Friday was a tiresome day, not because of the workload but because of the rush. I almost burst into fury and stop collaboration at a project. I am not sure, I might have said some harsh words to the other person, I was too angered and overwhelmed to be aware of what I was saying. I hope I didn't offend, too much...I know I don't have much patience, but I try to pace myself. This person really pushes my buttons. She is a good person and I know she doesn't do this intentionally, but she is a very difficult person to work with. For some time, I blamed myself, thinking I had a problem, but I saw that she drives most people crazy. Finally, maybe it's a good exercise for my patience. If I will get to the point when it will be impossible for me to take it any more, I hope I will have the strength to retire calmly, without victims. I wanted to do it from the beginning when I saw I have problems with her way of work, but as usual I am weak and I don't want to leave people without support. Besides, I made the project, it's my baby, and I want somehow to nurture it and gather its fruit (take advantage of the trip in Turkey it includes).
Enough with work. Or..last night I staid till 3a.m. making some logos for the same project. I began in the afternoon and I don't know then the hours passed. Work is great when you enjoy it!
Today, I worked too, with the same spirit. I did things without being asked, because I know they have to be done.(I "blame" my mum for this compulsion to do my work till the end. The years of indoctrination have put their print on my behaviour.)
Besides work, I went in town for an anniversary present. It was a great day, with the perfect weather- neither cold, nor hot. I was amused by my encounter with a former student. She greeted me very respectfully, but I felt a bit uncomfortable. She looked more like the teacher than I did. She is very tall, very blonde and stylish, while I prefer comfortable clothes, without heels. I felt small and unnoticeable. I should really pay more attention to my look...Even if I lose one of my pleasures- walking a lot. Tomorrow...(quoting Scarlett O'Hara)
Another encounter, one of many, was with an acquaintance who was telling me about her daughter's health problems (yes, a leitmotif for my visits to town). What shocked me was that she was telling me that woman, who is very religious, is fasting very harshly, refusing even oil cooked meals and medication. I really don't understand why it would be against God to eat oil, which is made from sun-flower or other plants. And what about drugs? I wonder if there is any Orthodox priest who forbids them and what explanation he gives for that. I really doubt that this is written somewhere. If it is, I really think that is a big deal and I would have a problem with that piece of writing.
We don't take medication because we are all right. And what kind of religion would ask us to give up our health only because it says this is liked by God? I really think that that woman took things too far and she invents rules for herself and to be sure she is in God's favour. I think she really needs specialist. Her mother said there is no reasoning with her, so she would not accept this specialised help voluntarily, she doesn't realise she has a problem. But for her health, her parents must do something to hospitalize her, or they will have a bigger problem. She can die of starvation, she eats little food and doesn't drink water, and because of her untreated stomach illness.
She is a walking corpse now. She looks old beyond her years in her black nun-like clothes. I remember her some years ago, at a wedding. She looked like a movie star, she used to be very beautiful and fashionable.
Talking about this, reminded me about a distant relative who died of cancer. She was in her early forties when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. A surgery would have extracted the cancer cells and saved her life, but before her surgery she went for an advice to her priest. And surprise, surprise...he told her that it would be a sin to do that, that letting the doctor cut her breast would be an act against God. He said that God will, no doubt, take care of her and cure her. He recommended her to try natural remedies and a lot of prayer.
Being in a very difficult moment emotionally, she caved in and turned to religion, giving up surgery. She even decided to sell her house and move to a monastery in the North of Moldavia and live like a nun in prayer. After a couple of months the pains began and she reconsidered her decision of giving up surgery, but unfortunately it was too late, the cancer had spread into her body.
When I visited her to that monastery (with a cousin who wanted to say her good -byes, because the end was obvious) she couldn't leave her bed any more, the cancer being spread in one of her lungs and a leg. It was...painful to see her. She was taking lots of drugs, but not even those weren't able to take her horrible pains. I hope, this would be a lesson for people who read this. Don't give up on modern medicine! You wouldn't want to get in her situation. It was almost 10 years ago and I still remember everything from that house and especially her room. It was a mind-carving image. And we couldn't do anything to help. We were talking and trying to make her talk, forget for a second, at least, about the pain and at the same time to fill in the silence, full of tension.
She died a month after, if I remember correctly. She had many more days of growing sufferance. I wouldn't wish that to the worse killer in history. Please, people promise to take care of yourself in any way possible. I made this promise to myself then and I want to stick to it. I totally agree with the Romanian saying: "Health is better than everything!"
