Essences of Tongcheng
" STUDENT ACTIVITIES in ENGLISH AS FOREIGN LANGUAGE
OUTSIDE FOREIGN TEACHER’S CLASSROOM
Throughout terms invitations from student assistants are to attend student official events.
Joanna said, “English Corners held in evening occur on Western holidays such as Halloween or Christmas. Possibly you attend?”
Foreign teacher’s interest in students’ activities is in extra time as college activity and in addition to fifteen hours of classes each week. At these events, many students from sophomore and freshman classes attend. Student leaders plan events for these English Corner groups, who meet together to share an understanding of Western culture.
Invitations arrive in texts or in person from student assistants to English Corners. After returning to Tongcheng College, more of these events are held in large lecture-style classroom with theatre seating. Halloween is always popular. In second Christmas 2017, English Corner speak of family’s tradition of baking sugar cookies from cutting shapes, baking and decorating on Christmas Eve. Mixed-results are of pleasure and smiles from students in higher up seats in lecture hall, and dismay with frowns from Maggie and students sitting in lower lecture theatre seats and near to me. Christmas Eve celebration is later held outside in the college’s centre court where we all are offered sparklers and leader of event, Tiffany, stands near with couple friends lighting all sparklers.
Later returning to my apartment from lighting sparklers oldest son, Mark, video calls and said, “Do you have your passport?”
I said, “Yes. I return from Hangzhou with passport 02 December.”
Registration of Foreign Resident Permit is with two return trips to Hangzhou from Tongcheng, and five hour fast train trip. Twice since late arrival in Tongcheng in mid October, surprising travel schedule develops after new government process of acquiring necessary authentications for Z Visa before arriving in China. Difficulties with control of passport evolve from travel time for foreigner registering for permit. Two five hour return trips to Hangzhou to leave passport for thirty day evaluation after arrival in Tongcheng are late in term in mid October, due to application procedures before arrival. Returning trips to Hangzhou, home of employer to register and retrieve passport, in mid November, are required. Regulations are new and months later in March 2018, register as a foreigner for Foreign Resident Permit both in Anqing, government city of Anhui, an hour away by car and then in Tongcheng, the city to work in as foreign English teacher. The Foreign Resident Permit allows foreigners permission to work in China for extended months in contracts. In video call with Mark describe Christmas celebration with lighted sparklers in evening’s darkness under palm trees sharing with students.
Mark, foreign teacher for over decade many years in South Korea advising before arriving in China said, “Foreigner must never give up passport under any condition including while staying in hotels.”
Exits and Entrances Bureaus in Hangzhou, Anqing and Tongcheng, police units supervising foreign residents, evaluate passports and documents.
“Mom, you are living the dream to be paid for two months of holiday,” said Mark in video visit in second Christmas in Tongcheng.
Most important Hangzhou employer adviser’s advice from Lynn suggests returning to original location, Tongcheng, preferable in discussions of offer to return to China for second ten-month contract. Employer is responsible for applying on behalf of foreigner working in China for Work Permit from Bureau in Hangzhou. While studying teaching skills in Beijing in July 2017, the manager of the English as foreign language training school is advising the visiting foreign teachers the example of a foreign teacher ignoring his advice in detention four days for working in addition to the accurate Z Visa and Permanent Resident Permit.
College students leave the college for their homes shortly after 25th of December, and return to Tongcheng College in early March to resume their classes until end of June. Time allows for rest or exercise, and illustrate from memory with crayons packed into water bottles on reusable coffee paper filters preparing with emptying, washing and drying in previous term and save, or any reusable materials. papers brought with me. Holiday times are filled with sketching buildings and area around college’s playground visible from daily walks at college playground in these weeks from January to March.
Soon in the next days early in holiday of 2017, text messages from Crystal are to go out for New Year’s meal with college faculty, and Crystal will come to apartment to help to first attend student presentation at college’s training room on sixth-floor of large academic buildings, and then to celebration supper. After agreeing to arrangement, Crystal comes to apartment to walk to cross street from apartment to event. We walk up six flights of stairs in building see in view from window in apartment. Maggie meets in hallway outside, and explain text messages with Crystal. Maggie’s texts were of attending event with Maggie’s friend’s training school
Maggie said, “Police officers might try to reach me, and must answer Maggie’s text messages.”
Yet follow Maggie into training room, a large room with a high ceiling, a stage, and a computer screen like a movie theatre, and first time experience. On screen music and images are accompanying cast of Flight Attendant Certificate students performing on stage. An empty seat is available beside David, Dean of English Department. David is speaking to students in next seats. David, Maggie, Crystal, myself and Chinese teachers walk to nearby restaurant to College to meet president of college for our celebration meal."
..............................................................................................................Maureen Armstrong, author
Comments