考察笔记｜Investigation Notes
记录我们在工作中遇到的点点滴滴
Record every little thing we encounter at work.
马赛马拉国家野生动物保护区
Maasai Mara National Reserve
我们进入了马赛马拉国家野生动物保护区。公园入口处有一些出售手工制品的小摊，虽然这些商品做工粗糙，但具有原生态风格。这些手工制品是由当地居民制作的，司机提到他的母亲也曾从事这一工作。由于他们只有这一条路径可用来工作，这些摊贩会围在车旁，因为这是他们获得收入并购买蔬菜的途径。
我们的酒店位于马拉河的尽头，公园较深的地方，建筑风格仿照了马赛人的传统小屋。这里的自然环境非常原始，我们看到了大量的大象。许多大象展现了各种有趣的行为，有的把两只腿交叉在一起，有的将鼻子搭在象牙上，还有的把鼻子搭在其他大象的背上。小象通常喜欢与其他小象在一起。大象遇到人类时，会表现出驱赶的姿态，头朝向人们，耳朵不停地挥动，并且前后摆动。
上午我们经历了长达五个小时的车程，大约在下午两点多到达了目的地。休息片刻后，我们在四点多再次出发，继续观赏野生动物。此次观赏中，我们见到了大象、鬣狗、正在进食的秃鹫、长颈鹿，还看到了河马和鳄鱼，尤其是体型庞大的尼罗河鳄，非常引人注目，体型巨大，令人印象深刻。晚上七点多，我们回到酒店，疲惫不堪，便早早就寝，没有进餐。
和马赛司机的相处这是我对这个国家的最初的印象。一开始我看见司机的时候，觉得他有点吓人。因为他一个眼睛是大的，一个眼睛是小的。他总是带着一个墨镜。可能也是一开始对黑人总有是一种刻板印象，可能会野蛮，粗俗一些。在相处的过程中其实也是一个对当地认知的改变，虽然我去过那么多次，但好像是我对肯尼亚及非洲的初认知，初次了解（刷新了，从新了解，开始有一点兴趣）司机对整个马塞马拉有一个非常全面的一个了解。 从来不需要导航就可以穿梭在园子的各个地方追逐big five。他也跟我们去聊天，模仿中文。对整个的肯尼亚的印象是有一个开关的作用，如巧克力一般的顺滑。司机很喜欢跟着音乐节奏在开车的时候欢快的扭动。他认识很多人，在草原里的时候他看见了一个司机就会停下来，问问豹砸在哪，狮砸在哪？当地人喜欢说“咦（yi 二声）”就是嗯的意思。
在他开车的这几天里，他的小女儿出生了。这是他的第四个孩子。肯尼亚这个地方男性可以娶很多个妻子。但是只能登记一个。但是司机只有一个妻子，因为司机说他想要再娶一个，但是他的妻子不让。他说“she will kill me”。后来他讲了自己的经历。他（司机）从小家境特别不好，兄弟三个只有他一个人上过学。他的妈妈因为劳累过度去世了。他的父亲是一个瘸子。他的妈妈是一个跟我们在门口看见的人一样，搞编织的，追着车售卖的这些人。他们只当地的马赛女性大部分都是干这个工作。他说他当时上高中的时候半年就回家一次。
我们还看见了他高中生洗澡的那个河，河水是一个肯尼亚版本的缩小黄河（颜色一样，但不湍急）他长大之后，和大部分肯尼亚人不一样。因为肯尼亚人喜欢睡觉（有亿点懒，就是这个亿，没写错），就是只要有草，肯尼亚人就能睡觉（机动车道旁的绿化带上， 放牛的时候，总而言之就是很喜欢睡觉）。但是司机是一个非常勤劳的人，他在一个旅行公司（肯尼亚的两大旅行公司一个叫做远大，另外一个叫做卓越，都是中国人开的）干了15年。因为他吃过生活贫穷的苦，所以他不希望他的孩子再吃一遍这样的苦。他给他的孩子提供一个非常好的读书机会。他有四个孩子，有两个已经上高中了。学费也不低，但是司机说让他们去读大学，去走到外面去。其实刻板印象和主观偏见已经开始崩塌，最初印象开始改变的一些瞬间让我很是感动。
后来因为司机想看看自己刚出生三天的孩子（这个孩子是我们去马塞马拉的路上出生的，司机通过了电话知道的），我们就去了他家。马赛人的房子其实很小，很小。但是司机因为自己的努力已经住上了大房子。房子收拾的很干净，司机还有好几只牛，他的妹妹在那里帮忙。
其实就这个国家整个反差（就是自由与不适之间的碰撞）会特别的大。如果你只体会了在车上，飞奔在大草原上的自由，没有看见他们为了吃的在车流间穿梭的危险，从垃圾场上面走过的反胃，和去猪圈里的恶臭，你就从来没有去过肯尼亚。或者叫做去过，但是没有去过真正的肯尼亚。你只去过他想给你看的一面，但从来没有看见过他的背面。
We entered the Maasai Mara National Reserve, where small stalls near the entrance sold handmade crafts. Though rough in design, they had an authentic charm, made by local residents. Our driver mentioned his mother used to do this work too. These vendors rely on this single path to sell their goods, often crowding around cars to make a living and buy food.
Our hotel was deep in the park, near the Mara River, designed like traditional Maasai huts. The surroundings were raw and natural, and we saw many elephants displaying fascinating behaviors—crossing legs, resting trunks on tusks or each other’s backs. Baby elephants stayed close together, while adult ones showed defensive gestures when encountering humans, waving their ears and swaying.
