School Behavior

Etiquette is really different from every country that we’re living in. Many countries have their own culture and behaviors for their citizens to learn. For example, the people in the United States don’t like when others make noises when they’re eating. If someone in a restaurant makes noises when she/he eats, the others would think he/she is a pig. However, In Japan, people have to make very loud noises to thank the cooks for making delicious food. If you don’t make noise, they would think the food is very bad in that restaurant. Teachers in the United States would tend to teach their male students how to be a gentleman when they’re going out with girls, and to respect the women and hold the door for them. There’s a lot to learn for a student in China. Students have to prep themselves how to be a good student and behave in the way their teacher wants them to be. Etiquette in the United States had made me confused and lost because it’s very different to understand and integrate into my life.

When I first came to the United States, I thought students in this country have to use the same etiquette as in China. I thought students have to stand up and bow for their teacher when they arrive to the classroom. However, I knew I was wrong during the first day of school in Chicago. I lay my head down to my left side and waited for the teacher to come. After a few minutes, the teacher arrived to the classroom. Then, I stood up and bowed for the teacher. Without my expectation, everyone in the classroom laughed at me and thought I was crazy because in the United States students don’t have to bow for their teachers. I felt so embarrassed at that moment and wanted to dig a hole to hide myself. I also hoped everyone in the class would forget that moment and pretend nothing had happened. The teacher told me to sit down and told everyone to be quiet. After I sat myself on my chair, and I wondered why students don’t have to bow for their teachers, and I quickly learned that people don’t have to etiquette themselves in front of the teacher in the United States.

Secondly, in China, students are not allowed to talk during class because they can be punished by the teacher. Many students in this country like to talk with their friends during class time. Some never even shut their mouths even though the teacher asked them. They don’t care if the teacher would be mad at them for talking in class. In China, students have to remain quite during the class time. If they have questions, they need to raise their hands and wait for their turn to talk. If the teacher catches them talking in class, then they would have to clean the bathroom or pick up garbage after school. In this case, everyone in the room remains quiet, so quiet that you can hear a fly was buzzing around the classroom. Students in China would always listen to their teacher to respect them. Students are scared of their teachers because every teacher is mean and had high expectation of their students. Therefore, when teachers came in same direction, they would try to escape and hide from the teachers like a rabbit who saw a wolf trying to swallow it into its stomach.

In the United State, students don’t need to go home and eat lunch. I never imagine that I wouldn’t have to go home and have lunch because there’s free lunch in school. After few hours of listening, the teacher was passing out name tags to students. Therefore, I was waiting for my turn to get a name tag. After the teacher passed out all his name tags, I realized that I didn’t have one since I was new to the school. At the same time, I didn’t know where we were going. So I asked the Chinese girl who was behind me and she told me we’re going to lunch. I thought we had to go home and have our own meal and then come back to school. Once again, I was wrong. Students in the United States have to take turns using the cafeteria. Some classes have lunch around 1 pm in the afternoon. When I arrived to the cafeteria, the person who server lunch asks me for the name tag but I didn’t know how to answer her in English. At that moment, I felt I was in the very dark room and crying for my mom to take me away from this scary and dark place. Then, the Chinese girl behind me helped me answer her question and took me with her so I wouldn’t get lose. I felt so warm at the moment and knew that God had mercy on me.

In conclusion, being an immigrant student in this country takes time to get used to it. I had a wonderful experience on my first day of school even though I knew I was an embarrassment. I think it’s natural to feel strange when you arrive to a new place and to learn their etiquette and behavior. Thinking back on my first day of school, I felt it was a funny experience and wonderful day for me to learn the American culture. As a result, etiquette for Students in this country is different from what I have learned in China.