Exhibit A: White Girl

I can officially order a meal at Starbucks and KFC (which has way more options than a normal KFC) without a problem. I'd say that's a pretty grand success right there! I also have learned to navigate the little city that I am in, as well as the mall (as it happens to be right across the street from me). It's a real problem because things here are much cheaper than they are in the States. Also, China is WAY cleaner than America. You want to know the secret as to why? They literally mop the ground outside. Yes, you read that right... outside. Mopping. Multiple times throughout the day. I'm actually incredibly impressed by how immaculate the streets are with them being so flooded with people all day every day. The maintenance workers do a rad job!

Oh! Another fun fact! China doesn't like to waste, specifically in regards to food. Whilst I was eating the chicken with my chopsticks (well, attempting to, anyways), I noticed some things that were a little out of the ordinary to one such as I—there was the comb (mohawk) of the chicken, its liver, and heart, all to be eaten by us humans. Upon noticing these chunks of meat, you could say that I pretty much lost my appetite right then and there. Let's just say I'm never eating there again. I think I'll stick with my 米飯 (mĭfàn or rice), 土豆丝 (tǔ dòu sī or shredded potato), and 菠萝肉 (bōluó ròu or pineapple and meat—basically orange chicken). And yes, I have perfected these words so as I can order properly.

The Chinese people absolutely love their herbs. Herbs in water (tea), rice, soup, porridge, chicken, you name it. It definitely adds a lot more flavor to the meal. Ginger and garlic are also common in an assortment of dishes. Not minced either but sliced pieces. These new foods have led me to a smaller appetite, as well as a not-so-happy stomach. It will take some adjusting, that’s for sure. Which is again why I am grateful for Starbucks and KFC (even though the menu is quite a bit different than back home). At least I semi-know what I'm eating. Water is a different story. The tap has bacteria and therefore we cannot drink it straight. It all has to be boiled. Many people now have become accustomed to drinking hot water plain, and often times herbal tea. It was unusual at first and not very refreshing, but it's something that I am adapting to. 

To the natives here, I am referred to as strange. I think I like being called a "peculiar people" a bit more, but I'll take it. A boy called me "rare"; I felt like a peacock. Because of this anomaly (me), everyone wants to document it. No, I do not mean simply one picture. I mean a plethora of pictures with me as the main fixation. For example, I went for a lovely stroll in the park. I took note of an area with people dancing to music.  Upon sitting down on a bench, I instantly was bombarded. Women with their cameras immediately took their places by my side for some selfies. The phones were passed around, just as I was passed from person to person for another picture. Pictures of me alone, with one other, or in a group. Just as long as I was in the picture, they didn't care. They loved it when I threw out my peace sign (finally I've found a place where it is appreciated by others as much as it is by me). Food got passed in my direction; a fan was handed to me; people stood and offered me their seat on the bench; and multiple times I was asked to dance. What was I supposed to do... Say no?! So, I ate the food, took the fan (gratefully, as it was way too hot), sat down, and also danced with the random men. It was definitely a good time. Apart from not understanding a thing that was said, I felt as close to a celebrity as I ever would. I'm nearly to the point where I don't recognize that everyone is staring at me... Most times, I smile, wave, say 你好 (nǐ hǎo or hello), or even pose for the pictures.

I don't only feel this way when I am out and about, but even at work. My colleagues and the parents of the kids are always studying me as though I am an exhibit at the zoo. I am the only foreigner and native English speaker (and pale-faced) at the school where I am teaching, so I get all of the attention. It has its perks sometimes. I don't ever really have to question where I'm at on the totem pole of things. I don't need to worry about stepping on anyone's toes. They pretty much want me to run the show. Which leads me into how it's not so great, as well.

They have me constantly running things and doing everything. It's quite exhausting really, and the school hasn't even officially started yet! Once we do start, I will be teaching music, art, science, global leadership, and virtual PE (Wii Sport). The natives will be teaching Language Arts (English), which I thought was interesting. I won’t be doing any of the teaching English. I do love all of the girls that I work with though! They are so sweet and are teaching me loads of Chinese as I am helping them perfect their English. It's been such a fun time and we're just barely even getting started! Well, bye bye for now! 再见 (see you!)

