For the past three weeks, CWEF’s 7 summer English teachers worked in China to fulfill our goal of teaching English and showing love to the people here. In the process, our American teachers developed friendships with their students and with the various people He placed in their path. It was incredible to watch the relationships they formed in their short three weeks here. Whether meeting new people on the street or sitting and talking with people at our favorite local café, the teachers integrated into everyday life here and lived amongst the Chinese people.
Teachers and students alike had so much fun in the Summer English Program. One of our teachers planned a birthday party for her students; another teacher presented a culture lesson about American music and played a song from each decade on his guitar; and another class celebrated Christmas in July – complete with a Christmas tree, stockings, carols and the Christmas story.
As the Program Coordinator, I was certainly blessed by the English Program. Not only did I witness how much the students learned from our American teachers, but I also experienced how Our Father brought together 7 strangers and molded them into a team. Each person was different - different personalities, different ages, different levels of teaching experience - but they all had one common trait: their desire to serve. And this they did without reserve, wholeheartedly.
They set a great example by serving their students and serving each other. When one member was sick, the rest were always there to offer care and support; when a new grandson was born back home, the team celebrated together; and when a 40th Wedding Anniversary came and a team member was apart from his spouse for it, the team bought a cake and threw a surprise anniversary party. It was amazing to witness how they loved and supported each other.
The impact the teachers had in the classroom was just as significant. Everyone had so much fun learning from each other while practicing their English. And everyone involved in the program was impacted.
Two older women we met while walking down the street.
Dying easter eggs!
So fun
Ms. Susan: Great idea to dye easter eggs!
Cute
Teachers with the adult students
Surprise 40th Anniversary Party
What to order? So many choices but it's all in Chinese!
Ready for Halloween!
Watching a street-side restaurant make homemade noodles
Concentrating so hard!
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Part of the team at a "Swing Restaurant"
Motorbikes everywhere - and, as always, an engineering feat to stack that many boxes on the back!
Study Study
We love teaching!
A husband and wife who welcomed us into their home for tea
Showing off their color books
Helping the students
Soaking wet after a walk home in the rain
Why is this picture included? WELL, our first day at the teaching site, the team and I went out to lunch together. We were in a region where I had never been before, so many of the dishes at the restaurant were different than what we have in Yunnan. My Chinese isn't very good, so I didn't understand what the waitress was saying or what dishes the restaurant had. In my mind I was thinking, "Well Whitney, you have to order something, so just pick one and hope for the best!" As the waitress was telling me about one dish, I told her "Yes, I want that one" (Even though I wasn't sure what it was). About 15 minutes later, the waitress comes to the table and brings a bowl of cut up and fried snakes (a little smaller than the ones in the picture). No lie! They were cut into like 1-inch sections, almost like the little hot dogs, all piled into a bowl. The head and everything was sitting in the bowl. The teachers looked at me with terror in their eyes. Trying to downplay the situation, I immediately took a bite (inwardly cringing!) and was like "Oh it's good! This is just your first test to living in China" Even though, the truth of the matter is that it was by TOTAL accident that I ordered it. All I could think was, GREAT start to the program Whit, you ordered snake for these poor Americans! Like they weren't experiencing enough culture shock to begin with! Luckily, the meals improved from there... I was just helping to set their standards extra low so things would have to get better, haha. Definitely one of those situations where you have to laugh at yourself! : )
