First Day of School

Dinner at Honokowai Beach Park.

I was so very anxious on the way to school this morning.  I know what you are thinking: “Jen?  Anxious?  Never that.”  But it’s true!  It was my first time starting at a new school in four years or so and my first time teaching actual English classes since grad school.  When I left the building on Friday, folks were hard at work installing computers and making plans to put a giant flat-screen TV on one wall.  Fancy.  This morning I arrived to find one little table in the middle of the room, maybe eight chairs stacked in the corner, no TV on the wall, and dirt covering everything.  Yikes!  It would have totally stressed me out, but my awesome colleagues arrived on the scene with chairs, tables, cleaning supplies, and smiles on their faces.  Hooray!


The second challenge of the day was my GIANT first period class.  There were nearly 30 kids in the room, all talking happily and noisily at the same time while I tried to coordinate introductions, figure out online attendance, and lead various other activities.  The kids were being pretty cool/shy and didn’t want to participate in anything.  Again, tons of other folks arrived out of nowhere and helped me out.  Educational Assistants magically wrote things on the board as I spoke and held up flip charts as I wrote on them.  I was frazzled, but I think it went ok considering.  There is much talk about changing the( class to be smaller or to be a team teaching situation, so hopefully it will get better soon.  After that madness, I had a planning period!  (Again, something I haven’t really experienced since grad school).  It was wonderful to have some time to regroup and plan for Wednesday, when I will see the kids again; tomorrow is a “virtual” day.  


My afternoon classes were tiny and so much fun!  I have a giant classroom, so we were able to do some basic Arts Literacy activities, which I plan to use heavily.  The students were really sweet.  They seemed excited to hear about my philosophy on grades/no grades and the idea that they will have some say in what we study this semester.  This year is going to push me to grow in different directions.  Once we get into the flow of things, I think it will be great!


By the time Dave and I got home and took Porter out for his evening walk/run (he runs; we walk), it felt like my limbs were full of wet sand.  Few things are as draining as the first day of school.  We decided to take it easy this evening and forgo cooking for tacos on the beach.  

Dave bringing home the pollo at our favorite taco truck.

We are still waiting for a call from the new landlord so we can sign the lease on our new place.  It’s driving me a little crazy, but folks keep assuring me to get used to Maui time.  Or as Dave said this evening, “Easy, haole girl...we’re not in New England anymore.”  Right.  But I want to unpack.  Soon, soon, hopefully soon.


In the meantime, we caught a lovely few moments at Hanokowai Beach Park with our delicious Ohana (family) Tacos.  Maybe the next update will include some good housing news.  Until then...


Aloha, 
Jen