Interview with Bethany
Recently, I had the chance to interview a dear friend of mine who has some pretty big things happening in her life right now. Without further ado, here is what happened:
Can you give me a brief overview of where you went last year, what you did, and so on?
Last year, I spent 11 months in China. I was an English teacher in Taiyuan. I taught 1st grade. I had a team of 5 other beautiful, wonderful ladies. I had 8 classes of 36 students each. When I first got there, they all looked the same! Whenever I saw them in the hall, I didn’t know if they were my students. But they were so cute! It was the most formative experience of my life. I grew in so many ways. It was my first real job. I was a real teacher. It mattered if I wrote good lesson plans. My teaching really made a difference in my students’ lives.
So, team... they are your roommates, your friends, your spiritual family, people you fight with... having them fill every role in your life is unnatural, and it makes you be a better person. It really reveals the parts of you that are not... yet... finished.
Ok, so there were several aspects of my life. There was my teaching life, and interactions with students. That took up the most of my time. There was my life with my co-teachers, which was one of the two missional parts of my life. They were some of the hardest people to say goodbye to. You see them a lot more than the students. They work with you and become friends with you. And there was also team life, which was huge. We were never away from each other, unless you’re me and you take a bus for hours and get lost. (I would take Great Bus Adventures, and take a bus almost to the end, and wouldn’t know where I want to go. I explored parts of the city that I had never been to before.) The fourth aspect of my life (and my favorite) an organization I volunteered with. It’s a “like-minded” organization that has been established for maybe 30 years. So the government had to give money to people harmed in the Boxer Rebellion. One of the men (who built libraries and schools and so on) that was killed... his family fled, and later his children were invited back to Taiyuan to be thanked, and to continue what their father did. So they started this organization. Their families are still there now, and it’s is probably the coolest thing you could ever be a part of. This organization is a social program, and do everything except education. Family counseling, health care. We got to be camp counselors at their camp. It was incredible. Every time I went to camp, I got to be a part of what God was doing in kids’ lives, in tangible ways. That was the majority of the missional part of my year, and one of my favorite parts.
For the sake of our readers, tell us what’s coming up next. I mean, that’s kind of the reason I’m interviewing you.
I’m going to Mongolia to be an English teacher, this time in high school. At least, that’s what they tell me. But things always change. So, 8th to 10th grade, most likely. It’s a small private school in the capital city. I’m not going as a normal teacher, because I’m going in November, instead of the beginning of the term. At least, I think I am. They have English teachers already, but they’re all Russian. They want a native English speaker. My organization is forming a new partnership with this school, which is really important for Mongolia. And they requested that a teacher come. So I will also be sort of a liaison, and the only teacher from my organization at my school. And if I don’t totally screw up, there will probably team there next year. No pressure.
How are your experiences in China shaping your attitudes about going to Mongolia?
Last year, before I was in China, I had been to China before. I had taken Chinese language courses. I had studied Chinese history and politics, and I knew a little bit about what I was getting myself into. *dramatic pause* And now I don’t! I don’t have those things to assure me. I was comforted by the background that I had. I knew I was going to love everything. I don’t have those things yet. Ok, I can count to 10 in Mongolian, but I couldn’t when I first said I could go. My Mongolian is horrible! And it’s been more than a year since I’ve worked with high schoolers! A lot of the areas of confidence I had going to China, I don’t have now. I am totally dependent on other people to survive in Mongolia. I have to live somewhere, I have to eat somewhere, I have to teach, I have to have an office. I need somebody else to help me through all that. So, my experience in China taught me that you have to go back to baby steps. You have to be that person that’s relying on someone else. I learned to depend on other people for things that I normally do for myself. It’s not easy, and it won’t be easy again. But it will be easier, having already done it.
And living in China taught me that Chinese people are not all that different from American people. They want the same things: jobs, family, friends, hope for the future, answers for life’s questions. Mongolian people aren’t going to be exactly the same. But in the ways that count, they are just like me. I think I’m going to rely on that a lot. China taught me that I am a better person for searching out the answers for the questions “why” and “in what ways” we are different, for having studied something that is different from myself.
