Mmmm...Slanty.

Conversation with a colleague at school. As a sidenote, it took her a while to warm up to me.

Colleague: So, what are you? You're Chinese, right?
Me: Well...no...but -
C: - but you're ORIENTAL.
Me: I guess you could say that. My parents are actually from Peru.
C: Is that in China?
Me: No, it's a country in South America...
C:...but, you're ORIENTAL.
Me: My grandparents migrated from Japan to Peru...
C: ...so that's why your slant-eyed [pulls the edges of her eyes outward to make slanty eyes].
Me: Ya. [eep.]
C: But Chinese and Japanese are the same thing, right? Like, you could say that you're Chinese. You're just from a different part of China.
Me: No, actually, my grandparents came from Japan...but that's a whole other country than China.
C: But you all look the same! Would you be insulted if I called you Chinese?
Me: Personally, no. But it would be like me saying that Jamaicans and Africans are the same.
C: [angry teacher stare]...no they're not!!
Me: ...
C: ...
C: Do you speak perunesey?

It was later decided that I had to bring dumplings to our potluck because obviously I know how to make Chinese dumplings. How I love being the only Asian person anywhere near this school.

Update on the teaching: yesterday was the worst day yet. Today was the best one. Go figure. Have yet to cry...although it did cross my mind twice this week. Can I just say that I love my kids. The other day I just wanted to stop being their mean ol' teacher and HUG THEM ALL.

P.S. The idea that a TEACHER WHO HAS BEEN TEACHING FOR 30 YEARS didn't know that Peru was a country -- much less, knew that China and Japan were different countries -- is frightening.

P.P.S. The fact that I have to go to class for four hours on a Saturday morning after having taught 3rd graders all week makes me want to die. DIE. It has crossed my mind more than once that this whole "getting my Masters while teaching 3rd grade" thing was a very bad idea.