In some ways, so different

Earlier this week, I wrote about how my experiences as a Chinese language student are helping me better understand my students.  However, there are still many ways in which we are very different.  Take two exhibits from the classroom this week:

• Exhibit A: As I collected a midterm from one of my students (and not one I know particularly well), she gazed up at me and said “I love you Miss Katherine!”  I have never ever professed love to a teacher–nor do I think I ever will–after completing an exam, or for that matter, at any other time.
• Exhibit B: As I walked into the classroom today, there was a collective gasp of awe and explosion of applause.  This is the way I’m greeted whenever I walk into a room over here.  Ok, not really.  It is the way I’m usually greeted if I wear a skirt.  But due to large quantities of freezing rain pouring from the sky today, I was not wearing a skirt.  They just applauded because they were so excited to take their midterm exam!  Ok, that’s not it either.  They applauded because I had my hair halfway clipped back (rain + naturally wavy hair = disastrous consequences, hence need for clips) and because I was wearing my glasses (something I only do when I’m really tired).  So, what may be classified as my “frumpier” look earned me an awed round of applause today.  Oh how I love teaching here!