Clash, Collide... Cultures

Monday morning....I should have known how the day would go when I dressed myself, looked down, and saw I was wearing a paisley patterned skirt with a grey plaid shirt. Oh boy. Take two. It seems when it’s cold outside, your biggest concern is to quickly put the layers on and your afterthought is oh shoot, what am I wearing?! As it would have it, my day unfolded much like the mis-matched outfit I found myself donning before I walked out the door.

Over the weekend, I received an e-mail from the Chinese teacher, Veronica, who is in charge of managing the foreign teachers. She was notifying me my first class on Monday morning would be cancelled, and my second class on Monday morning wouldn’t begin until 10:20. Normally, the second class begins at 10:05. In an effort to clear any potential confusion, I e-mailed Veronica back for confirmation. Receiving no reply back by Monday morning, and feeling a bit of uneasiness, I called Veronica. Unfortunately, she didn’t answer, so I just went on preparing for my morning. At around 8:45, I saw I had missed a call from one of my students from the class that was “supposedly” cancelled. Panic taking over me, I quickly re-dial the student’s number and she picked up. She clarified the first half of class was not cancelled and the second part of class was cancelled. Frustration, confusion and fear boiled up inside. What?! Veronica had said… Putting the unchangeable aside, I re-scheduled class for Thursday afternoon. With that small miscommunication starting my day, I didn’t feel confident or excited for the rest of the week.

In an attempt to carry on, I made my way over to my second class. As I’m walking over, I get a text message from one of the students’ in this class…  “teacher, do we have normal lesson today?” Are you KIDDING me?! I begin to run in my skirt toward class realizing that once again, Veronica misinformed me about the starting time of class. China! Come on! Frustrated, panicked and overwhelmed so early in the morning with the day’s events, I go to open the door to their classroom. Except, there are no students in the classroom. For Real?! This is the last thing I needed! Seeing one of the students from my class pass by, I give her a confused look. She grabs my arm and says, “in our classroom”. What does she mean, we always meet in room 321! She takes me to room 304 which was their classroom last semester. At this point, my frustration was through the roof and I was completely disoriented. I walked in and attempted to gather myself quickly as class was supposed to have begun fifteen minutes ago.

This week, the students are required to give oral presentations. I begin class, “Today you have presentations! Who is ready?”

Blank stares are the response.

“You remember, last week, I gave you a piece of paper telling you about the presentation you would give this week. Do you remember?”

Confused glances met my stare, frustration flaring up way passed calm and holding it “together”.

Voice rising, “I told you, last week, your oral presentations are a HUGE part of your grade, please raise your hand if you are prepared!”

One hand raises into the air. Now I am in absolute outrage! I begin to lecture the class, my frustration written all over my high pitched voice and stern look. How could they not have prepared?! This is one of my best classes!!! I wish I could erase this day already! What do I do?? Contemplating just storming out and leaving the class with bookwork, the Father shows His grace. One student pipes up, “Teacher, I think they are prepared, they just are shy”.

SHY?!?!?! What do you mean shy?! This isn’t an optional assignment! This is required so I don’t understand what being shy has to do with it?! Especially after I just spent five minutes yelling at you for not doing the assignment!!

Keeping myself in check, I make an executive decision to just begin calling students to the front for their presentation, prepared or not. And what do you know… they were prepared.

UGH! Today was a culture clash day. I still don't understand what occurred in class today, and I don't think they understood me either. I had no control over what I encountered today, but as I came back and skyped with my dad spilling my frustrations of the day, he reminded me of a good word, “court, it’s times like that when you have to remember your call from the Father, because that is when how you express yourself will either display the Father or it will not. It is important to exhibit grace and not get riled up over the little, uncontrollable things.”

Yes, Praise the Father for the father He has given me to encourage and show me in the way I should go! If your day has been hard as well, keep that in mind! The Father is always at work in our lives and working to advance His Kingdom!