3 Things About (Chinese) Children

1) I am an instrument of torture for young school children, one primarily used by their parents. When I sit outside after class and the parents come by toting their kiddies, they all say "Which one is your teacher?" And the kid points and mutters shyly. The parent or grandparent then proceeds to poke the child until they whisper "Hello" to me. Sometimes the poking will occur for several minutes. I see the terror/irritation/helplessness in the eyes of the small one and I sympathize, but I am not involved in this situation, other than sitting there being white. While this mainly happens at the schools because I'm obviously the English teacher, it also happens in random public places, like the park. Today I saw a mom prodding her daughter over to me while I was sitting and painting. The girl hung her head and turned the other way. Poor thing (both of us), being forced to do something semi-useless and awkward.

I'm pretty nice to kids that want to talk to me or are forced to talk to me. I can be a bit tetchier with those my age or older because, unless their English is pretty good, it tends to just be a struggle-fest. I am also uncomfortable with the assumption that, if I'm hanging out on the bus to work, I am A) available and willing to talk, and B) speak English. Sometimes I'm reading a book or zoning out, but either way, at 7am I'm not super down to chat. Additionally, maybe I'm Czech or something, don't just assume I'm an English-speaker (though I guess it's a pretty safe one). It kind of kills me because I imagine if I tried to speak Chinese to every Asian person I saw in the States, I'd probably get punched in the face. Ha.

2) Children will play fetch! A little boy, probably two years old, with a balloon thought I looked cool sitting on the grass painting, (he has good judgment, see) so he approached me, happily holding out his toy. I poked it and he giggled and dropped the balloon into my lap. So I threw it. Then he chased it. Then he brought it back. So I threw it again. And he fetched it. And on. This all occurred with his grandmother or auntie watching approvingly. I am playing fetch with your child like he is a puppy, and you approve? Fantastic. Get me more small children with balloons. I could do this all day.

3) Whilst playing fetch with the young boy, his companion, a very small girl toddler waddled over and smiled cutely at me. She followed around her cousin as he chased his balloon and always came back, auntie behind her, smiling goofily. She may have been the cutest child I've EVER seen. At one point, she toddled up and just gazed at me, bending her knees and swaying slightly. It was weird, but still cute. Then I realized she was peeing. Out of her split pants. Onto the ground next to me. Her auntie/granny/minder simply laughed and beamed at me. I'm not going to lie, I was disturbed. I mean, here I am, sitting on the grass, chillin', painting, etc. And I know grass can be dangerous, but I just didn't expect a small child to relieve herself right next to me. And her ayi just taking it in stride. I hate split pants. Hate 'em. Totally weird and confusing.

But playing fetch with one child while the other peed next to me reminded me that I am totally a cat person.

Kisses,
ellen