Ying Yu Lao Shi [English Teacher]

Hey guys!

Sorry it's been so long since I've written, but things are going much better now! As it turns out, a little disorganization by the company plus a little (not unusual) unorganization by AIESEC can lead to a lot of problems for EPs but we've gotten everything straightened out and things are going really well.

I LOVE teaching. Love it. Seriously. It's not always amazing, but the kids are really responsive and eager to learn, so much more eager than any of us are in school. Their work ethic is so astounding. Seriously. They all work so hard at everything they do, and are so good natured. I am paired up with an AIESECer from London, although she is originally from Slovakia. She speaks 7 languages and is probably one of the coolest people I've ever met. We work really well together...bouncing ideas off each other and getting creative with lesson plans so that's great! I was also specifically 'chosen' with another girl to tutor as well, for students who paid extra for more classes. So I've been teaching at minimum 5 hours a day, sometimes 7, plus we are required to participate in evening activities. And since the lady in charge of evening activities is really boring, we ended up being in charge of planning fun activities students will actually want to attend. So all that plus lesson planning is a lot of work, which is fine. But we don't have a lot of free time, and that's why I haven't written in so long. My day literally goes wake up, teach, eat lunch (the food is TERRRRRIBLE), teach, eat dinner, evening activity, drink, sleep. But it's great.

The weird thing is that a lot of my students are actually my age or older. They don't look like it though. I just feel weird being in an authority position over them, when they've done so much more than me. It's weird. They are still really cool though. It's been such an AIESEC whirlwind being here...bridging cultural gaps and crossing cultural barriers. I'm making friends with all my students, with the other AIESECers here and then there's a group of Russians on our campus learning Chinese, so I've been hanging out with them too. I just feel so fortunate...to be able to meet all these different people and expand my global network. It's fantastic.

I'm also learning Chinese. It's such a difficult language...so different from English or any Western language for that matter. So I've struggled to learn. I'm a visual learner, so if someone tells me the word for something, it literally goes in one ear and out the other, because I just have no memory for that sort of thing. But our boss has started giving us Chinese lessons, which are really helpful and I'm semi-considering taking Chinese pass/fail this fall so I can continue.

All in all, things are much better. This LC is not as bad as I said earlier. Our TN manager is actually staying with us now, working directly with the company and taking care of any problems we have, which is FANTASTIC. She's really cool and I'm glad I'm getting to know her! I'm really enjoying myself, in spite of how much I miss you all. I hope you're all alive and well...enjoying your summer holiday. It's hard to imagine that in less than a month's time, I'll get to see you all again, but it will be here soon enough.

Much @ love!

Lauren