Sink or Swim

This week has been one of the most challenging of my career.  Suddenly I found myself in a school, in a foreign country, with a new system of standards, and completely on my own.  My cooperating teacher is in Japan because of a family emergency, indefinitely.  I realized on Monday that Emily was like a life-raft for me last week.  Without her guidance and support I felt completely overwhelmed by the two classes I agreed to take for the week.  To give you some perspective I was in week 3 of my 11 week program, and supposed to be taking on lessons here and there.

Monday was a mess of relievers (subs) and trying to get myself ready for my teaching on Wednesday.  I couldn't even talk about school without stressed out tears exploding from my face.  I felt way in over my head, and completely alone.  Tuesday was athletics day, so I spent the day in the sun helping direct kids through shot-put throws.  The entire school dresses up in house-colors and participates in events for the entire day.  It was wonderful to see my students acting like kids.  Something about the school culture makes them into mini-adults all the time.  On Wednesday we had an official school opening, and the prime minister came to speak.  We held an assembly outside for most of the day.  Between Thursday and Friday I taught 6 of the 7 lessons on our schedule.  Most days I got up at 6:30 and was either at school or planning for school until around 11pm every night.  I was a mess, dreaming about lessons, completely breaking down via skype, and just in way over my head.  But I made it through.

I ended the week exhausted, but incredibly proud of myself.  I learned a lot about myself as a teacher through the week and the things I need to improve.  In the sink or swim scenario I wouldn't say I was swimming, but at least my head was above water.  Once I started asking for help from the other teachers in my department things got much easier.  By the end of the week I felt more like a beginning teacher than a student teacher.  I also had the opportunity to teach two classes I hadn't gotten to instruct yet, and establish myself as their teacher.

To celebrate making it to Friday I went to the pub with most of the English department and had my first Kiwi beer.  Later on I followed that up with two more in Petone with Nikki.  It was so wonderful to talk to someone who understood all of the challenges I had faced during the week, I feel very lucky to have her around.  We ate greasy food and enjoyed hearing American accents.  I think we have both realized that traveling to another country and teaching in another country are two very different things.

Yesterday I got up and took an hour long bus ride to Evans Bay.  SAILING!  I helped out with a beginning sailing class and got out on the water for the first time.  We sailed Fivas, which are these Laser like things that really like to flip over.  I was a volunteer teacher and crewed most of the day, so I went swimming of course, four times.  But I could care less, just being out on the water in the breeze and the salt felt incredible. It reminded me that I am in a beautiful and new place, and I am so lucky to be here.

And here I am again on Sunday, with a weeks worth of lessons to plan, and papers to grade.  Challenge accepted!!!