After a five-hour drive, we arrived around 2 PM, rested briefly, and headed out again at 4 PM to see more wildlife. We spotted elephants, hyenas, vultures feeding, giraffes, hippos, and massive Nile crocodiles. Exhausted, we returned to the hotel around 7 PM and went to bed early without dinner.
Spending time with our Maasai driver shaped my first impressions of Kenya. Initially, his mismatched eyes and sunglasses made him seem intimidating. Perhaps I carried stereotypes of Africans as rough or wild. But over time, I learned differently. The driver knew Maasai Mara inside out, needing no navigation to track the Big Five. He chatted with us, mimicked Chinese, and even danced cheerfully while driving to music. He networked seamlessly, stopping to ask other drivers about sightings, using the local “yi” sound for “hmm.”
During our trip, his youngest daughter was born—his fourth child. Unlike many Kenyan men, who can have multiple wives (though only one legally), he has just one because, as he joked, “She will kill me if I marry another!” His life story moved me. Growing up poor, he was the only one of three brothers to attend school. His mother, overworked, passed away, and his father was disabled. His mother used to weave and sell crafts, just like the women we saw at the park entrance. He only visited home twice a year during high school.
We even saw the river where he bathed as a student—a smaller, calmer version of the Yellow River. Unlike many Kenyans, who he joked love to nap anywhere, anytime, he’s hardworking. He has worked at a travel company (one of Kenya’s two Chinese-owned giants) for 15 years, determined to give his children a better life. Two of his four kids are in high school, and he’s committed to sending them to university to expand their opportunities.
Later, we visited his home so he could see his three-day-old baby. Unlike traditional Maasai houses, his was larger and neatly kept, a result of his hard work. He even owns several cows, with his sister helping out at home.
Kenya is a land of stark contrasts—freedom colliding with struggle. If all you see is the thrill of driving across vast grasslands, without noticing the dangers of people scavenging in traffic, the stench of garbage dumps, or the filth of pigsties, you haven’t truly experienced Kenya. You’ve only seen the side it wants to show, not the reality it hides.
