English Classes

I started teaching English classes this week. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I teach a beginner and advanced beginner class. Both classes have 4 men. We are covering basic greetings and adding in some vocabulary. We use our translator apps some in class but they are working hard and willing to try anything. I like all of them and simply adore some of the older ones that are trying to learn English.

The Introduction to English Class

The man on the right is older than me. He is a sheet metal worker. He spoke zero English when we started. I adore him.

The man in the background is on the housekeeping staff (I love that anyone in the company is provided lessons). He studies very hard. He had new vocabulary that I hadn't even taught yet on the second class.

The two classes on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays are more advanced. I have some weaker ones in both classes but I opted to mix a small variety of levels together. We have a total of 12 in these two classes. I haven't decided if I like the mix or not. When I did class placement, there wasn't a clear difference to make two distinct groups but I might divide them differently next session. The interesting thing is these advanced classes are less likely to speak out than my beginners. The students are all younger than me and closer to college age so maybe they're still in classroom mode and they're quiet during class. However the beginner classes are older and more prone to just say what they want to say (like most of us get as we age!).

I am trying to teach without the translator app on my phone during class but the lack of English in the first groups make that a challenge. So yesterday I tried my hand at writing some basic instructions in Chinese. They were shocked but it conveyed my point - so mission accomplished! Modern technology is just a marvel.

The top is English, the middle is Pinyin (Chinese written in English characters), and the bottom is Chinese.

I believe I'm teaching quite well with the lower two classes. I don't feel that I have my feet under me in the advanced classes which is the opposite of what I was expecting. I imagine that feeling will come and go as the weeks pass.

I have also learned two interesting facts about language in China:
#1 - They use a 44 letter alphabet when teaching English in the schools here. When a student mentioned this I was obviously VERY confused. Then they showed me the alphabet. MORE confusion. I did some research and this is the International Phonetic Alphabet. It's basically the sounds that are present in the spoken English language. So the "th" sound in the word, thank, is written as θ .  So now I have the English, the Chinese, and the Phonetic spelling on all our handouts. It's quite a challenge for me to think in this since it's new to me but if it helps their pronunciation then so be it!

#2 - Steve and I were discussing all the Chinese characters that people have to learn versus our 26 letters. We wondered what happens here when a new word is introduced into the language. Take for example the word "selfie". A few years ago this word didn't exist. In English, I believe the younger generation makes up many words and some find their way into mainstream language. Then a general consensus of spelling happens and eventually these words even find their way into our dictionaries. It's quite amazing when you stop to think about it. So we asked one of our bilingual coworkers who hangs out with us a bit what happens when a new word (like selfie) comes into being. Do you make up a new symbol and how in the world does that happened. He explained that a new group of symbols basically describe the new word and would then be translated as the new word. So the literal writing for selfie would translate as "myself taking picture" on our apps but a true bilingual human translator would translate the grouping as "selfie". 

So there's your language lesson for the day! 

An unlikely guest comes to "the show"

Last Thursday night, our HR manager, Lollie, notified me of a "Government Meeting" on Friday afternoon that I needed to attend.  Our Chairman, Abraham, had already left town for a business trip and the Chinese New Year holiday, so someone had to be the face of the company while he was gone.  And yes, that face would be me, the token American engineer.   Lollie said to dress with "formal clothes", so I came with dockers and a button-down shirt - that's the best I brought here.  Rambo, the lead manufacturing engineer joined us and we met Sam, our company driver and headed into town.

The Big Buildings

The "meeting" was held at the newly constructed Jingmen City government complex.  I was at this massive facility a couple of weeks ago to apply for my work visa.  And when I say massive, I mean MASSIVE.  Anything the government does in China is usually done BIG.  This complex is larger than most, if not all, 50 USA state house complexes and rivals any government building group you'd see in DC not named the Pentagon in size.  A huge group of high-rise apartment buildings is also nearby to house the workers.   However, if you take a close look at some of the offices, you'll see paint and stucco already peeling off the walls and ceilings.  I said "big", I didn't say "well".

One of several huge city government buildings

The city government meeting room/theater building

The particular building we arrived at is actually a big theater, or perhaps doubles as the local communist party meeting room.  The first thing that caught my eye (besides the numerous Chinese staring at me - I've gotten used to this) was a large throng of women in nurse uniforms seated in a group.

Lower level of the "theater" with nurses seated on the left

It turns out this meeting included all manner of government workers, their professions made obvious by the wearing of their workday uniforms.  Distinguished guests, like high level communist party officers and business leaders had the best seats.  And yes, you guessed it - so did I, right in the 3rd row.

