Teaching English in China: Utter beauty

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Five days, 24 classes, more than 1000 students.

I spent the week making Grade 1 and 2 students laugh. I gazed into astonished eyes and saw a sea of toothless smiles. As I looked at those faces I wanted to weep at the utter beauty and innocence.

Can you remember those days? Cut-and-paste and crayons, PE class and boundless energy? Pale fragment are all I can recollect. There were few worries, no planning for the future, and no need to watch your back. Every day was fresh and the rising sun brought new adventures. There were no strategic plans or projections.

The week made me remember why I do what I do. In a world of paperwork, meetings, plans, and back-up plans, I remembered to soldier on. I do what I do for them, my proxy children.

7 Comments Add yours

  1. jaynova says:

    Almost makes me want to teach. Almost.

  2. pmousse says:

    Look at the enthusiasm in that last picture. Well done!

  3. amuirin says:

    You look like you’re having fun.

    Loved the proxy children line.

  4. fish says:

    awesome

  5. Robin says:

    This is almost tempting me back to volunteer work (I used to volunteer in the local elementary school, helping the students who were a little slower than the rest of the class).

    You look very happy with your proxy children. 🙂

  6. Dahveed says:

    What beautiful children, Stevo. You’re fortunate to be the kind of person who knows how to appreciate and relate to them. I can do one at a time, but in groups they overwhelm me. The second photo really made me wish I were more like you. But then, I do wish that fairly regularly anyway — you’re just the kind of guy that people would like to emulate.

  7. Corina says:

    I miss the eager faces and the enthusiasm I could feel daily when I used to teach. I miss that most of all.

    You’ve captured it here, in both words and in the picture. Thank you for the wonderful reminder.

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