Which translates as "Happy Teachers' Day"!
September 10 is Teachers' Day in China. And let me tell you, this is no lip service to celebrating teachers. This isn't just a continental breakfast or taco bar in the staffroom. This isn't some baked goods dropped off by the PTA. This isn't a chintzy paper holder from the union or a pack of sticky notes from admin. Don't get me wrong, those things are nice, but this is like that but better.
It started yesterday. Some students brought by a copy of the International Department photo with a card. Later, when I bought a few pencils and erasers from the school store, the stationary woman pulled a card off the wall and gave it to me. At the end of the day, a box of grapes and a box of mangos were delivered, not to the staffroom or to each office, but to each teacher. Yes, I have a BOX of grapes (that's six of the bags you'd buy at the store) and a BOX of mangos (there are 5 of them). Last night, the International Department took all the teachers and admin out to dinner -- with drinks. (Not crazy drinks, but beer and wine were provided.) The food kept coming and it was pretty good. The sweet-and-sour fish and the kung pao shrimp and kung pao chicken were great. We were supposed to get movie or karaoke afterwards, but I think everyone realizied it was too late for crazy shenanigans, so a few of us went out for a couple more drinks and light shanigans.
And then there is today. My Chinese counterpart has been observing in my classes because she will take over a couple of my classes from me. She gave me a beautiful silk scarf -- she noticed that I wore a scarf last Friday so she gave me another one. It's gorgeous, and as an English teacher, I am contractually obliged to wear scarves on a regular basis. I'm wearing it now. Then, my first class gave me a card. Then my second class gave me an umbrella that they had all signed. It's pretty sweet. While talking to some other teachers, a swarm of my freshman (who I do not see today) gave me a handful of carnations. I'm not sure if my last class will come up with anything, but I hear there is another card in the works.
I don't think there's anything else major in the works, but the way these last two days have been, anything could happen. I don't need anything else, but after yesterday's boxes of fruit, nothing would surpise me.
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