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Road trip
Yesterday was a regular day, but tiresome so I couldn't convince myself to write anything. A girl locked in a cupboard was the only uncommon event. I began that class as usually but I was surprised by the outbursts of laughter from a group in the class. I almost got upset thinking that they had something with me, but they decided to share with me that they were laughing knowing about their classmate locked in the cupboard. I was scared of their actions and demanded them to unlock that as soon a.s.a.p. To my surprise, the girl was locked there with her own will. She kept insisting that she likes it in there and she would like to stay there the whole class. Off course, the scene was very funny for the whole class and there were several volunteers who wanted to squeeze in there with her. And these are 18-19 years old students.... I had some difficulties calming them down very fast. I wanted because I didn't want their uproar to alert the school, especially knowing that there were some officials in the school. I know that they took the permission of doing this with me, because I take it as a joke, while this would get them in serious trouble with other teachers. The rest of the class went great as usual with them. After the childhood act, they showed their grown-up side-seriousness in learning. Would you have done differently?
Today was another story, I had a road trip to another town for the semester's teacher's meeting. In the car, full with colleagues, we laughed and sang on 70's and 90's tunes all the way there and back. The trip began with emotions, when we had to go to the gas station, the car being in serious danger of stopping from lack of fuel. The driver went in the gas station on the way of the exit, cutting sharply on the other circulation way. She didn't think too much at the dangerous maneuver, being used to it. To our surprise, in the gas station there were two police cars. We could already see the huge ticket, but the policeman fueling his car took a long, delighted look at her legs while she descended from the car and said nothing. I think she was lucky she was wearing a short skirt and a big butterfly smile. That was only the beginning!
When we arrived at the destination, we found all the front parking lot full, so we parked it in the back. We left the car there with doubts that we would find it whole at our return. It has no alarm and that town is well-known for its colourful natives who like to collect and sell everything they can get their hands on. Ownership is overvalued there, finder's keepers is the law.
We got to the presented class late, but I don't think we missed much. It was very difficult to hear the teacher and when I heard her she was doing some mistake. It was a weak, unfocused class, but I didn't want my colleagues to attack her and make her cry, as it happened before with other weak lessons from our department. I found out later that she received some harsh comments from two of my older colleagues in a short break we took.
As usual, in this situation, at the discussion part of the meeting there was an awkward long silence. Because I hate these tense moments, I made a habit of interrupting them saying something about the lesson. Thus, I opened the discussion and gave some suggestions for improvement. I congratulated her for her effort, of preparing lesson. Luckily this managed to guide the discussion to a more friendly path. Nobody felt inclined after that to throw a stone in that teacher. I feel well that I averted the war. I did my good deed for the day. By the way, do you have suggestion on how to pacify a sharp tongued group of women? It seems they want to tear each other apart every time they meet. Is it woman's nature to gossip and throw poisoned arrows with an angelic smile on her face?
Today was another story, I had a road trip to another town for the semester's teacher's meeting. In the car, full with colleagues, we laughed and sang on 70's and 90's tunes all the way there and back. The trip began with emotions, when we had to go to the gas station, the car being in serious danger of stopping from lack of fuel. The driver went in the gas station on the way of the exit, cutting sharply on the other circulation way. She didn't think too much at the dangerous maneuver, being used to it. To our surprise, in the gas station there were two police cars. We could already see the huge ticket, but the policeman fueling his car took a long, delighted look at her legs while she descended from the car and said nothing. I think she was lucky she was wearing a short skirt and a big butterfly smile. That was only the beginning!
When we arrived at the destination, we found all the front parking lot full, so we parked it in the back. We left the car there with doubts that we would find it whole at our return. It has no alarm and that town is well-known for its colourful natives who like to collect and sell everything they can get their hands on. Ownership is overvalued there, finder's keepers is the law.
We got to the presented class late, but I don't think we missed much. It was very difficult to hear the teacher and when I heard her she was doing some mistake. It was a weak, unfocused class, but I didn't want my colleagues to attack her and make her cry, as it happened before with other weak lessons from our department. I found out later that she received some harsh comments from two of my older colleagues in a short break we took.
As usual, in this situation, at the discussion part of the meeting there was an awkward long silence. Because I hate these tense moments, I made a habit of interrupting them saying something about the lesson. Thus, I opened the discussion and gave some suggestions for improvement. I congratulated her for her effort, of preparing lesson. Luckily this managed to guide the discussion to a more friendly path. Nobody felt inclined after that to throw a stone in that teacher. I feel well that I averted the war. I did my good deed for the day. By the way, do you have suggestion on how to pacify a sharp tongued group of women? It seems they want to tear each other apart every time they meet. Is it woman's nature to gossip and throw poisoned arrows with an angelic smile on her face?
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Uneventful
I had the hiccups all day. Seeing me holding my breath, some students thought their classroom smelt bad and they opened the window. It is said that when you have the hiccups, somebody is talking about you. I was thinking who had so many things to say about me and when would they stop to allow me the teach my classes properly. Of course, I am sure that it was only the change in temperature. I think it was funny though to see my attempts to speak, muffled immediately by a loud hiccup.
