Mixing Business with Awkwardness

Well, I finally got a job. I'm TA-ing for a kids' watercolor class at my Chinese school. Actually, I don't get paid. Apparently, so many people want to work there (which I find seriously hard to believe) that new TAs have to volunteer for a semester before being paid. So here I am, trying to help kids slap paint onto a sheet of (watercolor) paper. Joy of joys.

Ok, no, it's not really that bad. The teacher's pretty nice, and a lot of the kids seem pretty cool. (Meaning, they seem like they like me. Which makes them automatically cool, of course.) Of course, when you're stuck with 20 eight to ten year olds, you're bound to get some awkward moments.

First off, my Chinese school borrows a middle school's space to use on Sundays. (Since, obviously, the regular students aren't there.) And this watercolor class is held in a health classroom. So yeah, lots of posters about drugs and "risky behaviors" all around. I spent about 10 minutes explaining two anti-smoking posters to one little girl. She asked what "Smoking is addicting" means, so I had to go on a long "don't smoke" rant, because if I didn't, what if she ended up thinking addicting was a good thing? And what if she ended up smoking, and drinking, and all those trashy things that seem to be cool among... certain celebrities. (Britney, anyone?) And then another girl asked me what "SH behaviors" are. And really, I know strict Asian parents, and I really didn't think her parents would appreciate it if instead of getting an hour and a half of watercolor instruction, she learn all about sexual harrassment.

That girl who asked about SH behaviors? Yeah, she also insisted on calling me George. Loudly. Multiple times. Which, to say the least, confused some of the other kids. And apprently, her hobby is to freak people out by staring at them. Lots.

Another little girl asked me about my accent. (And, I guess I do have one? I've been told many times that I can't pronounce r's. So, I have a bit of Boston accent even though I barely go to Boston?) But yeah, she just would NOT let it go! And I didn't want to be mean or anything, so I did the usual laughing shrug thing. Hey, works on everyone else.

<3 Helen