善心撒玛利亚
儿童之家
The Good Samaritan Children's Home And Rehabilitation Center
从马塞马拉回来之后，我们第一天去了撒马利亚儿童之家。其实感受最深的是去的路上就是在去的路上，要经过一个全是垃圾的河，从一个小胡同上下去。这个小胡同因为刚下过雨所以特别特别的泥泞，还很臭。还特别的陡峭我就扒着那个充满污渍的墙壁，慢慢慢慢一点一点的下去。然后这个我印象特别特别深。校长是一个很有活力的老太太，她说“am very strong”,还像菠菜水手一样弯了一下胳膊。非常（非常 非常 非常 非常 非常 有点过度了）的激情。就是这些孩子的父母大多多去世了，就是这个地方有一个很悲伤的故事。我们主要是采访了一个老师，她说这些孩子的父母在孩子很小的时候就去世了，但是孩子们有时候因为想念母亲而哭泣，然后老师就问他你为什么哭啊？然后老师模仿小孩说话“我没有妈妈了”。就是一个在中国也能看见的故事，让我记了很久。可能是因为在了解他们的过程中，在采访他们的过程中，尝试过走近他们，走近他们的初心，走近最柔软的地方。其实我在很长的一段时间里都认为从互联网了解，和实体是一样的，但是去了之后我才发现根本不一样。
校长被称为“妈妈”。他们的学校有一个大的图书馆，里面有孩子们用来写作业的空间，还有捐赠的书籍。图书馆的所有资源，包括电脑和衣物，都是通过捐赠获得的。今天还有人来捐赠物资，我们也见到了这些捐赠者。肯尼亚有着很完备的资助体系，这个是我很感动的地方，学校每天的安排十分充实，不论是教孩子们唱歌、跳舞，“他们都不会闲着”。这是我在平民窟听见最多的一句话，不止一个创世人提到过。
对于饭食安排，他们一天三餐。早餐通常在早上7点50分，午餐在中午11点，晚餐则在晚上8点。有时还会提供饼干。总体来说，他们的生活条件比较干净，与外部环境相比，较为卫生。此外，我们注意到有一个十六七岁的男孩穿着一件大约适合十二三岁中国孩子的粉色羽绒服。这一现象反映出当地资源的捐赠情况。
屋子里面非常的阴暗，没有灯比较潮湿。会有一股发霉的味道，从三岁小孩到十几岁快要成年的青少年，他们全都挤在一起他们全都挤在一些非常小的桌子上一个屋子里面大概有8个桌子一个桌子顶上他们挤挤凑凑的全都挤在一起。住宿条件也特别差。小的小孩是每个小孩会有自己的一张床，大的小孩是两个小孩挤一张床，而且这个床还特别的窄。就是非常非常破旧的那种木板的床，我们还可以在顶上看见他们有时候会看的书。一个房间里面大概有10张床，那大概一个房间里面就要睡20个人。这个房间里面除了床什么都没有，就非常非常的简陋。洗澡的地方没有。洗澡的地方就是他们上厕所的地方。原来是有喷头的，但老师说他们总喜欢在水流底下享受。一边做出享受的动作，他们总是控制不了自己在水底下待的时间，一个小孩用完之后下一个小孩就没有水了因为当地的水资源特别的匮乏所以呢他们就把这个水龙头给拆了因为总是浪费水。我今天在这个里面还给他们盛饭。一共有两个锅，这两个锅冒着热气特别的烫，一开始是拿一个塑料纸盘子盛菜。这个塑料纸盘子就跟我们平时盛蛋糕的塑料纸盘子是一样的。这个塑料纸盘子其实特别的脆弱，而且我承他的时候一倾斜这个菜汤就容易滴到我的手上。他们吃的是一种蔬菜直接扔进去炖和五咖喱。是一个黑人先盛完五咖喱，然后让我去盛蔬菜，但是这个蔬菜里面有汤。然后我总是烫到我的手，烫到我的大拇指。后来改用别人用送的桃盘子称。那个陶盘子比原来的那个看起来要高级很多，但是他总是非常的烫手。然后我需要一个一个给他们端进去。而他们是分批吃饭的，因为盘子不够。有一个小孩他不好好吃饭，这个妈妈他就把这些饭都囤成一坨，然后强硬的掰开他的嘴，然后硬塞进去。我们还去掰了苞米。非洲人有自己掰苞米的方式。
After returning from Maasai Mara, we visited the Samaritan Children’s Home on the first day. What struck me the most was the journey there. To reach the home, we had to cross a river filled with trash and go down a narrow, muddy alley that reeked, especially after the rain. The steep descent forced me to cling to the grimy walls, inching down carefully. This left a lasting impression.
