June 2007
I arrived here in Kansas City, Missouri along with 14 other Filipino teachers last August 2005. Armed with years of teaching experience (ranging from 5-30 years), somehow elated that we are in a different country and will be earning the much sought after dollars, we were ready to teach at all cost. As each day passed, it was always a learning experience for us especially on how to discipline American kids. Teaching our subject matter wasn't what kept us awake at night but how to make the students listen. That alone, could drive us back home if it didn't take around 24 hours plane ride to reach the Philippines.
But I guess the resilience in us, which Filipinos are known for, helped us surpass all the tests the students gave us to see if we'd break or not. Of course we were always supported by everybody around us, especially Tita Carmen Landayan and Tita Adela Tan. We were thankful that there were Filipinos working for the School District.
I teach pre-school students, cute as they can be, but at times they can really test my patience. I would share with my co-workers and parents that in the Philippines if a teacher stares at the students the students would automatically stop whatever they are doing. A long, strong glance is so powerful from the Filipino teacher. But here, even if my eyes popped out, they would just ask what was wrong with my eyes. That’s just one of my many interesting experiences.
When I am with my co-workers and they ask me questions about why I do things differently, the words that I use, and of course the food that I eat. And the only reply I would give them, with a smile of course, is "I'M FILIPINO."
I've never considered myself nationalistic or even patriotic, but, being with the other cultures, I can't help but appreciate and love everything about the Philippines, our educational system and ways of life (that will be another article). Ever since I arrived I have been sharing stories on how it is growing up in the Philippines. Now my co-workers/friends understand me better and they even have acquired the taste for Filipino food like pansit, somai, leche flan and paksiw (fish cooked in vinegar). A few co-workers/friends even plan to visit the Philippines some time in the future when my contract is over. I told them I'll be their tour guide and I’m looking forward to that already.
Well, more stories to come...for comments you can e-mail me.
Editor's Note: Johanna is a pre-school teacher for the Kansas City Missouri School District.
