OCTOBER 2011
Adolf
has an arsenal of weapons in his desk. He surrendered the knife before class,
and had a gun taken by Mr. Micah during class. He may or may not be a 13-year-old Dwight K. Schrute.
When we teach "Chill out" for Sounds of the USA. We teach the kids a soothing motion with your hands, like gently rolling wave. Well, Sheldon stands up and looks like a piano player that's been hit by lightning and screams, "Chill out!" It was a life-altering moment.
Sheldon
acts out throwing-up, ends up looking like “Thriller” which Mr. Micah and Miss
Balge act out in unison.
We
finally get the HOLES copies, and then Mr. Micah staples his fingers together
and bleeds on our copies.
Dick
changes his name to “Dixon”. It is revealed that he did indeed know what his
name meant all along.
John continues his “game” of “how many mini paper boats can I stick in Mr. Micah’s and
Miss Balge’s pants' pockets during the course of 1 class period?”
June
(the student formally known as David) strokes Mr. Micah’s adam’s apple with his
lanky fingers/fingernails to see if he is sick.
NOVEMBER 2011
Kevin
and his nasty cheek hair that he that he refuses to part with. It must be a
Chinese symbol of manhood.
Miss
Balge gives a speech about telling your parents everything is fine when it
isn’t, and the class hears
her
say something to the effect of “I HATE CHINA. CHINA IS BAD. CHINA IS NOT GOOD.”
Mr.
Micah tries to talk to Linda, who gets scared and starts tip-toeing away as if he
can’t see her.
Henry
gives the “I’m a champion” face when asked to eat 800 chuan in 5 minutes.
Will
confirms his sexuality by bringing the pastel ceramic mug to class.
Sherry
almost breaks the “noise machine” all on her own during our “We got spirit yes
we do! We got spirit how bout you!” cheer.
Jr
2s consistently pronouncing “Dantes” as “Dentist”
Some
Jr 2 boys bond before class in ways where they should have washed their hands
afterwards.
Bubba
tells me he is only “so-so” today. Turns out this is because a boy in front of
him keeps showing him a half-naked picture of a soccer player. And Bubba is
bothered by this because he is apparently a prude.
At
some point before class begins, a boy in Class 5 throws up. I am kept from
walking in it when Henry starts screaming, “Miss Balge!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOO!!!!!
NOOOO!!!!!” The perp walks out of the room in shame and the class takes 10
minutes to fully “chill out” after these disgusting/upsetting/hilarious events.
Bob
“crowd surfs” past Miss Balge and Mr. Micah with his arms raised. But not
before bumping and grinding on them. He could have gone around the podium and
avoided this “traffic jam”, but this is clearly the way Bob wanted it.
Mr.
Keith proudly displays a monster name tag – newspaper pyramid that is dripping
with testosterone.
Before
class Sheldon asks Miss Balge “what does your headband mean? Is it for a ninja?
Does it symbolize power?” “No Sheldon. It means I woke up 4 minutes before I
needed to leave my apartment.”
Michael
Michael Michael from Jr. 3 Class 1. (He has 3 nametags loud and proud on his
desk.)
The
Thanksgiving “follow the leader” game in memory of Mr. Matt. “Heeeey boys”
The
Bubba, The Bubba, please pass the Bubba.
Miss
Balge locks the children out of the auditorium, and can’t open the door
herself.
DECEMBER 2011
Frank
“milks” Mr. Micah’s fingers while he is chatting with students before class.
Mr.
Micah and Miss Balge are asked to be in a play called “Baibie as the Island
Princess” 10 minutes before the group is going to try out. It didn’t not go well…..
At
the talent show, two Junior 3s, Angelo and Nash, rap in Chinese. In the last
verse comes a little English that makes us beam with pride, “We got spirit yes
we do! We got spirit yes we do!” “See you later Alligator. After while
Crocodile. Can’t forget Mr. Micah’s smile.” Those five words made this job so
worth it.
Mr.
Michael from class #1 sensed that his popularity increases with every name tag
he has on his desk. Last class of the semester he proudly displayed nine name
tags! What a man! There was no room to write anything, but he didn’t care.
Saking
delves into the dark side with his comic strip project entitled, “Not For
Children”. The story began with Danglars getting a sex change in Thailand and
ended with him falling in love with Judge Villefort and sleeping with him in a
VIP room at a KTV.
Miss
Helen reveals the sense of hopelessness and insane pressure that suffocates so
many Chinese students by having Edmond Dantes get his revenge against Judge
Villefort and Danglars by turning them into Chinese eigth graders. This
talented student pulls back the veil offers us a brief glimpse at her life:
Next
day, Danglars and Judge Villefort became two students of the Beida Middle
School. They had to do lots of things, such as:
did homework, had class all day, and a test everyday…
They
couldn’t have time to have a rest, they were tired and unhappy. Everynight,
they had to do homework until midnight. In the morning, they must get up at
5:00. But the worst thing: has they must
do this things day by day, month by month, and year by year until they passed away.
These
kids are a joy to teach.I'm glad Beccs and I can share these memories together.
米佳
