Wealthy parents provide their children with a rich cultivating environment. Their kids learn good habits and discipline. They learn to expect the best from themselves and others. When someone is unkind to them, they don’t sweep it under the rug and forget about it. Instead they learn to deal with all different types of social dynamics in a positive manner to achieve a positive result. Then when they are adults they good on to make go decisions for themselves. As adults we are always choosing what to care about.
Asking Questions
A child from this kind of background would be encouraged to ask questions when they don’t understand. Their parents and others have provided a framework for them to make mistakes and get back up again until they are successful. As a foreigner in Hong Kong, there’s plenty of stuff happening around me that I don’t understand, but I am no longer a child. When I fall down. A lot of times there is no one there saying, “Ken get back up again”. It’s probably a good thing that I don’t always ask questions. I would surely annoy those around me. What did he or she say? Did they mean this? I think they said that? No we might tolerate that from children but not generally adults.
Adult Foreigners
Unfortunately, as adult foreigners, we can’t go back and start over again in our country of choice. Instead we need to work with the person we already are where we are. Sometimes that will me disapproval from those around us. They may say things like, “Oh its just the crazy foreigner trying to communicate”. “Hahaha he or she thinks they can speak Chinese/ Cantonese, Whatever”. Other times it will mean ignoring language material that feels too overwhelming for us. Let me just stop here and say – You Can Learn a Language Later in Life. This article has an interview with my friend Hubert who successfully learned Cantonese at University in Hong Kong. You go Hubert. But still how do you choose what to ignore and what to pay attention to? There is just so much out there are so little time. One question that comes to mind is, “Will such and such an activity help me do relationships with people better.” In the end life is about relationships. None of us will take any of our possessions to the after life with us.
Choosing Not to Use Gmail Translate
Personally, I am glad the school doesn’t require me to read emails. Years ago, I experimented with software that allowed me to read the emails in Chinese with a word by word English translation. Now that kind of software is pretty common, but it didn’t used to be. Also in the past Google wasn’t there to translate every email at the click of a button. I am sure that this technology was available long before I started to use it, but honestly I wish that there would have been someone there who I had a personal connection with that could have pointed it out to me.
Really, I feel like I am on my own. In the past, everyone just expected, oh the foreigner doesn’t read Chinese, therefore they can’t read these emails. Times have changed, foreigners don’t have that excuse any more. An English translation is there for them at the click of a finger, but as long as there is no personal connection or no need to know that information those emails will likely go unread. I think many foreigners will remain in the dark, while the locals look at their email screens. Why, it just doesn’t apply to us and in a way maybe that is also our privilege. Local colleagues must spend hours on work related communication. Personally, I don’t feel bad that I don’t have to spend hours on work related communication. It is my privilege not to.
Young People Are Choosing to Care About Other Things
NET teachers aren’t the only ones asking what to care about and what to let go of. Young people are also asking it. Unfortunately, I think a lot of them are giving up on their education too early. Yes teachers are there, but I think a lot of times they don’t feel that the teachers or for that matter there parents are really there for them. Many of them would say it’s too embarrassing to fall down/ make a mistake in front of my friends. They would rather not take the risk. They feel the potential loss: not being understood, being laughed at by their friends, being seen as a teachers pet etc… is too costly. Therefore they forfeit their opportunities to learn.
Caring About What’s Important
At the same time there are events, announcements, speeches etc… that I do want to know about. I don’t want to be in the dark. For example recently, my school had graduation for S6 students. A few class teachers and the vise principal shared. Some students also shared. This graduation ceremony (above) represented something of the life of the school that I wanted to feel a part of. Thankfully I have a hobby that helps me with such pursuits. I shoot photos and videos. I wish I could tell you that after the first time of re listening to the teachers’ and vise principal’s speeches I understood everything. I didn’t; truth is I am still trying to figure it out. Each time I listen to it I feel like I get something new. What about you? How do you respond to these kinds of events? I try to tune in. Sometimes I ask questions to those around me. Here is an article on – Help From Others
Like Kids
I think this puts me in the same language category as kids. Years ago I was going to a NET cluster meeting. There were several foreigners present and we didn’t know the way. There were two Chinese ladies. A few bold foreigners asked the Chinese some simple directional questions. The shy Chinese answered very matter of fact and we were on our way. Again adults were not able to do something that kids can do. This is humbling.
NET Teachers Eating Together
I think one of the dangerous messages NET’s may subconsciously receive from being left out of the school community is that they don’t belong or what they have to contribute is not really important. Of course, community requires a common language. So I am not referring to teachers teaching at international schools or necessarily EMI English as a Medium of Instruction schools. However, having a common language does not automatically mean there will be community. We can’t require others to accept us, make time for us, or be there for us. All of that is supposed to happen in our families of origin. If we get it there, we are blessed and will likely have an easier time finding in other areas of life.
Walk Through Open Doors and Be Thankful
But let’s go back to the graduation speech, what I understood. For example, the feeling of sadness to be leaving that is accompanied by the uncertainties of what is ahead. There was also the teachers encouragement to never give up and to stay in touch. It reminded me of graduation in the states and personal memories. I could identify. Also the fact that I was there to hear and appreciate the sharing in Cantonese made me feel a little bit closer to my school community. No, I am not really one of them, but I am feel that I am walking through the doors that are open to me. I think there will always be some separation, but I am grateful for what I do have.