What are you most excited about?
Meeting my students! I can’t wait! I’m so excited! Last year, I couldn’t have conversations above what 6 year olds think about, regardless of how advanced their language skills are. But a tenth grader is in a whole different place, and they’ve thought about different things, and have a more developed sense of who they are, what the world is, and their place in it. And I’m excited to be able to talk about those things.
What has been difficult about your decision to go?
People cried. {Does that include you?} Of course I cried! The first time I went to church after I said yes, I cried the whole time. But, it was really hard to tell other people who expected to have me around.
What advice would you give to someone considering living overseas for an extended period of time?
Take some of your favorite things with you. For me, that is sour gummy worms. The thing I missed most last year was my french horn, so I’m bringing it this year. Take things that remind you of the people you love. BUT remember that while you’re there, you’re living there. It’s great to have moments to remember home, but you live THERE. Have to be all there, not 75% there. Then you will have a great experience. Be prepared to leave home behind. And most important, don’t expect anything. Don’t expect anything or anyone to be what you think it is. It’s just a place, filled with people, and people are all different. If you expect things to be a certain way, your expectations are not always going to be reality. Just expect that you won’t always know how things are going to happen. AND make friends with the people. That’s what makes a cultural experience great.
Since this blog is all about being courageous in everyday life, can you tell me about ways that you need to be courageous in this situation?
One of the first responses of strangers when I say I’m going to Mongolia is “Wow you’re so brave.” If I went to Germany or Spain, would I be considered so brave? No. But I don’t feel brave or courageous just because it’s Mongolia. But in some ways, they’re right. It was a hard decision. I think that courage comes in saying “yes” in a situation in which everything is unknown. For me, not knowing what life will be like, not knowing a lot of details ahead of time. I was asked a question “How do you know you’ll be ok?” My answer was “Because I believe in God. I will be ok.” Something bad might happen to me there, but I know I’m not alone wherever I go. I cannot go anywhere to be away from God. I’m not particularly more brave or courageous than other people. But I’m not alone. And not being alone gives me a sense of superness.
Can you give me a brief overview of where you went last year, what you did, and so on?
Last year, I spent 11 months in China. I was an English teacher in Taiyuan. I taught 1st grade. I had a team of 5 other beautiful, wonderful ladies. I had 8 classes of 36 students each. When I first got there, they all looked the same! Whenever I saw them in the hall, I didn’t know if they were my students. But they were so cute! It was the most formative experience of my life. I grew in so many ways. It was my first real job. I was a real teacher. It mattered if I wrote good lesson plans. My teaching really made a difference in my students’ lives.
So, team... they are your roommates, your friends, your spiritual family, people you fight with... having them fill every role in your life is unnatural, and it makes you be a better person. It really reveals the parts of you that are not... yet... finished.
Ok, so there were several aspects of my life. There was my teaching life, and interactions with students. That took up the most of my time. There was my life with my co-teachers, which was one of the two missional parts of my life. They were some of the hardest people to say goodbye to. You see them a lot more than the students. They work with you and become friends with you. And there was also team life, which was huge. We were never away from each other, unless you’re me and you take a bus for hours and get lost. (I would take Great Bus Adventures, and take a bus almost to the end, and wouldn’t know where I want to go. I explored parts of the city that I had never been to before.) The fourth aspect of my life (and my favorite) an organization I volunteered with. It’s a “like-minded” organization that has been established for maybe 30 years. So the government had to give money to people harmed in the Boxer Rebellion. One of the men (who built libraries and schools and so on) that was killed... his family fled, and later his children were invited back to Taiyuan to be thanked, and to continue what their father did. So they started this organization. Their families are still there now, and it’s is probably the coolest thing you could ever be a part of. This organization is a social program, and do everything except education. Family counseling, health care. We got to be camp counselors at their camp. It was incredible. Every time I went to camp, I got to be a part of what God was doing in kids’ lives, in tangible ways. That was the majority of the missional part of my year, and one of my favorite parts.