Life As A Foreigner (36hrs later)

After a 12hr flight from Seattle to Shenzhou with a 2hr layover for customs/inspection screening, the 2hr flight to Xiamen, 20min drive to my hotel for the 10hr layover (due to it being just for one night, I shared with a random girl from Taiwan, who showed up unannounced an hour after I checked it) where I only got 3hrs of sleep, then the 4hr flight from Xiamen to Qingdao where I met Alex and we then taxied to the train station, waited 2hrs for our route, then a 2hr ride on the bullet train from Qingdao to Zibo, where I then FINALLY was taken to my apartment.

With that said, I don't even know where to start. This has definitely been longer than a "three hour tour" (extra points to you if you know the reference), so how about I just "start at the very beginning"...

Having this been my very first time ever outside of the USA (apart from Canada, but I mean who really counts that place...), I had NO idea what to expect. I went into this grand adventure completely faced with the unknown. But, that's besides the point.. Upon finally visiting another country, I have discovered how self-entitled we as Americans are. When people of a different nationality come into the USA, we suspect them to know English, if not expect them to. They come to our country, therefore, they need and should speak OUR. On the other hand, when Americans go to a different country, we yet again expect them to speak our language and for them to know how to communicate with us. How great of a discombobulation is that! I noticed that the other White folk (little as they were, me included) expected all of the people living in China and speaking Chinese to magically be able to speak to us in our native tongue. Goodness sakes! How terribly prideful is that! I am definitely putting forth an effort to learn Chinese, so as I can at least show that I am trying (maybe not succeeding, but it's the effort that counts, right?). I so far have perfected the phrases of: "Hello, how are you?"; "Do you speak English?"; "Thank You"; "See you later!"; and "Water". It's not much, but it's better than nothing! I've noticed that people here do tend to be very helpful. When someone who is bilingual notices that I am struggling due to the language barrier, they readily jump in. That's a perk that I will be forever grateful for, especially during all my time within the airport.

Okay, now moving on to the good stuff. I wish I had a camcorder (yes, throwback.. I can't think of what we call it nowadays) recording me when I first stepped into the bathroom stall at the airport. Of course, I was trying not to have any expectations of China, but I did at least half expect a Westernized toilet, right? Wrong. It was a hole. In the ground. Literally nothing to sit on. Y'all want a squatty potty? Well, here it is, except to a whole new level! Or, I guess it would be "to a whole new lower level". I stood there staring at it for a good minute trying to figure out how to proficiently use it. I was ecstatic when I got to my flat (apartment) and saw the beautiful western toilet. It's the little things.

Does China believe in comfort, personal space, or clean air? With the comfort, I am referring to the beds. They are hard as a rock, and that's not an exaggeration. Luckily, I was given pillows, and so I laid on those. It might it slightly better. Personal space doesn't really seem to be a thing either. If you're like me and have a very large personal bubble and don't necessarily like people in it, come to China and it'll pop it. Crowds of people on buses, in elevators, standing in lines (if you could even call them lines; it's more like scads of people asserting their dominance and shoving their way in), you name it! As for the clean air, that's a blessing that I've taken for granted throughout my life. There's this thick smog-like haze covering the whole city. Oh. And it's humid. Extremely. Probably just as much, if not more than Hawaii. It'll take a minute to get adjusted.

When I moved to Utah, I thought that they weren't all too great of drivers (they very soon became we as I easily adapted to the Utah driving habits...). Now, I see it all with a very different perspective. There is basically no order or structure in the driving that occurs here in China. Sometimes, there aren't even lines on the road. There are car horns blaring nonstop, and pretty much brakes don't exist. Let's just say, I am incredibly happy that I'm not the one behind the wheel. I wouldn't even know how to attempt to get from one street to the next. Unlimited amounts of motorized bikes weave in and out through the traffic and pay absolutely zero attention to anything going on around them. Each driver, whether it be car or bike, is 100% focused on themselves and figuring out how to get from Point A to Point B most effectively and as fast as possible. One thing that is kind of cool though is that all of the stop lights have countdowns on them. You know how at crosswalks, sometimes it counts down for how long you have? Yea, in China, it's not just for the pedestrians, but for the cars on the roads to know when they can go, and then they gun it.

