On the other topic of "sucking," my housing situation has become a bit complicated. I've been staying with Michael, and a few days ago, I moved into the faculty dorm that was provided for me. And now, I'm back at Michael's. Let's just say that Teresa + allergies to mold = very bad things. So, now I'm trying to find something more permanent that hopefully isn't going to gouge my wallet. Ugh.
But on more positive aspects, while paperwork hasn't been formalized, I started co-teaching yesterday. I don't know my complete schedule as of yet, but I co-teach an English reading class for two-and-a-half hours on Thursdays, and an hour-and-a-half English speaking class on Friday mornings.
The students are great. I am forcing myself to not use my excessive Californian vernacular (such as "dude," "like," "hella," "sweet," "cool," and "shit!") and to speak a lot slower than I'm used to (that's hard). But they laugh at my dumb jokes, and the enthusiasm is contagious.
This morning was my first speaking class, and my mouth hurt from talking so much and my face from laughing. These kids are utterly hilarious. Their vocabulary is still building, so when the other teacher, Ms. Ha, and I initiated warm-up description exercises, their explanations of fellow classmates were similar. But, as the class went on, they became more expressive and excited, and they were even screaming when they played group board games. I brought coffee-vanilla candy that we used as prizes, and after the first break, the entire room smelled of coffee.
Ms. Ha has got to be my long-lost twin. I think most of our teaching together consisted of laughing, teasing the students for describing each other with "long, black hair" ("EVERYONE has black hair!" Ms. Ha exclaimed), and running around, passing out candy and cracking jokes. She's 25, and half-way to her master's degree. All she wanted for the first day was to make a great impression, and to make the students really excited to be there. So for the entirety of the class, the 26 students were treated to two teachers, pumping them full of sugar and English games.
Students asked me questions at the beginning, usually generic ones like, what's your name, where are you from. One girl shyly stood up and asked, "How old are you, are you married!!" Ms. Ha shrieked with laughter, and said that it was so impolite to ask me such things. I didn't mind, and said, "24, and I'm not!" "No ring!" Ms. Ha cried, waving at my hands. "She has no ring, so that means there are very lucky Vietnamese boys in town!!"
During the break, Ms. Ha linked arms with me and led me to the teachers' lounge, where we gushed about the students, and what to do for future classes. Her excitement got me excited, and all I could think about was how fun this class would be. I finally felt like I was giving something here, really making a purpose of the whole reason why I came.
When the class ended, all of the students stood up to say goodbye as Ms. Ha and I left, countless beaming grins flashing at us. We walked down the stairs, and I couldn't stop rattling on how I already loved the class.
"It was great!" Ms. Ha said. "We're going to be so successful!" She laughed again, and lifted her fist for an American fistpound. I had to contain myself from hysterics, as two nicely-dressed teachers fistpounded to our success in the middle of a busy hallway.
I felt a bit of a spring in my step as I wound my way through the roads of the campus to catch my bus back into town. I felt invigorated and ready to conquer anything.
Well, almost anything.
If I can stop scratching, and perhaps be able to not be in a melted, liquid state the instant I step outdoors, I will have conquered all! But for now, I'll take the happiness of having some great students.
Oh man, please don't bring bedbugs back to Alaska, Seattle is already dealing with them, and you pretty much end up having to throw away the bed. You need to use some of that benadryl you used on the plane ride.
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