I Think I Hate My Job

Hating my job is far from the truth.  However, in education we have something called the "honeymoon period."  It's the period of time when the kids are getting to know you, and you are getting to know them.  During this time, they tend to be very sweet and kind as they follow all of the rules and become really invested in your classroom culture.  It's the time when relationships are built and you really feel like you are such an amazing person because you make a difference.  Well, this week I found out the honeymoon is over!  My sweet children have turned on me.  Moving their pictures on the behavior chart no longer results in a sad face that strives for the rest of the day to move back up.  They are on to the fact that some of the stuff that we do is actually work and not as fun as it seemed before.  They are tired of the carpet.  They are sick of singing and dancing.  The honeymoon is over and they are now showing their true colors.  It also doesn't help that the Arabic teacher left me alone with them for three days in a row.  In the states, being alone with 23 four year olds might not be that big of a deal.  However, here it's tough because the little bit of English I have taught them for the past few months is not enough to hold full conversations or express our wants and needs.  Yes, we can play charades all day and try to figure out what we are trying to say to each other, but there is nothing like having the Arabic teacher in the room to help break the language barrier.  And since they have finally learned that I do not speak Arabic, once she leaves that room their demeanor changes.  Additionally, "once a week" (that's what I call the child that only used to come to school on Sundays) has started coming every day and still treats school like his personal playground. The other children see him playing and they want to play too.  Ugh!!!!!  I felt like I needed a drink and I don't even drink.  The children won this week, but I'll be back on Sunday ready to fight.

Act up if you want, but you're going to learn these letters and numbers insha'allah.

Look at "once a week."  He is so stinking cute but "cute" gets old.

Enough about my kids and my terrible, no good, very bad week.  If a few four-year-olds running around is all I have to worry about at my job, I'm blessed.  

What else happened this week?  

-I went to get my hair done Wednesday.  I have a bigger language barrier with my hair dresser than I do with my kids.  I don't know what part of Africa she is from, but I clearly have no friends or family there.  Geesh.  But, I bet I understood her when she told me I could not get my hair flat ironed next time I go.  She said "flat iron bad, take break."  That is fine with me.  I don't care about the health of my hair so someone should.  But I know one thing, she better be able to get it straight without the use of a flat iron.  I am not #teamnatural.  Natural styles don't mix well with my face.  

-Thursday was the monthly Rooftop Rhythm poetry night.  The venue changed to a college campus and was not as nice as last month.  However, the first set of poets were great, and I loved the featured poet.  His name is Made S.O.N. (Something out of Nothing).  He is from Miami and is one of the best poets I have heard.  Please check him out if you ever get a chance.

-Friday was Halloween.  We kept it local and partied here (although I kinda wanted to go to the Halloween yacht party in Dubai).  The first party didn't have very many people show up, but the second party was on the rooftop of a villa.  The hosts went all out with decorations and food.  There were more people there than the first party, but they explained to me that people out here often don't show up to parties or events because they get the hell on every weekend.  Y'all think I exaggerate when I say there is nothing here.  It's not just me though.  There is really nothing here.  We all we got........literally!  But anyway, this was my first time dressing up for Halloween.  My friend from the states said my costume sucked.  However, I thought it was somewhat cute although there really are no pink cats.  

I think that is about all that has happened over the past few days.  Today I am going to get my life together and actually be ready for the kids on Sunday.  I might actually book my flight to the US today as well. Can't wait to come home and lay eyes on this lady....