A Few Weeks In.

I’m not sure what I expected, so I’m not sure what I should feel right now. But I’ve been here over two weeks and there’s so much to take in.

A couple days after arriving, the students arrived for the TIP session. These ‘students’ are a primary, junior, or senior high school English teachers with a few high school students thrown in the mix. I wasn’t sure what would follow, but the 52 students arrived and we introduced ourselves to the group the first night. In the days to follow, I observed all of the classes and basically followed the students to learn from the current facilitators (my co-workers). After several days of watching, I began teaching a couple classes a day. In the course of the 2 weeks, I taught PE many times, reading time several times, a culture club on American food and manners, a fairy tale class on Sleeping Beauty, a 2 hour class on dreams, graded the students’ 7 minute speeches, helped with their practicum (teaching a lesson using the methods they learned during the session), and grading the lessons they created as they taught them. I was only nervous 2 times that whole time, once from pressure I felt because I’m not an experienced teacher, and once from being so so much younger than these students yet being their teacher/facilitator.

It has been a struggle to figure out where I fit in, what my role is, what’s expected of me, but I’m learning to continue being flexible and learning to be optimistic. It’s not always easy, but I believe it will help me overcome the bumps that there have been.

I’ve gotten to know a few of my co-workers. There’s a retired couple who are incredibly sweet. They’re like grandparents who spoil me like crazy, as well as introduce me to some people who are actually near my age in a Bi bl e study. I have gotten to spend time with a couple and I look forward to getting to know them more! Unfortunately the older couple leaves in a week and a half, so I hope there are some new facilitators coming that can become good friends.

The students were so grateful and so sweet. They really noticed a difference in the facilitators because they are kind and loving and truly care about the students. There were some bumps with rules, but it was so good to meet all of them and get a small taste of their stories.

Hopefully when things slow down and I have some free time I’ll be able to visit the student’s who have invited me to their hometown. They are so hospitable. I got to have Mongolian milk tea with some of the students from Inner Mongolia (along with a few of the facilitators) and it was an incredible experience. They showed me how to make it and gave us some Mongolian cheese (very very different from cheese people eat in America) to try. They also gave me a blue silk scarf they use for festivals, a little wooden bowl you drink milk tea with, and a mirror with a Mongolian lady on it.
I've gotten to have some deep sp iritual conversation with several people, amazed at the trust built in just a few weeks.

Overall it has been a good first few weeks. Yes, there are bumps and hard things, but I’m glad I’m here.

More updates to come (and maybe a highlight reel so far).