Total Pageviews

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Students Bow To Their Teachers


Chumey Middle Secondary School

When I first arrived at my school in Bhutan, I was shocked when a couple of students bowed to me as I walked passed them to the courtyard.  At first, I told myself that my eyes where playing tricks on me and they must have bent down to look at their shoes or something on the ground.  Then I could no longer deny that students were deliberately bowing to me as I reached the courtyard to find groups of them going out of their way to arch their backs and show me the top of their heads while their legs were stiff.   As they all bowed, they shouted, “Good morning Miss!” I was stunned!  

However, my brain still couldn't comprehend the concept of students bowing to a teacher as it’s unheard of in American schools.  So I chuckled assuming that they were mistaking me for someone of royalty or for someone with a very important title since I'm a foreigner.  I had no idea that teachers were such an honored profession that students bow to them as a sign of respect.

In fact, it took me months to get use to hundreds of students of every size and age bowing to me all day long whenever they saw me.  In the beginning, it felt so weird to have children  bowing to me that my instinct was to mirror them.  For example, once when I walked by my ninth graders playing an intense soccer game, to my surprise, the soccer game ceased and all at once the students graciously bowed to me while yelling, “Good afternoon Miss!”  I was so shocked that I didn’t even realize I was bowing back to them saying, “Thank you, thank you. Good afternoon!”  The students all laughed, as they had never seen a teacher bow back to them before.

As a result, when some of the teachers at my school saw me hesitantly and awkwardly bowing back to the students, they would quickly correct me by saying, “No Sabrina.  We don’t bow to the students; they bow to us.  Don’t do that!”  

Then I would explain in embarrassment, “I can’t help it.  I have never had anyone bow to me before.  In America, students don’t bow to their teachers, so it feels strange when they bow to me.  If I asked a student to bow to me in America, they would laugh thinking that I was crazy or they would be insulted thinking I was full of myself.  You don’t understand, I have never seen anyone bow to another person unless it was in some kind of fairytale movie.  This is surreal to me.”  My explanation always seemed to make my colleagues laugh because it was surreal to them that American students didn’t bow to their teachers. 

Now, I have been teaching in Bhutan for almost a year and if finally feels normal to have students bow to me even when I'm in a passing vehicle.  Although I have trained myself to not bow back, a bowing student still never fails to make me smile and I always say thank you to them for being respectful.  I just wonder how I am going to get used to students not bowing to me whenever I teach in America again. 

10 comments:

  1. Sabrina, I can feel you. Bowing is a sign of respect for the elders and you deserve one :D
    The culture shock is always one dominant phase you go through whilst in another country. It's very interesting to know the fact that you are going through and dealing with it so positively.

    p,s, the kids are looking awesome and you light them up.

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, that was a culture shock, but a nice one. I think that it is really sweet whenever I see them bowing. They have good manners.

      Delete
  2. It's not strange to read that you were shocked at first when students bowed to you. Now that you have grown accustomed to the practice, you know it is a sign of respect for the teachers. It was an interesting narration of how you felt as students in America never bow to a teacher. You better stay in Bhutan to receive bows from your students unlike in America. :P Kidding. You have done a great service to the young Bhutanese. You came all the way from America to help Bhutan and the Bhutanese students. You surely deserve a bow and even more in fact. Take a bow, Sabrina, from me to. Respect!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Langa! But if you give me a bow don't be surprised if I bow back lol. See you soon!

      Delete
  3. Hi Sabrina, I am also a teacher and I enjoy every day because I am surrounded by students who make me feel wanted and loved. I bow back or sometimes I wish them before they wish me.
    Nobu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha I bet they think that's hysterical. You sound like a passionate and funny teacher. Also I like your stories about the students on your blog.

      Delete
  4. OK SABRINA ,I been checking your blog and waiting for your next post .And nothing new and all of a sudden there is four new post!I can't keep up with you.LOL not complaining I LOVE to read your post .I know these are your experiances through your beautiful eyes.And it takes a lot of time to write and want to share with us the best way you can.I know its not that easy. So I want to THANK YOU and give you a bow for sharing your stories with all of us out here.Tell your students mom and Dad say hello.And We wish the best for all of them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, it does take some time to write and share, but I enjoy it. The kids say hello. Love ya!

      Delete
  5. Sabrina, this is so NORMAL in Bhutan. In fact its disrespectful not to bow down to your teachers and elders. And that's so very kind of you to bow back, SWEET!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ya it is so funny when my teacher friends imitate students who are the most respectful by doing a big extended bend and the kids they claim are the least respectful by doing just a head nod as a bow. LOL. I've really come to embrace the bowing and I find it so sweet.

      Delete