letter22

Dear Family and Friends,

Every child stares at me as if I am a flea under a microscope, My 6th
graders are all taller than I am, I don't understand my colleagues, the
student's books are old and the teacher's books are all in Bulgarian, I
don't have any resources, I teach in whichever classrooms are free during my
class periods, kids run and scream WILDLY through the hallways unsupervised,
teachers are continually atleast 5 minutes or more late for their classes
while students go crazy in the classrooms, sometimes it seems that the
teachers would rather talk to one another than teach their classes, the
schedule changes everyday and nobody has a clue what is going on or where
they should be, Bulgarian students love to chatter when the teacher is
talking, discipline in Bulgarian schools is practically unheard of, The
desks are splintering and falling apart, it is hard to figure out where I am
going and what I should be doing . . . but, you know what?!!? I LOVE IT. I
LOVE IT with everything that is within me because I am finally doing what I
came here to do, I LOVE IT because I am a teacher and teaching is my
passion, I LOVE IT because I have never been content with normality and
hum-drum living, I LOVE IT.

Yesterday was my first real day on the job. I must admit, I was so nervous
at first and I approached my school with unrelenting caution! Each of my
steps were timid as my hands shook violently and I repeatedly reminded
myself in my active mind, "They can smell fear . . . they can smell fear . .
. they can smell fear . . ." I usually don't have such anxiety when I enter
a classroom, but this is Bulgaria we're talking about, a totally different
ballgame! So, I took a deep breath, plastered an oh-to-cheerful smile on my
quivering lips, and entered my school wondering if I would come back out
alive.

As soon as I entered, every eye was immediately adverted to the frail form
hovering in the doorway. I grinned like a disgruntled puppy and quickened
my pace to the teacher's lounge. Once inside those safe chambers, I waited
for my counterpart, who, once she came, greeted me, rattled off something in
Bulgarian to another teacher, and left. So, I though, "What now?!!?" The
bell was ringing and I had no idea if she would come back for me since we
were supposed to teach the first class together. Some of what I am doing is
comprised of team teaching because we are not only here to teach English, we
are also here to transfer skills. So, I set off to find my counterpart so
that we could teach the fifth grade class. Students and teachers shoved
past, heading in different directions as they conversed in loud Bulgarian,
and my eyes grew wide as I searched for the one woman who keeps me a little
bit sane in all the chaos.

Finally, I found her, and we set off to teach. Today, two classes were
taught together, and I managed to survive two sixth grade classes on my own.
I spent much of my classes answering questions, as the students wanted to
know everything they possibly could about me and about America. And, of
course, one of the questions just so happened to be, "Are you from New
York?!!?" I spent my classes on introductions and we played a simple game,
so I'll actually get into the meat of my teaching tomorrow. And already, as
happened during Model School, I am finding that I am speaking slowly and
enunciating every English word even outside of the classroom just because it
becomes habit! God help me! :-)

I can already determine what a grand adventure this is going to be! You
know, my adventures just keep getting grander and more adventurous every
day. After all, as I said before, I could never be content with a life of
normality and sanity right now! If I wanted "normal" I never would not have
joined the Peace Corps! And so I'm off . . . off to have the adventure of a
LIFETIME.

Love and God Bless,
Chantel