End of the second week

Well, this week was definitely busier than last week. I had a total of 8 classes (normally I'll have around 12) plus two meetings, so it was a productive time. :) I've basically figured out how the school runs now, or at least I think I have. It was all very overwhelming at first, but I feel better having some idea of what's going on.

Students eat in their classrooms during lunchtime and teachers eat with them. At the beginning of lunch, a tv set is turned on in each classroom, and a student or two broadcasts throughout the school, usually giving announcements and a description of the lunch (which seems funny since we're usually already eating by the time they tell us what we're eating). The last two days, 3-4 new teachers were introduced each day over the broadcast system. They just said a few things about themselves, like hobbies, where they're from, etc. So today was my turn and also the other English teacher at my school, Ken. I was a bit nervous, and I'm not sure how I did, but I felt like I was okay. Probably talked too fast... I thought I was getting better at speaking slowly so the students can understand me, but one teacher today told me to slow down...

Which leads me to my next point: the 3rd graders at my school are a world apart from the 1st and 2nd graders. 1st years are still pretty young, with lots of energy, and full of jokes. 2nd years are kind of in a transition phase where some are still very energetic, while others are beginning to get more serious/shy. Having taught all grades at some point now, I have to say 1st grade is my favorite, just because they go along with anything. 2nd graders are also great too, though. They still like to laugh and have fun. The 3rd graders... I had my first class with 3rd years today. Let's just say, it was the first time I left a class feeling worse than when I went in. It was right after lunch so the students were half-asleep (some were fully asleep). 3rd graders don't really want to raise their hand, or call things out, so the last option is to pick on people, which I can't do yet since I don't know anyone. <_< I went into it trying to be optimistic, but it was still kinda hard. I'm only going to have about two 3rd-year classes per week, though, and hopefully once they get to know me more they'll be more friendly. That's the other thing, they don't really say hi to my in the halls. Versus the first years who can't say hello enough times. :P Incidentally, I'll be seeing the 1st years a LOT. They have English twice as often as the other grades.

Okay, well, overall it was a good day, if kinda busy. I topped it off this evening by biking to the lake after dark and just sitting by the lakeside, looking out at the lights around the perimeter. It's cloudy and a bit foggy tonight so the lake looked like glass. I'm really happy to be living in this location. I have more to be grateful for than not. :)

Used a low-light filter so that's why the image is grainy.