Can’t sleep…

It’s Tuesday night, tomorrow will be the first day of term, and as per usual, like most term starts, I can’t sleep! But this time it’s obviously different. After eight years in the same job, the unknowing of what to expect in the morning is freaking me out!  I have had no comments or notes about the children that are going to be in my class. Maybe that’s not a bad thing in some ways, but I like to have an idea of what to expect. Normally in England, I would have conversations with the previous teacher, and depending on certain little individuals, quite lengthy conversations! I would see them on the playground and in the corridor and know or at least have an idea of their personalities and quirky little ways! And at least have an idea of what was in store come September! But, this time I don’t have a clue and it is quite unsettling. My stomach is clenching and tightening and it is so hot and muggy! I am worrying and stressing as always, even though I have had time on Monday and Tuesday to organise and prepare myself. I am pretty much ready for the morning. I keep telling myself. I have the resources I want to use ready. To help me feel more prepared and organised the head had texted me directions to the nearest school bus stop from my new apartment. Here we can use the school’s transport, which is a bonus. At least I don’t have to fork out for transport each week!

Not another bus palaver!

I’m up and ready early! I’m not sure how much sleep I actually managed to get in the end, but hey!

I make my way to the bus stop following the directions the head had texted me only two days before. I am early, but I don’t worry – yet. I wait to see children in their uniforms and a Spanish colleague, who is also supposed to be catching the bus at this stop. I wait another ten minutes but don’t see anyone in school uniform, or my Spanish colleague. Surely she would be here by now?  I start stressing as I do! There are about five minutes before the bus is supposedly due and there’s no children in sight. I swiftly come to the conclusion that this is the wrong stop and I need to get the other public bus that runs past the school pronto! But it is the best part of a mile away and I have less than twenty minutes to get the one that isn’t going to make me really late! By now I’m all flustered and stressed as I begin power walking to the next bus weaning my way in and out of the rapidly crowded streets with other commuters. At the same time, I am attempting to text the head to let her know that I may be late and that the stop she told me to wait at can’t be the right one! Either that or I can’t read a text or follow basic directions for toffee!

As I get round the corner of the cathedral the bus is there, phew!! I jump on (remembering to swipe my card this time!) and sit down as my phone begins to ring – it’s the head! She doesn’t understand why I didn’t manage to get the school bus, but the one she is getting hasn’t turned up yet either, and there are children waiting with her! Hmmm, Ok, maybe it’s just the first day and getting back into routines or miscommunication somewhere with the bus company! It is already hot, even before 9 and after that hike, I am dripping in sweat all down my back – urg. Just how I wanted to greet my new students I’m sure!

Day 1 of achieving the dream commences…

I make it to school and the playground is swarming with parents and children in their new blue uniforms. The other bus the head was on isn’t here yet. I go up the stairs to my classroom. After the mad dash for the bus this morning my heart is pounding and I’m so flustered. I get into my classroom and the majority of my students are sitting chatting loudly amongst themselves. Presumably about their summer holidays as they are all chatting in Spanish.

This is already so very different to teaching in England! As I walk across the room there is silence  – if only that bit had lasted all day! I have to be ready to ‘pick up and go’ with the day because of getting the school bus in the morning. And when I take the class down to the buses and parents in the afternoon it is also my home time! This bit will need some getting used to for me. I was always in at least an hour or so before school started (like most UK teachers) to prepare in the morning. I’m not going to lie though, I quite like the extra few minutes in bed in the morning and not taking any work home with me. It would just be impossible to take all those books on the bus! I really don’t know how my colleagues back home without their own transport did it! So there are some pros to working abroad already! All books stay in the school building at all times! Luckily, lunchtimes are longer which is when we can get some planning, prep and marking done throughout the week.

I begin by introducing myself and taking the register. There are a few sniggers from individuals (possibly the ones I am going to have to keep a closer eye on!) but I put it down to my foreign accent and the way I am pronouncing their names!

I had prepared a ‘My new class’ template for the children to complete. Something quick to put on the walls straight away, as some parents’ meetings take place a couple of weeks into the term (I’m not entirely sure how this works yet!). And, I can also get an idea of their level of English and understanding. Part of the sheet requires the children to draw and colour. They are obviously in the routine with their previous teacher of getting up and going over to the table where all the stationery is. This is fine, as they are quite sensible about it, but it is marbled flooring and there are twenty-five children with brand new shoes! That along with the scraping of their chairs across the floor when they get up and sit down, again times twenty-five! They seem to quite like this new sound they have discovered and it’s not long until it starts a little chorus amongst them and I have to step in and regain some sort of decorum! I can’t be doing with that noise! But, it is a sound that unfortunately I will possibly have to get used to, even if it is unbearable to the ears. To me, it feels a bit like nails down a blackboard type of effect, but times twenty-five!

Not a bad start in the end…

At the end of the day, I take the class down to the buses, remembering to take my bag as I am also going home! And after chatting with the receptionist at lunchtime I discovered that this September the bus routes have been changed, and so have the stops and times!

But, on reflection, overall, not too bad of a first day. I am beginning to learn their quirky little ways already and feel more confident that I will get the correct bus in the morning! Oh well, there’s always going to be some mishaps to begin with!!