Written by Zhang Xiaoyu，the language teacher of CINB
On June 18 and 19, 2015, Harkins middle school held a spectacular annual talent show，including the Chinese talent show performed by students from Grade 6 and Grade 8. Their wonderful performance included the Chinese drama "Staying by a stump waiting for more hares to come and dash themselves against it" or "Shou Zhu Dai Tu"; poem recitation and chorus "Ode to Goose"; " Sing Beijing Opera Masks" dance; chorus" Jasmine "; “Jasmine” dance, all of which drew thunderous applause and cheers. Especially, the "Jasmine" dance caused a great excitement with the whole audience dancing together. June 19 is my last school day at Harkins, so it’s time to say goodbye to Harkins and Miramichi.
I’m deeply touched by everything HMS and Miramichi has brought to me; I feel happy because of their happiness; I try my best to do everything to express my gratitude, but what they have given to me is far more than what I have expected...
On November 26th, 2014, after a 21-hour journey, I finally reached Miramich，a small city in New Brunswick where I would start my teaching as the Chinese teacher by myself. From the next day until early April, I had gone through the extremely harsh winter in Canada, and as well I had witnessed the Canadian people’s perseverance and optimism. And after the harsh winter gave way to a mild spring, I gained plenty of friends who were actually just like my family!
I still recall the first period when I just arrived at Harkins middle school. People here were friendly, nice and warm-hearted, but they only had limited knowledge of China. I realized that as the first Chinese teacher at this school, and as a layman in teaching Chinese as a foreign language, all that I can do was to work hard and communicate with people with my heart. Step by step, little by little, I found more and more positive topics and opinions about China at Harkins. I will always remember February 18, 2015, my first Chinese New Year without my family members. On that day, I made dumplings and watched the Spring Festival gala together with students; on that day, almost everyone in Harkins greeted me: happy New Year! I will always remember June 8, 2015, the first Chinese culture exposition with the whole school involved. We together set up stations in the gym, and together danced bamboo dances. I won’t forget the wood sleigh ride with the purple team on March 25, 2015; I won’t forget the first trip to Fredericton with the blue team on June 11, 2015; I won’t forget every day’s rehearsal with the blue team and girls and boys from Grade8; I won’t forget students’ curious eyes for new knowledge, their excited expressions, their cheerful smiles, and their hard work! Yes, I’ll always remember the talent show on June 18, 2015.
In Miramichi and at Harkins, there are so many people I need to say thank you. Thanks to the principal Jennifer who gave me enough space to do what I wanted to, gave me enough trust to let me do it better, and gave me care and consideration to make me feel at home. She always introduced me to the right person, took me to the right place, and guided me to do the right thing. Thanks to the Brazilian exchange student Joao and his friends for giving me so much encouragement and happiness. Thanks to my homestay aunt Jane for comforting me in her unique way. Thanks to Donald for telling me in person I was actually very powerful. Thanks to the school secretary Margaret for everything she had done for me. Thank to Mr. Hache’s friendly teasing, which helped me interact into the whole team more easily and become a member of Harkins. Thanks to Juxia who let me know more new friends, and thanks to them for remembering me. Thanks to Mary, the exchange teacher from Columbia, for her teaching experience and humor. Thanks to Helena and her blue team for being the first group at Harkins to work with me and help me. Thanks to Mrs. Beers and her excellent students from Grade seven and Grade eight. Thanks to all the teachers and students of HMS for accepting and helping me! I will thank them for being willing to know me, to know my country, and meanwhile helping me understand a real Canada! I believe that cultural communication is a way of learning from each other. Here, in Miramichi and at HMS, we are an international family!
I admit that Miramichi is a quiet city, yet peaceful and beautiful, where everything I have experienced is as clean and pure as the snowy air, occasionally mingled with the church bells not far away...
告别磨尔磨什
新布伦瑞克孔子学院教师 张晓宇
2015年6月18号、19号，在磨尔磨什的哈肯中学举行了别开生面的年终才艺秀，我所执教的六年级两个班，八年级四个班的孩子们也带来了精心排练的中华才艺秀：小话剧“守株待兔”；古诗朗诵、大合唱“咏鹅”；戏曲舞蹈“说唱脸谱”；小合唱“茉莉花”；舞蹈“茉莉花”。孩子们的精彩表现引来阵阵掌声和喝彩，尤其，经过改编、中西合璧的舞蹈“茉莉花”引发全场共舞的小高潮！至此，我在哈肯的所有工作正式结束，即将告别哈肯，告别磨尔磨什……
我感动于这座小城带给我的一切，我因为他们的快乐而快乐，我竭尽全力地做好去表达我的感谢，而他们给予我的却远远超过我的想像……
2014年11月26号凌晨，经过21个多小时的长途跋涉，终于抵达磨尔磨什，从初到的第二天一直到四月初，我经历了加拿大极其严酷的冬天，见证了加拿大人的坚韧和乐观，而严冬过后的春天我收获了家人一样的朋友们！
依稀记得初到哈肯中学，哈肯人热情、友好、质朴，但是他们对中国的了解少之又少, 我深知作为这里的第一位汉语老师，我所能做的就是用心工作，用心交流。不知道从什么时候起哈肯中学关于中国的话题越来越多，越来越趋向正轨。我永远会记得2015年2月18号第一个没有家人陪伴的春节，在哈肯, 我们一起包水饺，看春晚，几乎所有的人都在跟我说:新年快乐！我永远会记得2015年6月8号，全校师生一起参与的中国文化体验活动，一起布置会场，一起跳起竹竿舞！我更不会忘记2015年3月25号和孩子们一起的树林雪橇；2015年6月11号和孩子们一起的福来一日游；不会忘记孩子们求知的眼神，兴奋的表情，单纯的笑容，和辛苦排练的汗水！一定会记得他们在才艺秀上近乎完美的表现！
在磨尔磨什，在哈肯中学，我有那么多人需要感谢，感谢校长Jennifer Sullivan给了我足够的空间自由发挥，给了我足够的信任让我做得更好，给了我亲人的细心和体贴，让我温暖。她总是带我认识对的人，去到对的地方，做对的事情; 感谢巴西的交换学生Joao和他的朋友们让我找回久违的青春岁月;感谢房东Jane用她独有的方式中和我的强迫症; 感谢Donald亲口告诉我我其实很强大; 感谢万能的秘书Margaret为我做的一切；感谢Mr. Hache每时每刻的调侃,让我更好地融入这个集体，成为哈肯人;感谢霞姐姐让我认识更多新朋友，并感谢他们可以记住我; 感谢哥伦比亚的交换老师Marry让我学到的教学经验；感谢Helena和她的学生们，哈肯中学第一个接纳我、帮助我的团队；感谢Mrs. Beers和八年级孩子们的优秀表现；感谢哈肯中学所有师生对我的认可和帮助！我感谢他们愿意去了解我，了解我的国家，并且帮助我了解真正的加拿大！文化的交流是双向的，在磨尔磨什, 在哈肯中学, 我们组成了国际化的大家庭！
在这个宁静而又美丽的小城所经历的种种，干净、纯洁得就像磨尔磨什雪后的空气，偶尔夹杂着不远处教堂的钟声……
