The final day of teaching has just passed, time to reflect
on how the summer camp in Kunming went. During my last class, the students were
as tired as I was. It has been an intense two weeks for everyone. After some
resting in our dorm, I decide to take this final opportunity to work on my shot
a little. The 3’s were going really well as the sun in the sky and the music in
my ears make this a wonderful afternoon. Before I know it, it is time for
dinner and time for my final workshop, the camp is really coming to an end.
During the day, I quickly made a presentation about the basics of football,
with a lot of pictures and a long video of Messi, the only player I am certain
of that everyone will know him. It felt like there was not enough time, as I
kept rambling on about certain topics (I noticed I tend to do this while
presenting if I get carried away). Afterwards there was a meeting to inform us
about the final two days and to discuss the closing ceremony of tomorrow. I
will host it again, but with a different co-hostess this time.
But let’s back up to where we ended the last blog. July 19th
I wake up very confused because Attila is in the room. I thought he had class,
so I did not expect him in our room. However, it turned out that it was already
lunchtime and I had slept through all the activity in our room in the morning
as people were preparing to leave for class. After taking some time to reflect
upon my first workshop, it was time for lunch and afterwards the talent show. I
start to realize how crazy the workshop actually was when I am talking to
Attila over lunch. Not knowing what to do my workshop about, now that football
was ruled out, I decided to do the same as every other EP: present my country
and culture. To my surprise this was a very popular topic, as both my classes
were filled to the brim, almost exclusively with girls (2 times at least 30
people, out of a total of 160). As it turned out, most people did not
understand most of the workshop, but they hardly seemed to care. Attila
experienced the same. Appearantly they were there for the attraction of two
European guys. For us a first to feel like circus animals, but this feeling
would later become even stronger later during the Global Village. With both our
classes filled to the brim, one of the remaining two workshops even had to be
cancelled, with only two attendees.
The talent show turned out to be a lot of fun. Luckily not
every of the nine classes did a Chinese song, so a few songs I actually knew
(be itt hat they would be considered a bit cheesy back in the Netherlands). By
accident I became a judge, so it was fun to ’critically’ look at the
performances, and some were actually quite good. It seems like most Chinese can
sing at least decently for some reason. After selecting four classes, one of
which was my own, with the other judges it was time for a game of basketball
with my class. They kept asking if I could join, so I played for a short while.
Being very careful, as I am not supposed to play basketball games, I acted more
like a distraction in the 3vs3, allowing the two students of my class to score.
Unfortunately, my short appearence could not prevent us from losing the game.
The other team was simply very good. With basketball being the most popular
sport amongst these students (by far) it is not a surprise that some are quite
good.
The next day I was supposed to have two classes, but the
classrooms turned out to be reserved for an emergency evaluation of the
government officials in the region. Luckily this was known the evening before,
so I could sleep. Nonetheless, it was quite weird. Because of such things the
phrase ”This is China” or, when the volunteers are not around, ”Fucking China”
has become rather popular. The cantine food here is much better than in
DuJiangYan, but I am getting quite tired of the lack of variety, so I decide to
get a fresh baguette at Carrefour and some Peanut butter. We can also finally
greet our long lost, golden friend. Chinese seem to prefer cloudy weather, as
they do everything in their power to prevent getting a tan. I am very happy
that the weather is finally like it is supposed to be in the region of ’Eternal
Spring’. It allows me to finally work a little on my shot again, also because
there are no afternoon activities that I have to be at. It is a quiet day, that
we finish by visiting the nearby lake after dinner. It is a nice, warm setting
with the sun slowly setting and the sound of water and fishermen in the background.
A good way to end the day.
The next day I finally have class again, I enjoyed the slow
days, but that is not the reason I am here for. The Oral English class went a
lot better this day, but the sustainability class seemed a bit difficult for
the 10th graders, so a lot of translation is necessary. The vice-principal mr.
Lee decided to give a lecture, so the afternoon activities are once again
cancelled. This gives us some free time to decide what to do in the evening. As
it is the evening before our first official day off, we are allowed to stay off
campus a bit later than usual. There were many different plans amongst all
volunteers and some guys wanted to play snooker. I wanted to join, but in
hindsight I am very happy that i went to the KTV instead. The KTV is a Chinese
karaoke bar. We went there because the volunteer that is also celebrating her
birthday really likes singing. Expecting something like what I experienced in
Berlin (a regular bar with a screen and a stage perhaps), it felt more like a
scene of Lost in Translation, but then in a more luxurious building. While
contemplating whether or not the gold and marble we see is real, I am greeted
by at least 15 employees whose sole job is to welcome customers walking by. I’ve
noticed this unneccesarily high amount of employees in many stores. Many people
in China must be extremely bored…
We definitely were not though. Doing a mix of Chinese songs
and many cliché English songs (for lack of choice) make it a very entertaining
evening. Michael Jackson songs turn out to be a bit ambitious for the guys present, but we heartily sing (shout?) a
long with songs like ”Nothing’s gonna change my love for you”, ”Being Lonely”, ”Fix
You” and ”Hotel California”. Afterwards we make up for the lack of Queen songs ont
he way to KFC, turning some heads int he process.
