Europhile: C'est ma vie!

An Afternoon Cafe

I'm sitting in the Tully's Coffee on the corner of Tacoma Avenue-across the street from my flat. I'm having a coffee and writing some emails, since I recently remembered that I had an email account other than the one that gives me messages from students, parents and administrators. This weekend has been different from most, in that I haven't been to school even once. I graded exams, but I did it at home. This is an important milestone.

School goes well. I like being a teacher. It's not at all like I used to think when I was in high school, that teachers were the ones who couldn't make it in the "real world." It just shows you that high school kids don't always think. I can now attest to that fact as well. The teachers I work with are some of the most interesting people I've met, and what's particularly wonderful is the amazing diversity of talent. In most other professions, you're surrounded by people who do approximately the same thing as you, have similar educations to you, and dress more or less like you. Aside from the fact that we do, sometimes, dress alike, teaching is a refreshing change from that.

It's tough. I've made it through the first marking period and quarter grades. I've come through parent conferences with my skin intact. I've had "the meeting" with my boss, and came out with an even sunnier disposition than when I went in. And the frequency of students or parents calling me on the weekend has been relatively low. Thanks be to God. And I'm told it gets easier. (Secretly, that's what I'm banking on).

There are some things that catch you off-guard from time to time, however. Like just a few minutes ago when a couple of students from my school came in to the cafe. They aren't my students but I recognize them. And I wonder things like, do they recognize me as a teacher? Do they suppose I'm the same age as they? Do they notice that the t-shirt I'm wearing has a picture of a goat drinking a huge beer? Hm. And I think that's the eternal question.

posted by europhile @ 18:03