Week 6

Week 6

I love Sundays!  I met with the running group and ran 6 miles!!  Then we did 50 meter sprints 4 times - I need to work on that!!!  Great way to start the day.  I'll get some math done then go to church!

I will never regret coming here.  The people I’ve met and the opportunities I’ve had in just the last 6 weeks are worth it.  And to think I have years of this to experience! 

This was a really busy week.  I declared it a no crying week and made it until Thursday – 4 days.  I was disappointed but a friend suggested I try 5 days next week and increase it each week and another friend told me every Sunday is a chance to start the no crying week over.  Wise men these friends!! I am a high achiever – I expect a lot out of myself and want to do everything right all the time.  I realize that my expectations need to change a little in this situation.  This is my first overseas experience and it is a lot to adjust to.  People who have done it before say it is never easy and it is a different process for everyone.  I vacillate between really loving it here and really struggling.  

One thing that helps my sanity is walking.  I walk most days for an hour or two after school.  My favorite place is by the sea.  This week I decided to walk out on the rocks all the way out into the sea.  This is what the path looked like.  I got to the edge and it was quiet. It was silent except for waves.  I couldn’t hear a single horn honk.  I might go there more often J  I also get up and run or walk in the mornings – that gets my days started off right.

I enjoy my kids.  I have a 6^th grade class that is composed of mostly French, German, and British kids.  I call them spies and gave most of them nicknames.  I asked one Korean kid if I could give him a nickname and he quickly said “no”.  I asked if I scared him and he said “sometimes”.  The whole class laughed!! Most of the kids like my quirkiness – not him J 

Jordan and I started coaching Math Counts last week.  We have 16 kids – mostly boys (I think we have 3 girls).  It is fun to get to co-teach with him with these kids who WANT to do math!!  This week we had them do a team building activity and it was very interesting to watch…. We have our work cut out for us with this team!!!

A traveling curriculum specialist visited our school this week.  She worked with the math team and gave us a ton of resources!!  We might get to go to one of her workshops in January to work on some more things.  I am thankful I work at a school that values these kinds of experiences.  I love my job.  I feel totally overwhelmed most of the time :)  and inadequate sometimes, but it is the kind of challenge that I wanted.  I enjoy what I get to teach and the kids I get to work with.  My principal is awesome.  My advisory co-teacher is fastanstic.  My math teaching partner is the best person I could have ever been matched with.   I had 8  parents meet with me this week and they were all great.  They were supportive of me and the kids.  They question me and challenge me, but it is in the best interest of their kids. 

There are days I struggle and days I cry, but I am not unhappy here.  This is what I've wanted to do for a long time and finally have the opportunity.  It is definitely making a stronger person and a stronger teacher :)

My niece turned a month old!!!  and she totally smiled at me on Skype!!