Liu Ning Yi (Lollie) our HR manager looks good here, but was feeling terrible

I sat next to Lollie, while Rambo was in the next row.  Poor Lollie - she has been battling a cold and was feeling worse by the minute.  To make matters worse, a local TV film crew working the event kept panning the camera in our direction - after all, I looked AMAZING as I usually do.  Anyway, all this attention given to yours truly also gave the sickly, coughing, hacking Lollie extra air time.  I'm thinking Americans don't usually attend the communist party government end-of-the-year events in these parts.

THE BIG CHEESE?

Finally, the lights dimmed and out came a high level city government guy - as he walked up a loud musical flourish blasted the audience - it was like the Grammys, Oscars, etc all put together.

The music, fog and bright lights as the Government leaders took the podium.

After a short speech, He then announced (to another musical flourish "BOM! BOM-BOM-BOM! BOM! BOM!", more fog, lights and more) The Mayor of Jingmen City!  And the crowd goes wild!  Ok, the crowd really just clapped, but I can't emphasize enough how obnoxiously over-the-top the flourish was for...a mayor.   Just picture your small hometown mayor walking on stage to host the Miss America pageant.

Chinese "paparazzi" getting the money shots of the Mayor

THE BIG SHOW

Thankfully, the mayor kept his speech (whatever he said) fairly short and the show started.

This was clearly not a typically meeting, but an end of the year talent show celebrating Jingmen City and its amazing local communist government.  There were 10 acts - all singing and dancing numbers - and one comedy skit, which of course was impossible to understand.   The performers represented all ages from elementary school kids to older adults.

In between acts, a young perky Chinese couple extolled the amazing progress that Jingmen City has attained and all the hopes and dreams for a bright government controlled future.  Dude. Sign. Me. Up.

The show's hosts

Many of the songs sung were original compositions - and most were about Jingmen City. (I would occasionally hear "Jingmen" in the lyrics).   Fortunately, I cannot understand mandarin so I couldn't get the full effect of how corny this really was from my cultural perspective (theater isn't my thing anyway, and neither is one-party government).

Jingmen city boy band (we'll call them "One Party Direction")

Scenes from Jingmen City were often shown in the background to enhance civic pride.  They included government projects from all areas of the economy, construction cranes, factories, farms and nature scenes.  At one point, several scenes flashed showing the aviation park where a certain American engineer is making things happen...

This number included scenes from the aviation park where I work

But you know, after some reflection, I'm thinking I may compose an "Ode to Simpsonville, SC" ditty before I return to the states.  Or maybe "Shine Simpsonville Shine" would work.   Someone give Mayor Curtis a heads up and schedule my audition.  I've already sang Karaoke - it's time to kick it up a notch Simpsonville!

Our First Car Outing

Today we went into Jingmen for lunch and groceries. That's not so unusual but this time Stephen drove us! We've been given top access to the smallest company car. I think some of our co-workers were concerned that we'd disappear and they'd never see us again, but Stephen said he could do it and after 23 years, I believed him. So this morning we loaded up and hit the road.

Stephen ready to tackle the streets of Jingmen in our TINY car

How we actually looked

How I imagined we looked!

The highway going into the city is very wide with little to no traffic. My job was to watch the right hand side for pedestrians, tuk-tuk vehicles, and incoming traffic.

We're in such a rural area

Traffic picked up as we neared the city and arrived at Wanda Plaza (one of the malls). We went mid-morning though so no real issues. One wrong turn but easily corrected.

Getting closer - you can see Jingmen in the distance

Coming into the city - looking for the parking garage

Once we figured out how and where to park we went into the mall and found an awesome place for lunch. Still Chinese food but noodles and some crispy options (everything in the cafeteria is soft). These massage chairs make me laugh since they usually have napping men in them!

We found some groceries and on our way out we spotted a cafe that advertised, in English, pastries and coffee. We walked in and picked out two yummy desserts. When Stephen asked if he could get a cappuccino (Google translate), the three young ladies behind the counter just giggled. Oh well. We brought our pastries home and made our own coffee. The pastries however were delicious and very affordable (about $2 each and they're big!)

End of the Year Company Party

The Chinese New Year is coming up so the company had a big party tonight to close out the year. Everyone that works for the company was included. We all arrived and were seated at the typical round tables with all the food on the center circle. When we arrived everyone was playing a game on their social media (WeChat) called Red Packets. Red Packets are the standard way they exchange gift money. With this game you post money that anyone in the chat can claim. Fastest finger wins it. Think white elephant exchange type atmosphere. The amounts are very small (It ranged from about 2 cents to $4) They went crazy when Stephen posted one. They weren't expecting that at all. Then the President of Aloong spoke on the end of the year progress and encouraged everyone for the year to come.

