Off the Platform

I was wide awake before my alarm buzzed. My head would not allow my body to completely fall in to a sleep during the night because today was Monday. Sleep was kept at bay with this looming day awaiting the rising sun's presence. Six periods of classes- a full day of teaching. I took a deep breath, reminding myself If you get out of this bed, Courtney, you better do it with a joyful heart aware of the example  you will be displaying. I rolled over, 5:45 am. My alarm was going to buzz in five minutes reminding me of my promise to meet and run with my teammate Kelley. I silently waited for the alarm. It buzzed, I turned back over and threw my feet over the side of my bed... joyfulness  in my mind-written across my heart. The writing was not etched deep however, as I took a peak to the day outside: complete gloom and fogginess this morning. I inwardly groaned, Aghh why did I promise to run with Kelley- it looks freezing outside. I jump back into bed and called Kelley hopeful of dissuading her from the run. My hopes were dashed as she reassured me it wouldn't be as cold as it looked. I reluctantly got back out of bed and ran down the stairs into a thirty minute jog. I was reluctant every step I took. As we made it to our turn around point, I literally stopped in the middle of my tracks. I stared up at the most beautiful sun I've ever seen. It was a bright neon orange pinkish color with a black streak racing across it. I motioned to Kelley to look and we sat there for a minute staring at this beautiful sight, aware that we were among the few awake and able to see the glorious colors. I ran back to my apartment with a less reluctant step.

After the run, I got creative with my cooking... I am finding ways to implement Western food with the amazing and cheap abundance of vegetables here! I fried a potato and egg. I'm definitely finding a passion for cooking! Class was at 8 am however, so I was off and running quickly this morning. I made it to my 8 am class and walked in with a little more confidence this morning than last week. There were some nerves about this week's lesson plan. However, the lesson plan needed minimal adjusting! I played a game of Guess Who at the end of the class. The students are learning about occupations this week, and so I gave each student a notecard with an occupation written on it. They could not look at it and needed to place it on their foreheads. Then, they needed to ask yes/no questions about what their occupations might mean. Well, Chinese students loved when I gave the directions because of my exaggerated motions, but they did NOT get the game. They all laughed and enjoyed the game, but after playing we had a review. I asked the students what questions they asked to find out their occupation- one clever boy replied, "What number am I?" A bit confused at first, I quickly realized that I had given them a numbered vocabulary sheet of occupations at the beginning of class. Stinking boys!! Leave it to them to be so clever!! I couldn't help but laugh with the other students at this boy's charade! Great, well, I was much more careful with my directions in the following two classes. Oh, and the second class was just wonderful! In China there is a unique view of a teacher here, teacher is congruent to authority. Therefore, it only makes sense that a teacher should stand above the students. A platform at the front of the class is the perfect solution!! Right?! NOT FOR ME! Every class I teach in has a platform for the teacher to teach off of with the podium on the floor so it comes up about to my knees- beautiful haha. But, today, the platform was not my friend! I was early to class and writing my sentence structures on the chalk board. I was apparently unobservent as I focused so diligently on my writing that I fell off of the platform!! The whole class saw my fall and they all laughed quietly trying to "save my face" when all I could think about was okay, okay, yep that just happened- totally lost face there! Anyways....

Between my second and third classes, I was privileged to meet with four of my boy students for lunch. These are the students I ran into on Friday night and said they had been at "fellowship". We had set today as a date for lunch! It truly was one of my favorite memories made here so far! They are all freshman, and their English is not the best but they are eager to try! We walked together over to the dining hall and talked a little bit! They were eager to buy my lunch but I persuaded them that I had a card to buy lunch on so they shouldn't worry about it. One of the students, who this morning named himself Jack Black, ordered me beef chow mien. I gave him my card and waited. Oh, but we are at the end of the month and our cards have not been filled up in awhile- my card did not have enough money on it. I WAS SO EMBARRASSED! He ended up paying for my meal, which I think pleased him because he initially wanted too! I couldn't believe my luck. But, grateful to be eating with such gracious guys I swallowed my pride. The guys told me they were so nervous to be eating with me, and I smiled because hello!! I'm eating with a bunch of college guys by myself! I didn't know what kind of questions they might ask! Honestly though, they were the sweetest and such gentlemen. They bought me a 'bean' drink (which was actually decent) and made sure the table was cleaned before we ate. I was able to lift up a thank you to the Father for our food and they all listened. Then we just talked about life. One of them has a girlfriend in another city, which is actually really common in their culture to be married or dating someone who lives in another city. When I ate my first bite of noodles, I knew immediately I was going to have a problem. I thought I had explained that I don't like spicy food. Apparently NOT! I have never eaten anything this spicy before!! Literally, I was choking to muster up any words at all to their questions as I ate. My eyes were full of tears, but it is SO difficult to control tears at this point of spiciness! I have a WEAK set of tastebuds unfortunately. However, my student bought the food so I was able to get enough down without drawing attention to my distaste for spicy food. The boys even bagged up my food to take home with me (and put a pair of clean chopsticks in the bag) at the end of our meal. UM, okay sweethearts! These boys were the best and we have plans for dinner together on Thursday- please be on your knees for these boys! I want to be a light to them.

My third class was just plain rough. Half the kids had their heads on the desks, and the other half didn't comprehend anything I was saying... plus the cold morning had burned off and it was not hot in the classroom. I trekked through that class however, and made it to my bed just in time to crash from the day. It is truly exhausting to talk s-l-o-w. But, there are so many rewards working here! Tonight, I went to the on-campus market and ran into a higher-level student! We had a great conversation and we are planning a time for lunch after the mid-autumn holiday (aka a week long break for something starting next week). And Friday, we don't have class because there is a Sports Meet, where I will be running in a few relays (400 m and 200 m I think??)  and the infamous FIVE-legged race! Alls I got to say about the five-legged race, I sure hope I'm tied to teammates that speak english because trying to walk in unison with only chinese-speaking people could be somewhat problematic!! haha

So today, I sign off for bed anxious for a deep night's rest, thankful for the movement of the Father, missing my dear family and friends, and aware of my Beloved's sweet love for me and for you!! Ephesians 1: 1-12.