One week down at the summer camp and two more to go. It’s been an interesting and for the most part fun time so far. I now know at least 5 different dances to random songs, 3 different chants, and can now sing loads of songs. I also have to pretend that I can’t speak any Chinese (which isn’t too hard), I take at least $2 from a kid if he or she speaks Chinese, and another $2 if they call me “Teacher”. I have a name, it’s not that hard, I also wear a name tag all day long.

The days are long, and start at 6-something with a shower; dancing warm-up follows at 7:20, then breakfast, classroom teaching, activities, and situational teaching. Next is lunch, more situational teaching, activities including chants and dancing and acting (being somewhat of an actor is helpful here). Dinner comes next at around 6 PM, followed by a meeting and then followed by an activity of some sort like dancing, or games, then there’s night snack before kids get ready for bed. By 10:00 PM all the kids are in their rooms and presumably in bed (of course they aren’t really, they’re watching TV quietly till midnight I’m sure). That gives the teachers and teaching assistants time to shower, relax and take care of their own business. If I actually went to bed at 10 like the kids did, I probably would be so tired, but like that would actually happen. I don’t think I’ve gone to sleep before midnight here, usually 12:30 – 1:00 AM.

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