It was Monday, the cycle of pain has begun again, and by that I mean school. Though as an international student we partake in special majors that only we international students can take. But all these special majors had one thing in common:
Chinese class.
Chinese is pretty easy for me, since most of my friends back in Vancouver are Chinese, and I spoke Chinese at home as well. Especially that the Chinese we are learning is local Chinese elementary level (the course is designed for foreigners). So passing Chinese was like stealing candy from a baby (don't actually do that though cause it's illegal). And now with loads of time afterschool to kill, no I meant: spending our time wisely to strive and work towards our future goal. One of the things I decided to add to my after school schedule was 'volunteer'.
I found out about the place about 2 weeks ago online, and I came for an interview at this community centre. The interview went pretty smoothly and now every week Monday and Wednesday, 6:30-8:30pm, I will be teaching kids 5-7 English. And yes, since I am doing this as volunteer, I am not being paid half a penny.
The sky was dark grey accompanied with an evening chill. And this time, just like any other time, I slowly walked across the street and checked both directions for cars and electric bikes. You see in China, it always feels like the driver always wants to run you over like in GTA. Anyways, after making it alive to the other side, I continued to walk in the direction of the community centre. The entrance of the neighborhood on the street side was this turning metal bar door, just large enough for a person to squeeze through. The moment I pushed past the door, my eyes widened:
An old grandma in her 70s was burning a set of clothes right there in the middle of the street.
Around people paid her no heed and minded off their own business. So with a raised eye brow, I slowly walked over to the old granny and asked with a curious voice:
"What are you doing?"
"Burning my husband's clothes." She replied calmly.
"Why?"
"It's not good fortune to wear a dead person's clothes."
"I see..."
I watched as fingers of fire danced on top of the burning clothes.
"If you don't mind telling me, how long has he passed?" I looked to her.
"2 weeks." She replied with the same calm voice.
"I am sorry to hear about that."
"I am good. Life and death are just the way things are."
"Is this illegal? Like burning stuff in public?"
"No, the security doesn't bother."
"Sorry, I am just..." I made a hand gesture over the fire. "New to all these things."
"Where are you from boy?" she asked.
"I am Chinese, but Canadian citizen." I replied with a straight forward voice.
"Ah, my daughter went to Canada too. It's pretty nice there, so why did you come back?"
"Eh, China has a pretty bright future if you ask me."
"Indeed." She nodded gently, with hands tied behind her back. "You look pretty young, are you working or are you in University?"
"Oh, I am currently 1st year in Tongji university."
"That's good, that's good." She nodded continuously.
I flipped out my phone and checked the time.
"Oh dang, I am going to be late for my volunteer." I said as walked past her, then turned one last time and waved. "Cya grandma!"
"Bye." She waved.
Without turning back twice, I dashed into the community center and skidded to a break last second as I almost literally run into a familiar face.
"Mr. Tao you are late again!" Hai-qing wagged her finger at me.
Hai-qing appeared to be in her mid-twenties, short mushroom shaped black hair, large black rimmed glasses and medium build. She wore a white sweater with a coat on top and jeans.
"Sorry I was talking to a grandma back there." I said.
"Alright, just go. The kids are waiting for you inside."
"Alright." I gestured with a wave and walked inside the room.
***
There was about 3 kids in total today.
Oh boy this is gonna be hard...
Let me reminds you, these are not the kind obedient kids from fairy tales, these are like little demons from hell to make your life 1000 times more miserable as it already is. I don't really blame these spoiled brats now, since the root of the problem is not them, but rather the entitled parents that made them this way to begin with.
"Mr. Tao! I want to draw you an ugly you!" says one of my students.
"MR. TAO! MR. TAO! I WANT A BIG BIG BIG AIRPLANE!!!" shouted another.
"Pero pero pero..." one of my students proceeded to licking the wall.
My mental face palm went through my head.
Patience Tao...Patience...
"Please all return to your seat now..." I said nicely.
"No! I want to draw an ugly you!"
"I WANT TO DESTROY THE WORLD!"
"Pero pero pero..." the last one continued to lick the wall.
"If you all don't behave then we won't be watching dinosaur videos today."
In a blink of an eye they were all back in their seats, wearing the faces of perfect little angels.
"Good, let's start the lesson now." I said picking up the marker and writing down a few words onto the white board.
'Dictionary' I wrote down.
"Alright, repeat after me! Dictionary!"
"Ditionary?" one of the kids said, the other two just made muttered noises.
"Alright, let's break the word down syllable by syllable." I said. "Dic-"
"Dic." My students repeated.
"Tion." I said again.
"Tion." They repeated.
"Nary."
"Nary."
"Alright, again!" I said.
After about the 3rd try they were able to say the whole word smoothly.
"Alright, time for our next word..."
"When are we going to watch videos?" one of my students asked.
"When we are done with all 10 words." I said. "The sooner we done, we sooner we watch videos."
***
"How is the class today?" Hai-qing asked on my out exit.
"These spoiled brats..." I said with hands on my hips. "But yeah, once you know got one they like, you can get them to obey properly."
"That's good! You found a way to discipline them!" Hai-qing clapped her hand delightfully.
"En. So what time are you going to work till?" I turned to her.
"Ah, I have to work overtime again today. Maybe to 9pm." She tapped her chin lightly.
"Alright, I am going to head back first then.
"Be careful on your way back!" she waved.
"You too." I said, then turned and began to walk away.
Oh boy school tomorrow again...
Q: How do you deal with spoiled brats?