The headmistress, a lively elderly woman, proudly declared, “I’m very strong,” flexing her arm like Popeye. Her energy was almost overwhelming. Many of the children there have lost their parents, leaving behind heartbreaking stories. We interviewed a teacher who shared that some children, missing their mothers, would cry and say, “I don’t have a mom anymore.” It’s a story that could happen anywhere, but hearing it firsthand was unforgettable. It made me realize that understanding through the internet and experiencing things in person are worlds apart.
The children called the headmistress “Mama.” The school had a library where kids did homework and used donated books. All the resources, from computers to clothing, were donated. That day, we witnessed another donation event. Kenya has a robust support system, which moved me deeply. The school kept the children constantly engaged, teaching them to sing and dance, ensuring they were never idle—a sentiment echoed by many community leaders in the slum.
Meals were basic but regular, with three meals a day: breakfast at 7:50 AM, lunch at 11 AM, and dinner at 8 PM, sometimes with biscuits. Despite the tough conditions outside, the home managed to maintain relatively clean and sanitary living spaces. Still, we saw a teenage boy wearing a pink down jacket clearly meant for a much younger child—highlighting the mismatched nature of donated resources.
The living conditions were stark. The rooms were dim, damp, and smelled of mildew. Children of all ages, from toddlers to teens, crowded together around small desks—eight desks in a room, each crammed with kids. Beds were scarce and basic; younger children had individual wooden beds, while older ones shared narrow, worn-out wooden frames—10 beds per room for 20 kids. Aside from the beds, the rooms were bare.
There were no proper showers. The washing area doubled as a toilet, and though there had been showerheads, they were removed because kids enjoyed standing under the water for too long, wasting the scarce supply. Teachers resorted to dismantling the taps to conserve water.
During lunch, I helped serve food. They used flimsy plastic plates, similar to those used for cake slices, which often tipped, spilling hot broth on my hands. They ate a vegetable stew and Ugali. Later, I switched to sturdier ceramic plates donated by someone, but they were scalding to the touch. I had to carry them one by one as the children ate in shifts due to the lack of plates.
One boy refused to eat, and “Mama” sternly balled up the food and forced it into his mouth. We also joined them in husking corn, learning the local technique for doing it.
马萨雷绿色公园
Mathare Green Park
我在绿色公园里头。和园子里的一些小孩子一起清理着。活动区域。捡着垃圾。清扫着在这一片区域里面有几棵树这一片区域里面有几棵树。草地草地上面是成厚厚的灰尘。
绿色公园是收集塑料垃圾变卖废品的收入。循环经济。图书馆被洪水给淹了目前暂时还不能开放。那的小猪和牛都很胖很壮实。饲养的非常好。循环还是循环利用还是真是不错的。 里面还有一个流浪的人。和牛在一起。我想这流浪的人能有这么一个安顿的家。对于目前对于目前来说，他应该觉得还是挺好的。我觉得以目前的情况来说也是目前的最好的安排吧跟我们一起。
和我们一起收拾场所的，还有一个特别特别有特点的一个小男孩。这个小男孩眼睛里头有光。这个小男孩很娴熟的推车。装卸垃圾。和小朋友们合作。指挥着小朋友们一起做事。特别有干劲儿。小肚子老大了。这个小朋友喜欢足球，经常来这里活动。他和这里的管理员像是亲密的父子关系。管理员也是足球教练。在这里。快乐的运动还能得到锻炼。接触管理员。采访过程里头还有涉及到这个园区的改名。他原来叫做海盗公园，然后因此不被别人喜欢，所以呢，他现在就改名叫绿色公园，喜欢的多了，他现在是一个CBO，所以他现在资产较为灵活，NGO资产要灵活，它是在NGO底下的一个CBO，然后这个老头身上有点臭，因为他天天往猪圈真的是有点臭，我得憋住自己不能吐。这老头英语不太好，稍微有点听不懂，还稍微有点不太会说图书馆被洪水冲走了。我们给的几本书还有一个建筑师2级。
I was in Green Park, helping some kids clean up the activity area—picking up trash and sweeping the space. The area had a few trees, and the grass was covered in a thick layer of dust.