Today, nothing great to report, except a delegation from a plant. The Turkish translator kept looking at me, which was very weird. He seemed a complete stranger to me. Finally, he decided to let me know that he was a former student of mine. Wanting to break the ice more I asked him smiling if I was harsh to him. The very serious answer was "kind of..." Imagine how I felt. The conclusion is that I should be kinder to my students, you never know where they'll end up.
Without any relation- I remembered something a friend told me about a teacher, who had been her neighbour. He used to stay on his balcony and spy with binoculars on his neighbours - women. That reminded me of a joke about a boy who was asked by his parents to do the same thing. This was their solution to keep him busy while they were doing something else in the bedroom. As to make sure that he was safe on the balcony, his father told him to keep talking, telling him about what he was seeing.
The five years old soon became used to this routine. One evening, he was sharing what he was seeing in the close-by apartment block like this: " I see old Mrs Johnson breast feeding her baby...Jane from the first floor is jumping over the window in her miniskirt while her parents watch the TV in the living room...Mr Black is trying a new red dress in the mirror...he doesn't look half bad, except for the beard...and I see also Michael, my kindergarten classmate, looking through his binoculars. He's freezing his pants off on the balcony while his parents are doing the same think as you do. Please finish quicker, dad!"
Today, nothing great to report, except a delegation from a plant. The Turkish translator kept looking at me, which was very weird. He seemed a complete stranger to me. Finally, he decided to let me know that he was a former student of mine. Wanting to break the ice more I asked him smiling if I was harsh to him. The very serious answer was "kind of..." Imagine how I felt. The conclusion is that I should be kinder to my students, you never know where they'll end up.
Without any relation- I remembered something a friend told me about a teacher, who had been her neighbour. He used to stay on his balcony and spy with binoculars on his neighbours - women. That reminded me of a joke about a boy who was asked by his parents to do the same thing. This was their solution to keep him busy while they were doing something else in the bedroom. As to make sure that he was safe on the balcony, his father told him to keep talking, telling him about what he was seeing.
The five years old soon became used to this routine. One evening, he was sharing what he was seeing in the close-by apartment block like this: " I see old Mrs Johnson breast feeding her baby...Jane from the first floor is jumping over the window in her miniskirt while her parents watch the TV in the living room...Mr Black is trying a new red dress in the mirror...he doesn't look half bad, except for the beard...and I see also Michael, my kindergarten classmate, looking through his binoculars. He's freezing his pants off on the balcony while his parents are doing the same think as you do. Please finish quicker, dad!"
Monday, March 19, 2012
Musical Monday
Everybody tells me that I look in high spirits today. I wonder why. I don't feel different than other days and I don't think I behave differently. Does it happen to you?
I love my students. Some days. Today they were fun. From the first class, at the usual question "How are you today?" I received the answer- bad "because yesterday I got high, I got high..."with the well-known tune hummed on two voices. Of course, the tune haunted me all day, and I kept mumbling it in the background, no matter what I was doing.
I had an hour with a class of boys who usually put my patience to a test, but today I think they took pity on me and everything went great. I even enjoyed the low played music they had on their phones. I think they finally got the idea that I don't enjoy manele. We managed to be very efficient today too- we wrote two formal letters, which is exceptional for that class. We were interrupted only once by some people who came to ask some mercy-money for a sick child. I don't think we were very merciful - money tend to decrease when you have such visits four times in a week.But the boys enjoyed the the last person who went out on the door. They almost twisted their necks admiring the blue-jeans rounded qualities of a young woman from that group.
Next I supervised a simulated exam. I took advantage of this to catch up with my reading, the students being very well behaved. I am really satisfied that they don't try any more to cheat when I'm around. It's really tiresome to argue with them to be honest. I don't think this generation considers honesty as normal, they used to blame me for not allowing them to cheat. Weird! Generation gap I suppose.
The next class was perfectly tuned too, as did the supplementary class I had with some students. So, it was an easy, enjoyable day at work. I am glad that I am so stubborn. I always chose what I thought was best for me, what I liked most and this has really paid off. I'm doing what I like and I am really happy with my life. I wish everybody would be so lucky!
Visit to a friend with the compulsory wardrobe talk and the last boiled dear ribs with some criminal horse radish, almost completed my day. I hope the week will continue on the same laid -back, enjoyable note. I will let you know if so, of course...
I love my students. Some days. Today they were fun. From the first class, at the usual question "How are you today?" I received the answer- bad "because yesterday I got high, I got high..."with the well-known tune hummed on two voices. Of course, the tune haunted me all day, and I kept mumbling it in the background, no matter what I was doing.
