Josie picked me up from my hotel and took me to get lunch before heading to my first day of classes. We went, of course, to the little mall I had been to and there was, of course, a little tea shop there I hadn't noticed that served coffee. So I finally got my coffee, phew. I also got some sort of a noodle soup, I never know what I am ordering and just have to point at photos and hope for the best.
While waiting for our orders, the restaurant played 3 by Britney Spears, which I thought was very strange. I haven't heard that song in a decade. I also noticed a black man, the first non Chinese person I had seen since Beijing. I really wanted to approach him and say "Hey, hows it going?" but I was worried that would have been racist so I left him alone.
When we got to the school, I was shocked to say the least. The front of the school is just a staircase in between a few other buildings. We walked up three flights of stairs and came into a small pink and green room filled with very very young children singing and dancing. Josie leads me back to a little office where Peter is working on a computer and a young, white passing woman is sitting on the couch.
"Hi, I'm Riley," I say, extending my hand.
"I'm Salma."
Salma! Have you ever heard a more beautiful name? I know right in that moment, this is the woman of my dreams. Or maybe not, but that sure would be nice, wouldn't it? As far as I can tell, she seems perfect. She speaks English, which is 100% want I'm looking for in a woman right now. I already feel my cheeks reddening. I turn my attention to Peter so I won't make a fool of myself to quickly.
"Hey Peter, working hard over there?"
"Okay," says Peter.
I turn back to Salma.
"So how long have you been working at this school?"
"1 year."
"Oh, that's awesome. Do you like it?"
"Yes. I am an aeronautic engineer student at Nanjing University so I only come down on Saturdays to make a little extra money."
"Wow, you make spaceships?"
"Airplanes."
I look back to Peter to see if he can help me at all, but he just sits as his computer typing. Fucking Peter. Thanks a lot, buddy, you are a real life safer.
"So what are you teaching, Salma?"
"English. We are all teaching English."
"Oh no, not me. I was hired to be a Drama teacher."
"Really?"
Josie reenters the office and sends Salma to her classroom. She also has a very young boy with her.
"Riley this is Soon-Yi. Will you help him with his English homework?"
I help Soon-Yi learn the words pencil, pen, eraser, ruler, pencil case, and backpack for the next hour. Than Soon-Yi leaves, and Salma comes back and starts playing with her cellphone on the couch.
Salma! What a beautiful name. Is any siren's song as sweet as Salma?
"Hey Salma, can I get your WeChat?" (WeChat is like a combination of Venmo and What's app and is the only way people communicate in China) "Just so I can message in case I have any questions? I don't know anyone else here who speaks English yet so I, ya know, could use all the help I can get finding my footing while I'm out here." (I sound like such an idiot, what a doofus, I'm already ruining everything.)
"Okay."
Yes it worked! I got Salma's number, now I can die happy.
"So, are there fun things to do while I'm here in Gaochun?"
"I don't live here. I live by the school, which is an hour and a half away. I don't spend anytime out here."
"Oh okay."
"Bye."
"What?"
"Bye, I'm done for the day. I'm going home."
"Oh okay, bye."
And just like that, Salma is gone and Josie reneters the room.
"Riley, its time for your next class."
I spend the next hour teaching 8 six year olds pencil, pen, eraser, ruler, pencil case, and backpack. It's only at this point that I start to realize that I'm haven't been hired as a drama teacher. I'm teaching god damn English.
"Come on Riley, we have to go to the other campus for your other class."
I should mention, this school poached me. I was about to teach drama in Cangnam at an international school. When I told that to Jazmine, my agent for this school, she offered to beat their offer by 1,000 RMB, said I could be a drama teacher here, and told me how Nanjing would be better because it's a big city and there would be more for me to do. It seems like most of that was a lie.
The other campus at least looked more like a real school, but I was still teaching English. First, I taught a group of four year olds the word apple. They thought it was very funny whenever I mimed plucking an apple from a tree and taking a bite out of it. I appreciated the laughs, but I have to say they were an easy house. One of the boys, Neo, kept running up to me and giving me hugs in the middle of class. It was cute, but very disruptive. Then I went to a group of 8 years olds and taught pencil, pen, eraser, ruler, pencil case and backpack one more time.
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