Day 15- “School Starts!”

Remember the “Can I sweat anymore day?” well I am here to say I can!  I am nervous anyway and then have to walk up 4 flights of stairs to get to my 8^th grade class.  The halls are outdoors so the humidity is stifling (I break out in a sweat going from the first floor to the 8^th floor in the elevator to my office!!)  I get to my locked room and send a kid down to get a key. Then after writing assignments and objectives on the board, I start class--- can you say "face sweat"? Oh my gosh, it is soo embarrassing!  Fifteen minutes later, I am passing something out and feel the air conditioning direct stream and make up some excuse to stay there for a minute. Crisis averted!  My kids are PRECIOUS.  They do not growl when they have a test on day one- they expect to be challenged. I read my letter of introduction and ask them to write me one for homework.  I am excited to get to know them more. Most have adopted an English name so I do not have to struggle too much, but each is so patient with me.  I just cannot get me tongue to manipulate those vowels!  I am told it will come- I just hope my students continue to have compassion. 

Reflections so far:

1.     We take technology for granted.  When I give my kids their vocabulary and they ask if they can use their phone for definitions, I am so envious that they have a phone.  I so want to just pick one up and call my kids.  It is killing me not to know what they are doing daily.  I guess it is time for all of us to spread our wings and fly.

2.     Even if I could get a car here- I wouldn’t.  Traffic lines are suggested and not really followed; pedestrians take their life in their hands when crossing the street (if I am in a cab there will be several times when I just have to close my eyes).  I, however, will never get on a public bus- the passengers look like sardines packed in and even have people standing on the back.

3.     Honesty is the best policy.  I find it ironic that in a community where students leave all their belongings in unlocked lockers or cubbies, where I can show a casher a wad of money and he/she takes the exact amount needed, and where everyone of the workers has a key to my house- there are so many locks.  Each house had a fence around it with deadbolt locks and barbed wire.  To get into my house, I have to unlock three deadbolts.  I have been told it is a status symbol- never though barbed wire would show status!

4.     I need to study this land more so I can have some relevant examples.  As I teach and use analogies to make concepts real- I still see the expression on the students faces like they are not connecting. I talked about cliques- not a word here; I used the Treyvon Martin story when discussing To Kill A Mockingbird- nothing.  I guess when nation is in renaissance Friends reruns and news from the United States is not of much importance.  Hopefully, my creativity will emerge.

5.     Kids are kids.  I was so nervous that I would not be able to reach these kids.  I was most nervous about the 8^th graders since I have never done middle school. They are so cute.  I think I will be just fine.