Yesterday, I had a bad day. It didn't start bad but it ended badly. I began with my usual teaching routine at 8am and ate my lunch of Chinese class. Tuesdays are my packed day, I go 8-5 non-stop, with half hour lunch, just long enough to scarf down two bites. After work, I go with a friend to workout. I try to get in a solid 2 hour workout. I do about an hour of wieghts and 45 minutes of cardio. The gym I work at is called Powerhouse, a US based company doing fairly well in China, and they are the only gym offering Indoor Cycling classes. In exchange for teaching one class a week, I get a free membership, but as of yesterday, they renigged on that offer.
Aside from great customer feedback and good rappore with my fellow instructors, they made the excuse that I use too much English in my classes and the students don't understand. I think it was a bunch of hog wash. Customers often ask when I will teach again. Well, the answer is no anytime soon.
It was hard, the assistent manager, Anna (her English name) had to sit down with me and explain that they essentially don't need me. I was such an ego blow and truly disappointing. I took it hard. I am not even sure why it effected me so much, but it did. I walked away with my tail between my legs.
Anna had trouble even getting to the point of the conversation, but it was clear I wasn't on the April schedule so I knew what was coming. In China, the infamous phrase "Saving Face" is deeply ingrained into the culture. Anna trying to save face by letting me down gently was red and embaressed in explaining my termination. Likewise, I have grown accustomed to having to save face by accepting the decision without arguing, although the element of surprise was definately at play. I wanted to make it easier to have to tell a friend and collegue that I wasn't needed but that didn't save me from my own saddness.
I went home and sulked. I tried to walk around the neighborhood to clear my head, but that didn't help much. I just gave me more time to stew over my own frustration. I couldn't sleep. I just ran the conversation over in my head over and over again. I tried to find flaws and hoped for a change of heart on their end.
Unlikely. Saving face requires that Anna and the whole management team not go back on their decision. So I am looking into a new gym. Admittedly, I am attached to my old gym and the staff. They were nice and fun.
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