Told You!

So, I am finally able to post on here again.

No, we did not get internet at our house yet.

We finally got internet at the school and I finally have had time to sit down at the computer and do some surfing before the bus is scheduled to take teachers home again.

If you are looking for a place of uplifting right now, you might as well skip reading my blog today. I am tired. I am discouraged. I am frustrated.

The Big K is a land of big promises that are not filled. I promise you that every promise that has been made to Stephen and I, regarding accommodations, amenities (t.v. and internet hookup), getting paid....basically anything that a new job promises they will provide for you...has not actually happened.

This does not mean that we are living in a cardboard box in a field with all the stray dogs that love it here. We are, in fact, in our apartment and thankfully, have not had any major problems with it, as other teachers have had. Some teachers have had flooding in their basements, mold is covering walls, dishwashers have flooded kitchens, due to improper installment, lamps have caught fire, due to faulty electrical wiring. I am extremely grateful that none of this has happened to us. What I am struggling with is having any sort of normalcy and routine.

The school I am working for (I won't name it on here - if you're curious, email me) opened on Monday, the first, with a ceremony. The mayor actually attended and said a few words. (He had said he was coming to visit last week and never showed up.) There were children and parents EVERYWHERE, not moving, not doing anything we asked them to do -- You mean "Please move to the atrium for the ceremony" doesn't actually mean, "Please stand in my classroom doorway and block the way for anyone to move"? By the way, the big K doesn't believe in any form of a line or waiting turns. It's a free-for-all. I hate it. I need order, people!

Okay, first day of school was yesterday. It went alright. I had 19 students -- 7 boys, 12 girls. 4 of them speak English. About 5 of them understand English at a basic level, and the rest - TEN - do not speak or understand English at all. This is fine, I tell myself. I have taught non-English speaking students before. They learn it quickly and all is good. Today, I feel outnumbered.

One of the students told my teaching assistant, Kathrine (who is kindly translating for me in Russian) that he doesn't want to listen to me. She should just tell him what to do. She told him that will not be happening and for the rest of the day, he glared at me. After school, I met with his father and informed him of this and his father's attitude was that his son is bored and should skip a grade. Our registrar said absolutely not. Second day of school, people.

I have a headache because I am extremely dehydrated. I forgot my water bottle at home this morning and since the school doesn't have any drinking fountains - STUPID - and only serve this nasty "juice" at lunch, I am darn thirsty.

Are we doing alright? Yes, of course. I am so blessed to have my husband. He is so supportive and loving and has been listening to my gripes every night with so much patience. He feels my pain, too, and knows that things are different here. It all just makes me want to leave here. I am missing home. The familiarity of how the U.S. does things is what I crave. It is what I know and love. It makes sense to me. For the most part, when you are told that something will happen, you can bet that it will.

Obviously, I am coveting some prayers, if you think of it. I am just sad and discouraged right now, which I have been experiencing off and on since we got here. I know the feeling will pass in a day or two and I will be back to myself. I was supposed to get paid last week and haven't because the school's accountant is a pain in the butt. I know that's not the right attitude, but it's true. Hopefully, she will believe be this time when I tell her that the US doesn't use IBAN numbers. I don't have an IBAN number. I will never have an IBAN number. I am not a liar.

I am hoping I can post more often. Hopefully with a more upbeat message. It is very difficult right now, though, as I am bound to the school's schedule with transport. My internet exposure is very limited. Love you, my precious little readers!