For the sake of our readers, tell us what’s coming up next. I mean, that’s kind of the reason I’m interviewing you.
I’m going to Mongolia to be an English teacher, this time in high school. At least, that’s what they tell me. But things always change. So, 8th to 10th grade, most likely. It’s a small private school in the capital city. I’m not going as a normal teacher, because I’m going in November, instead of the beginning of the term. At least, I think I am. They have English teachers already, but they’re all Russian. They want a native English speaker. My organization is forming a new partnership with this school, which is really important for Mongolia. And they requested that a teacher come. So I will also be sort of a liaison, and the only teacher from my organization at my school. And if I don’t totally screw up, there will probably team there next year. No pressure.
How are your experiences in China shaping your attitudes about going to Mongolia?
Last year, before I was in China, I had been to China before. I had taken Chinese language courses. I had studied Chinese history and politics, and I knew a little bit about what I was getting myself into. *dramatic pause* And now I don’t! I don’t have those things to assure me. I was comforted by the background that I had. I knew I was going to love everything. I don’t have those things yet. Ok, I can count to 10 in Mongolian, but I couldn’t when I first said I could go. My Mongolian is horrible! And it’s been more than a year since I’ve worked with high schoolers! A lot of the areas of confidence I had going to China, I don’t have now. I am totally dependent on other people to survive in Mongolia. I have to live somewhere, I have to eat somewhere, I have to teach, I have to have an office. I need somebody else to help me through all that. So, my experience in China taught me that you have to go back to baby steps. You have to be that person that’s relying on someone else. I learned to depend on other people for things that I normally do for myself. It’s not easy, and it won’t be easy again. But it will be easier, having already done it.
And living in China taught me that Chinese people are not all that different from American people. They want the same things: jobs, family, friends, hope for the future, answers for life’s questions. Mongolian people aren’t going to be exactly the same. But in the ways that count, they are just like me. I think I’m going to rely on that a lot. China taught me that I am a better person for searching out the answers for the questions “why” and “in what ways” we are different, for having studied something that is different from myself.
What are you most excited about?
Meeting my students! I can’t wait! I’m so excited! Last year, I couldn’t have conversations above what 6 year olds think about, regardless of how advanced their language skills are. But a tenth grader is in a whole different place, and they’ve thought about different things, and have a more developed sense of who they are, what the world is, and their place in it. And I’m excited to be able to talk about those things.
What has been difficult about your decision to go?
People cried. {Does that include you?} Of course I cried! The first time I went to church after I said yes, I cried the whole time. But, it was really hard to tell other people who expected to have me around.
What advice would you give to someone considering living overseas for an extended period of time?
Take some of your favorite things with you. For me, that is sour gummy worms. The thing I missed most last year was my french horn, so I’m bringing it this year. Take things that remind you of the people you love. BUT remember that while you’re there, you’re living there. It’s great to have moments to remember home, but you live THERE. Have to be all there, not 75% there. Then you will have a great experience. Be prepared to leave home behind. And most important, don’t expect anything. Don’t expect anything or anyone to be what you think it is. It’s just a place, filled with people, and people are all different. If you expect things to be a certain way, your expectations are not always going to be reality. Just expect that you won’t always know how things are going to happen. AND make friends with the people. That’s what makes a cultural experience great.
Since this blog is all about being courageous in everyday life, can you tell me about ways that you need to be courageous in this situation?
One of the first responses of strangers when I say I’m going to Mongolia is “Wow you’re so brave.” If I went to Germany or Spain, would I be considered so brave? No. But I don’t feel brave or courageous just because it’s Mongolia. But in some ways, they’re right. It was a hard decision. I think that courage comes in saying “yes” in a situation in which everything is unknown. For me, not knowing what life will be like, not knowing a lot of details ahead of time. I was asked a question “How do you know you’ll be ok?” My answer was “Because I believe in God. I will be ok.” Something bad might happen to me there, but I know I’m not alone wherever I go. I cannot go anywhere to be away from God. I’m not particularly more brave or courageous than other people. But I’m not alone. And not being alone gives me a sense of superness.
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