I'm going to cry...I am so bad at teaching...like worse than anyone could imagine...only like 2 of my students like me...Anthony and Timothy practically hate me...no joke! I can best describe my day as one of the worst of my life! It started out all good. I got up on time...I made myself look especially cute (first impressions)...got to breakfast semi-on-time & had a pleasant drive over here in the cab (nice driver). Rita is a wonderful woman...then we got here. The kids whispered & pointed (felt like a celebrity)...we were introduced to the students...and then the dam broke! The flood gates broke open & now I'm buried somewhere under the mess!
~~ That's just part of my entry for that day...I think you get the just of how that day went!
July 8, 2003 ~~ The next day!
Okay...so yesterday wasn't the worst day of my life...but it was up there.:) Today wasn't perfect...but compared to yesterday it was heavenly! When I got back last night I worked on my lesson plan forever...but not until I had gone to the store & bought all sorts of comfort foods! :) I drown my sorrows in Pringles (Anne's least favorite students..get it?), chocolate milk, frosted flakes...and eventually pizza with the team! The pizza didn't even taste good yesterday though! :) Oh well...I took it to God (the only person really worth telling)...worked harder on my lesson plan...talked more to God...cried...cried to God...had a Vanilla Coke...and fell asleep talking it over w/ God! I woke up at 5am this morning to tweak my lesson & my wonderful roomate Erin gave me a note of encouragement quoting Anne of Green Gables...that totally made my day! I went to class nervous...but with a new attitude...an attitude of loving even the most difficult students...not caring what bad things they think about me as long as I know that I did what I was supposed to do...and that I loved them doing it! ......... I was a lot more prepared today...I was more confident...& I was more relient (most of all)! At recess I literally dropped to my knees to thank the One who really made the day so much better for me! :)
July 10, 2003 ~~ A tragic event occurs in HK when a double-decker bus drives off of an overpass~~
I watched some TV & there were these very cheesey shows...but they were fun to watch. There was a very tragic bus accident today...makes me very sad to think that 21 people died today...people who just thought they were getting on a bus to go to work or to see a friend or to go shopping...very tragic!
July 12, 2003 ~~ Time with the kids!
I love when the kids are around the hotel...it's so fun to have them come in and out of the rooms...just wanting to be with you and ask you questions. Kong likes Eminem and 50 Cent so he lent me his 8 mile DVD. I showed them my American coins & they all really liked the quarters...so I gave them some. Kong was excited because 25 cent was like 50 Cent. They just kinda wander from room to room...grabbing stuff and asking about it! They saw me put my shoes on the bed & they were like " you put your shoes on the bed? and sleeping there? It is very dirty ar! You should not do that...it very bad for you health!" They did the same thing to Erin...cracks me up! ....
Going out to dinner with all of them was so fun...the most fun I have had thus far! We took the bus and while we were waiting they (some of the girls) marvelled over my hair and my eyes...they had never seen hair so soft and blonde...and eyes so blue. They say "You are very beautiful" ...so it's true they think I'm beautiful even if they do think I'm fat!! :) ....
They took us on the bus to this other part of town (Whompoa)...once we got off the bus I talked with Andrew the whole time while we were walking to the restaurant. He is a very sweet kid! We went up in this beautiful building...put our name in and then we waited to get in....we took lots of pictures...then we went in and sat around this big round table...all 17 of us fit at this one table (teachers facing the door) and the students ordered for us! I sat next to Cecilia & we had a lot of fun talking. Marco interviewed all of us about what we thought of Hong Kong. The food came and ohmygosh....first 4 big bowls came out and I thought "oh this should be good"...then they kept coming and coming. 17 bowls (huge) came and we all got one! Wow...it was the BEST food I have had so far!It was soup with noodles in it...it was salty and sorta peanut-ty...I can't describe how good it was. It was just so fun though to be out with all of these great, beautiful, wonderful students!! It makes it all worth it! **(needless to say...as a team we went back for those noodles at least 3 more times)**