My REAL first day

So, it was inaccurate of me to discuss my first day with the kids as we really didn't do anything seriously academic the entire first week. Today is Wednesday, and now the pressure is starting to set in. For those who aren't teachers, it's difficult to imagine the shift between not only grade levels, but to ESL kids, and a whole new curriculum. I feel like a first-year teacher all over again, which is mildly stress-inducing. Did I say mildly? Scratch that, I'm a total head-case right now.

The kids are still good, but I have to regularly "put the smack down" to keep them from talking through just about everything. People defend the kids saying, "It's just part of their culture", but I think it's BS. I have had a number of "serious" talks with various students, which I'm sure were highly exaggerated by the time they got home.

My feelings were confirmed yesterday at Open House, which I wasn't really worried about until I saw the Colombian parents file in. Talk about an intimidating crowd. There were directors, doctors, company owners, and BEAUTIFUL, totally made-up moms and they were all looking at me like, "What's this jackass got to say?" I started in fine, but then my nerves set in a little. I didn't really fumble, but it was then that the altitude started setting in as I couldn't quite catch my breath. I had them do a little interviewing activity where they were supposed to ask questions, uninterrupted for a minute, and then switch off and answer them, also uninterrupted. They, like their kids, didn't follow the instructions very well, but was I going to write the opthamologist's name on the board? I think not.

I started telling them about myself, my educational background, my travel experience, and past years of teaching. I hyped up the TCK experience as to make sure that they realized I had the proper credentials to teach their kids. I knew that the kids probably went home the first week and told them that I was kind of strict, but that we played lots of really fun games. This week has been decidedly more academic, and I have taken the strictness up a notch. So when I went to talk about our discipline policies, I had to briefly justify myself. I told them that I was worried that their kids have probably been coming home telling them how strict, mean, asshole-ish, etc. I have been and I saw a couple of parents nodding, especially the mother of a squirrely little kid I've been hammering. I discussed the fact that it's very important to set the stage, as it's easier to back off later than to start off as a push-over. I asked them to trust me and reassured them that I do know what I'm doing. It turned into quite the sale.

I then began discussing my use of timed multiplication tests and showed them the kids who had already passed and had their papers up in the back of the room, when this guy jumped in and began questioning my philosophy. I was a little surprised at his comments, but was ready for him. I told him that I was so glad he asked, and proceeded to explain the story of Corey Knox, the kid in last year's class who nobody thought would ever pass a thing. I busted out the whole idea of "goal attainment" and talked about how the class would rally together to make sure that EVERY kid passed this test and that I was teaching the conceptual math that their kids have probably never had. I further added, now in my teaching "zone" that if every kid didn't pass this test by the end of the year (probably sometime next week, in reality) that he could ask for my resignation and I'd willingly leave the school. Then I got cocky, and told him and the other parents, "Not only do I talk the talk, but I'll walk the walk. Just wait and see." That was it. A big smile came across his face, and I could see that the parents were convinced. Shit, if not them, I at least convinced myself. Parents came over and talked to me, a couple of hot moms kissed me on the cheek, and I was one happy "import teacher."

Other than school, life has been pretty dull. Last weekend, we went to a real part of Medellin to a totally cruddy "bar" which consisted of bottles of rum on the shelves. We danced until about 2AM and got home about an hour later. Let's just say I didn't feel great the next day. Yesterday, I got Direct TV, which is really exciting and watched my first episode of The Simpsons in nearly a month. This weekend is a 3 day, but we're all scrambling to figure out something to do. I'm fairly resigned to just stay here in town. I honestly thought when I came down here that I would be traveling all over the place, but that's just not the case. I don't think I'll do anything really extravagant until Thanksgiving or Christmas time. I may go to Bogota in October, but other than that, it will probably just be little outings here and there. Another piece of exciting news is that my maid was supposed to start today. I'm praying that I go home to clean clothes, otherwise I'll be ironing stuff off the floor.

Well, gotta run. We have a staff meeting in about 15 minutes. I'm sure it'll be a thriller.

Take care, and call me sometime when you get a chance. I love the phone calls!

Ben