After nearly 36 hours of travel and wait time, I finally made it to what I will be calling home for the next two months. I have a (rock) bed, a western toilet, a washer (no dryer, because I have to let the lovely wetness of the humid air dry my clothing. Not too sure how well that'll go over...), a shower that is literally in the corner of the bathroom (no doors or separate shower floor, it's just a part of the room), and a small little stove top to boil the water. It's definitely not like back home, but "I think I'm going to like it here" (yes, another song. Don't hate). I already do! I was even introduced to some of the teachers, who are all really very sweet. They showed me around the nearly built school which isn't even fully constructed yet. I am the first foreign teacher that will be here at the school. So that'll be exciting! All the girls are such angels though. It's going to be a lot of fun!

There's still so much more to share, but that's basically the first thoughts of the "life as a foreigner"! Let's hope this foreigner lasts the whole two months (mainly referring to the fact that I'm probably going to die of starvation within the first few weeks......)!!!

Utah Living; Substitute Teaching

Hello from the happy Beehive State! Eight months ago, I moved to the grand ol’ state of Utah, not really knowing what to expect. My initial plan was to become a psych tech at a hospital (applying my psychology love and degree). However, that didn’t work out, mainly because it was poor pay$$$ and the drive was a good distance. I figured that I would have a low-key job while I waited to go to Grad School. I applied to the Masters of Social Work program at BYU. I was rejected. I was bummed, to say the least. I knew nothing except for school life. And now it’s over. Done. Finished. I felt like I wasn’t good enough. Whatever, I moved on. I started more purposely pursuing becoming an interpreter for the Deaf. I studied, took the Knowledge Exam, failed, studied again, took the exam a second time, and failed. I wish God would just hold up a neon sign saying “NOT FOR YOU, JESSICA!!” But no, I have to take all these different roads. Amidst all of this, I had been working as a substitute teacher in the Canyons School District, just to help me get along. Let me first say, I have absolutely LOVED it. I’ve subbed in all different sorts of areas, from PE, Kindergarten, Dance, Librarian, Math, History, High School, Middle School, and everything there between.

I’ve had my good days and my bad days. There have been classes that I’ve simply adored and some that I refuse to go back to. It’s definitely been a mystery each day of not knowing what to expect from the room, lessons, students, and everything else. I was always walking into the unknown every day I step foot into a new classroom.

Within time, I established a foundational pattern. I started accepting long term positions at a particular Middle School. Kids started to enjoy coming to school each day, knowing that they had a “lit” teacher. I would get shouts of cheers as I entered each class. Walking down the halls was even more extreme. I felt like a celebrity as crowds came to say “Hi to Ms. Smith”. I was constantly surrounded by little munchkins reaching towards me to get a hug.

Whilst subbing, I discovered an alternative route to becoming a licensed teacher in the state of Utah that did not require a specific degree, classes, or training. I kept postponing taking the steps to apply. In time, I made the decision and EVERYTHING fell into place. Literally, it all fell into my lap. I took the test to prove that I am proficient in middle school mathematics. Passed it with flying colors and sent in my application to the State of Utah Education department. Not yet hearing back from them about being officially licensed, I took the step and applied to the Canyons School District to be added into their math teachers’ candidate pool. Within a week of applying to the District, I had a screening interview, an interview with a specific school, and a position offered to me as a 7^th grade Math teacher.

Now is the time where I wish God would display “TAKE THIS PATH!!” on a blinking sign. I’m just glad that I didn’t miss it. Fast forward a week or so… The school that I had been long term subbing at for the last 6mts miraculously had a Math position that suddenly opened up!!! I would be considered crazy if I had not applied! So I applied, interviewed, and was offered the job, which I then immediately and gratefully accepted. This leads me into the grand news of: I am officially an 8^th grade Math teacher at the lovely place of Union Middle School starting in the 2017-2018 school year!! This has, no joke, been my passion since the 2nd grade. I dreamt of becoming a Middle School Math teacher. Dreams really do come true!!! And I am loving every second of my job.

 Which leads me into….

“School’s out for summer. School’s out forever. School’s been blown to pieces. No more pencils. No more books. No more teacher’s dirty looks. Out for summer, out till fall. We might not come back at all!”

That’s what I’ve been singing all the day long! That being said, it’s summer. I have no job. My contract to begin officially teaching and getting paid monthly (on a salary… I feel like a real adult) doesn’t start until August. So, what am I deciding to do? I’m going to China!!!! I will be in China within a week and teach English for a period of two months. I am so full of MANY different emotions. Ones of anticipation and others of fear. However, I have wanted to do something like this for over three years. Now, I finally have the time and means to do so. Heck, why not?!

Stay tuned for updates about my grand independent adventures from the land of China.