Although I had familiarized myself with the syllabuses alongside Ci Xing, I still had two weeks of rest before Mingde Elementary School resumed classes. The high school, however, had already started its term. Every morning, I would take a jog on the school playground before the high school students began their mandatory drills. The dedication these children showed never ceased to amaze me. I often wondered what it would be like if such morning drills were implemented in American high schools. I doubted the American teenagers would appreciate it much.
It was the third day of my two-week rest period. I had just finished my morning run and sat on a nearby bench to catch my breath. I picked up a bottle of water and took a sip, planning to head back to my quarters to revise my notes for the Chinese language assignment Ci Xing had given me.
Suddenly, a loud noise broke the morning calm. I glanced at my phone-it was almost 7:00 a.m. The high school students were about to start their drills, and I was running late. I stood up, ready to leave, when a sharp, youthful voice called out.
"Hello!"
I turned to my right and saw a group of four students-two girls and two boys-dressed in sports gear, looking at me with curious eyes.
"Hi, are you here for your morning drills?" I greeted them, trying to sound friendly.
"Yes! My name is Mei Ling," the girl who had called out said eagerly. Before she could continue, the others chimed in.
"I'm Ru Wei!" the girl beside her introduced herself.
"Xia Ning!" the taller boy added.
"Pei Song!" the other boy said, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.
I was slightly taken aback by their energy. "My name is Kasi Williams. I'll be teaching the elementary class," I explained.
Mei Ling's face fell. "Ah, I thought you were our new drill instructor!" she said, clearly disappointed.
I was confused. This was the first time I had met these students. How could they have mistaken me for a drill instructor?
"We've seen you training here every morning," Mei Ling explained. "Even though you leave early, we noticed you."
"Oh, you misunderstood. I just come here for my morning runs, nothing more," I clarified.
"Teacher, how is my English?" Mei Ling asked, her eyes wide with anticipation.
"It's good," I said honestly. "Though there's room for improvement." Her accent was noticeable, and some words were mispronounced, but she could hold a conversation, which was impressive.
Mei Ling beamed at my words. "What about me, Teacher?" Pei Song asked, stepping forward.
I hesitated as I helplessly looked at the slightly taller boy. He hadn't said much for me to assess his English. Before I could respond, a sharp male voice cut through the air.
"Mei Ling! Pei Song! What are you doing over there?"
A tall, muscular man in a tracksuit strode toward us with purpose. The students immediately straightened their backs and scattered like leaves in the wind.
"You!" the man barked in Chinese, his tone stern. He then turned to me, his expression softening. "Hello, I heard about the new teacher in the elementary school. My name is Li Qiang. I'm the physical fitness instructor here."
His English was surprisingly good. Most teachers I had met struggled with English, and I often relied on a translation app to communicate with them.
"Hello, Mr. Li. My name is Kasi Williams. Nice to meet you," I greeted him.
"Those brats didn't disturb you, did they?" he asked, his brow furrowing.
"No, not at all. They just greeted me. Please don't punish them," I said quickly.
"Alright. See you around, Miss Williams," Li Qiang said with a smile before jogging off to join the students. I turned and headed back to my quarters.
After a quick shower and breakfast, I settled into my room to review my Chinese language notes. The days passed slowly, and soon it was time for the elementary students to report to school. Most of these children had never left the local area, and Mingde School was a convenient place for them to study. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to take young children far from their homes just for education.
On the first day, the students were visibly surprised to see someone who looked so different from them. They stared at me curiously throughout the lesson, even as Ci Xing tried to redirect their attention. I understood their fascination. Being young and never having seen someone outside their own ethnicity must have been confusing for them.
I made an effort to memorize their names. The lesson went smoothly, but as I said goodbye, two students trailed behind me, their short legs struggling to keep up. I knelt down and spoke to them in Chinese, gently urging them to return to class. When they didn't comply, I picked them up and carried them back to their seats. Another teacher arrived to watch over them during breakfast.
"Be good," I said, patting their heads softly before leaving the classroom. As I walked away, I couldn't help but smile at the innocence of children. If only humans could retain that purity, the world would be a far better place.
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