at school

I guess I gotta continue this blog. I called it MEEWT because I'm so fascinated with cultural differences - and I keep running smack-dab into them here, back "home," too. Reading Michael Agar's Language Shock (1996) helps me sort through what I'm experiencing.

Here's how I know I'm in a place so different:

Walking into the office today, I heard a boy talking to another: "Yeah, one of the reasons we broke up is she kept trying to make me that baby's father."

Um, yeah. These kids get more action and are more fertile than most the adults I know.

It's raining here in the sub-desert. Which is so much better than the nasty winds we've been having, but it's still a discontinuity - something I don't expect. At least this year I'm not riding my bicycle everywhere - I just have to stay dry in the dash across the parking lot; no more worrying about horrible splashes of mud puddle all over my pants.

I do like my job, usually. Yesterday was a really good day - kids engaged and on-task, except 4th period where I really yelled at M. for being disengaged. She pouted, but she'll get over it. That class kinda makes me crazy, but it will be combined with 3rd period and hopefully things will sort out better.

But, I worry a little about my steamroller style of teaching - denying kids of their free will. "You WILL succeed because I say so." Will reprint here the long email I sent to Jenny about it.

I really look forward to the weekend - curled up with hot chocolate and lots of books. Then just one more week of teaching, and a two week break - delicious!