Job Discussion Forums

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Usually 5(buses?) at the same time. I bet you have some stories Rhonda

Shaman · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Posts: 446 Location: Hammertown

I still keep in touch with students and teachers from each place I've taught. Now that I'm teaching in a multicultural setting, I've kept correspondence with students who have returned to their home countries - ones I haven't visited. Yet. Smile

Shaman

salmon · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 32

Rhonda, re: men are like buses, if you miss one ....

That's all very well, but what if that bus isn't going to where you thought
it might be going or it's just the wrong bus ? Do you bother waiting for
another one ? I say you leave the bus stop, go in and have a pint at the
nearest pub; if you meet someone, fair enough, if not, go home your
own.

Would you agree ?

colin · Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 45 Location: You mean right now?

My old roommate was also a teacher. I remember one morning waking up and was very surprised to see his medication for schizophenia in the the washroom.

But later I was even more surprised when I realized.....

I didn't have a roommate!

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

colin · Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 45 Location: You mean right now?

Just a joke Gordon.

Why be normal,it's boring.

gypsy trader · Joined: 19 Dec 2003 Posts: 10

Hey Rhonda -

Good question:)! Yes, I think EFL or otherwise, meeting people from diverse backgrounds is part of the spice of being alive. Some of the most interesting people I've ever met and had the privilege to call friends were from other places. One of my favorite things to do is share cups of tea, stories, good food, and laughter - certainly a high art in many parts of the world.

One day in kiwiland I told a friend I wanted to treat her to dinner. She could not understand what I was asking. It took me several tries to understand her language - so that day I learned you say, "shout," when you want to take someone out to a meal in the South Pacific. We laughed so hard - Good fun.

Even here at home my friend from Africa and I sometimes turn heads when we walk down the street. It's nice is still possible to travel and share a cuppa or 2!

Have a great day all.

gypsy trader

p.s. Hi all, I'm new to this board, but have been reading the Korea board for many years. Thanks for all the wonderful posts. Have a nice day Smile

.

Deborann · Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 10:49 am Post subject:

Where I am is a minature United Nations. Of 48 Foreign teachers almost half are American, but the remainder are Russian, Korean, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, German, English, South African, Australian, Irish and French. It's fabulous. The lingua franca is English, so I tend to speak as slowly to most of the teachers as I do to my students Smile

. The ages are spread - the Americans are the oldest in generally. Occasionally we all get together for a meal, and it's a ball. About 66% of the Americans are here from the Brigham Young University. Most of the others are on sabbatical from other universities. A couple are sinophiles and here for the duration. I seem to spend a fair bit of time teaching the Americans how to speak English!

Because they come from all over, the teachers also have friends in other universities in the city, and therefore if there is something happening there, invitations happen - so I have been to a concert with well-known Russian pianist (plus photos backstage with her after), dinner with visiting German professors etc. Doing my education an enormous amount of good.

The university has a Chinese language school as well and students come from all over for that. One I met was an Oz PhD in Chinese funeral art -specifically Tang Dynasty - and she was able to invite us to an archaelogocal dig, plus visiting tomb sites with her was really interesting!

My Chinese friends are also pretty special and we have spent some great times together. I am also finding that my students are now getting more comfortable with me and will chat about boy/girlfriends, life plans, frustrations with parents/system etc. (As well as teach me to swear in Chinese - something that could be useful oneday!)

Part of the summer vacation, I am planning on heading off with one of the Germans to ride horses in Inner Mongolia. The first part of the vacation my Chinese friends, the Italians, one of the American teachers and I are heading for Tibet and Everest base camp. Should be great!