Abraham, President of Aloong

Then we ate. It's hard for me because I'm not very fast with the chopsticks and the table starts moving before I'm ready at times. There was something new tonight. The smallest baby shrimp ever. They were fried and crunchy. You eat the entire thing - head, shell and legs. They were really tasty. They're smaller than my pinky finger. And we drank steaming hot Coke with sliced ginger in it. Bless.

Our hosts for the evening did an excellent job keeping the party going. At one point we all reached under our seats and found Red Packets with a cash bonus! (Keep in mind the exchange rate is 6 to 1, still $50 each is very generous!)

Lollie and Sam, our emcees

Lollie, who serves as our interpreter

The famous Red Packets

Not too shabby!

And then...the entertainment started. Karaoke. Some of our co-workers can really sing and sadly some can not. They started requesting us to sing in English. When we realized that our two options were to duck out or pick a song, we relented. We chose "Open Arms" by Journey since it's what we danced to at our wedding. They announced it and why we chose it and everyone went CRAZY! It was hilarious.

23 years later we're living in China singing our first dance song

And finally Stephen and Rambo (Senior Manufacturing Engineer) closed the evening with "We Will Rock You". It was epic! I wish you could all have been there.

Head engineers bringing the house down!

Keeping it real

**Disclaimer - I'm fine, I'll be fine, life goes on, no one is perfect, no where is perfect, we live in a fallen world among fallen people, don't worry about me, pray for me and I'll pray for you**


I woke up today salty. And not the Matthew 5 kind either. But the newest salty, as in irritable and sort tempered.

I thought of the day that lay ahead of me and quite frankly I didn't want to do it. Period.

I had a dull sinus headache. And my left hip was aching from laying on my side too long.

Then Stephen asked me something and I answered. Not very lovingly. And then I announced my current temperament. And he replied, "I know".

You see, we were told at supper the night before that breakfast would be moved 30min earlier so we could "have a rest" from 7:30-8:00am before the morning meeting. Then people wouldn't be late. I bristled at this. Breakfast being served from 7:30-8:00am wasn't the cause of the tardiness. And besides I wanted another 30min in the mornings at home, not a "rest" at work.

And we found out that we were moving into the new offices today. The ones that don't have HEAT yet. Are you kidding? Why the rush? Why not install the heat and THEN move over there. And so I didn't want to do that nor did I want Stephen to have to do that.

But I summoned my "adultness" and went to shower. Drying off afterward I hit my elbow on the thin pointed edge of the soap dish and cut my elbow. It was in a hard to reach area so I had to summon Stephen to help me clean it up and put on a band-aid. This did not help my attitude.

Not a very good design.

After breakfast, I did some laundry (yay for running water) and worked on some lesson plans. Saltiness started fading. Then we were served pig's blood as part of lunch. I kid you not! Here's the description, "Pig blood curd, also known as “blood tofu” or “blood pudding”, is a popular Cantonese delicacy in Hong Kong and southern China. It is commonly served with carbohydrates, such as noodles or congee." Y'all, no. I just couldn't. Nope. Not doing it. At least not knowingly. Steve is another story altogether.

I spent the afternoon alone, curled under a blanket, reading and sipping a cup of coffee. There's no amazing ending to this tale. Just a day endured. Much like other days endured at different times by everyone else.

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases:

His mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:22-23

Snow!

This morning Steve and I were having a typical morning here. Around 7:20am before breakfast at the company at 7:30 we looked out and this was the view that greeted us!

The view this morning from our sitting area at the hotel

To his experienced eyes, Steve guessed we had about 5in of snow. At this point keep in mind that we had researched the weather in Jingmen before we moved. Because of what we read we didn't pack any boots or even much cold weather gear. We were expecting a winter similar to SC - 50s for the highs and 30s for the lows with a couple of crazy days thrown into the mix. So I grabbed the one pair of wool socks I brought and the slippers provided by the hotel and we walked in to work in tennis shoes. After breakfast, I took off my wet shoes and worked in socks and slippers until lunch.

Literally walking in Stephen's footsteps to avoid the deep snow

Tiny hotel slippers on my big ol' American feet!

This culture struggles with closing doors and heating common areas. This morning the factory door was standing open and I could see my breath inside while making the picture below. Thankfully, each office has it's own temperature control so the American offices are quite toasty! However, due to this open window, no heat policy, the pipes in the bathrooms have frozen at the sinks and the washing machine. We'll see how that plays out!