Green Park generates income by collecting and selling plastic waste, following a circular economy model. Unfortunately, the library had been flooded and is temporarily closed. On a brighter note, the pigs and cows there were well-fed and looked robust, showcasing excellent livestock care. The park even practices recycling effectively. There was a homeless person living among the cows, seemingly content with having a stable place to stay. For now, this arrangement appears to be the best possible solution for him.
Among those helping us clean up was a particularly remarkable boy. His eyes sparkled with energy. He skillfully maneuvered a cart, loading and unloading garbage, and worked seamlessly with other children, even directing them with enthusiasm. His big belly gave him an endearing appearance. A football enthusiast, he often comes to the park to play. He shared a close, father-son-like relationship with the park manager, who also serves as a football coach. Here, the children find joy in playing sports while staying active and healthy.
During the interview, we learned that the park had been renamed. It used to be called Pirate Park, which was unpopular with the community, so it was rebranded as Green Park, gaining more approval. The park is now a Community-Based Organization (CBO) operating under an NGO, which allows its assets to be managed more flexibly—a key difference from traditional NGOs.
The elderly manager, who smelled strongly of the pigsty, was a unique character. His English was limited, making communication somewhat challenging. Despite these difficulties, his dedication to the park and its animals was evident.
The library, sadly, had been destroyed by flooding. We donated a few books to help rebuild. Among the books was a Level 2 architecture textbook.
马萨雷关爱中心
Mathare Care Center
第3天我们去了关爱中心，关爱中心是一个专门给有残缺的小孩弄的，他们一般是三类残疾的。去之前我不知道他们是什么样的，我以为他们是残疾人，会缺少胳膊或者缺少腿的。但是去了之后我发现他们是智力有问题，跟成长发育慢的。我们看见这个关爱中心，我们看见楼底下有一群家长，还有正在吃零食的家长。我们去了楼上主要是活动地点在楼上。我们去楼上的屋子里面有几个发育迟缓的，有几个智力障碍的还有几个小儿麻痹症的。这一次就是我们要喂他吃米糊糊。我感觉我比较不幸，因为我摊上了那个智力最障碍的人。他已经7岁了，但是却不会吞咽。他每次走路就跟僵尸一样抬着两个胳膊。然后眼神特别空洞，喂他吃多少他就吐多少。所以需要掰着他的脑袋往里面灌。灌着灌着，有时候他会吐出来。
他总是张着嘴，眼神呆滞，还总想往外跑，所以要把门给他关上。还喜欢往人身上扑。总是喜欢啃人的脖子，跟个丧尸一样。经常从背后窜出来往你脖子上一啃。他总是张着嘴，眼神呆滞，还总想往外跑，所以要把门给他关上。还喜欢往人身上扑。总是喜欢啃人的脖子，跟个丧尸一样。经常从背后窜出来往你脖子上一啃啊。哈喇子就会掉在你的身上。相比之下发育迟缓跟患有别的病的小孩就消停多了，你只要喂他他就会喝就特别的消停。
我们去底下的诊所这个诊所是什么样的呢？里面有三个留学生，他们是从挪威来的，他们要在这待4个月。他们现在就负责在这给人家问诊，他有时候听不懂这个黑人说话，所以他要跟黑人在这掰扯。
这个院长进来了，提了一种非常有效率的方法，就是实习生问问题让这黑人写下来。 我们有时间上去跟这个机构的创始人聊了一聊。这个创始人其实已经40岁了，但他长得跟20岁一样。特别有活力，特别年轻，真的看不出来有40岁。
他创办这个机构的初心就是因为他的妹妹也是一个有残疾的人，就是在贫民窟里面，这样的小孩的家庭会受到很多的歧视，他们不敢出门，只敢把这个孩子藏在家里面。他决定要去改变这个，而且还有一个原因就是因为在大医院治疗非常的昂贵而像贫民窟的人，他没有金钱去接受这种治疗。他就在这里开办了这个免费的这个治疗。
我们发现这个医生好像不太专业，他总是扯着这个小孩的胳膊使这个小孩的叫声响彻了整个马赛雷的贫民窟。那天中午，我们回去好像差点没有吃下去饭，因为就是感觉非常非常的恶心，也不知道是为什么原因。虽然说我们不应该感到恶心，但是我们就是应该感到恶心，可能是因为我们遇到了这个像丧尸的小孩。那天晚上做梦我都梦到他了。梦到他在啃我的脖子。