I had an hour with a class of boys who usually put my patience to a test, but today I think they took pity on me and everything went great. I even enjoyed the low played music they had on their phones. I think they finally got the idea that I don't enjoy manele. We managed to be very efficient today too- we wrote two formal letters, which is exceptional for that class. We were interrupted only once by some people who came to ask some mercy-money for a sick child. I don't think we were very merciful - money tend to decrease when you have such visits four times in a week.But the boys enjoyed the the last person who went out on the door. They almost twisted their necks admiring the blue-jeans rounded qualities of a young woman from that group.
Next I supervised a simulated exam. I took advantage of this to catch up with my reading, the students being very well behaved. I am really satisfied that they don't try any more to cheat when I'm around. It's really tiresome to argue with them to be honest. I don't think this generation considers honesty as normal, they used to blame me for not allowing them to cheat. Weird! Generation gap I suppose.
The next class was perfectly tuned too, as did the supplementary class I had with some students. So, it was an easy, enjoyable day at work. I am glad that I am so stubborn. I always chose what I thought was best for me, what I liked most and this has really paid off. I'm doing what I like and I am really happy with my life. I wish everybody would be so lucky!
Visit to a friend with the compulsory wardrobe talk and the last boiled dear ribs with some criminal horse radish, almost completed my day. I hope the week will continue on the same laid -back, enjoyable note. I will let you know if so, of course...
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
A typical Saturday
Morning wake-up and laziness in bed. A trip to the market for some list demanded shopping. I have the occasion to watch babies discovering the world. Some uncertain steps helped by mum, wide open eyes and finger pointing are the first ways they get in contact with this world. Spring has come and they begin to discover that this world means more than four walls. I like to watch them and notice what surprises them. I imagine this would be the first reactions of some aliens coming to earth. They are aliens too. Fresh beings ready to be shaped by everything around. It's interesting to see how some random events and people can put an imprint on them. Tabula rasa becomes a map of people met and things seen.
It was an enjoyable morning. The first one when we really felt that spring has stepped in. Walking towards the market, we met a lot of acquaintances. There was the familiar discussion about illnesses, doctors and drugs - a must when I go out with my mother who knows half of the town and always has a piece of advice for you. I enjoyed listening, watching the market crowd go by and noticing the little sparrows spies, hidden under a roof, ready any moment to jump and assault a crumb.
I met a former colleague. And I was surprised that there are still people that don't know that I'm back. " I thought that you were still over the ocean!" I told him I am back for good and responded to his surprised face with a -"I will tell you all about it next time". I thought that chapter in my life was over and I am a bit annoyed to go a step back and explain myself. I am here and I want to enjoy my life now.
A kiosk gathers people to sign for a good cause- stopping some dangerous mining. I don't like my attitude - of blunt rejection, but I can't stop the feeling that is useless. I feel that people's wish has been ignored too may times and when weighed between some money and it, the money wins no matter how many signatures were gathered. A man, in his sixties, reminds people of an upcoming strike. My mother and another lady seem very determined to remember the date. It's funny for me. I always imagined that strikes are stirred up by young people. The ones who feel the need of action and yelling. Seeing old people speaking of a strike like an appointment, makes me think strikes have become a national sport. I imagine old people would schedule their death like that if they could.
The market - is great. A continuous show without curtains. You can't get bored there. There is always something happening. It's enough to open your eyes. I like the peasant lady with the common grey course will sweater. It makes me imagine her knitting it next to the stove the last winter. It is really spring if the gave up her lamb skin coat.
We are looking for horseradish. An uncle brought some dear meat and we need it for the afternoon roast. The first price is unacceptable so we go around the market looking for a cheaper bundle. But none of them looks better than the first one seen and have the same price. So I have to go and buy from the first lady, my mum doesn't want to go there again after she mocked her price.
Next is the chive. I like the task distribution made by my mother. She will buy three kilos, that I will have to carry, her sister and brother other four. Everybody has to buy if they want onions in the autumn from my grandfather!
Back towards home. I look at the the spoiled behaviour of a stray dog called between two men selling in the market. They have warmth in their voices and it shows its love in its mellow feline-like steps and paw over the eye meant to amuse them. It always amazes me how easy they forget harsh words and are willing to sell their souls at the first kind word. They are not people indeed.
I see a muzzled German dog and we make eye contact. I want to pet its fur but I can't reach it because it is surrounded by three talking cops.
On our way, I look around and I see a lot of youngsters, teenagers. The gorgeous sun has allured everybody outside and they bring with them life and movement.
An afternoon walk in the park made me feel in an surreal world. The fresh shy sun through the barren tree branches on the earth and snow patches makes us feel special. It's like a sunset in the middle of the day. Everybody is out. I see them in jackets, although it isn't that warm yet. But they seem so free. They can shed the burden of their thick winter coats. And they had to wear a lot for a a long time this winter. It was a real winter, this year, like in our grandfathers' stories.
