There have been quite a few things we have learned on the fly over the last four days.
The first being that it doesn't matter how much you loved the country you were living in or how great a teacher you were, you will probably still leave your apartment in a disgusting mess for the new tenants to clean up. Thanks Big A, task 1 on Saturday.
There have been many others, such as food garbage must go separate, although we won't tell you where. And shoes must come off in houses, but at work, wander around as much as you like.
Teaching becomes easier when you have textbooks, although we didn't have those the first day and spent much of the time introducing ourselves...or should I say that took about 5 minutes adn the rest of the hour was spent singing songs and generally, making it up as we went along.
We've also learned you can commincate with people who don't speak your language and vice versa. D and I spent a car ride yesterday with a couple who spoke no English. And yet, we managed.
Kindness and understanding go a long way. Not everything is going to be done the way it was back home. I'm witnessing other teachers going through the struggle of losing their patience, misunderstanding.
Children are wonderfully protective of their routine and so generous in their assitance. So many times over the past two days, they have pointed out to me what comes next, what pen to mark with, what song to sing, who gets to be captain.
Oh yeah and did I mention the monsoon season? It will now rain for the next month. Solid.
In addition to all the drinking they do, it feels like i never left Ireland.
The first being that it doesn't matter how much you loved the country you were living in or how great a teacher you were, you will probably still leave your apartment in a disgusting mess for the new tenants to clean up. Thanks Big A, task 1 on Saturday.
There have been many others, such as food garbage must go separate, although we won't tell you where. And shoes must come off in houses, but at work, wander around as much as you like.
Teaching becomes easier when you have textbooks, although we didn't have those the first day and spent much of the time introducing ourselves...or should I say that took about 5 minutes adn the rest of the hour was spent singing songs and generally, making it up as we went along.
We've also learned you can commincate with people who don't speak your language and vice versa. D and I spent a car ride yesterday with a couple who spoke no English. And yet, we managed.
Kindness and understanding go a long way. Not everything is going to be done the way it was back home. I'm witnessing other teachers going through the struggle of losing their patience, misunderstanding.
Children are wonderfully protective of their routine and so generous in their assitance. So many times over the past two days, they have pointed out to me what comes next, what pen to mark with, what song to sing, who gets to be captain.
Oh yeah and did I mention the monsoon season? It will now rain for the next month. Solid.
In addition to all the drinking they do, it feels like i never left Ireland.
Comments