Winter here is WET and accompanied by violent thunder, lightning and POURING rain. The days are shorter than summer, but not as short as the NW I'm used to. Bought black rubber boots today and can't wait to try them out in the streets that turn into rivers. Rain boots are essential Lebanese equipment. Next essential is a REAL raincoat with deep hood. What was I thinking when I packed mine into storage? "If I only knew then what I know now!" I've lost count of how many times I've said THAT.
My dark days aren't about weather. Mine revolve around the loss of my friend. Charlene and I hit it off right away. She is a few years older, lives downstairs, same building, and also new to ACS. Age seems not to matter in the social world of international teaching, but when it comes to good old fashioned girl friend intimacy, the tell-all kind, you gravitate to someone who has the wisdom of years. Charlene has been that person for me. She has a lot of overseas experience, all in Eastern Asia until now. She admitted this 3rd grade classroom job was a stretch beyond her experience with speech therapy and ESL.
Charlene had 21 3rd graders; 5 girls and 16 boys. Who wouldn't be overwhelmed? We talked a lot about behavior techniques that usually work. I've had challenging classes; some years are like that. You use every trick in the book until the year is finally over. Then you count your blessings. But nothing seemed to work for Charlene. Until a month ago I thought there was still room for success, but at that point, Charlene decided it wasn't worth a year of headaches. She's letting go and will return to the US the end of winter break.
Several times we've expressed amazement in finding a great friend in this part of the world. Charlene has a kind smile, and warm heart. I will miss the knocks on the door, shared coffee and talks, and oh so many adventures. I do realize that new adventures and relationships lie ahead. In the meantime, I've been feeling blue. We are taking a trip up the Nile in a week. It'll be a grand trip, and I'm looking forward to it.
I'll miss my "instant friend". While our friendship will not end when Charlene leaves Beirut, I've learned an important lesson. On the international teaching circuit people come and go every year, or even in the middle of the year. This is what happens. Two year contracts end, and people often move on. In order to succeed here, one must be fairly independent, flexible, and highly optimistic. Enjoy each day for what it is. This is my reminder; to live just one day at a time.
Here's to new rubber boots and OPTIMISM in the face of pouring rain.
My dark days aren't about weather. Mine revolve around the loss of my friend. Charlene and I hit it off right away. She is a few years older, lives downstairs, same building, and also new to ACS. Age seems not to matter in the social world of international teaching, but when it comes to good old fashioned girl friend intimacy, the tell-all kind, you gravitate to someone who has the wisdom of years. Charlene has been that person for me. She has a lot of overseas experience, all in Eastern Asia until now. She admitted this 3rd grade classroom job was a stretch beyond her experience with speech therapy and ESL.
Charlene had 21 3rd graders; 5 girls and 16 boys. Who wouldn't be overwhelmed? We talked a lot about behavior techniques that usually work. I've had challenging classes; some years are like that. You use every trick in the book until the year is finally over. Then you count your blessings. But nothing seemed to work for Charlene. Until a month ago I thought there was still room for success, but at that point, Charlene decided it wasn't worth a year of headaches. She's letting go and will return to the US the end of winter break.
Several times we've expressed amazement in finding a great friend in this part of the world. Charlene has a kind smile, and warm heart. I will miss the knocks on the door, shared coffee and talks, and oh so many adventures. I do realize that new adventures and relationships lie ahead. In the meantime, I've been feeling blue. We are taking a trip up the Nile in a week. It'll be a grand trip, and I'm looking forward to it.
I'll miss my "instant friend". While our friendship will not end when Charlene leaves Beirut, I've learned an important lesson. On the international teaching circuit people come and go every year, or even in the middle of the year. This is what happens. Two year contracts end, and people often move on. In order to succeed here, one must be fairly independent, flexible, and highly optimistic. Enjoy each day for what it is. This is my reminder; to live just one day at a time.
Here's to new rubber boots and OPTIMISM in the face of pouring rain.
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