Kids and Teachers say and do the darndest things.

I keep trying to think of something to write, something to update you on, but nothing comes to mind (story of my life...).

Things have been going well, though. But the daily routine of things means not much new to share at the moment. I had my first observation by the district head of the foreign language department and it went really well, so that was a relief.

We're wrapping up the first quarter of the year in the next couple of weeks, which is strange and feels too fast, but good because at least so far, I'm on track with the topics.

There are good days and bad days, but all in all, I'm feeling pretty good and positive about the job still. And even when I have the bad days or have bad hours, I'm still positive about it all and happy to be doing what I'm doing.

I don't have any funny things to share, at least not off the top of my head, although lots of strange and funny things happen each day. The students ask the most random things and really try to pry into my personal life (like searching for me on Instagram and Twitter, which means I've deleted all social media except for this and my Facebook), which is interesting to get used to. I guess they're just curious who this strange person is that they spend 90 minutes with 2-5 times per week. They ask strange things (like if I'd ever go to a nude beach) and make me say strange things (like, please put your pants back on). Gotta love em...

But they make me be creative, in constantly trying to get and keep their attention and having to break down what is (in my mind) something already very simple. I say weird things and dance around to charade the German vocabulary so that they'll understand me. They keep me entertained and on my toes, too, which is probably why I'm so concerned with going to bed between 9 and 10 every night. If I'm tired, it's going to be rough! And as much as my kids always suggest and want nap time, it's never going to happen.

So, on that note, I'm off to shower and go to bed. This week is Spirit Week, which means we have silly things for each day. Today was Pajama Day, so I've been in my pajamas and slippers all day. I'll try to take a picture each day of what I'm wearing so you can see my "school spirit".

Tschüss!

Action! Cut! Take two!

Tonight, I was on the phone talking to my sister and I was talking about being in contact with parents (it's a big, important part of the job). I told her about being in touch with one parent because of low grades, and she responded by asking, "wait, haven't you only been in school for a couple of weeks?" Good question! It sure feels like it. Today started my fifth week of school. I started a month ago...weird! Time sure does fly. The school here goes on quarters instead of semesters, so the first half of the first quarter is over (if that makes sense), which means grades are already due and important (well, they're always important...).

So, my weeks have been filled to the brim with a repeat of teach, plan, sleep. Some days I feel like I'm running a marathon and just trying my hardest to get to the end bell of the day. Some days it feels like I haven't planned enough (even if I did) and like I'm trying to stretch out every second of every activity. Some days it seems like I just started when the dismissal bell rings. Planning for the time I have has always been a struggle for me. When I first started in student teaching, I discovered that I wasn't planning enough. Now I'm not sure how that happened, seeing as I have to plan double for every lesson here (40 minute lessons vs. 90 minute lessons). I manage. The kids manage. It all works out in the end. Sure, I make it up as I go sometimes (okay, it happens a lot...but to any teacher! I promise!), but I for sure try to overplan instead of underplan.

What I can't plan for, however, is health. This past Thursday and Friday, my allergies kicked into high-gear. I'm not sure why, since Fall has yet to grace South Carolina. My brain wants cool weather, colorful landscapes, boots, scarves, and pumpkin flavored things...but all my body feels is summer. (Pumpkin-flavored things are here, regardless, but it's just not the same without the weather). Anyway, so my allergies really kicked my butt on Friday and I was dragging myself through to the end of the day. I don't think I've ever been so happy to have a 4th block planning period. So this weekend, I slept as much as possible so that I could be back to normal on Monday. It worked and today went well, but man, you don't realize how much acting goes into teaching until you're doing it. I remember in college, professors would tell us that acting was a big part of our job, but I didn't get it until student teaching, when you get that first-hand realization. Regardless of how tired I am, stuffed-up I am, or grumpy I am, or whatever the case may be, I still have to be "on" and ready to teach. Sure, I could give the kids some boring worksheet exercises and sit at my desk to relax, and if I were really that sick, then I maybe would. But generally, that's not going to help anything. How are they supposed to be excited about German if I'm not either? Don't get me wrong, I'm still super nerdy about German, sick or healthy, but the way I act plays a big role into the atmosphere of the classroom. And it's hard to act when your brain just wants to go home and sleep or your body is sick and tired.

Thank God for weekends to sleep in, vitamins and cough drops, and 4th block planning.  :-)

Feeling my way through the dark.

I think a lot of the start of any job is feeling around in the dark, trying to figure out what is going on. Eventually, it all becomes normal, and when you look back, you can't quite remember what was confusing or frustrating or a part of the scary unknown. I think I can remember feeling that way at every job I've had. But that doesn't make it easy to get used to. I've got the teaching part figured out--don't get me wrong...I know there's still a LOT to learn and improve upon on my end, but the day-to-day of it and the motions of it haven't been hard to get used to at all. It's the million other things I have to keep in mind during class and afterwards, all the paperwork that has to get done and kept track of, and the rules and regulations of how things are supposed to run--which are not the same in every district or even each school in one district. That can make things tricky.

But, as I've said before, I love my job, I really do. I love the chance to be nerdy all day long. Where else could I tell people for a whole day all about my most favorite subject?! I feel like I've won the lottery here. They can try to change the subject or ignore me all they want, but it doesn't stop me from trying to get them interested or informed about the German-speaking world. Ahh, this is the best. I've spent the past couple of hours planning how to teach and explain the present perfect (don't let that title fool you...it's a past tense form) tomorrow. I know it's nerdy, but I loved it. I guess that's why the overtime of being a teacher is okay...because you're (hopefully) doing what you love.

And the kids keep it fun and funny. Sure, I have lessons where they make me want to pull my hair out. Or it's like pulling teeth to get them to do anything I plan (or, ahem, spontaneously plan...). But generally they're fun. They keep me on my toes with everything (wait, did I really teach them that the plural of Zimmer was Zimmern instead of just Zimmer? no, I'm positive I didn't, Student X...) They have zero fear in asking any question that comes to mind (Today, I was asked in the same lesson if I'd ever been to a nude beach, if I'd ever go to a nude beach, and if I know how to twerk. I really NEVER thought those questions would come up ever...needless to say they were QUITE off-topic questions). They will love you and hate you in the span of ten minutes, but remembering the moments where they're happy to see you is so much better than the other.

So--at the end of another 12+ hour workday, where when I look at the clock and see it's 9:15pm, I feel it's past my bedtime--this is how I'm feeling about life and my job. It certainly has it's ups and downs, and I'm still feeling around in a pitch-black room with a match, but I'm hanging in there just fine.