Anne is going to the South of France...

“Did you realize that you were a champion in their eyes? Yes I did, so I packed it up and brought it back to the crib…” By crib I mean South of France. Kanye’s song “Champion” is the perfect way to describe how I’m feeling these days.

*The internet in so frustrating here AND google and china are fighting again WTF?!? Because of this I am limited on my posting!!! ARGHHHH!!!

Recently, I decided to tell the Pimp school to kiss my ass, because I have a full load of students I’ve stolen from them and I'm overworked, but then they ask me to meet with a Chinese/French family to tutor 2 boys. I’m not making much money but I am enjoying my experience here so I said yes (because I’m too nice sometimes). I meet with them and they are the cutest family EVER. Mother is Chinese, went to school in France. Found a French husband and have 2 extremely smart and adorable mixed boys. They need help with their English (I laugh at myself thinking, yes knowing 3 languages is the “in” thing I guess…WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?!?!?!) I talk with them and fall in love immediately. I have 3 hour sessions with them twice a week. After 2 weeks the mother calls me up and asks to meet with me. We meet, have tea, and I update her on the progress and what we’re working with the boys and she tells me the EXTREMELY insane life she has. (I will sum it up in a few sentences. She travels daily all over China, US, France, etc, etc, they have several homes, and she’s the epitome of “guanxi” (relationship/network) that’s so important in China. She loves her family and husband very much and she is Alpha Dog in probably most or every situation she’s comes across. I think she’s my hero) She grabs my hand gently and asks me “My boys really like you so what are you doing June to August?” I tell her I’m not sure. She explains to me that they just bought a house between Cannes and Marseilles on the sea. I’m looking around for the camera, because this conversation is just unreal. She asks me “if you have time, would you like to join us for summer holiday in South of France” I start laughing and she laughs too. I say “of course, I can pencil that in”. She says “that’s wonderful” I immediately come to my senses and say “wait, wait I’m sorry, I was a little taken back with the chateau and Bordeaux blinding me here. How much will this cost me?” I tell her that “the Pimp school and my private school don’t really fund South of France trips.” She laughed and said “oh I detest (in a great French accent) that that company pretending to be a school. Too many of those places in China. No worries, I will get your ticket, you can have a room at our masions (mansion basically) and I will pay you while you’re with us. I only ask that you work with the boys a few times a week and you can have as much free time as you would like. We will help you with your Chinese and French if you want. Comment est ce son? (how’s that sound?)” I replied “ummm tre bien” (very good!!) It’s seems so natural for people to drop so much money on strangers here. I think I found some good peeps. So I’m going to act like this is normal and roll with these folks.

Did you realize that you were a champion in their eyes? Yes I did…

Never thought in this lifetime

I would ever have the conversations and encounters I've had.


For example, Jo told me a few days ago "I'm not dating you for your passport. I don't need or want to go to America." I would give you context of this, but there is none. Out of the blue he says this as if he just remembered and I needed to know immediately. Me confused, looked at him and I said "Good, no one invited you. So no worries". It occurs to me later that Western women could have the same issue as the men here. So its commonly known that men are often used (some are ok with it) for their passports. I never thought for a second that I would be considered a high commodity. Some Chinese friends tell me to be careful all the time about who I meet. I now see that they are genuinely worried about me being swindled into marrying someone and BOOM! they're American. The idea of it is just funny to me. I dare someone to try to "use" me for my damn passport.

I never thought in my lifetime would I have to explain to someone how and why I'm not rich. Why I'm Black and not African and/or do I sell drugs. This falls under cultural shock I believe. This has become a huge motivator for me to learn Chinese. I really need to explain some shit to people properly. I was laughing at these encounters at first, but I'm seeing that people just don't know. How would they? I'm not sure how to tell someone that yes I'm American and yes I've made more money in a year than some of you will probably make in a lifetime, but no I'm not rich. Its not easy to understand this.

A very interesting exchange I often have with some Chinese people I work with is when they ask me if something is considered rude. I will tell them "yes, where I'm from thats extremely impolite and/or rude". They get honestly upset because I've not told them before hand. I tell them that there is no way I can tell a billion of you people(yes I say you people, because this is how you explain things here) that sharing other peoples salary information, eating while talking, pushing, telling someone they've gained weigh, etc, etc is not how we roll in the US. I tell them that they were doing this stuff before I got here and will keep doing it. No point in me trying to change it. The amazing counter response I get time and time again..."We want to do it just like Americans". I then realize that its not about manners but how one "should" act when imitating someone else. I've met some Chinese people that can rival my American-ness, so they think (the idea of brand names and celebrity news = knowing all about America)I can't remind them enough that whats on TV and the movies isn't how ALL OF AMERICA is. I ask them if they've heard of a little thing called public radio...I get silence (I'm an asshole and I know it)