I have been busy correcting papers from my history
class-they were assigned an oral history project to interview an elder
or grandparent about their life in China. So far all the papers are
depressing, and have titles such as "Life, Hard" or "The Miserable
Life of my Grandmother," I have learnt that it was pretty
horrible across the board to come of age in China in the last century.

I bought a super soaker and have been bringing it to my classes and
getting students wet whenever I want. It's great. However, I made a
big mistake in class. I was telling my students about US society in
the 1950's. I told them about how the 1950's was the most religious
decade in the century, Billy Graham,etc… I said that President
Eisenhower was the first President to be baptized in office. Then I
asked my class, "do you know what baptized means?" Well they didn't,
so I explained what it was and how you have to be poured with some
water. Since I had a super soaker in my hand I yelled out "Who wants
to be baptized?" and then I squirted everyone. But right as I was
squirting everyone I realized I could get in big trouble for doing
that.

My students just turned in evaluations of my teaching. I am going to
share some with you all now:

"I like your clothing style. Certainly, your character is more
charming than your appearance."

"In my mind you are a know-it-all. You know more Chinese history than
me. I like your perfect figure and your beauty. I hope you will be an
understanding mom and a love life in the future. I like you higher
then sky, deeper than sea, longer than 'forever'"

"…But sometimes you are maybe a little crazy. Like playing water gun
in class. The water might enter our eyes or on our glasses."

"There are too many quizzes in your class. I have to go over the
notes, it makes me have no time to take a nap after lunch on every
Thursday."

"You are like a happy kid."

"I don't like the history song. It's silly. Sorry."

One student also drew a picture of me, I am wearing high platform
shoes and have enormous breasts, and then he drew a picture of
himself, a small crab. The rest all talk about how much they love me.
Literally, they say "I love you, I love you." It is hard not to get a
big head in China.

I showed "The Color Purple" in class because we read a few chapters
from the book. One student said to me during the movie, "Why are all
the figures in the movie black? Is this movie in Africa? Blacks make
me feel terrible, they are like monkeys." Another told me, "When she
smiles, she looks like a baboon." In China you can get a big head if
you are not black that is.

For my birthday a bunch of students had a surprise party for me—I
really was surprised. I had been hanging out with other foreigners and
then a bunch of my students came—unfortunately I had already been
drinking quite a bit and of course none of my students had been
drinking nor would they drink. So they all saw me a bit drunk dancing
alone to 50 cent and doing the under the leg dance and such. I saw my
future clearly in front of me—I am going to be the old aunt with the
man laugh drinking a martini in the corner of the room making off
color jokes.

I really don't want my time here to end. I sometimes contemplate
postponing grad school and staying here for another year.