I’m finally getting in routine of things, though the routine might change ever-so-often. I wake up around 5:30 AM (3 out of the 5 days). Make and eat breakfast. Which is usually three pieces of bread. One is butter and cheese, the other is with kielbasa (the only one I found with no pork), the third one is with Nutella-like spread to sweeten my start of the day. Yogurt is also important, and so is juice; all part of my complete weekday breakfast. I head out at 6:30 and make a 20 minute journey across a dark (barely lit) city to my school. It is weird to walk alone during the night time especially with no traffic, only stray dogs and cats running wild.
The city is currently undergoing road construction, and there is no end in sight. Unlike in America, they dig up the roads everywhere first, than realize they are out of money to do anything else. This means that I have to walk through puddles, and trenches, and mud filled roads every day (and night). The good news is that my clothes are fit for the job. But the feeling of walking into puddles and mud, which you cannot see, is anything but a happy thought.
Once I make it to school, I have to find an attendance/grade book which every class has, these things date in origin back to the 1940's. I then go and teach. What I notice is that every class has 5-7 students who are eager and even desperate sometimes to learn English. The other twenty(ish) give no damn about what I'm saying. And since there is really no punishment system in Bulgaria (aka detentions, suspensions) the most I could do is to kick them out of class. Since the end of communism the parents and the kids have much more power than teachers.
I try to make my classes interesting. Besides following their textbooks (which are horrible), I have them watch TV shows like Glee, Lost, the Office and have them listen and sing famous American tunes. It’s difficult, because I have to carry my 15 pound laptop each time (since the school, like almost all in Bulgaria, sees little use for technology in the classroom unless it’s an IT course).
Once I make it to school, I have to find an attendance/grade book which every class has, these things date in origin back to the 1940's. I then go and teach. What I notice is that every class has 5-7 students who are eager and even desperate sometimes to learn English. The other twenty(ish) give no damn about what I'm saying. And since there is really no punishment system in Bulgaria (aka detentions, suspensions) the most I could do is to kick them out of class. Since the end of communism the parents and the kids have much more power than teachers.
I try to make my classes interesting. Besides following their textbooks (which are horrible), I have them watch TV shows like Glee, Lost, the Office and have them listen and sing famous American tunes. It’s difficult, because I have to carry my 15 pound laptop each time (since the school, like almost all in Bulgaria, sees little use for technology in the classroom unless it’s an IT course).
After school ends, I run to my local supermarket. Get everything I need for the week. Although produce is on top of my list, if I have money to spend on something that reminds me of America, or will make my life easier (at least in principle), I buy it. I, then enjoy the brisk 20 minute walk, carrying a whole lot of stuff, and arguing with myself as to why I bought something in the first place. I find that keeping my brain occupied during the 20 minute walk full of shopping bags, removes some of the pain.
Once I’m back in my apartment it is time to check the homework, tests, and papers. I hate correcting, partially because, my English is only getting worse and I don’t want to sound like a hypocrite. I do love giving A’s (or 6’s), since it requires practically no correction from me, and actually shows me I can teach.
I like to procrastinate correcting anything until the weekend, if possible, when I have more time to myself. I have both “Horo” and Bulgarian tutoring 3 hours per week, so most of the time procrastinating until the weekend is a must.
Once I finish, I have only the strength to take a shower, fall into my bed, and sleep.
More coming soon!
So I take it that the schools do have internet connections, then?
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