First phrase to learn in class: "Close the door!"

Shortly before lunch I received a message from Lollie, HR Department Lead and the best English speaker. They were heading out to play and take pictures. Steve and I joined them (very briefly). They haven't had this much snow here in about 10 years so there was MUCH excitement in the area. Most of the office/engineering staff are in their 20s and from other areas of China so this was the FIRST time they had experienced snow.

Massive snow ball fight. Thankfully they don't know us well enough yet!

Attempting to sled on a shovel

Starting a snowman

We're guessing it's a dog since this is the "Year of the Dog" in China

The couple below is looking forward to Wednesday when we FINALLY climb above freezing and they have vowed to bring back some snow gear before next winter. At least that way it will be the warmest winter on record!

Crazy is Normal

“Tell us your name, where you’re from and one interesting fact about yourself."

If you’ve ever been in a classroom, you’ve been forced to answer these questions or ones similar. They are my least favorite aspect of my least favorite week of school: syllabus week. Until now. Because finally, in 2018, after completing fourteen years of education and giving many dumb introductory sentences of myself, I have an easy answer to that third question. Thanks to my parents (as always).

“Hi, my name is Maria, I’m from Greenville, SC…and my interesting fact is that my parents moved to China over Christmas.”

Boom. Drop the mic. Students everywhere bow as one of their own conquers the dreaded task.

Ok, I’ll cut the drama. But I’ve said that sentence (with minor variations) about six to seven times over the last ten days, and it always gets a reaction.

No, people don’t start singing The Sound of Music to me (although that’s happened *rolls eyes*).

Instead, they look at me like I’m crazy. And I get it—I know the Juttons are definitely a minority when it comes to the choices we make and the opportunities we take. But what others consider crazy or risky is pretty much our family’s normal by now. That’s why when my parents and I had our weekly video chat in July during my second month of being in Botswana (remember, crazy is normal) and they casually dropped the fact that my dad was looking into overseas job options into our conversation, I knew they’d end up far away, very soon.

After people stop giving me the “that’s insane” look, they typically have asked me how I felt when I found out my parents were moving and how I felt when I dropped my mom off at the airport and watched her walk away and how I feel now and…you get the picture. People are curious and concerned and I’m fairly logical and mostly hate talking about feelings. So I figured I’d answer those questions now, but keep in mind the whole crazy is normal thing, so you understand where I’m coming from.

I had three main reactions when the China job offer was officially accepted: betrayal, intense jealousy and delight.

My first reaction, betrayal, is probably not what you’re thinking. You see, when I decided to go to USC, my parents and I made a deal: they would not live anywhere cooler and more exotic than Columbia, SC (see, I always knew they might move away again). Listen to me: THEY BROKE THAT DEAL. Read any and all of their previous posts for proof. Jingmen, China is WAY cooler than Columbia, SC (sorry, gamecocks). Also, I reminded them of that deal and they IGNORED me. Anyway. Betrayal.

Second, intense jealousy. You people who think we’re crazy, as in “why would they ever do that, they’re insane and what about the SAFETY” won’t understand this. But I was bitten by the proverbial adventure bug at the tender age of six, when we moved to Romania. It kills me to hear the daily escapades that go along with living life in another country and see all the amazing, sweet friends they are making. But in the end, the third reaction trumps the previous two.

Delight. I am so excited for my parents as they start this new chapter of their lives. I cannot count the number of times we’ve talked (jokingly and seriously) about what they would do after I went to college and eventually moved away. They always remind me that they had a pretty great life before I came along (and I counter this with statistical evidence to the contrary with which I shall not bore you) and of their hopes to continue that life in these years.

It’s going to get a little sappy here, so bear with me. My parents are literally my goals. They have taken and are continuing to take opportunities that most people would be too scared to consider. They are a picture of what I hope my own 40s contain: a strong walk with Christ and a marriage filled with dedication to each other, adventure and laughter. They are a true representation of one of my favorite Scripture verses, 2 Timothy 1:7, which says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

That’s about all I have; sorry for any rambling. This literally popped in my head last night as I was about to sleep and it’s more fun than reading textbooks. Sorry professors. 

It encourages me so much to see so many people’s comments on all my parents’ posts about China and how much support they (and I) have. Love you all!

-Maria, whose parents moved to China and left her all alone

Sometimes it's the little things

This afternoon as I walked back to the company I saw the cafeteria assistant busy gathering green onions that in fact did end up in our supper tonight. She greeted me warmly with a huge smile. She tries to wash my dishes for me and I attempt to bring them to the kitchen when she's busy so I can help and wash them myself. And when I succeed she laughs and jokingly scolds me in Chinese. I snapped this picture of her from the window after I went inside.

