Forget Pollyanna and her glad game. I am just plain not glad! Forget thinking happy thoughts. I am out of them! Forget looking at the bright side. I am sick of the heat on that side!...this week, I am plain old "sick of this crap!"
Before you panic and think I am jumping off my balcony or quitting my job and running away, I am not. In fact, I really am exaggerating (mostly)-but I really have had one of THOSE weeks. Here is the rundown on my week...
PARENTS-love 'em when they help kids get tutors, make sure homework is done, and oversee adequate sleep and eating patterns. This week, though, parents were asking for group changes, questioning project requirements, and demanding extra security for our camping trip next week. Thus, I have lost most of my planning periods to parent meetings.
POWER-pretty much can't count on it these days at school or home. My room temp hovers around 90 degrees with humidity so high we merely drip through the day.
COMPUTERS-curse them....I have lost so many documents this week when power has gone out that I could wallpaper my bathroom with them (that is, if I still had them-wah!). Plus, those handy-dandy classroom websites and interschool messaging systems and internet based grade keepers are useless without internet connections (which, require power-ahhhh-eeeemm).
WATER-with all the sweating (see POWER), one form of relief would be a nice cold shower, right? PSYCHE!! Nope, because as soon as the power comes back on, the water turns off-it's a rotten cycle (and I smell pretty rotten too!)
CULTURE SHOCK-yep, that nasty little rat is rearing it's ugly head all across the campus. People are tired, and hot, and irritable, and sick, and impatient, and homesick, and, well....just plain not very nice. This is normal (so don't worry...this is just FYI, that's all)....but it still doesn't make it fun.
TRAFFIC-The police stops were bad...the lawless traffic patterns were worse....now throw in ad hoc construction projects with illogical detours and roads closed for random demonstrations and assorted street parties...and, well, couldn't they have saved those for NEXT week?
ED-VENTURES-this is the bane of my existence at the moment. We are preparing to take 50 middle schoolers on a camping trip for a whole week next week. To further complicate it, I am a leader and I am clueless. Everyone knows how I hate to be clueless....so camping in the heat+middle schoolers+no apparent plan (at least one that I am able to decipher)+language challenges=UGH!!
On the horizon is a silver lining, though...
I am learning to salsa dance at classes twice a week
I get to finish my scuba open water certification next weekend
I am planning a trip to Quito, Ecuador with friends
A few other teachers and I are working on getting a boat-wait 'til you see it! (it's not what you think)
My students are motivated and refreshing
The views and opportunities continue to be AMAZING...so,
....I am done complaining=)
...I will just be glad to be alive and lovin' life in VENEZUELA afterall!
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