请说

Let’s all reflect for a moment on the wonder called communication. It’s such a simple thing to tell someone, “You will begin teaching on Feb. 16th”

Or, “You’re going to need these papers later, so hold on to them for the entire semester and don’t write all over them.”

To be fair, 我的中文不好 and their English is mostly non-existent, but I do have a perfectly capable co-teacher who is fluent in both languages, and a foreign affairs office which I believe is there for that purpose.

In fact they did communicate one thing to me, after I had doubled up some of my classes to finish the semester early. They told me I couldn’t do that and I would be fined. What they should have said is “You will be the only moron stupid enough to continue teaching until Jan. 16th. You should double up your classes so your students don’t hate you. All of the other teachers will know we are bluffing and finish early anyway. Then you will have to wait 10 minutes every morning for the lazy man to come unlock your classroom because he thinks there are no more classes this week.”

Let’s just say the local method of informing one of important things leaves a lot to be desired. It definitely gives me something to laugh about, and in the grand scheme of things is not all that important. Just a little…interesting. I still love this place and these people more and more every day but I sure would appreciate some simple communiqué.
On the bright side— literally—the sun is shining. And who can complain when there is sunshine afoot? Not I! I think I’ll go enjoy it.

“We do what we do—not because we’re paid to do it but because [He] has called us to do it.”
-Randy Harris