In late March, my parents, David and Lynn, travelled to Kinmen to see what I had been up to for the past eight months. In order to give them a more authentic picture of my daily life, I brought them to my school, Xi Kou (西口國小), and had them act as "Foreign English Teachers" for the day. After their visit to Taiwan, I interviewed them about their day at school.
Before arriving in Kinmen, how did you imagine the island? Were you concerned about not speaking the language?
David: I thought the island would be much smaller and flatter with military installations everywhere. I didn't expect the natural beauty of the islands and was impressed with the nicely landscaped roads, renovated villages, and new houses
For months prior to the trip, I listened to Mandarin Chinese CDs in the car and memorized phrases such as, "Do you speak English?" and "I don't understand Chinese." Upon arrival at the hotel in Jincheng, I tried these lines and was met with blank stares. I then switched to English and they understood me.
Were you nervous about spending a day as a "foreign teacher" in an elementary school?
David: Surprisingly, yes! I do a lot of public speaking for my job, but I did feel anxious about getting up in front of classroom full of children. Maybe I was worried about doing something that would embarrass my daughter! The students were so friendly and charming that I quickly got over the initial nervousness.
What were some of the most interesting questions the students asked you?
David: I fully expected to have questions about my height (193 cm), so I wasn't surprised when a student asked, "How did you get so tall?" Another student asked why my nose was so big; I didn't know how to answer that one! Someone asked how old I was, and when I answered "59," he exclaimed - in English - "Oh my God!!" The most surprising question came from a third grader who asked if I thought the United States and Russia were entering a new cold war period, given the events unfolding in Crimea. What knowledge of current events!
Did you learn anything new about Taiwanese culture or customs?
David: I was really struck by the genuine respect shown by the pupils for their teachers. Seeing the children bow to my daughter at the end of class and say "Thank you Teacher Catherine" is something I will never forget. They even said "Thank you Teacher Catherine's Father and Thank you Teacher Catherine's Mother"!
Any other thoughts you would like to share about your time spent in Kinmen?
Lynn:The opportunity to be a "foreign teacher" for a day at Xi Kou is one of the best travel experiences I have ever had. I will never forget how welcoming everyone was and even though we speak different languages, I [felt] right at home.