Strange but nice weekend with my student, Sky

22.08.2014

One of my students (her name is Sky) invited me to visit her house this weekend, so I cancelled my beach trip and went with her instead. I was kind of imagining it would be a girls' weekend with beaches and massages and pedicures, but I was completely wrong. I experienced a small amount of disappointment and rage, so keep that in mind when you're reading my entry. In the end, once I figured out the deal, it was a really great "exchange" but not a "friendship" like I thought it was.

I met her at school and we took the bus for a couple hours into the countryside. I could've sworn she said she was going to drive us in her car, but no matter. Things got even more strange once we got to her house. She said she taught children at home in the afternoon and evenings, so could I visit with them for a bit? I was completely floored. Oh, you mean you're not really my friend? You want to use me as a prop for your English school? My god, no. I usually have no problem doing this, but it's usually explained explicitly from the beginning. This time, there was no mention of children until we were leaving for her house on the bus. I felt quite deceived and manipulated, once again, but of course I went with it anyway.

My biggest problem with making local friends is that they don't actually want to be friends at all, they just want to suck English out of you in return for maybe a home cooked meal or some such thing. For me, this is a fine arrangement, as long as both parties have agreed to it. I had no prior notice that I was going to be a classroom prop, and I was annoyed. You see how this is?

Anyway, I said nothing and just went with it, rolling my eyes on the inside. Sky did pay for my bus fare and put me up in her cousin's hotel for the night after all. The kids were cute and took me to the market, where I showed them the names of things they didn't know like broccoli, tofu, crabs, eels and sugar cane.

It was really extra strange (and this is where I caught on to her little scheme) when they said

"How come you're not buying anything? The last teacher bought so many clothes!"

….Oh really… "Why? When was that?"…

"Last weekend."

Mmmhmmm.

I get it. Again, I say to you, I do not mind being a prop for your English school, just for the love of God, tell me I am and don't pretend you are doing me a huge favour. /end rant.

Once I figured out the actual plan, it was a good trade for me, but until then, I was irritated and cranky about it.

When we got back, Sky started asking me more grammar questions, so I told her I needed a nap and shower, getting myself out of tutor duty again.

After my nap, Sky and her husband cooked an amazing meal and some more kids came over to ask me more questions. Like I said, before, I am very open to these kinds of exchanges, but I was simply not mentally prepared this time. I thought this was going to be a quiet girls' weekend hiking in the mountains and drinking tea. No matter, onwards and upwards.

The kids took me down to the river where we had some crazy sweet lemonade and a big plate of fruit. At about 10, we all went to bed so we could go hiking in the morning.

Before I could sleep though, Sky's cousin had to register my arrival with the local police. I forgot my passport because I thought I was staying at Sky's house. They marched me over there arm in arm, telling me "no problem" over and over again. The police seemed to think these two women were a little silly about the whole thing, but maybe I'm just projecting.

As expected in the morning, roosters woke me up at 3 a.m. Of course they did!

Some children then barged into my room while I was still sleeping and undressed. Oh Lord, why didn't I lock the door?

We went out hiking for 15 minutes and then it started to rain, so we went back.

At breakfast, Sky gave me so many rice noodles with pork that I thought I might explode. Then, there was more fruit after that. Some students came back and took pictures of me.

Then, Sky took me to her in-law's house where they have a small farm and it was all very quaint. I wanted to ask them how they survived the war, but the discussion wouldn't go any further than how old are you? why aren't you married and why don't you have kids? Then continued with an admonishment of my lack of children and praise due to their amazement at my ability to travel alone.

Sky took me on a grand tour of some of her friends' homes who all gave me more fruit at each stop. They also asked the same questions and told me I should have children, while in the same breath telling me how lucky I am to travel. The logic was mind boggling.

I was relieved to stop at her English speaking friends' house where we complained about AIC, the company running the training I was doing.

When we got back, the students were making a special lunch for me, but I was shooed out of the kitchen into my room where I took another nap and packed to go home.

Lunch was amazing and I received two gifts from the students, a nice mug and a little statue. I said goodbye and went home completely exhausted.

The countryside around Tien Yen