On the third day, we visited a care center specifically designed for children with disabilities. The children generally fall into three categories of disabilities. Before going, I imagined they might have physical disabilities, like missing arms or legs. However, when we arrived, I realized they primarily had intellectual disabilities or developmental delays.
When we arrived at the care center, we saw a group of parents downstairs, some of them eating snacks. Most of the activities took place upstairs, so we went there. In the upstairs room, there were children with developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, and some with polio.
That day, we were tasked with feeding them porridge. I felt rather unlucky because I was assigned to the child with the most severe intellectual disability. He was seven years old but could not swallow properly. He walked like a zombie, with his arms stiffly raised and a vacant expression in his eyes. Whatever food we fed him, he would spit out, so we had to hold his head and force the food in. Often, he would just vomit it back up.
He constantly kept his mouth open, his eyes vacant, and always tried to run outside, so the door had to be kept closed. He liked to pounce on people, often biting their necks like a zombie. He would sneak up from behind and bite you on the neck, drooling all over you. Compared to him, the children with developmental delays or other conditions were much easier to handle. As long as you fed them, they would eat calmly.
We also visited the clinic downstairs. The clinic had three foreign students from Norway who were there for a four-month stay, providing consultations. Sometimes, they struggled to understand the locals, so there would be lengthy discussions to clarify things.
The director of the center came up with an efficient solution: the interns would ask questions, and the locals would write their answers down. Later, we had a chance to speak with the founder of the organization. Surprisingly, although he is 40 years old, he looks like he is 20. He is full of energy and youthful vigor.
The founder started this organization because his sister is also a person with disabilities. In the slums, families with disabled children face severe discrimination. They are often afraid to go outside and tend to hide their children at home. He wanted to change this. Another reason he established the care center was that treatment in large hospitals is extremely expensive, which the impoverished residents of the slums cannot afford. So, he set up this free treatment facility.
However, we noticed that the doctor seemed somewhat unprofessional. He would often yank the children’s arms, causing their screams to echo throughout the slum. That afternoon, when we returned, we almost couldn’t eat lunch. It was a deeply unsettling experience, though we couldn’t quite explain why. Perhaps it was because of the zombie-like child.
That night, I even dreamed about him—about him biting my neck.
