Every year, for as long as I can remember, my sister buys me a calendar from our favorite local artisan in Maine. In just a few days I am going to flip the calendar to the month of June. However, I am not sitting in my house in New England, I am sitting in a new space, in Hangzhou, China. As I contemplate sneaking a peek at what the June page will look like, I can hardly believe that a new school year, in a new country, has already gone by.
Prepare for the Unknown
I had already lived and traveled in various places in Asia, so admittedly, the decision to come to China was perhaps a little easier for me than it may have been for others. Oddly enough, however, despite all my travels in the past, I had never been to, inquired about, or spoken with anyone who had lived in, worked in, or visited China. I couldn’t say why this was, it just simply, was. If it was a stigma that once existed–that I had picked up somewhere–it was unknowingly, and had since faded almost entirely.
So, to prepare for a bit of the unknown, I did my due diligence, as anyone might. I asked questions as much as possible, researched online, read (okay, skimmed) a few books, listened when I was spoken to about China, played with various language apps (“played with” aka defeated by), and simmered in my own thoughts for a while–often creating lists in tandem.
Caution to the Wind
Eventually, as I boarded my plane last July, I had a sort of peace about whatever was to come. There was a Chinese woman eating a package of little dried shrimp in front of me while I waited to board. There were two Chinese boys playing videogames, loudly, on their phones. There was a small group of young adults walking around the gate area in slippers and seemingly very pajama-like clothing. Yes, I was ready to begin, again.
As the voice of the pilot reverberated through the overhead speakers, and the “full on” Mandarin hit my ears, I threw any remaining caution to the wind. I took off my sneakers; put on the provided socks, slippers, and eyes mask; squeezed in my earplugs; and happily said goodbye to the comforts and understandings of my home country.
To say that time has moved like lightning–to say that things remain clearly in focus and partly in a blur–pretty much sum up this past year. Things push and pull you here like an off-kilter vacuum, at times. You coast, you enjoy, you stretch, you grow, and then, all of a sudden, you are reminded that you still have a lot of learning and experiences to be a part of. This is the beauty of life, however, no matter where you live, or visit, work, or just touch down upon.
Moving to Hangzhou, starting a new job, helping to open a new school…there have been days that I was challenged, days that I struggled, and days that I was exhausted, of course. And while I cannot keep track of all of the details and all of the days, I am left with this: for every one day I was overwhelmed or weary, there were days of encouragement and excitement, multiplied.
The Unicorns
One of the most notable places in which this positivity and support has reigned supreme was within the presence of my students. They have made this past year an absolute pleasure, and my thirtieth year of teaching, one of the best. My students are incredibly respectful to each other, their learning environment, and of themselves. They are kind and honest, joyous and fun.
My students at BASIS International School Hangzhou are inspiring and brave. Having to move through a rigorous academic year that is conducted in a language secondary to your native language, requires constant perseverance. They never faltered. Any challenge I gave them, they attempted it. Any risk I asked them to take, they leapt. All of the trust, hope, and encouragement I had to offer them, was embraced and returned. BASIS International School Hangzhou kids are my unicorns.
As I flip the calendar to June and prepare for the summer break, I look forward to just two more turns of the page before a new school year begins!
Jen Welsh teaches Honors Literature at BASIS International School Hangzhou.
