Ms. Hedi is the Chinese I – IV teacher at Community School of Davidson (CSD). She has been teaching for 14 years at CSD. She graduated from University of Nebraska Omaha with a masters degree in management of information systems. She later went to Asia University, Japan, to obtain a degree in international relationships. She was raised in Shenyang, Liaoning, located in Northeast China. She enjoys reading scriptures and history books in her free tim and loves to discover more stories about the first two dynasties in China since they have very few records.

What is your favorite quote or motto?

Shù ér bú zuò, xìn ér hào gǔ

“述而不作,信而好古” ~ 孔子 Confucius

“‘I repeat what the people said in the past.’ I believe in the people of the past.”

Eng Translation: I transmit but I don’t create. I am faithful to the love and past.

Favorite book or author?

‘“Yì jīng”’ (The Book of Changes)

《易经》

Favorite music?

I don’t really listen to music. I guess relaxing music, nature related? Or maybe the old type, music from the 80’s.

Favorite food?

Shuǐ jiǎo (Dumplings)

水饺

What is your idea of perfection?

The best you can do. Try 100%.

What brought you to CSD?

My friend asked me to. I originally taught at a Saturday school, and the owner there had connections to the CSD directors or someone who worked at CSD.

Why did you become a teacher?

I didn’t want to become a teacher at first. My friend from the Saturday school influenced me. My mom used to be a middle school teacher, and my dad taught in college for a couple of years. Maybe their jobs influenced me to become one.

What would you be if you were to be something other than a teacher?

I wanted to work in a big corporation. I worked in several companies before, insurance company, banks. I actually had to work in the Saturday school because my previous job at the bank was cut off due to the financial crisis in 2008. I would probably still want to be a teacher. I also had a thought about teaching in Thailand. The war caused many Chinese people to take refuge in Thailand. I want to teach the kids in Thailand to keep their Chinese culture alive. I may do this job in the future.

What is one thing about Chinese that you want more people to know?

There are good qualities in the traditional part of China. But we have abandoned a lot of traditional values. It has made people confused. I want Chinese people to keep their traditions and traditional kind of thinking. I want to show the real side of us, not the fake side.

Favorite thing about teaching Chinese class?

Like I said earlier, I want to give a different view of how we look at the world. We abandoned the traditional values, so now we aren’t doing well in the present. Language is a vessel. I want us to see the little changes in characters from long ago, to show there are different ways of doing things in this world. I also want to be that bridge for you guys, to allow you guys to further your interest and learning in Chinese in the future.

A memorable moment in Chinese class?

There was a video that a student created in class. A student one year, took videos throughout class everyday. We didn’t know anything at all! I liked goats at the time, and he filmed his farm with goats. At the end of the year, he put all the videos together that he filmed in class to show to the class. I can remember him wanting to watch a video and I was hesitant, but he said it was important and special, so I eventually agreed to it.

Best life advice ever received?

A recent advice, let your fear go. The biggest obstacle in our life is fear. Try to not let fear get in your way of doing things.

What is your favorite journey?

The time I spent in Japan. When I was in college, I spent over seven years in Japan. When I left China to live in Japan, everything was so different back in the day.

What is your dream vacation?

Thailand

How many languages do you speak?

Mandarin, English and Japanese.

Are you a tea or coffee person? If not, what do you like to drink in your free time?

Between the two, I am a coffee person, but I try to limit drinking coffee. I don’t want to depend on coffee. If we have a food shortage, what do we do?

Favorite Chinese festival?

Chinese New Year

Favorite Chinese character to write or say?

To write:

缘

Yuán (Conditions*)

*The best way to describe yuan is like conditions. You interviewing me, you enrolling in my class, making friends, everything interweaving together, that is yuan. Like, what is the percentage of you possibly enrolling into my class? Yuan brings us together. It’s a certain condition that brings us together.

To say:

好

Hǎo (Good)

Everything is good. I believe that everyone is a good person. Of course there are bad people, but there is no one who is exactly a bad person.

A childhood memory that makes you smile?

There are so many! Maybe when I was crying back then in the countryside. My cousin, my mom’s older brother’s son, came to visit. My cousin, brother, and I were out in the yard. A goat came over and the two of them ran into the house. I was left outside and the goat knocked me over from the back and I cried. My mom scolded them later, but it’s a fun memory to look back on.

Plans after CSD?

First, my focus will be on my parents since they are getting old. I want to be there for them when they need me. For emotional needs. When I was young, they were there for me, so I want to do the same for them. Afterwards, I want to go to my dream place, Thailand. I might change plans later. After that, I don’t know.

Initial thoughts on this interview?

I thought it would be quick and easy. ‘What is your favorite food? Favorite animal…’ The questions were too deep and I did not expect many questions.

Comments/Afterwords:

谢谢

Xièxiè (Thank you)