The exciting beginning!

It is all very surreal moving to a different land, a new world. Its not so different because I have been here before. Everything is very comfortable. People are (mostly) kind. I enjoy it. The weather is a bit nicer than in the mid-west right now. I will probably have to buy a spring jacket soon (I only have my winter coat for now). I have a list of about 15 things I would like to buy, included on this list are a microwave, a bike, a mirror and scissors.

Currently I'm waiting for the apartment management to come take a look at a few things I would like fixed in my apartment. On that list is the bathroom fan, bathroom sink (which doesn't like to drain), a moldy wallpapered wall (just needs replacing) and perhaps something done about the stinky mildewy balcony (I have a feeling I'll be fixing this myself).

My first day teaching was today. It was great! I think my students are going to like me very much. Its so great to be in this culture where there is a hierarchy of respect. I'm a professor, I'm at the top. Do you know how amazing it is to come into a classroom and have your students bow when they say hello and again when they say goodbye?! I LOVE it! Also, CareyAnn informed me that if ever I needed help with anything all I have to do is ask the students and they don't question... they just do. Mmmmmm life is grand!

I'm a sucker... I let my classes all go to the maximum capacity. This will surely come back to bight me in the butt later when I have to correct homework and exams. Ahhhh... such a softy I am! I think I signed about 10-15 waivers allowing extra students into my classes. :-)

English Conversation Level 1 is what I will mostly be teaching. The challenge comes in the fact that the students are pretty shy and don't like to talk in class... which is the point of the class! CONVERSATION!!! So... this will be a continual challenge I think, but lucky for them I'm very talkative and don't mind making a fool out of myself. *^^*

Yesterday was pretty bad with Jet-Lag. Woke up at 5 AM and couldn't get back to sleep, which made for a very long day. But luckily I was only in my office and at meetings. Apparently I did well and didn't seem too out of it (though I sure felt it!) Today I woke up at 6:30 so it wasn't quite as harsh. After the intro class for the two classes I had today, I went to immigration to apply for my alien card. I got REALLY lucky and only had to wait 20 minutes! The other teachers had to wait over 2 hours when they went!

Tonight. Shopping. :-) It feels good to be out on my own again.