I see some boys throwing some snowballs, or something between snow and water. They feel already the nostalgia of winter. They realize that this is the last time they will play with snow till next winter. And that is a long time away, especially for them.
Relaxing on a bench I look at the water bubbles running under the thin layer of ice next to our feet. A leaf, from last autumn, no doubt, stopped to rest on its brim. I wonder how was its entire trip until it got there. Dizzy bees go around and some in love birds began their chant.
The lion began roaring. At its usual time. But its vowels seem lower this time, may be it too feels the laziness and pleasure of this spring afternoon. It's a perfect day. What can you wish more...Life is worth living for its small things.
It was an enjoyable morning. The first one when we really felt that spring has stepped in. Walking towards the market, we met a lot of acquaintances. There was the familiar discussion about illnesses, doctors and drugs - a must when I go out with my mother who knows half of the town and always has a piece of advice for you. I enjoyed listening, watching the market crowd go by and noticing the little sparrows spies, hidden under a roof, ready any moment to jump and assault a crumb.
I met a former colleague. And I was surprised that there are still people that don't know that I'm back. " I thought that you were still over the ocean!" I told him I am back for good and responded to his surprised face with a -"I will tell you all about it next time". I thought that chapter in my life was over and I am a bit annoyed to go a step back and explain myself. I am here and I want to enjoy my life now.
A kiosk gathers people to sign for a good cause- stopping some dangerous mining. I don't like my attitude - of blunt rejection, but I can't stop the feeling that is useless. I feel that people's wish has been ignored too may times and when weighed between some money and it, the money wins no matter how many signatures were gathered. A man, in his sixties, reminds people of an upcoming strike. My mother and another lady seem very determined to remember the date. It's funny for me. I always imagined that strikes are stirred up by young people. The ones who feel the need of action and yelling. Seeing old people speaking of a strike like an appointment, makes me think strikes have become a national sport. I imagine old people would schedule their death like that if they could.
The market - is great. A continuous show without curtains. You can't get bored there. There is always something happening. It's enough to open your eyes. I like the peasant lady with the common grey course will sweater. It makes me imagine her knitting it next to the stove the last winter. It is really spring if the gave up her lamb skin coat.
We are looking for horseradish. An uncle brought some dear meat and we need it for the afternoon roast. The first price is unacceptable so we go around the market looking for a cheaper bundle. But none of them looks better than the first one seen and have the same price. So I have to go and buy from the first lady, my mum doesn't want to go there again after she mocked her price.
Next is the chive. I like the task distribution made by my mother. She will buy three kilos, that I will have to carry, her sister and brother other four. Everybody has to buy if they want onions in the autumn from my grandfather!
Back towards home. I look at the the spoiled behaviour of a stray dog called between two men selling in the market. They have warmth in their voices and it shows its love in its mellow feline-like steps and paw over the eye meant to amuse them. It always amazes me how easy they forget harsh words and are willing to sell their souls at the first kind word. They are not people indeed.
I see a muzzled German dog and we make eye contact. I want to pet its fur but I can't reach it because it is surrounded by three talking cops.
On our way, I look around and I see a lot of youngsters, teenagers. The gorgeous sun has allured everybody outside and they bring with them life and movement.
An afternoon walk in the park made me feel in an surreal world. The fresh shy sun through the barren tree branches on the earth and snow patches makes us feel special. It's like a sunset in the middle of the day. Everybody is out. I see them in jackets, although it isn't that warm yet. But they seem so free. They can shed the burden of their thick winter coats. And they had to wear a lot for a a long time this winter. It was a real winter, this year, like in our grandfathers' stories.
I see some boys throwing some snowballs, or something between snow and water. They feel already the nostalgia of winter. They realize that this is the last time they will play with snow till next winter. And that is a long time away, especially for them.
Relaxing on a bench I look at the water bubbles running under the thin layer of ice next to our feet. A leaf, from last autumn, no doubt, stopped to rest on its brim. I wonder how was its entire trip until it got there. Dizzy bees go around and some in love birds began their chant.
The lion began roaring. At its usual time. But its vowels seem lower this time, may be it too feels the laziness and pleasure of this spring afternoon. It's a perfect day. What can you wish more...Life is worth living for its small things.
Friday, March 16, 2012
All day Friday
Today was a very funny day.... Among the highlights are the red underwear of one of my students, and a kissing pair on the teacher's table.
