bathroom and not feel like you’ll end up in the hospital later is an ability I miss about our own school.
But I’m here now, and here begins the last day in ZhengZhou:
7:13 am
Ashely just left the classroom with another girl and a lot of purple construction paper. Not sure why. I think it had to do with drama and a boat, but I have been given no instructions.
That’s cool. “It’s whatever”, as Kimmy would say, if she was here, but she and Lilian decided to sleep in.
Traitors.
7:21 am
Kimmy and Lilian have arrived now, but I’m still the only white one here.
It’s cool, though, switching from such a majority to such a minority so quickly. The stares, the comments and the really honest questions from children (and adults, sometimes) are things I’ve never even begun to experience because of my race or nationality. It was funny at first, but now it’s just annoying.
7:51 am
I was shown a movie made for their English class based off of Kung-fu Panda. It was actually pretty impressive, but had an inordinate amount of cuss words for class…
Also, Jack arrived. He had to run to school. Haaaa.
7:55 am
Ashley is here now, and I think math started, which is gross. But I’m biased.
The teacher, Canadian, explaining a “secret project” for foreign teachers leaving, and identifying them as first their names, and then as, like, “the little woman from India” for recognition amongst the students. It’s funny.
8:14 am
THEY GET A FORMULA BOOKLET FOR THEIR STANDARDIZED MATH FINAL
COME ON CHINA
8:16 am
It just occurred to me that I miss pancakes suddenly and severely.
8:17 am
There are Christmas trees hanging from the ceiling. It is June.
8:37 am
I am learning how to play UNO using a Japanese anime deck in China. Where am I.
9:34 am
We’re walking to drama now, I think? Plans are not easily communicated (or coordinated), but it’s cool.
9:39 am
We just arrived at a museum and I realized we’re not going to their drama class.
10:01 am
The most amazing thing about the things in this museum were the preservation of pieces of artwork or tools, hundreds of years old and still looking brand new. China has some of the most beautiful works in history in regards to their intricacy and delicacy, while still managing to be imposing, bold, and obviously impressive.
10:07 am
I FOUND A 3D MODEL OF THE FAMOUS PAINTING WE STUDIED FOR LIKE THREE MONTHS IN EIGTH GRADE UGHHHH.
A girl also walked up next to us with a shirt that said “We make noise, not clothes”. We’ve seen so many bad/random English shirts in the trip (BUTTER, I’m Kind of a Big Cheese), but this wasn’t one of them. It’s interesting because from what I’ve understood, the details about the factories in China are kept secretive to their own population, but maybe I’m wrong. Anyway, it was a cool shirt.
10:31 am
Kimmy and Aron couldn’t figure out the Chinese vending machine and I sat on the floor.
12:25 pm
FINALLY EATING. Well, almost.
We’re (Kimmy, Ashley, Lillian and I) at a fish restaurant and apparently the concept is very complicated, but we finally got our order placed.
I mean, I really don’t even like fish, but you can’t have that sort of mentality in China. You eat what you’re given unless you’re allergic and move on (thus my pretend egg allergy everyone thinks I have).
1:35 pm
We’re at a coffee shop everyone seems to like and it’s very Indie-American, but the menu is in Chinese. I used the magic translation app and entered in the usual coffee flavors to try and match them up, which actually worked pretty well and got me a caramel mocha.
2:30 pm
We’re in ping pong class–and they have an exam.
Like, an actual exam. In ping pong.
4:16 pm
Their next class is a class meeting and I’m told we have to share something unique about our American life. I’m kind of struggling to point out differences that aren’t going to offend anyone. Jack suggested I explain the concept of “suburbia”, and I think that’s a safe bet.
5:00 pm
It was really fun explaining parts of our lives and school to a Chinese class–they were both surprised at our work load and our freedom with our free time and classes. They were astounded at our tuition–ahem–but seemed interested and impressed nonetheless.
We demonstrated our knowledge of Chinese culture (Kim and I danced 小苹果) and played Taboo (they’re much better than we are) before leaving for dinner.
6:09 pm
We’re ordering at an American restaurant and they’re out of everything that we want…cool
But we did get free bread from a very aggressive waitress, so score
6:36 pm
Found someone wearing a Harry Potter shirt!!!!
A friend at last
6:51 pm
We’re at KTV now, where we’ll be until 10 pm. If you’re unfamiliar, it’s basically really super fancy and hyped up karaoke. I walk in and everyone is yelling Taylor Swift, which is a pretty good indicator of the night.
Due to the time limit of these blog submissions, I’ll stop here 🙂
Good night (or morning) to all!
-Rosie