Just call me Styrofoam, because I'm feeling buoyant

The first day teaching new Chinese students English is always interesting. There's the desire to capitalize on their excitement over meeting me and establish a good classroom relationship. And I have to deal with the awkward shyness of many students, which prevents them from speaking out loud.

After going through this process enough times, a lot of it does slowly start to feel normal. Still, one thing about encountering hordes of young learners here in Zhengzhou, Henan province, always keeps me on my toes. That thing is the simple-sounding task of roll call.

What makes it interesting has nothing to do with pronouncing Chinese names, as most students have chosen English names before they meet me.