Hello China

Yesterday, Ms. Jin, my Korean boss told me that they have been awaiting a Native speaker for 3 years. Finally, what they get is the youngest possible curly haired girl, and her old, funny "husband" with his pinkies painted by me in bright red nail polish. As strange of a couple as we are, they give us no sign that they think so. Ms. Jin and Mr. Zhang display a gracious that I have never experienced in the U.S. Yesterday when Ms. Jin came to visit she told me, "I have been telling the English department that a very beautiful girl is coming to teach us English." We had a long conversation yesterday about teaching, and she answered all of my questions in perfect English, but she told me she was embarrassed and still has problems expressing herself in English. She wants to hire Ned to give her teachers lectures to improve their English and their narrow world views. It will be hard for him to stay out of a job here when they desire Native speakers so badly.

In Albuquerque a week before my departure, I ran into an acquaintance in front of Flying Star. We talked briefly of what we were doing, and when I told him Ned and I were moving to Inner Mongolia, and that I was going to teach English, he said, "oh, you are going to be Imperialists."
I have often thought that going off to teach English in other countries could be (in ways) an Imperialist act, so when the acquaintance said this to me, I was unsure of how to respond. Now that I am here, and see how grateful the University is to finally have a Native Speaker come teach, I completely disagree with his statement. I am able to provide a service to these people rather easily, and without much effort, besides some lesson planning, and in no way am I forcing my language on them, or encouraging them to forsake their own native language.

With the population growth in China, and the rapidity of the Chinese learning English, by the year 2025 there will more English speakers in China, then in the United States. If anything, I believe more Americans should focus on learning some Chinese, or at least familiarize themselves with Chinese culture. China will be the next big empire. I live very well in Tongliao, in exchange for sharing my Native language. I feel very little pride towards America and my only roots are those around my family, and some spiritual ties in Taos, NM. A question I have is, what does America have to offer its youth?