The Students

A couple of weeks into the fall semester, I really began to feel at home in China.

I had managed to learn enough Mandarin to order simple foods and to tell cooks that I didn't want any of the hot peppers that are so common in just about everything that's eaten in Hunan Province. I'd even gotten pretty good at traveling around the city either by foot or by flagging down one of the little blue vans that served as taxis.

Also, I'd moved into my permanent apartment on the Zhangjiajie campus and settled in. The accommodations, while fairly basic, were more than adequate -- with a nice bathroom, a heating and air-conditioning unit, my own bottled water supply, a refrigerator, and a new Chinese-made computer with high-speed internet access. (The only problem was that the operating system was in Mandarin. So, I had to remember where commands were on the English version of Windows.)

More importantly, though, I was starting to get to know my students.

I just can't overstate how much fun it was watching them come out of their shells and express themselves. (Likewise, I can't stress enough how comforting it was to share experiences with the other educators from Britain, Canada, Australia, France, Japan, and America.)

Each and every one of my students was a joy to get to know. Although, I must admit, I had a horrible time remembering their Chinese names. Fortunately, for me, we used English ones in class.

Most of them already had Western names picked out -- sounds that easily rolled off my tongue and stuck in my mind: Linda, Constantine, Cynthia, Agnes, Vera, and Philip. Others were a bit more unusual -- Gobby, Smile, and Bean Soup. Some didn't have English names, so, I gave them ones. Often, it was a simple process. You just looked at someone and knew they were a Jasmine or a Jade. Others, I named after my friends and family.

As the year progressed, we shared hopes and dreams and lots and lots of laughs.

At the close of my teaching year, each class gave me something to remember them by. Perhaps the momento I most cherish was a notebook in which each student wrote a message (sometimes in both English and Chinese) and included something personal -- a poem, a drawing, a butterfly, and, in one case, Mandarin characters made out of their hair and glued to the page.

Here's a sampling of their writings:

Philip -- "I just want to say: Though you and I are in different ages, or maybe the different generation, sometimes you look like my father or grandfather. I think the truth is we are best friends. Aren't we? ... Your class is the only thing interest me. The wonderful games, funny play, exciting dance. I said to myself: I must not be down. I should be optimistic, like you. So you can imagine what an important place you mean to me."

Cynthia -- "As for your wife and son, from your words during our classes, we know that it's a wonderful and happy family. I really admire your son has such a father, who can sit down with him and talk with him about (anything, including) sex, when he's old enough, who can advise, but never force, when there is a quarrel."

Jasmine -- "Now, in my mind, a kind of complex feeling is existing -- sadness, because you're leaving us; memory for beautiful days which have passed; wishes for our happy future. ... You are a good joke player. Allow me to use lovely to describe you. Sometimes you looked like a child, so cute and bright."

Gerald -- "Thank you very much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support and help. Also, thank you very much for introducing Ruthie, who is now my girlfriend to me. I'll cherish this emotion between us. ... She is kind and generous. We have many things in common. If not for you, I would not have such a romantic experience."