Stories from Class

Something unexpected happens nearly every day. Some of my students have to be the most precious people ever.

My afternoon class was pretty interesting on Thursday. There is a student named Echo I have hung out with a few times. She is shy, smart, reserved, and pretty. There is also a boy named Armstrong who is a great student and also pretty reserved. Neil Armstrong is his hero. Armstrong and Echo never sit anywhere near each other, so I had no idea they even knew each other.

However, that changed yesterday when I asked the question, "If someone made a movie about your life, what would it be titled?" Students had random ones, such as "A Leaf Drifting on the Sea;" "Sometimes;" or "A Beautiful Life." When I called on Armstrong in the back of the classroom, he stood up to answer the question (in China, students are respectful, so they always stand to answer a question). Very sweetly and innocently he said, "For Echo." I paused for a minute, because I was a little confused. I pointed to Echo near the front row, and said, "like this Echo?" He nodded very seriously and went on to explain.

He looked right at the back of Echo's head several rows in front of him, with big mournful eyes and said, "Echo is becoming more meaningful to me every day. This is not a joke; I am serious. I want to know her better." At this point the class was buzzing with excitement and confusion. The only thing that came out of my mouth, was "Do you like her?" Again, he nodded quite seriously. I looked at Echo who was turning pink, and trying to hide behind her long hair. Then the whole class applauded. It was a very strange, unexpected moment in class, just like most every day. But it was also a really cute and innocent moment that made me very happy.

Shortly thereafter, Will Lee, one of my students in another class, and one of Armstrong's many roommates, came trudging through the door during the middle of class. He was all wet and cold. (Yesterday it was only about 40 degrees, with strong winds, and icy rain. And there's no heat in this part of China). Armstrong had left his homework in his dorm, so Will Lee walked through the terrible weather for at least 15 minutes to deliver Armstrong's homework that was probably worth only two points. I felt really shocked, because Will Lee was shaking like a leaf. He hadn't come to my morning class because he had a really high fever. It was another dramatic moment. Hopefully Will Lee hasn't died from pneumonia.

Earlier in the class I had made it clear that I wouldn't accept late homework. But what can you say when a very sick student risks his life just to hand in his best friend's homework?

So, yes, it is very cold here now a lot earlier than last year. I'm off to put on some more long underwear!

(The picture is of some of my dear students in class).