When we left the building after supper, we could see some of the guys playing ping pong. I told Steve he should join them, that it didn't matter to me if he stayed for a bit to play. So we ended up both going in and I even played a game against Steve (he plays left handed against me so I have a chance), then against Lollie, HR director, since I won, and finally against Miles, technology department. Miles beat me though so my turn was over. Then he took on Stephen.

I sat through several matches and then decided to head home. Steve opted to stay for another 30 minutes or so. Not a big deal since we can see the hotel from the company. As I walked outside it was dark and we don't have street lights but that didn't bother me since I grew up in the country. I could vaguely see someone across the courtyard walking the same direction as I was going. I heard the person start to run to catch up with me. I looked over my shoulder and realized it was the cafeteria lady. She caught up and linked arms with me. And we walked that way to the road while chatting about the weather and if it would snow. Or at least I think that's what we were talking and laughing about (she doesn't speak any English)! But we laughed and parted ways at the road. And I walked away with damp eyes because friends are everywhere if you're willing to look for them.

Go Big or Go Home

Our family enjoys experiencing different cultures. We believe that when you're in another culture you should "go big or go home", meaning... eat native as much as possible, take the public transportation, and live life alongside the locals. So that's exactly what we set out to do on our day off.

Steve studying what we would discover are inaccurate bus routes

We headed out mid-morning to catch the bus to the smaller mall, do a little shopping, eat lunch and catch the bus back home. Steve checked the bus route online to the best of our ability, grabbed our phones with Google translate, snapped a quick picture of the front of our hotel (in case we needed the name in an emergency).

Best picture I took ALL day. Read on to discover why!

Then we walked to the road and watched for the bus. We are in such a rural area there's only ONE bus so no confusion there. There's no real bus stops out here either so you just flag down the driver.

Here comes the bus!

We flagged one down and boarded to the shocked stares of the locals. We may just be the first foreigners on their bus.

Yes we even took a selfie on the bus because we have no shame.

Once we reached the town area we had to switch buses. We switched onto what we thought was the bus line that would take us to the mall. We rode and rode and finally the bus stopped. We were the only two people left on the bus. The driver looked at us and started asking questions...in Chinese. Google translate to the rescue! We were NOT on the correct bus but he told us the number of the bus that would take us where we needed to be. Yay! So we sat on the bus while he took his 10min break and rode with him to the correct stop for the other bus.

All alone on the bus. Whoops!

Smooth sailing to the mall. At the mall we walked around some and checked out the grocery section. We had quite a few stares and some of the younger people tried out their English on us. We bought a few snacks and some drinks.

Entrance to the mall

Chip flavors that we didn't choose

Soy sauce selection

Then we ate lunch in the mall. Again the translate app was a great tool and we quickly ordered everything we wanted and a bowl of soup that we didn't know we ordered but was quite tasty so no big deal.

Then we went out to find the bus back to the hotel. We got on the first bus and looked for the stop to change to the rural bus back to our new home. We exited where we thought it should be, crossed the street and walked to the bus stop. Nope, not our bus. So we had to decide which direction on the street to go for the next stop and hopefully our rural bus. We chose the direction of the hotel and started walking.

And we walked.

And we walked.

Then we walked through a construction area and a farmers market where no white man had ever set foot before (at least that's what it felt like based on the stares).

Then we walked to the yet another bus stop that still wasn't our bus. But we were heading toward the hotel so we reasoned that eventually the bus would come back to this road.

Then the sidewalk ended and we walked along the main road.

Yes, we were basically walking along a highway

And then we walked some more.

And then Steve spotted a place called The Villas. There is a hotel there and we reasoned that we could find someone to just call us a cab.

So with The Villas looking like a mirage in the distance we walked on.

Once at The Villas we found some people and with the help (yet again) of Google translate we thought we called a cab. Turned out the man that was calling was really just calling his military buddy. He showed up in his car and we all piled in. I showed them the picture of the hotel I had thankfully snapped on our way out. Off we went with much laughing as we talked back and forth through the phone app.

They drove us straight to our front door. We definitely overpaid by Chinese standards but it was well worth the $17 to us!

Back in our room Steve pulled up a map and figured out we walked 4.2 miles from that last bus stop to The Villas. We had almost 5 miles to go! Then he began to figure out what we did wrong and what we'll do different next time. Because that's how we roll.

So at the end of the day we certainly went big and thankfully we went home too!