The next day we wake up a little late, tired from our
escapade in the KTV. Mr. Lee is not amused, as many people have the same as us.
It makes me remember his lecture about a week ago, when he stressed
punctuality. The school brings us to an ethnic village closeby, where
traditional ways of living by Yunnan minorities are recreated. It turned out to
be very interesting, after the initial fear of the entire village being a
massive souvenir shop (it turned out the actual village was behind it). After
drinking tea with a very nice shopowner, we enter this very interesting tourist
attraction.
The next day classes go a little smoother again, as I slowly
learn how to communicate with the Chinese students. The Afternoon program is
the global village. I prepared a whole table full of things about Dutch
culture. The stroopwafels are very popular, but the entire spectacle turned out
to be more of a photoshoot. In two hours, I did not say one word about Dutch
culture, but there was an endless stream of students who wanted to take a
picture. I’m happy the circus is over, but Suhaila insists, for some reason,
that I play some piano (appearantly by popular demand). I don’t fully
understand why me, as I am the most average of the players present, but I give
in eventually. The whole spectacle makes me feel even more like the elephant we
saw at the ethnic village.
When it is finally over we get to relax a little. Attila and
I get a few beers at the Carrefour for the evening, as we are showing Pulp
Fiction to everyone in the hall, on a big screen, to celebrate the birthday of Lear
and I. At the same time it is some education for all the people who haven’t
seen this legendary movie. The actual day of my birthday is a slow one, as I
only have one class, no activity and no workshop. After a quick talk on Skype
with the parents, we head to the night market. We were warned by the Chinese
guys that went a few days earlier that it was kind of small. Knowing Chinese
standards, we decided to take our chances anyways. It was not like we expected
at all. Practically, it was just a barbecue on a street corner. However, it was
by far the most social activity I’ve seen a group of Chinese people do, as the
eating was accompanied by lots of laughter and heavy conversation. It felt like
some sort of neighbourhood meeting with nice food, some of which we tried. I
didn’t mind it was nothing special, as it was a beautiful night for a walk and
I was with good company.
The reason why I did not have afternoon activities, was
because the students had to rehearse for the ”Yesterday once more” of the next
day, in which they act out famous movie scenes. Unfortunately, none of them did
a scene of Pulp Fiction, but it was entertaining. No one dared to do an act in
English, but with my private translator and because most scenes were from
Disney classics, I could follow most of what was going on. It does feel weird
though, when the entire room bursts into laughter and you have no idea what’s
going on. Afterwards, I quickly put together another workshop about the age of
discovery and the Dutch golden age. The first workshop was quite horrible, but
after a beer and some ”Watch the Throne” in the break, the second workshop is
much better.
During my class the next day, the kids tell me that they normally
don’t like school, because they feel it is way too much work. They are jealous
of me when I explained them my schedule in secondary school, but they also
remark that I cannot possibly learn enough with such a schedule. After class we
are meeting to finally see something of the city we are staying in, by checking
out the city center of Kunming. Unfortunately, because of the limited time, we
only see one big square and mostly wonder around some side streets with
markets. I also buy some much needed t-shirts, after I had to throw away two
earlier. The reason for our limited time is the finals of the talent show in
the evening. Unfortunately, my class does not perform as well this time and the
price goes to a different class. Afterwards, students all got a chance to show
their talents. I was particularly impressed by a girl who did a dance.
Wondering what style it was, I asked some Chinese volunteers who all told me it
was the ’Lumba’. Having never heard of it before, I ask whether it is a Chinese
style, but they explain me it is from Spain. Ah! The Lumba…The r and l remain
difficult. Other performances that were impressive included a breakdance
performance, tai chi and a variety of Chinese instruments being played.
This rounds up the activities of the past week. It is going
to be hard to say goodbye after such an intense camp, and I’ve made some close
friends. Luckily I get to travel with Attila to Shanghai, and we will meet up
some other people there as well. Another 40-hour trainride is ahead of us, a
considerably cheaper option than flying. Luckily we have sleeper tickets again
and I get a chance to catch up on some reading, which I hardly had time for
during this camp. Time to move on again, after a closing ceremony and dinner
with the school leaders.
Leuk allemaal weer.
BeantwoordenVerwijderengroetjes,
Carla
goeie (trein)reis