But, maybe I should start from the beginning. One of the first classes I had, I am a teacher by the way, brought the first funny event. I was teaching tenses and I was very focused on the faces of some girls to see an acknowledgement of understanding. At a certain moment, I saw with the corner of my eye, a boy (the simple-minded stout, meek type) moving from his central desk to one closer to door. At the time, I was staying exactly in front of the door and next to the desk he moved into. In the back of my mind I figured that he came closer as to be more attentive, to understand me better and I continued to talk delighted and with greater passion. When I was in the central point of my explanation and I rotated slightly to direct myself towards the blackboard, I felt a big mass passing me by and brushing my shoulder in its way towards the door.
Immediately I heard the door behind me. I turned towards it and then amazed towards the class. "What happened?" I saw the empty sit and I realized that the boy-man had left like a tornado. Seeing my shocked face, the girls, who are in a physical and emotional majority in that class, smiled kindly at me and explained me what happened.
It seemed that the boy had a pressing need to go to the bathroom. He had moved to that desk closer to the door, maybe in an attempt to approach me with a request to leave the class. But I was so involved in my teaching that he didn't dare to interrupt me. He is very shy, apparently. I think he didn't dare to ask me because I am categorically refusing their bathroom requests during class.
The girls said that he must have been conquered by his bowel demands and he chose the fastest way to exit. Of course, I felt bad, remorseful for the poor guy. I was glad that he didn't return till the end of the class. As to redeem myself, I told them that if any of them has such big problems, they should go out quietly and not wait any more for my permission.
Did I bore you? I hope not.
Next came an hour of rehearsal for a theater play I'm staging with some students. We chose an empty classroom and began acting. Some other students, who were skipping classes, heard us and came in. I let them stay in the idea that they were useful in preparing my student-actors for an audience.This audience proved very critical and really helpful noticing acting mistakes. But, one of the girls couldn't stop laughing. I think she was flirting with one of the boys from the audience and didn't feel like behaving like a mum, her part. At a certain moment she had to act as if she has just found out the her teenage daughter is pregnant and act shocked and demanding. Imagine the harsh words of an upset mother coming out from a mouth which couldn't stop smiling. I made her redo the lines ten times and couldn't make her stop. Everybody was trying to make her act seriously, I showed her several times how to do it, I asked her to imagine her mother finding out about her being pregnant, and a sad event...but each time she was trying her smile kept creeping out and spoiling her words. Finally, I gave up and with the promise she will try more in a mirror at home, we went on with the rehearsal. Of course, that was a deal breaker, nothing went great from then on. Some days, a smile can ruin your hard work and best intentions.
Then was the red underwear... I went to a graduating class. While walking towards their classroom, one of the boys stopped me saying: "Don't go in there yet teacher! There is a naked girl there!" Of course, I thought it was a joke. Why else would he be outside? If he knew a girl was like that in there, he would have knocked the door to the ground to go in, like a normal boy that age (17). That was my thinking and I went in smiling getting ready to tell the girls his joke.
So, I came in...The first thing I saw was red, very nice bra and panties. I stopped and looked at the strange scene, but none of the girls, who were around the main character seemed much disturbed by my entrance. They looked at me bluntly and that was it. But a movement behind me stirred them up immediately after."Don't let him in, teach! Close the door!" The boy was trying to sneak inside taking advantage of my coming in.
I did automatically what it was demanded from me. I closed the door, not very convinced, only to open it again when the boy told me he has to get in because the principal was on the hallway. So I let him in, being still in a state of confusion, although I knew for certain that she wasn't in the school.
I turned around to watch the boy sitting down quietly without sneaking a peek at least towards the group of girls. I still don't know what happened there..what went through his mind. He stayed like that, playing with his phone under his desk, until the class really began.
My eyes, of course, turned to the naked girl, demanding explanations. Another girls delivered it very naturally - the red underwear brunette was trying on a dress brought by a classmate for an up-coming party. She wanted to see if it fit her and if so, buy it.
I looked at the girl, still stunned, and resigned (she was already doing it...so she had to get dressed somehow) and watched her pulling over her head a tight fitting, very short, almost see-through white dress. Asked by the wanna-be beauty -of-the ball what do I think about the way the dress fitted her, I tried to shape a non-offensive answer (we want to be on the good side of our customers -in this case my students, isn't it?). So I told her that its' too short and that makes her hips look bigger (I felt that I had to appeal to reasonable arguments as to convince her) and the tightness of the dress was accentuating hr belly making her look fat. I was promptly contradicted by a classmate of hers saying that any dress which is worth wearing will show her forms.
Trying to preserve my position, I said with an eye to the boy (who was completely out of it) that I can see her underwear through that dress and she needs something underneath, but there was no more space for that. That reply was completely ignored by now. They were busy giving the girls advice about how to lose some weight in two weeks, when the party was supposed to be.
