BRS, A Home away from Home
Charlotte/BRS
Before embarking on my journey to China, I did not know what to expect. What would the Chinese people be like? Would my new job at Beijing Royal School be all that I hoped? How would my students behave? After over 6 months in China, I am now able to answer all of those questions with a huge sigh of relief. There are so many incredible things I have managed to experience in China and I will only be able to share a snapshot of them with you. Since my arrival in early September I have already been offered so many opportunities and had many new positive experiences.
The entrance to Beijing Royal School is as grand and beautiful as the people within it. Although I have only been in China a short time I have already made friends with many people, both Chinese and Foreign. As the school offers an international education, that means not only do I get to experience Chinese culture but I get to learn from people from all over the world. In January, my lovely boss and friend, Belinda (夏伟燕) offered both me and my boyfriend the opportunity to visit to her home and learn how to make dumplings. Of course, as a foreigner I had no idea how to make this delicious Chinese specialty and was overwhelmed by how warm my colleagues were in making me feel at home. I already feel that I have made some great friendships that have truly contributed to my positive view of China. After this experience, I am proud to say that I made my own dumplings and was able to share this dish with my parents when I visited my home back in England. My time in China so far has made me realize the importance of learning. Not only knowledge from a book, but from the places we go and the people we spend our time with.
Chinese culture is highly focused on education as it is seen as a window to the world. I can see this attitude welded into my students, driving them to work as hard as they physically can in order to succeed. When I compare my experience of education to theirs – I cannot. From a foreign perspective the students here are like machines; able to handle large amounts of information and work in an ever structured manner. As the school continues to adapt and becomes more internationalized, I can see that the students will benefit from a fresh outlook. My students are creative and energetic, but like an old battery, we drain them with long hours and heavy textbooks. Although I understand that there are differences in Chinese education and culture, I still find it hard to accept this as a norm.
That said, in the short time I have been at the school there have been so many changes for the better and I am sure that as time passes even more will come. I only hope that one of them is allowing our students more time to be creative and express themselves so that we can help them to be prepared in their transition to university.
One word that comes to mind when I think of BRS is “opportunity”. I have found BRS to be flexible, progressive and supportive. I have been an ESL Teacher for over 3 years and throughout this time have worked for different language schools. But, at no point would I have considered myself a part of the school the same way I do here. For a foreigner working in a different country career development can be difficult. However, in my office I am surrounded by teachers that have been supported by the school to go overseas and obtain their masters degrees, enroll on training courses or attend lectures given by prestigious professors. This shows that the school really does invest in its people, pushing them to meet their full potential. A good example of this is back in November of last year when I began running my own clubs for teachers: – a Zumba Club and a Fitness Club. These are two things that I love to do and was encouraged by the school to share my passion with others. In addition to this, I have been involved in delivering a TOEFL Training Course to other teachers to promote cohesion among teachers and share our teaching experience with one another. The Chinese focus on education plays a part here and shows that not only the students are keen to learn but the teachers also strive for continuous personal development.
During my time traveling I have been lucky enough to visit 8 Asian countries, all of which have their own distinct culture and are unique in their own way. Of all of the places I have been, some of my favorites I have seen in the last 6 months in China. The famous food street in Wangfu Jing decorated with hanging lanterns, the hidden gems in the Hutongs and of course you can’t forget the breathtaking Great Wall, to name a few. Above all, the most memorable place would have to be the Summer Palace. While visiting I was moved by the rich history, beautiful scenery and attention to detail on every pagoda. When I reached the top of the Summer Palace to take in the view, I looked out across Kunming Lake and was reminded once more of the reason I came to China. The current season showcases the beauty of China, framing every building with pink blossoms and sunshine. If I am asked for advice on places to visit in Asia I would be sure to recommend this phenomenal site.
For all of the things I have mentioned above and more, I would like to express my gratitude toward my new friends and Beijing Royal School for making me feel so welcome. I feel like I have become a part of the team and look forward to continuing with my career at BRS.
