Borah the Explorer: First day of school

Today is the first day of school and so far it has been an interesting experience. Since I do not have a scooter yet I walked to school this morning. In theory it is quite a simple and short walk from my apartment taking about 10-15 minutes. I was excited and ready for the first day and following the map my LETs drew me I started walking. About 10 minutes later I realized that I'd been walking in the same direction for awhile and it felt like I had gone too far. Being the awesome Chinese speaker that I am and uninhibited about asking for help I asked a woman where Fu-Shing Guo Zhong was. She pointed in the opposite direction that I had come and then proceeded to speak rapidly in Taiwanese. I gathered from our short conversation that I had gone the wrong way and that I should turn around and then ask someone at the grocery store. I asked 2 more people the same question and finally found the school. Success! After a good 30 minute walk I finally arrived.

When I am at school I can not speak any Chinese and no one is supposed to know that I am somewhat fluent. It is pretty much an English only policy even with the other teachers. Unfortunately for the students when they come into the office to look for teachers and see me an obviously Chinese looking person they ask me their questions in Chinese. But I can't answer them since I'm supposed to only speak English at school making every conversation a little awkward. They always seem rather puzzled at my lack of understanding. Finally after I speak completely in English they give up and look for someone else. I feel sorry for them because the students asking me questions are generally 7th graders that are new to the school and already experiencing a new environment. Then they encounter someone like me who cannot answer their questions or respond in Chinese. Poor kids!

On top of the not speaking Chinese to students I have proceeded to incorrectly read my schedule twice today. I have gone to two of my classes early because I did not realize I had a free period in between. This has further confused students because they do not know who I am or why I have come to their class. It's good for them in terms of practicing their English since they have to explain that they don't have English class next of what time lunch is. What an adventure! Hopefully students don't think I'm crazy since I have to teach them for the rest of the year. Maybe tomorrow will be less eventful...

Fu-Shing Junior High

(it has over 2,000 students - grades 7-9)

My desk - in the 1st grade (7th) homeroom teacher's office

(notice that I am in my own individual island whereas all the other desks in the office are grouped but they probably didn't know what to do with me)

My lunchbox

(they gave me this whole set so I can eat lunch!)

Getting my lunch

(I eat lunch with one class of my students everyday)

Students have a lot of responsibilities at school. They each have different jobs that they must do each day. As a class they must clean the classroom twice a day.