With the January “chill” that descended upon Hong Kong, the multi-colours of puffa-jackets came out onto the streets in force (they appear to be all the rage here… and in fact are quite useful in that they provide some padding when you’re squashed on the MTR). It probably wasn’t that cold in fact, but with the lack of heating over here you really feel the difference when the temperature drops. Particularly if you work in a school, where for some inexplicable reason (although in fact I believe something to do with ventilation and SARS) the colder it gets outside, the wider they open the windows. All of them. It’s a strange thing, when you’re almost forming steam clouds when you’re talking to a class of forty kids wrapped up in scarves and fleeces, yet the windows are wide open and the air conditioning is still on. Eventually I had to purchase a big coat myself, as I could take no more, and even wearing my fluffy hat in the staffroom seemed to do little to promote any closing of the said windows! | "It is quite a challenge trying to gain control over a class when your voice is muffled behind a big piece of cloth!" | |
As February dawned, things suddenly got somewhat warmer, but the change in climate has brought a whole host of sneezes and sniffles with it. In my school this has even resulted in a “break-out” in one of the Year One classes. Now the poor little things are “quarantined” in their classroom - they are not allowed to the playground at recess, and they are all required to wear protective face-masks, as is anyone entering the room to teach them. As you can probably imagine, it is a rather bizarre thing to walk into a classroom, to a sea of five year olds all donning surgical masks (that on their little faces leave just enough room for their eyes to peek over the top!). Furthermore, as I discovered, it is quite a challenge trying to gain control over a class when your voice is muffled behind a big piece of cloth! Otherwise, primary school life goes on as normal. Having said that, a group of my Year Two pupils have now taken to screaming my name and mobbing me, if I pass their classroom at recess. “Mobbing” is really a light term. “Jumping on me, dragging me into their classroom and then barricading me in with their bodies” is probably a more accurate description! Endearing as it is, unfortunately it has become somewhat of a daily ritual and often leaves the other teachers looking a little bewildered and myself a little late for class!  | | You lookin' at me? |
Indeed I find myself experiencing somewhat of a strange double-life, now even outside of the school gates. Stepping onto a bus every morning and being greeted with a chorus of “Good morning Miss Jane” is really quite surreal, when I find myself waving like a member of the Royal family and saying “Good morning, good morning!” as I pass by to my seat. It all adds to the rather bizarre air of celebrity status I seem to have adopted around school, with the “fan-mail” being notes of “Miss Jane, I love you” and “Miss Jane will you be my best friend?” that magically appear on my desk! Although I can’t deny that it is rather nice! Out of school, we have been using our weekends for our usual sight-seeing excursions (highlights including some comical trips to the Happy Valley Racecourse and Hong Kong’s Madame Tussauds) and are all now looking forward to the Chinese New Year break. This time we’re staying in Hong Kong, to enjoy the festivities that will be going on around us and to have a proper little rest. In preparation, I have been brushing up on my Cantonese to wish everyone a Happy New Lunar Year; so “Kung Hei Fat Choi” everyone! Neela | 
