2 down, 6 to go

Weeks left of full time teaching that is. I have never been so happy to see the weekends come than I have been these past two weeks. These kids are wearing me out! The first day I took over full time I had eight extra students, because their teacher didn't come in for the day. That made forty 8-12 year olds and one me. A long day to say the least. However, I was able to get a few laughs with that many honest, young minds. One little boy raised his hand and told me that the ceiling was pissing on him, as water dripped on his desk from the ceiling. Another boy (who is a talkative thing himself) came up to me as I was trying to settle the class down and said, "Miss, these kids have a hard time listening". I wanted to say yeah, including you. I just smiled and told him to sit down. I was trying to communicate with a little boy in my class who moved from Guatemala and speaks very little English. I was having the kids try to translate for me, but they also don't know much Spanish. It's more like Spanglish. Anyway, I asked them how to say "how many years have you lived in Belize?". As I was asking him another little boy interrupted me with the same "how many" in Spanish, but I didn't understand the rest. The kids started cracking up, so I knew it was something he shouldn't have said. In between the giggles the kids told me he had just asked the boy "how many times do you sh**?"

My first week of full time teaching I had added pressure, because I had an observation by my supervisor from the University of Belize who observed me teaching and gave me a grade. Before he came, my collaborating teacher warned the class he was coming. She told the class a man was coming to watch how they behaved, and if they didn't behave he was going to recommend them to a doctor who would give them an injection to make them behave. I had no idea that she was going to say this to the class, so when the injection part came out of her mouth I again had to face the back of the class so the kids wouldn't see me laughing. One little girl was almost in tears, she was so afraid. She stayed home the next day because she was so nervous about getting an injection. I lucked out, because she is one of the main troublemakers! I did very well on my observation, which is a big relief. The first one is always the most nerve wracking.
Just when I thought the rest of the week was going to be smooth sailing, I walked in my class Thursday morning to find "f*** you" written on the chalk board. I was sure that wasn't my collaborating teacher's way of saying good morning. It wasn't, our class had been broken into the night before, and that was the kind message the sweethearts left for us. Nothing was taken from my collaborating teacher, and I was lucky to only have had a few things taken from me. Some pens and pencils, candy for the kids, a book of stickers and few other little things. I was glad I decided to lug my "prizes" back home with me the night before.

After a long and tiring week, one of my roommates and I decided it was the perfect weekend for a getaway. We planned a trip to Caye (pronounced Key) Caulker, a small island off the coast of Belize. It took about four hours to get there. A three hour bus ride on an old school bus, and then a one hour water taxi ride from Belize City to the island. Caye Caulker is all of 5 miles long by half a mile wide. It is adorable and SO relaxing! There is nothing fancy about this island; there are sandy/dirt roads, most people walk around barefoot, and the "beach" is tiny. However, there is beautiful blue/green water, wonderful seafood (conch ceviche was my favorite), cabanas on the water with hammocks to lounge in, great snorkel tours (I swam with sting rays and nurse sharks), and hotel rooms with air conditioning! How sweet the little things are when living in a third world country! Like one of the locals told us "If you ask for more than this, you're asking for too much". Another motto on the island I loved is, "Caye Caulker, Belize...it's a lifestyle" and I plan to make it my lifestyle every weekend possible!

"Shark and ray alley"

Coming back to school was difficult. I had to quickly get out of relaxed beach mode and back to "teacher trying to make a difference" mode, key word trying. Not an easy transition. 
On my first day back a father came storming in looking for my collaborating teacher. He pulled his son right in front of Ms. C. and told her if his son gave her any trouble today to let him know so he could come lash him in front of the class.
And, a parent wrote this back when Ms. C. asked that the parent signed the child's lines because he was misbehaving in class

"Please don't be afraid to use the stick"

I wanted to take both parents up on their offers, especially by the end of the week!

Friday was my most stressful day yet. My collaborating teacher was not able to be in the class the entire day. I think the kids thought that meant it was play time. For the first 10 times kids threw paper wads across the room, I stopped the class and spoke with the "boomers". But, after that I tried to ignore them, and had them work in their books while the kids who behaved played the games I brought for the class to play. They didn't seem to care though, these kids are stubborn. Even more stubborn than I am. I am mastering "the look" though. One of my roommates walked by my classroom without me knowing as I was giving it to one of the trouble makers. She had me cracking up that night when she demonstrated what she saw as she walked by my classroom. In addition to mastering "the look" I am also attempting to master the "bite the inside of your cheeks so you can keep a straight face" look. I had to practice when some kids told me George had just cut his hair. I walked over to him and he opened his hand which was filled with hair. His reason why, "it was in my eyes Miss". Clearly there is no other option when hair is in your eyes!
Friday I also had a little girl pee herself right in the middle of class. Not sure if it was out of spite or what. I thought it was a little strange for her to have an accident at that age.

This weekend we planned on doing some sightseeing around the area, but the rain had a different plan in mind. It was nice to relax and sleep in though. I was sure to try and get all the sleep I can this weekend, because next weekend I don't think I will get much of it. We are headed to small village to do a community service project. There is no electricity or running water in this town. We sleep in hammocks and we are told there are lots of critters that will be waiting for us as we get out of "bed". Oh, and did I mention one of the nights we are there will be on my birthday? It will sure be one I never forget!