Teaching English: Ningbo, China... London Things!

Teaching English third time round hasn't been dull, I reprised my role as an educator and Drag Queen! I was always a multifaceted professional, I remembered well that my children were so unfazed as I did the most! Summer Camp would never be the same, I would need my passport for that 2025 assignment! I remember how the Owls turned into Lions, I returned to K3! Really?

A mermaid? Management approached me before 2025s Children's Day event with a proposition that I just couldn't refuse! They had heard about a foreign principal from another school in China cosplay as 'Lady GaGa!' It was either 'Barbie' or Disney's 'Little Mermaid?' It didn't take me two seconds to make up my mind, I chose 'Ariel' from my favourite childhood Disney production. I sourced the wig, tail, iconic purple bikini top, but who would do my make up? My dear friend and colleague, Cemoné rose to the challenge and painted me for the gods! I kept my costume and character a complete secret from the kids and their parents because I wanted it to be a bombshell for the whole school! Laying in my own underwater world on the day of the event had those parents thinking I was the new female foreign teacher! I had the best time, it was just the best role to play! When you're going to do something, you must do it properly! The mermaid jumped back into the ocean like I returned to my usual 'Teacher Joe' self. Sure, I made a splash! 

Dressing up wise, you already know my taste of the mermaid wasn't my last rummage in my Drag bag! The mermaid might've made a splash but I was already planning my next transformation, I wasn't playing! 'Mid Autumn Festival' saw me transforming into the only true 'Shanghai Lady' in the building, with my legs sleeker than any woman present I had those moms gagged! I performed again, you know I brushed off those side glances because they were unable to change the channel! Shining my light, I had 'Mona Lisa' sights set upon the 'STEAM Exhibition' after the 2026 Chinese New Year Holiday! 'K-POP Demon Hunters?' I brought 'Dua Lipa's' 'Levitating' with one of my students moms standing as my biggest cheerleader! Those others were just jealous of boogie! 'Mona Lisa' didn't smile but the wig lace almost did me dirty, I knew that portrait style moment would be my last time up in Drags! This school will never see anything like I served, ever again! My Drag bag is firmly closed, I want to beat my own face! OK?

K2 was going fine, nothing was out of the ordinary. Before I got the call to be the 'mermaid', I had received news that really caught me off guard! Good news, I must add! I had been selected to plan and lead the schools first 'Overseas Residential Study Visit' to London, England! I was in shock because a year previous to that moment I was going through it, thinking whether I'd have my contract renewed! The planning for that trip was intense and had to be alongside my usual roles, I was also helping teach another class during the morning on a temporary basis. With London being planned and my help needed in other places, these extra hurdles were like a walk in the park because the initial year and half at the school had prepared me for change and extra responsibilities. None of it was 'easy breezy' but when is it ever? Never! London also brought a multitude of surprises but I made it all happen, I had been reborn with a new energy! London was a lot! I had many things happen before take-off, I stayed ready with details noted! 

Returning to Shanghai Pudong merely one month after I had jetted off to Jakarta for my Indonesia summer holiday, London was the next destination! Southgate in North London would be my base, the school chosen would teach the children during the mornings and I had the itinerary for the afternoon. The 'British Museum' was our focal point for the first afternoon, I was running on pure adrenaline! The kids saw their first 'West End Show' at the 'Hammersmith Apollo', they loved Disney's '101 Dalmatians!' London took me by the hand as I guided my group of parents and their students. I actually preferred that kind of city chaos compared with the classroom version I saw in 2024! Que? Windsor and Oxford was a full day experience with snippets of Legoland and the Bodleian Library taken in. 'Tower Bridge' and the 'Tower of London' signified the and of that experience. I needed that pint of 'Stowford Press' and breakfast at Heathrow Airport like never before! I did what I could, it was my best, that was the end of it! 

K3 third time round didn't faze me, I had my head screwed on that time as I saw that 'Third Attempt' as the perfect opportunity to learn from previous experiences. I would only be human to feel nervous about the enormity of the workload but I lucked out with my fellow foreign K3 colleague from Tiger Class! My class started out as 'Wolf Class' but we found ourselves rebranding to 'Lion Class' in the blink of an eye! That was suspicious! It was gorgeous to welcome the kids back from their holiday, one of the kids was still in Europe, I had left him behind in London in August! I tackled the curriculum like it was a game of rugby, myself and my K3 compadre did our very best because the pace slapped us in the face! Phonics, sight words and Little Steps all had us busy but we also had STEAM to deal with! Before we knew it, the National Day holiday found us, it was a milestone for me because that was where 2024 saw me butcher those assessments! I aced them second time round, it was satisfying to get it right! Those Lions! 

The winter event made an appearance, another hosting gig I accepted but second time I would be joined by one of my top students! He did his absolute best as his mom had supported him. Katie had ensured that he knew his words and he shone in his green velvet-look suit! My Lions sure 'woke up with big dreams' as their 'Rooster's Big Day Out' took the whole class on an adventure! I provided a supporting role as guest narrator! Returning in the western definition of 2026, I had taken care of some business but held my commitment to the kids graduation later that year in June. I needed my Chinese New Year holiday to the UK and Egypt like never before! The second term was good, we worked hard and did the most during STEAM classes, the kids really complimented me on the lessons because would always ask each day whether it was STEAM class? Our pacing didn't have any let up but I kept things moving, I look back and I feel proud that I had things on fire in the best way, I was not pressed! Oh, EFL 5 knew I was ready!  

I Ruled K3!

Desperately Seeking Adventure