Work Week

Work week at school is underway and it is more than a bit overwhelming. 

I have attended several long meetings (a 3 hour meeting yesterday afternoon going over the school handbook…ohhh my); arranged all of the furniture in my classroom; hung up a lot on the wall; met all the staff (whom are so wonderful and helpful); talked and played with my director’s kids; and have soaked up the glorious sun on breaks (God’s gift of grace amidst the chilly winter air). 

Note to self:  Buy sunscreen.

I am in the process of cleaning and organizing not only my classroom (a daunting task that is stressing me out a bit!), but also our apartment—specifically my bedroom right now.  Settling in, feeling in control, having more order, and feeling at least a little sense of accomplishment feels good in the midst of transition, unfamiliarity, and busyness.   

I still have so much to do and so much to learn, so I am still feeling like my life is chaotic and I’m starting to come to grips with the fact that A. Life feeling chaotic is natural considering I’m in a new country with a new language and this is my first year teaching, and B. It might take a long, long time for me to feel “settled” or like things are “normal” and “familiar.”

And then there are so many things that I need to do/want to do apart from teaching and I know if I don’t make time for myself and cut some of these things out when I feel I can’t do it, I will fall apart.

I made a list during a meeting:

“Extra-curricular”

·         -Tutoring (we are required to tutor at least 1 hour/week after school)

·         -Revamping the 1^st grade math curriculum (required of me)

·        - Alternating Staff meetings/Curriculum meetings (required obviously, every Tuesday after school)

·         -Club (adult) volleyball after school

·         -Taking Spanish classes!

·         -Wednesday night women’s Bible study

·         -Sunday morning church

·         -Sunday  night Wally Ball

·         -Saturday night community group (once a month)

What I have to say to that:  Thank goodness my roommates and I decided to get a maid 3 days a week to cook and clean!

It’s hard to believe I will be meeting my students and their parents at Open House this Friday morning!  I have to get my classroom all clean and organized before then.  Then school starts Monday!  With all the meetings and classroom preparation I haven’t had a whole lot of time at all yet to look over curriculum guides and my schedule, and start thinking about procedures and lesson plans for next week.  I hope I feel prepared come Monday!

I would love prayers that everything comes together in time, my stress is minimal, everything goes smoothly next week, and I would remember to rely on the Lord’s strength and not my own.

I'm hoping my internet in my apartment works soon so I can start setting up some skype dates! Right now I only have internet when I'm at school, with obviously not much time to be online (I typed most of this last night in a word document!)

Love you all,

Jules