New Sphere: Primary School

GUYS. Hey. 

Pictured Above: Our annual Back to School Feast, made merrier by the presence of Uncle Jared.

School has begun where you are too -- how's that going for you? 

I haven't made it to this blog in several days due to Titus starting first grade! On bicycle, I take Titus and Mike to separate schools. Mike is at preschool 8am-noon; Titus is at primary school 7:50-11:40am, must go home for lunch, and return in the afternoon 2:20-3:30 (4:30 on Mondays). We're biking, biking, biking, climbing stairs, refueling, doing homework and decoding notifications all the day long.

Entering into a new sphere introduces a new set of cultural conflicts; it's culture shock and conscious adjustment all over again. Guys, this is not easy. I don't know the rules of the game. I don't understand the system, what is assumed and expected. It can be emotional and requires much time and effort; I am a learner in this new sphere just like Titus.

Titus is the first-ever, non ethnically Chinese student in this school. Administrators and parents have been kind. Titus is very comfortable and so far has been successful. I am proud of who Titus is as a young person -- adaptable, cooperative, teachable, empathetic, creative, friendly, engaging -- traits that have served him well. 

48 students in one class.

1 teacher.

Just visualize that.

Ms. Yang is the main teacher.

The classroom has no air-conditioning or heating.

(WHAT is that going to be like in winter!? It gets below freezing!)

The walls are plain white and moldy.

When it rains water trickles in from cracks where the wall and floor meet, pooling under desks.

There are no janitors; parents and students are responsible for cleaning the classroom.

Student workbooks, a chalkboard and a projector are the only educational resources;

no toys, books, games or other activities.

Classes:

Language, Math, P.E., Art, Music, Reading, Social Studies (literally "Morality & Life")

Bathroom Sinks.

I did not photograph the toilets, which are just a long, connected gutter.

There is no playground, but there is broken-down adult exercise equipment.

Titus' class is on the sports field.

There is no P.E. equipment and children are required to bring their own jump rope.

This primary school is public, affiliated to the university where we live. It is first open to higher-ranking university employees. Outsiders, like us, must apply for admission. Every student pays a one-time enrollment fee, and outsiders pay double, $3,100 (USD). That's nearly one month's salary for us. What could we do? We just had to bite the bullet.

There are other outsiders in Titus' class from families of very modest income: a husband and wife who vend meat pastries at the market; an older father who sells of various kinds of tofu. How did they afford the prohibitive fee?

Please pray for us as we try to figure out how to do primary school.

We do not understand many things but we aim to cooperate and honor all.

Thank you.

counting the graces today

thank you Father for

help from Qingzi and Wang Zhao while Drew is traveling

good meetings in HK for Drew, steps toward relocating to rural Tongdao

neighbor boy coming up to play again

popcorn made in popper from Crosslake

neighbor Grandma sharing a jar of her delicious kimchi-like pickled vegetables

feeling good running some sprints by the riverside

lessons learned communicating with Ms. Yang

reading a book to Titus' class went fine, despite feeling uncertain of expectations

Mike and I recovering from a cold and sctratchy throats

being able to finally publish a blog post