Jon's page

About me

I am an American in Shenzhen China. The best thing about my living in China - other than my wife - is the appreciation I get from my students and their families. I have lived in China for about 8 years now. At first, I worked for schools. I did it so that I could be near my wife. It is a long romantic story.

Now, 8 years later, we have our own apartment. Although I work for a school when they need me, I spend most of my time with single students who want to learn from me. It is a cultural thing. Instead of teaching a school curriculum - that nobody appreciates - I teach from a cultural point of view. It seems that every student appreciates this way, and enjoys the process much more than what they did in school.

Some of them want to sing songs. We sing. Some of them want to get a job. We write a resume in the American style. One wants to do a better job at work. We study Excel. All of them want to speak more fluently. We talk together about whatever interests them. My speaking ability, my singing ability, my guitar playing ability, and my listening ability have all increased since I have been in China. I have learned how to make recordings in my own micro-studio. The students that sing really like Jambalaya!

My appreciation of all things 'Chinese' has increased as well. It is a pity that I don't have skill in learning the language. Many friends try to teach me, and I have learned a bit, but I am a very slow student!

I have a lot of free time during the week, Since most of them are working or in school. I save Wednesday as my day of rest. I write in several web communities and communicate with many friends online.

Keep in touch! I hope you enjoy the postings here.

Jon

PS. My flower is the Jonquil, a daffodil.

My work

To know myself.
To know my friends.
To learn how love powers it all.
To learn how to put it all together - all the broken pieces