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moocowinthecity “Hey…if…wait…is…no…if your nose is running…yeah…yeah…well…uhh…you better go catch it!!!!”
It is cold season here in Israel – everyone on base is sick with some kind of cold, I’m sick with a cold, it’s cold outside and while the weather outside isn’t exactly frightful, the wildfire up north certainly is. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have died in the blaze, those who are injured and those who are battling it and offering aid.
Tonight is the second night of Chanukah! Throughout Israel menorahs can be seen lit up as we celebrate our festival of light, an incredible miracle and the re-dedication of our Temple. Tasty latkes are being made, dreidles are being spun and everyone – despite the sniffles and the worry and sadness related to the events up north – seems to be getting into the holiday spirit.
Breathing Room
Work has finally calmed down.
The busy season in my office is from August 1st through November 30th. This Thanksgiving (which only American immigrants and tourists celebrate here) at around 11:30hrs everyone looked at each other as we sat at our desks and we had an incredibly weird feeling come over us…as we shared a look and tried to figure out why something was off, it dawned on us after a few minutes that what we were feeling were our pulses…and the ability to breathe again without the assistance of adrenaline…all missions executed, the leader board had nothing but green lines running through it, the standing orders board was back to normal – under every one of our names was “all calls take message, urgent calls forward to cell, no emergency orders, no critical missions.”
Three months of intensive work professionally completed, all paperwork wrapped up neatly, and none of us knew what to do with ourselves…it felt weird leaving before 19:30hrs and even odder getting home before 23:00hrs.
Engrish…I teach it
As far as my moonlighting business goes, I have two students with exams coming up in the next six months. My Sunday night student has an exam this Sunday and then another exam in January. After these two exams he’ll drop down to maintenance level (we’ll meet once a week for conversational English) as he prepares to retire and to move on to other things (and perhaps other continents). He’ll stop being my student this June.
My Monday night/Wednesday night student has an exam in January and then a final exam in June (at which point he’ll also stop being my student and he’ll become someone’s soldier). My Monday night/Wednesday night student also really needs to learn to do his homework and to study so he has a chance at passing his exam in June. If he doesn’t pass, he’ll have to re-learn everything after his three year tour of duty in the IDF (where he’ll only be functioning in Hebrew). I have tried explaining to him the importance of passing his exam….he has tried explaining to me the importance of sports and extracurricular activities. We’re currently staring each other down.
My Tuesday night student is doing well (though she also needs to develop better study skills, which we’re working on). My Thursday night student would be happy if we could study together 24/7/365 (which is sort of a problem given that both of our schedules are full). He will stop being my student either this June or next (if not earlier).
I look forward to finishing with my civilian students over the next two years. As much as I love teaching them, and as much as I enjoy teaching them, I also have a desire to have free time again in the evenings (especially since that’s going to be the time I use to work on my M.A., language studies, four additional teaching certifications, an IPA certification and other things…like…dating…a sex life…world domination…the normal things that people do in their free time).
Right now, earning enough money to eat is more important to me than my free time (I’m not in the mood to dumpster dive at the ripe old age of 26). However, the moment that I enter my contract (which happens to be in 199 days from today, not that I’m counting…) I will no longer be accepting any new civilian students. As it is, I’m only taking on new students that have specific exams that they need to pass with the understanding that I’ll ‘teach to the test’ and then – when they finish their exam – we’re done.
As far as professional teaching goes, my students are doing well (and I haven’t forgotten about the dyslexia/phonetics post…I just need some more time, and some more energy to write it). I have a new class starting in February and right now my largest problem doesn’t stem from the fact that I operate entirely without a budget. Rather, the problem is that I have a demand of students that – if actually met – would require me to find an amphitheater to seat them all. I’d also need the big guy to add a few more hours to the day. What I have is the five desks in my classroom in which to seat them and a yet unanswered request to extend the day from twenty-four hours to thirty-six hours in length.
While Physics has never been a subject that I’ve excelled at, I am familiar with some of the laws…and I’m fairly certain that there’s one that mentions two objects attempting to occupy the same space at the same time. I’ll let you know how I work it out.
A Visit From the Folks
My parents will land in Israel on the 18th of this month!! I’m incredibly, incredibly excited. I still have to work until the afternoon on the 26th which means my parents will be touring down in Eilat by themselves (‘ohh how we suffer!’) before we start touring together (though I’ll meet them at the airport and join them for dinner in Tel Aviv when they get in).
I’m hosting a small reception for them at my office on the 26th, and then I’ll take them for a tour around the base before we head out together to do some traveling around the country.
After they depart on January 3rd I won’t be returning back to base immediately. I’ve received approval to go on a Hebrew grammar course which should last around twenty days. “what could possibly be more fun than learning nothing but Hebrew grammar for eight hours a day for twenty days?” I hear you ask. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you: nothing could possibly be more fun (and I say that without even a hint of sarcasm in my voice). I’m already cleaning my highlighters and getting my backpack stocked up with school supplies!
I get my new laptop in a couple of weeks as well…mnmmdailyblogging…mnmm…few professions are as fun as being a perpetual student.
Global Adventure 2015
The more I think about it (and the more I get material ready to post for it) the more excited I get about the Global Adventure 2015 project. It’s also given me an excuse to doodle (which you’ll see this Saturday).
Now, time for more cold medication and the legal high that comes with it.