Dinner with my Students

At the end of class on friday four students stayed behind to talk to me. It is not uncommon for students to hang out for a few minutes, but it is uncommon on a friday afternoon when usually they run out the door.
After they told me they took part in a cake decorating contest last week (and got first place) they invited me out to dinner. Getting invited to dinner with students isn’t unusual, but it is still very nice when they do. It means they not only like me, but want to spend the next few hours speaking English. (Personally, I always felt like eating with my teacher is just extra class time, but maybe that’s just me?)
We went to their favorite restaurant (that I have never been to before) and we had a great time!They got me to eat fish and I got to hear some class gossip. I also learned about their future plans and what they do at night after the power and internet gets cut at 11 (they stay up and talk in the dark).
It was really fun to hang out with my students after class and talk to them one-on-one. Despite my best efforts I don’t get to talk to them as much as I want during class because, well, there is just too many kids and not enough time.
As per Chinese tradition, they paid for dinner. I feel really bad, seeing as I’m their teacher and they are poor college kids, but they insist. I went out with another student a few weeks ago and I insisted on paying.
“I’m your teacher,” I said. “I have to pay!”
“Yes, you are my teacher,” she responded. “And that is why I must pay.”
It is something that I am still not used to. Even though the frugal part of me likes it, the responsible part of me feels quite guilty.
Here are some more pictures from our night out:


Notice the full cooked fish in tin foil in the corner of the top picture. I am not a fan of fish, but ate some to not be rude. (It wasn’t bad either.) Here in China fish are fully cooked and served in their entirety. You just rip off some skin and meat with your chopsticks and try to avoid the bones. I asked them about eating the head–and specifically the eyes–and they said they loved it! Yet another Chinese delicacy i hope to never try…