As all of you know, I teach Sophomores and Freshmen in university here in China. I have lately been collecting some of the things they have said either to me or to my friends. Seriously, my kids say the darnedest things!
About my Nationality:
"Teacher are you Egyptian? You look it!" (confirmed by the Arabic teacher we have here on campus who is from Egypt. "Yes, well, you look like a beautiful Egyptian")
"Teacher, are you Native American?"
"Teacher you look like Shakira! You know, half- half" (my students trying to tell me that with my tan, I look like I am half white, half Latino.)
"Are you Russian?" (taxi driver asked me if I was Russian)
And the best one yet:
"Teacher, we thought you were Indian when we meet you" (when my students first met me, they apparently thought I was from India and were confused why I was teaching English)
A funny thing that happens is that I often refer to my students as "My kids", especially my freshmen. Many students hear me talk about my "kids" and freak out until I explain that is what I call students. Honestly, I am like their mother most of the time.
Now, this week we are giving finals. The main questions I have been asking my students are Who do they admire most in their family, what makes you special, and How do they want to be remembered.
"What makes me special? Well, compared to boy, I am girl!" -(Why yes Sky, you are a girl!)
"Love is not a word, it is an action"- Remon talking about how he loves his family. Such wisdom.
"My mother thinks father is no romantic, so she always angry with him." -(Okay Lucy, perhaps too much information there!)
"You can have memory of my smell" (Ives meant to say "smile" not "smell" but those are two trouble words my students have. Ives does have a nice smile though, he always has one on his face, even when I am scolding him for speaking Chinese.)
"I don't want kids. I was naughty as child and I am afraid of a little Libra" (Libra explaining why she doesn't want kids.)
My year here is almost up. I literally have only 2 weeks left here and my heart is very sad. I will miss these beautiful young people so much.
Hil