姆赛多北京学校
Mcedo Beijing School
第3天我们去了这个学校，这个学校是所有里面环境最好的，他的校长穿着一个去海边这时候穿着的花衬衫。这个打扮显得他特别的不正经，他还是长着非常的严肃的脸，形成了鲜明的反差，而且他的学生特别的怕他，因为看见他他们看起来就非常的犯怵。盛饭的时候他们看见他就非常的害怕他们就特别的害怕这个校长。我们是看见了一个教导主任，一个非常胖的教导主任。
这个学校的感受让我非常的身临其境，让我一下子就回归了上学的状态，让我提前回归了上学的状态，因为我在里面不由自主的感到了紧张与不适感。这个教导主任的英语说的还非常不错。我们每个班每个班都转了。我会为他们打扰他们上课有一种愧疚感，但是他们的教室就跟那个儿童中心一样。一样的潮湿，一样的没有灯光一样的没有窗户。
有的有窗户，但是里面还是特别的潮湿，他们的桌子就是木质结构的。看起来非常的破旧，而且教室里面不知道为什么有一种脏兮兮的感觉，但是他们有黑板还有投屏，我看了他们学习的内容。他们学习的内容跟中国差不了多少，比如说他们也是十几岁的时候，他们就会学种子的结构，学胚胎胚芽这些东西的英文，所以我觉得对于他们来说还算比较的难。但是他们当地人的母语就是英语，所以对于他们学起来也没有说非常非常非常非常非常非常非常的不难。他们有音乐课，有美术课，他们的体育课还不会被强迫去上某一个项目，他们在某种程度上没有我这么的可悲（其实也没有）。所以说其实是非常非常非常非常不错的（这个也没有）。其实我们本身是应该跟他们上两节体育课，但其实我们只上了一节体育课。因为第2节的体育课实在是太残暴了。他们正在学排球。他们的核心目的就是不让在这排球落地。不管是以什么方式给他踢出去，用头顶出去还是以各种各样的方式。他们的那个网子也比较破，他们就是在一个泥土地上面弄，特别特别特别特别特别特别特别的残暴。第1节课应该是一个篮球课，我本身也没有想要参与。但是呢，某个人逼我。我就参与了，但是我参与不进去，因为本身我也不太会，而且我也跑不太动，而且还总是能砸到我，但是，里面有个小孩总给我传球。非常善良，后来我去他们班还看见了他。
On the third day, we visited a school, which had the best environment among all the places we visited. The principal wore a Hawaiian-style floral shirt, the kind you might wear to the beach. This outfit made him look rather unserious, yet his stern facial expression created a striking contrast. The students were particularly afraid of him. When they saw him, they seemed visibly tense. During lunch, they appeared terrified just by his presence.
We also met the dean of students, who was a very large and overweight man. This school gave me a strong sense of immersion, almost as if I had returned to my own school days. I couldn’t help but feel nervous and uncomfortable while there. The dean spoke very good English. We visited every classroom, and while doing so, I felt guilty for disrupting their lessons.
The classrooms were much like those at the children’s center—damp, poorly lit, and without windows in some cases. Even those with windows were still very humid inside. The desks were made of wood and looked extremely old and worn. There was an overall grimy feeling to the classrooms. However, they did have blackboards and projectors.
I noticed their curriculum and found it somewhat similar to what students learn in China. For instance, when they reach their teenage years, they study topics like the structure of seeds, embryos, and cotyledons—all in English. It seemed like a challenging subject, but since their native language is English, it likely wasn’t as difficult for them as it appeared to me.
They also had music, art, and physical education classes. For PE, they were not forced into specific activities, which in some ways felt less rigid than my own school experience. Originally, we were supposed to participate in two PE classes with them, but we only managed to join one because the second class was far too intense.
In the second session, they were learning volleyball, and their primary goal seemed to be preventing the ball from touching the ground—by any means necessary. They would kick it, head it, or use whatever method they could think of. The net they used was quite shabby, and the game was played on a dirt field. It was incredibly chaotic and rough.
The first PE class was basketball, which I initially didn’t want to participate in. However, someone insisted, so I joined in. Unfortunately, I couldn’t really keep up—I don’t know much about basketball, and I’m not very good at running. I also kept getting hit by the ball.
Still, there was one kid who kept passing the ball to me. He was very kind. Later, when I visited his classroom, I saw him again.