So, I sighed and began extracting my materials for the class from my bag. When I finished, everything was in order, everybody sitting down and ready to attack English in an organized manner as they usually do. It's a collaborative class, very well intended, and maybe that's why I feel compelled to cut them some slack sometimes...
And that was not all for the day. Another notable event was in relation to another class door. At the last hour of the day, I went very convinced that I will find no student there as usual. They are another graduating class, who despite my repeated threats of "twisting their necks" if they leave, feel too tired to stay at the last class of the week. I got used to this by now so I open that door very sure to find it extremely empty.
Not this time! To my great surprise, today when I opened the door I saw the back of a student. My face burst into a very happy smile and I opened my mouth to congratulate him for staying when he turned around to reveal a girl. The girl, from another class, was sitting on the teacher's table and her lips were very obviously red from kissing.
I looked at both of them and with a mocking smile I asked them what they were doing there. He began smiling foolishly and stuttering a vowel with embarrassment. I insisted with the question, amused by his blushing face and nervous retreat towards the other side of the room.
When I directed my "attack" to the girl, I received a very straight-forward calm response -"We are waiting for the bus home which is coming in 15 minutes. It's no point staying outside in the cold, in the bus station, so we are waiting for the time to pass here. " I looked at her and of course asked why they were leaving, they both had classes. The response was very simple -they were the only ones left from their classes and they were staying there because of the cold outside.
That was it. What could I have said to that? I asked them to leave that class anyway and not stay there by themselves and I returned to the teacher's lounge to write the absentees in the class catalogue.
Do you thing the kissing scene on the teacher's table was the thing that surprised me? No!...By now I am used to teenage behaviour. It amused me, of course, to catch that in the act, but what surprised me more was the boy. I had previously suspected him of having another orientation. I have always seen him together with two other class-mates of his, girls, towards whom he had obviously no inclination. They are best friends and that's it, although they are both pretty girls. This coupled to some effeminate gestures and talking manner have made me think for the last two years that he is not attracted to girls in that manner. Maybe I was wrong...! At least the event today makes me doubt that idea. Although I am not still completely convinced he has chosen a side for life. The way the girls took charge of the situation and manned -up to answer in his place to my inquiry and the fact that I know her to be a more decisive person, makes me to think that my label was not completely wrong.
OK...I bored you enough. The day had many more enjoyable parts, but it would be a very long story to tell them all.
But, maybe I should start from the beginning. One of the first classes I had, I am a teacher by the way, brought the first funny event. I was teaching tenses and I was very focused on the faces of some girls to see an acknowledgement of understanding. At a certain moment, I saw with the corner of my eye, a boy (the simple-minded stout, meek type) moving from his central desk to one closer to door. At the time, I was staying exactly in front of the door and next to the desk he moved into. In the back of my mind I figured that he came closer as to be more attentive, to understand me better and I continued to talk delighted and with greater passion. When I was in the central point of my explanation and I rotated slightly to direct myself towards the blackboard, I felt a big mass passing me by and brushing my shoulder in its way towards the door.
Immediately I heard the door behind me. I turned towards it and then amazed towards the class. "What happened?" I saw the empty sit and I realized that the boy-man had left like a tornado. Seeing my shocked face, the girls, who are in a physical and emotional majority in that class, smiled kindly at me and explained me what happened.
It seemed that the boy had a pressing need to go to the bathroom. He had moved to that desk closer to the door, maybe in an attempt to approach me with a request to leave the class. But I was so involved in my teaching that he didn't dare to interrupt me. He is very shy, apparently. I think he didn't dare to ask me because I am categorically refusing their bathroom requests during class.
The girls said that he must have been conquered by his bowel demands and he chose the fastest way to exit. Of course, I felt bad, remorseful for the poor guy. I was glad that he didn't return till the end of the class. As to redeem myself, I told them that if any of them has such big problems, they should go out quietly and not wait any more for my permission.
Did I bore you? I hope not.
Next came an hour of rehearsal for a theater play I'm staging with some students. We chose an empty classroom and began acting. Some other students, who were skipping classes, heard us and came in. I let them stay in the idea that they were useful in preparing my student-actors for an audience.This audience proved very critical and really helpful noticing acting mistakes. But, one of the girls couldn't stop laughing. I think she was flirting with one of the boys from the audience and didn't feel like behaving like a mum, her part. At a certain moment she had to act as if she has just found out the her teenage daughter is pregnant and act shocked and demanding. Imagine the harsh words of an upset mother coming out from a mouth which couldn't stop smiling. I made her redo the lines ten times and couldn't make her stop. Everybody was trying to make her act seriously, I showed her several times how to do it, I asked her to imagine her mother finding out about her being pregnant, and a sad event...but each time she was trying her smile kept creeping out and spoiling her words. Finally, I gave up and with the promise she will try more in a mirror at home, we went on with the rehearsal. Of course, that was a deal breaker, nothing went great from then on. Some days, a smile can ruin your hard work and best intentions.
