Survival

Ha ha. I survived my first day! It's very different from what I imagine a first day in the U.S. would be like. I didn't think it was bad, but it had the potential.

First of all, I couldn't clock in. I walked down to the clock in place twice. It just wasn't cooperating. I thought "Man, I should have tested this earlier!" But that wouldn't really work. I'd just confuse the personnel office if I clocked in. And it would probably confuse them even more if I clocked in then clocked out immediately.

So I came back the 2nd time and told Yvonne it still wouldn't work. She got up and took my badge. She warned me if it worked when she did it then I would owe her. Bet you can guess what happened! Yeah, it worked right away. So lame. But I was smart enough to follow her and see what she did. She simply put it against the pad. I'm justified in my trouble because it says "contact-LESS" right on it. It lied to me!

At least I got a chuckle out of Yvonne. And it made me laugh outright. What a way to start my first day!

The morning was mellow. No classes since students were meeting with their homeroom teachers and getting everything set up. Classroom management and all that. So I was in the office getting ready. Time went by pretty fast. I was surprised when Yvonne said let's get lunch. Okay, I wasn't since I was checking the clock and my stomach was hinting that such a break was necessary. Maybe it would be more accurate to say I was surprised I hadn't gotten tons done. I arrived at 7:30!

I think I'm rambling a bit. I did give myself a basic outline of what I would do with my 2 afternoon classes. Good thing too. Yvonne made me late for my class! We didn't leave the lunch place until 1:00 pm. Class starts at 1:05 pm.

And here comes another funny incident on my first day. Wrong location! Yvonne has changed our first week schedule SO many times. I've lost count. And I checked with her just before I left for the classroom. I find the classroom (although I hadn't scoped it out before today like my mom suggested) and walk in confidently. The students are eating cake and there is a Chinese teacher. Uh. . . Then another Chinese teacher comes in and tells me the class will be held in one of the language labs and she'll bring her class down.

So I walk back to the office to get the key and ask someone for help. I was pretty sure Yvonne was in her own class so I wasn't sure who I would ask. I saw Sarah (the intern) as I walked back and she confirmed Yvonne was not in the office. I walked in and stopped at Steve's desk. When he looked at me I said, "I don't know where I'm supposed to be!" He decided it was the old language lab (versus the new one) and had Chuck give me the key. Around 10 minutes later I got to the room (with Sarah's help) and found the students standing outside. Oops!

I opened the door and it was time to start. We barely had 30 minutes and they had to take a writing test in that amount of time. So not much happened. Luckily I knew 2 of the students from observing last week. They helped me turn on the air conditioners :)

The next class started only 5 minutes after the first, but I had to return to the office. I wanted to make sure I was going to the right place! I gave Yvonne a hard time and triple checked the location of my class. Off I went! It was similar to the previous class. I gave them the writing test (for placing them in their classes). But we had nearly 20 minutes left. I told them about myself and ran out of things to say. Then I had each of them introduce themselves (or is it theirselves??). That filled the time and gave them a chance to speak English.

*Sigh* It's over. I worked in the office during the last class. I normally have another class but it was cancelled today. The school had to train the students in loading the buses. Imagine trying to get 10,000 students out of school, on buses, and home! Yikes. Plus a bunch of them are 1st year students that don't know the normal routine.

It's after 4:30 and I'm technically done. But I'm not actually. Oh here's another funny thing - I gave Yvonne my writing tests and asked who grades them. She made a funny face and told me to guess. I said myself and her and then went back to myself. I was right on both. 2 teachers grade each students' test. So now I have 48 writing samples to grade! And that is just from the 2nd class. Luckily the first one was smaller, only 25 students.

Oh yeah. This is funny too. First, I've now met all the teachers in the office. One is a guy named AJ who arrived here on Thursday. I think he's brave, on the verge of crazy. His only teaching experience is his mission. And he doesn't speak Chinese. And he had never travelled internationally. Oh and he didn't really know what he was going to do. Wow. At least I knew what I would do before I decided to come. And I have 4 years of college training.

So there is also a guy named Andy who just got back from Australia. He's Taiwanese and speaks Chinese. The 4th and final teacher is named Mark. He has lived here for 11 years. His wife is Taiwanese (I think) and he has 2 kids. He speaks excellent Chinese according to Yvonne (although I was under the impression that he didn't know any. Odd).

Back to the funny thing. Andy came in from his class and said they didn't get finished with introductions. He said he had 61 kids. AJ and I had shocked looks on our face but Yvonne said "You're lucky!" Funny, eh?

I'm tired and should be working on some lessons for tomorrow. I have my listening and speaking class. They are 2nd year students so no cancellations and they already know the routines. Oh and it is 2 hours together. Woo hoo!

Thanks to everyone who supports me. Love to all.