A Strange Thing Happened at School Today
This week, I sent home notices for Parent-Teacher Conferences. The father of one of my students, who mainly speaks Punjabi, came in to my room this morning to ask about times when we could meet. I went to my calendar to check dates, and after I pointed out a few to him, he smiled and asked if he could have my calendar. My HARRY POTTER CALENDAR.
Naturally, I said "No." But he kept persisting. Finally I made it understood that I would not be giving him my Harry Potter calendar. I told him that I bought it at Border's, and thought maybe he might be able to find one there as well. Still smiling, he shook his head "No." Then he did the most unexpected thing: he asked me to go to the store and buy him a calendar! Positive I must have misunderstood, I repeated again that he could find a similar calendar at Border's.
This time his response was very clear: "You go and buy me one because I don't know my way around yet and I can't find this store." Does he think that purchasing items for parents falls in my job description under the heading, "Other duties as assigned?"
I'm sure this was a cultural issue - maybe the school that his son attended in India provided such items for their families? All I know is that it caught me completely off-guard and I wasn't sure how to respond.
After about 5 minutes of this back and forth, it became quite clear that he was not leaving my room without a calendar in hand. Finally, I remembered the Water District Calendar that had been given to me at the beginning of the year, and which I had hanging on the bulletin board. In a desperate attempt to get him to vacate my classroom, I pulled the calendar off the wall and shoved it into his hands. He smiled, said "thank you," and then left.
*sigh* I think I may have just set a very bad precedent....
Naturally, I said "No." But he kept persisting. Finally I made it understood that I would not be giving him my Harry Potter calendar. I told him that I bought it at Border's, and thought maybe he might be able to find one there as well. Still smiling, he shook his head "No." Then he did the most unexpected thing: he asked me to go to the store and buy him a calendar! Positive I must have misunderstood, I repeated again that he could find a similar calendar at Border's.
This time his response was very clear: "You go and buy me one because I don't know my way around yet and I can't find this store." Does he think that purchasing items for parents falls in my job description under the heading, "Other duties as assigned?"
I'm sure this was a cultural issue - maybe the school that his son attended in India provided such items for their families? All I know is that it caught me completely off-guard and I wasn't sure how to respond.
After about 5 minutes of this back and forth, it became quite clear that he was not leaving my room without a calendar in hand. Finally, I remembered the Water District Calendar that had been given to me at the beginning of the year, and which I had hanging on the bulletin board. In a desperate attempt to get him to vacate my classroom, I pulled the calendar off the wall and shoved it into his hands. He smiled, said "thank you," and then left.
*sigh* I think I may have just set a very bad precedent....
that is hysterical. definitely one for the books.
Very funny. He apparently doesn't understand the deep, emotional bond you have with Harry Potter!
Hahaha!! That so cracks me up Jenni! Parents want us to do everything for them no....including their shopping! So bizarre! At least you have a funny story!
I've experienced some of those odd cultural differences with people before and sometimes I'm left stumped with how to respond.
I guess your student's father doesn't know not to mess with the HP. :)
Very funny and strange! I would have been looking for the hidden cameras!
Sounds like a cultural issue to me. I used to hold computer training classes and would often have students from out of the country. One class in particular had students from Japan, Venezuela, Colombia, the Netherlands, Poland, and Germany. It was quite a class. I started keeping note cards of all the cultural differences I saw so I could be prepared for future classes!
Oh my word! I can't believe that!