a southern experience....

my first official resignation....
my apologies for the tardy entry but my last week has actually been maybe the most stressful yet. last weekend i arrived back from honduras wide eyed and full of enthusiasm. after having not one, but three different people, on three different occasions, stand me up, my enthusiasm dwindled. i found myself on sunday night madly making lesson plans from my head of what i assumed i should be teaching 22 8 year olds for 6 hours with one break. may i remind everyone that i have never done this before. i kept hearing "don't be worried, there is no reason, we're very relaxed here". bullcrap. anyways i went to work and the kids were alternating between days, one day the grade threes were great and the next it was the gradefours, never on the same day. i was slowly losing control and composure. i started to realize, after reminding myself with my "what worked, and what didn't" pro and con list, that translating for the kids really helped them. i also had a couple of the parents come to tell me how gifted their children were and how i didn't need to help them along. again, bullcrap. these children are smart but there was no comprehension of most fundamental words or constructions. not counting the numerous learning disabilities i encountered, that were being unjustly overlooked, i also had no prior knowledge of the level these children were at, i mean they were in grade 4 but that meant beans in terms of a cohesive learning curve. my teacher's guides were coming tomorrow ie. the mexican calling card. but the icing on the cake was when i was telling the teachers these issues they told me, look, this is mexico, we just don't have the same organization or communication you have in canada. i was out after that.
however, i did realize that i am a good teacher and i do take pleasure in children who are open to learning. i also appreciated how well my spanish improved after only a week, i can now get angry in spanish as well i can explain to three teachers why i have to resign from my post. i'm really improving.
so now i'm onto my next task, to use my skills to try to finally find something i like, i'm thinking diving again, i've already put in a couple of job inquiries. i also may tutor out of the house, 16 and older, kids that really want to learn and that i can use my resources on a more equal level. i know i can't get ahead of myself but i really need to be doing something because i'm not the housewife type.
we're over a hump which is good and i'm feeling more like myself without all the stress. if any one has ideas about my tutoring fee that'd be fantastic. oh and i might teach yoga. so many crazy talents. maybe i'll look into massage therapy.....love to all.

posted by kate @ 8:42 PM