Not Typical

Okay, so you may know more than I do on this one.

This is the only school I have visited in China. It is not a typical school like in the city. I was only there a little over an hour. I'm just sharing my experience. 

There are migrant workers who come from provinces all over China to work in the big cities.  This school was built for the children whose parents work in the Suzhou area.  It has 2,300 students, kindergarten through middle school. 

 

Everything is made from concrete.  The corridors to classrooms all face toward the center courtyard. As we were checking this out I heard Beethoven's "Fur Elise" playing over the intercom and then I felt vibrations and my ears couldn't quite comprehend what I was hearing.  It was students taking a quick break before the last class at the end of the day.  It was something about all the concrete and kids.  I can't explain.  I was trembling.  David had been there before and he looked at me like, "What?"

 

  

And then we walked into a classroom of 62 4th graders. I always thought 30 students was more than enough in a classroom.  I can only say I was overwhelmed by it.  Do you see that little girl standing in the back?  She is their teacher, all day every day unless they are at P.E. or Music.  I was sure to remind her before we left that she is amazing. 

 

Our interpreter introduced us and told them that I had worked in a school in America.  They had lots of questions about school in America.

What time does the school day start and end?

What are the students like?

A: This was fun to answer.  I said "We have some mean girls."  The boys all agreed that they had those too.  "We have some naughty boys."  The girls then agreed they indeed had naughty boys too.  "But most of the students were good kids who wanted to learn."

What do the kids look like at your school?

A:  I started to explain some "looks" and then I said "Some have blue eyes, some brown, some green, some gray."  I had to stop, they were looking at each other in wonder, laughing and talking together.  This must have blown their minds. That was quite a moment for me as I looked out over a sea of brown eyes. 

Do we have flowers around the school?

A: Not as many as their school.  It has beautiful landscaping.

How many classes do they have?

A: When I said they had Art classes several groaned indicating they would love that.

How often do they have P.E.?

A: Everyday...they would love this apparently.

How long are the classes?

What do they study?

Can they read any book they want or do they have to read the same as everyone else?

What kind of books do they read?

Do they gather in the auditorium every Monday morning in their full school uniform to say the pledge to the flag?

Do they have to wear uniforms?

Is it a big school?  How many students?

What do students do for fun?

What are their lunches like?

The one subject I felt I could speak to, because I worked in our school library for almost 25 years, was the library, but I didn't want to tell them about our incredible library at my school.  I had already seen their library.  All they have are books that have been discarded from other schools.  Double the shelves you see in the above photo and that is what they have for 2,300 students.  David's company had given each student in the 4th grade a book of their own for Christmas this year.  I like that.

Another piece of classical music came over the intercom and it was time to leave. Everyone wanted a picture with us and autographs!  Ha. 

This guy had a bunch of questions.

Younger students lining up to go to the bus.

Boys are boys around the world.  We saw so many smiling faces here.

As we were leaving I saw this little guy sitting alone and I had to wonder, "What's your story?"  This thought plagues me daily as I see people around our neighborhood, at the market, on the bus or on the subway.  "What's your story?"  I'm feeling cursed to be in this country with so much to learn and know about people and I can't speak their language.  Maybe that's why when I get back to the states all I want to do is be with people and talk.  Look out, I'm coming home.