Xiao Zhao, AKA Jerry

It has come to my attention that I have posted very little information on here about my host sister, Jerry.

I’ll start out by mentioning that I came to live with the Chinese host family on the pretense of teaching her more English, and giving her and the family a chance to interact with a real-life foreigner. Too bad for her, this meant giving up her room to said foreigner.

I guess this is just a sacrifice the whole family is willing to make though, as anyone with above average English in China is destined to a much better than average job (read: not making Nikes for 12 hours a day).

So in I moved into her little room with a bunk bed, Mickey Mouse (I smell an IPR infringement) mattress, giant pencil-shaped coat rack, and just-noticed-yesterday light pink walls. There’s also a moon shaped night light, and a generally 70′s orange theme. Needless to say I love it.

Since the apartment is only two bedrooms, that means she currently sleeps in her parents bed, though I think during the summertime she rolled out a little bed roll and slept on the floor. Needless to say, I feel obligated, if not guilted into providing some quality English time.

Much to my dismay, she has picked up on a few of my horrible -isms, such as saying “No Prob,” which she has further shortened to “No Pra.” Also, my tendency to answer “Pretty good” to things I frequently don’t like, in order to appear polite. Things such as “How is that marrow?” (sucked from a straw) in that pig bone and Turnip soup. “Mmm, pretty good,” I say, along with a grimace trying desperately to hold back my dissatisfaction. This has also been duly noted and copied to a tee.

Anyways, Jerry, named after the Tom and Jerry cartoon, also loves to come into her old room and look dismayed a the disorder I have created. I try to keep it somewhat clean, but sometimes it’s a lost cause. I heard one day, “My mother says all boys your age are like this.” Score, mess justified!

She also loves to come in when I’m lounging around and get my opinion on the latest stickers she has acquired. I am subjected to an endless barrage of questioning regarding whether “this fairy princess is pretty,” or “this ridiculous, bug eyed, no-nosed, white faced, poofy dress Anime character is prettier.” (my words, not hers). This provides hours of entertainment.

But all in all, her English is quite excellent. It makes me feel a bit defeated knowing that there truly are going to be a few hundred million people in no time that will speak better English than I speak Chinese. Makes getting up at 7:30 for Chinese class that much harder.

All in all though, I feel a little bit sorry for her childhood. Every day she comes home from school around 4:30, and goes straight to her spot on the kitchen table and pound out hours of homework. Some days she comes home at about 5:00 PM, because the smart kids get extra classes some days. Seems like it should be the other way around. She usually goes to bed around 10:30, only breaking for dinner. Saturdays are filled with Drawing and extra math lessons (shockingly titled “Olympic Maths”) and Sundays with Piano and English. Punctuated by more homework. There really is no social life, activities, sports practices, clubs, scouts, or anything at all.

In reality though, she has it good considering the alternatives. Being born into an upper class family, where she is able to study, go to good schools, and stay far, far away from the harsh Chinese countryside.

Maybe one day she’ll even get a bed again.