Allergic to... 9-year-olds?!!

It wasn't exactly a secret that when I moved back to Kuwait a year ago, I was far from thrilled (except for being close to my parents again- which was and still is the highlight of it all:). And so when my- back then- seasonal allergy, turned into a chronic case of itchy nose, sneezing and a burning throat (thanks to the dust and humidity that IS Kuwait), I had my scapegoat ready. My answer to every possible variation to the question "What are you allergic to?" was a heartfelt and extremely decisive: "KUWAIT"!!!

But as I showed up to work this morning, armed with my kleenex box, and sneezed my way through the day- I was confronted with the now all-too-familiar "what's wrong with you? allergy? from what?" drill. This time though, I found myself grinning and saying: "To Saood... Mobarak...Oh and Hamad":P Who knew you can get allergic to kids! I must be studied! hehehe

On a serious note, I survived my very FIRST week of teaching! (intact and whole- I might add:P oh well, pretty much!) Yay! And aaaaaah, the weekend is here at last. Sweeeet.
Isn't the weekend the best invention ever? I'm serious, I believe looking forward to the weekend is a healthy thing- it shouldn't mean you don't enjoy your job or are unhappy. Everyone needs to kickback and recharge after a tough week. Then start the new week energized and ready for action!

The best way to describe my first week would be to say it was a "bumpy ride"- there were ups, and downs, thrill, and panic- it was the whole package!

Saturday was a bit traumatic. It's the day when I happen to have the heaviest load of classes, and so it was too much too soon for me! At the end of the day I was in a state of shock. Having worked last year as an assistant for Grade One GIRLS (and so spent most of the school year giving out hugs and listening to adorable anecdotes), the jump to teaching Grade 4 BOYS felt more abrupt than ever. These were rowdy and hyper-active kids with the attention span of a fly! I felt overwhelmed- yet for some bizarre reason, I didn't feel disheartened. I felt physically exhausted, but my spirits were soaring still. I wasn't about to give up before even starting.

Ah, the power of humor. It was what got me through that first day. As I retold my eventful day to teachers in school and my mom at home, they chose to highlight the humor in it- and I was more than happy to join in. I told story after story and we laughed so hard... it was exactly what I needed. I literally laughed away my troubles that day. And thus was able to show up the next day, fresh, happy, and optimistic!

Which was great, since Sunday and Monday went on really smoothly. However, I could tell from an early stage that one of the four classes I teach, is a trouble maker. I was urged by the teachers to be more firm and to look like I mean business. And that is how I spent an afternoon home, in front of the mirror, practising various faces: the "Watch it boy" look, the "I'm not amused look" and the supposedly "angry look" - but in effect makes me look like I have constipation!!:P

And then there was trying to remember their names. I'm bad at remembering names already. So it didn't really help when I had four classes and in each class I had 5 "Mobaraks", 4 "Abdulazizs", 3 "Saoods", and 15 "mohammads"!! I end up mixing all the names up. Can you imagine what the Parents Conference will be like? I hate to think!

I know some people think that teachers have got it easy. What with going home at noon, and the whole summer vacation (alright alright, I must admit the summer vacation is sweeeet:P). But other than that, it must be one of the most demanding jobs ever, mentally and physically.

I work from 7am.-3p.m. and I can honestly say that through these 8 hours I am constantly on the move. If I'm in the classroom giving a lesson, I'm on high-alert that everyone understands, everyone is on task and stopping misbehavior before it gets out of hand (easier said than done!). Between lessons, I'm running around the corridors (literally- although the school rules state "no running", but I didn't teach that to the kids, I thought it would be hypocritical of me:P) either to get stuff from the resource room, print or photo copy teaching aids, or planning for the next lesson. And when a teacher goes home, she's NEVER empty handed. It's either exams or copybooks to be checked, or the teacher manuals to prepare for the upcoming lessons. It's demanding alright, but I'm loving it.

I look at the faces of those kids and I smile. So they aren't the most disciplined, motivated and eager-to-learn kids you'll meet, but they are not all bad either.

The funny thing is, I relate to them in so many ways. When I hear a teacher complaining that these kids just DON'T listen and are not interested, I can't get myself to join in. Cuz watching them reminds me of myself as a kid. I was a disaster. I was just NOT interested in what happens in the classroom. Watching a teacher talking for 40 minutes bored me to death- still does. The only reason I got A's in University, was because I studied hard at home. I had no clue what happens in the lecture room (although I attended all lectures). Unless the person infront of me has exceptional and compelling presentation skills, my brain disconnects from the lecture room even before he finishes his "Hellos". Just one professor in the 4 years of university succeeded in catching my attention. He was amazing. I hung on his EVERY word. He knew what he was talking about and he knew how to say it. That course in particular, I didn't have to study at home. Oh and I aced it;)

That's why, I feel for those kids. I don't blame them for getting bored easily. And that's why I'm gonna do ALL I can to keep them compelled. I would hate for my classroom to be anything less than interesting and fun. Education books keep saying that as a teacher you must "sell yourself and sell your subject". You should make them look forward to, not dread, walking into your classroom. So I've got to rise to the challenge! God knows, I need the lessons to be fun just as much as the kids do- imagine getting bored in my OWN lessons :P

But I must also work on my discipline skills- these kids really don't think I'm scary:P (not that I'm trying to be!) But I attended a religion lesson for the class that's giving me and other new teachers a tough time, and I was appalled. They were QUIET and STILL the WHOLE lesson. Man, that teacher knows what she's doing! Maybe one day I'll have excellent class management skills like her, but in the meantime, I will have to continue chasing Saood back to class :P hehehehe

I went to bed the other night, after staying up late checking out Teacher Manuals and jotting down ideas for next week. My brain was so full, my heart bursting with excitement, I could not get myself to sleep. I kept remembering stuff and jumping out of bed to write this thing down, or check that thing out. Next morning at school, I couldn't open my eyes! Gotta stop doing that. hehe

After a long day with the boys, I can't help but rush into the girls' section for a quick dose of "pink" (that's the uniform color for the elementary girls). Hearing the excited "Ms. Mariam! Ms. Mariam!" cries and getting hugged (more like squashed) by 5 tiny girls all at once, rejuvinates me in ways I can't describe...

What are little boys made of?
Frogs and snails,
and puppy dog tails,
That's what little boys are made of.
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice, and
everything nice,
That's what little girls are made of.

Amen to that!