Articles Written by Our International Teachers

Have Fun in Yangzhou

by Janice Bovill
Joined since: 2003 - 2004

Origin: Alberta, CANADA

When I told my friends and family in Canada that I was going to China to teach English in a school, they were very amazed, and surprised. They said, but China is halfway around the world. Do you know anyone there? Do you know how to speak, read, or write the Chinese language?? I assured them that I could keep in touch by email, and that I recently had a school contact person (Judy) whom I would soon get to know. Someone was going to meet me at the airport in Nanjing to take me to the school. (Where is Nanjing?? They all asked) As for the language, I had to admit that I did not know one word of Chinese but I bought a book on basic Chinese words and promised to read it fast and study hard during the long plane ride over. I had only about four weeks to get my affairs in order, pack my bags, get a plane ticket and say goodbye to everyone.

It has been very interesting and exciting ever since. I read many things about Yangzhou on the internet before I left Canada, including the weather. The heat and humidity was unbelievable when I first arrived. All my clothes, papers, and most any materials remained damp at best. I had bought some chiclets gum from Canada and still had the package with me. The green color coating melted from each chiclet and soaked into the cardboard box. Each chiclet then melted together and formed a greenish white uneven blob in the bottom of the box. I remember one day noticing that my hair was rather limp and flat. I heated my curling iron and started to wind my hair into curls. It was a surprise to see the steam rising as I did each piece of hair that was supposed to be dry. One good positive note. The humidity is noted for being very good for the complexion. So, I won’t complain.

I came from Canada where it can be very hot in the summer (32 degrees) and very cold in the winter (-40 degrees) with 30 to 60 centimeters of snow on the ground for several months. But nothing prepared me for the bitter cold in the winter at Yangzhou. They said that the weather gets as cold as -5 degrees to -10 degrees in the winter. I was amazed to see the heavy quilted pajamas in the market one fall afternoon while shopping. A month later, I wished I had bought some for myself. At first it was a relief to finally reach the fall season and a change of temperature. That is, until it reached 0 degrees with a bone chilling wind and dampness that sucked the heat from your body instantly. It isn’t that cold in Canada when it is -20 degrees. I dragged out every warm sweater, pants, scarf, and mitts that I could find and then went shopping for warm leggings and ear muffs. I never wore so many clothes at once in my life. Sometimes, I even went to bed with them on (socks too).

We can all be amused at our cultural differences. We eat with different utensils and preferences of manners. One Chinese friend watched me eating in amazement. She said, you can eat with chopsticks and with your left hand too? I tend to be left handed in most everything that I do. I don’t see any left handed Chinese people. But, there are many lefties in Canada, and other countries. Of course, not the majority by far. Our Chinese friends are just as amazed at our strange food preferences. Like dry cereal with milk for breakfast. Pancakes are hard to understand, and syrup to put on them is just not found in the local grocery stores. My preference for breakfast may be toasted raw cucumber sandwiches with salt and pepper. Another thing that I have noticed is that we all want a different skin color that what we naturally have. I like the tanned look, and went shopping for some make-up in the stores to darken my complexion. I was surprised to find only face cream to whiten the complexion. That is something that one could not find to buy in Canada.

I often ride my bike around the neighborhood where I live in Yangzhou. I always take my camera for the opportunity to stop and take pictures of something that I think is special. Like the smiling faces of people at task doing their field work, or the man who fixes my bike, or the water buffalo tethered near our school. We never get to see three wheeled trucks carting bricks, fruit, live geese, ducks, and pigs to market in Canada. The harvest of the rice crops was especially interesting for me. We can not grow rice in Canada, but we grow lots of wheat. It is similar, but the drying of the rice on the streets was priceless for my photo collection.

I have traveled to many different countries around the world but I have to say that Slender West Lake is one of the most beautiful places to visit. I can hardly wait for spring to arrive with the fragrant apple blossoms, new green leaves on the trees, and the multitude of blooming flowers that will present themselves during the spring and summer seasons.

The firecrackers at night are quite exciting. In Canada, they are only allowed for national holidays, or a very special event. Then, there has to be a permit purchased from the local authorities for regulation purposes before they can be used. They are also very expensive to buy. So, when we hear fire works at night, it means something very special is happening. The first few months that I was here, I would often leave my apartment and run up to the fourth floor to watch the spectacular spectrum of colors as each firecracker was set off to burst into the dark, clear sky. Often there would be several sets going off from different neighborhoods at once.

I’ll never forget my first day with the first class of students. The students didn’t know me, I couldn’t speak any Chinese, and they didn’t know English. They were delighted to romp and play in the open English class room. Of course, my words in English was not being heard or understood. It was a bit of a comedy show to say the least. The students had a very good time - - - and I was very happy when class was over. I am amazed and thrilled at how much the children have learned since then. They can now have a conversation in English with me. I enjoy going to class early to be able to talk to the children, answer their questions, see their special little toys, their art work or their English jokes copied from the internet. Most of all they make me very happy, and I am delighted to be their teacher.