As some of you may know I have had an intense bout of ennui and culture shock this last week and a half. I am getting better, but I still am struggling with many aspects of the new life. This is to be expected so I have decided to just ride it out and suck it up. Some vignettes you may enjoy:
- Children here are incredibly social at the younger ages and like to come visit. In order to avoid confrontation with a kindergartner I have taken to hiding on the floor when I really just want to be alone. This has made me re-evaluate my life choices as I dig my nose into our carpet.
- At 28 I am considered quite on the the shelf and a little looney for not having a plethora of kids. I find this hilarious as students will still look at me and say "Are you sure you don't have ANY kids?" to which I reply "None that I know of." The humor is completely lost on them and several students are trying to figure out how I could have kids and not know it.
- Having a student reply "Well, duh" when I say "If you are spitting I am going to assume you are chewing."
- I sometimes forget that my colloquialisms do not work up here and when I tell students that the F word is off limits they immediately wonder what is wrong with saying the number five.
- I got stopped on a walk yesterday and asked if I was the new teacher. I told them I was and I taught seventh grade. He smiled and walked away. As he was walking I heard him say "They are getting older and older."
Pictures to come, still sort of settling in but excited to share, Heather
It's amazing how night and day cultures truly can be. You have no clue how hard I laughed visualizing you sprawled face down on the floor. Hopefully the culture shock will wear off at a more progressed rate now that you know how to tuck and roll military style across your living room floor!
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