Then was the red underwear... I went to a graduating class. While walking towards their classroom, one of the boys stopped me saying: "Don't go in there yet teacher! There is a naked girl there!" Of course, I thought it was a joke. Why else would he be outside? If he knew a girl was like that in there, he would have knocked the door to the ground to go in, like a normal boy that age (17). That was my thinking and I went in smiling getting ready to tell the girls his joke.
So, I came in...The first thing I saw was red, very nice bra and panties. I stopped and looked at the strange scene, but none of the girls, who were around the main character seemed much disturbed by my entrance. They looked at me bluntly and that was it. But a movement behind me stirred them up immediately after."Don't let him in, teach! Close the door!" The boy was trying to sneak inside taking advantage of my coming in.
I did automatically what it was demanded from me. I closed the door, not very convinced, only to open it again when the boy told me he has to get in because the principal was on the hallway. So I let him in, being still in a state of confusion, although I knew for certain that she wasn't in the school.
I turned around to watch the boy sitting down quietly without sneaking a peek at least towards the group of girls. I still don't know what happened there..what went through his mind. He stayed like that, playing with his phone under his desk, until the class really began.
My eyes, of course, turned to the naked girl, demanding explanations. Another girls delivered it very naturally - the red underwear brunette was trying on a dress brought by a classmate for an up-coming party. She wanted to see if it fit her and if so, buy it.
I looked at the girl, still stunned, and resigned (she was already doing it...so she had to get dressed somehow) and watched her pulling over her head a tight fitting, very short, almost see-through white dress. Asked by the wanna-be beauty -of-the ball what do I think about the way the dress fitted her, I tried to shape a non-offensive answer (we want to be on the good side of our customers -in this case my students, isn't it?). So I told her that its' too short and that makes her hips look bigger (I felt that I had to appeal to reasonable arguments as to convince her) and the tightness of the dress was accentuating hr belly making her look fat. I was promptly contradicted by a classmate of hers saying that any dress which is worth wearing will show her forms.
Trying to preserve my position, I said with an eye to the boy (who was completely out of it) that I can see her underwear through that dress and she needs something underneath, but there was no more space for that. That reply was completely ignored by now. They were busy giving the girls advice about how to lose some weight in two weeks, when the party was supposed to be.
So, I sighed and began extracting my materials for the class from my bag. When I finished, everything was in order, everybody sitting down and ready to attack English in an organized manner as they usually do. It's a collaborative class, very well intended, and maybe that's why I feel compelled to cut them some slack sometimes...
And that was not all for the day. Another notable event was in relation to another class door. At the last hour of the day, I went very convinced that I will find no student there as usual. They are another graduating class, who despite my repeated threats of "twisting their necks" if they leave, feel too tired to stay at the last class of the week. I got used to this by now so I open that door very sure to find it extremely empty.
Not this time! To my great surprise, today when I opened the door I saw the back of a student. My face burst into a very happy smile and I opened my mouth to congratulate him for staying when he turned around to reveal a girl. The girl, from another class, was sitting on the teacher's table and her lips were very obviously red from kissing.
I looked at both of them and with a mocking smile I asked them what they were doing there. He began smiling foolishly and stuttering a vowel with embarrassment. I insisted with the question, amused by his blushing face and nervous retreat towards the other side of the room.
When I directed my "attack" to the girl, I received a very straight-forward calm response -"We are waiting for the bus home which is coming in 15 minutes. It's no point staying outside in the cold, in the bus station, so we are waiting for the time to pass here. " I looked at her and of course asked why they were leaving, they both had classes. The response was very simple -they were the only ones left from their classes and they were staying there because of the cold outside.
That was it. What could I have said to that? I asked them to leave that class anyway and not stay there by themselves and I returned to the teacher's lounge to write the absentees in the class catalogue.
Do you thing the kissing scene on the teacher's table was the thing that surprised me? No!...By now I am used to teenage behaviour. It amused me, of course, to catch that in the act, but what surprised me more was the boy. I had previously suspected him of having another orientation. I have always seen him together with two other class-mates of his, girls, towards whom he had obviously no inclination. They are best friends and that's it, although they are both pretty girls. This coupled to some effeminate gestures and talking manner have made me think for the last two years that he is not attracted to girls in that manner. Maybe I was wrong...! At least the event today makes me doubt that idea. Although I am not still completely convinced he has chosen a side for life. The way the girls took charge of the situation and manned -up to answer in his place to my inquiry and the fact that I know her to be a more decisive person, makes me to think that my label was not completely wrong.
OK...I bored you enough. The day had many more enjoyable parts, but it would be a very long story to tell them all.
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