Work has kept me busy. I like teaching adults, but the schedule takes a little getting used to, especially the days when I have four hours of morning classes, then a five hour afternoon break and three more hours of classes in the evening, making up a 12 hour day. The school just gave me another class, so this will now be my schedule Monday through Friday.
Still, I'm not sure there is such a thing as a typical day. Not yet, at least. Some days, I get up late, have a leasurely breakfast of simit (a kind of Turkish bagel) with coffee, and do various errands, like buying groceries, cooking, or doing laundry before planning my lessons and then leaving for work. Other days, I get up early, work four hours, then hang out at the office planning lessons until it's time for my evening lessons and don't get home until close to 11 pm, when I make myself dinner.
This schedule would soon become unbearable if it weren't for my flatmates, other teachers at the school.There's nothing better at building close friendships than mutual challenges and frustrations. We all must deal with the old paint flaking off the ceiling, and the lack of amenities, which changes each week: first, we had no gas (so no stove or hot water), then no internet, and most recently, no water at all. I ended up taking a shower with a large bottle of cold water. We can also relate to the challenges of the school: the short notice regarding our schedules; difficult students, and the poor quality of the books (not only are they as boring as waiting at the DMV, they are also often actually wrong).
It may seem as if I dislike my new life here. But in an ironic way, it's all of these challenges and difficulties that attract me to a life abroad. I'm continuously stepping outside of my comfort zone, and I think, growing and learning in the process. One of my students asked if I was bored here. Far from it.
Still, I'm not sure there is such a thing as a typical day. Not yet, at least. Some days, I get up late, have a leasurely breakfast of simit (a kind of Turkish bagel) with coffee, and do various errands, like buying groceries, cooking, or doing laundry before planning my lessons and then leaving for work. Other days, I get up early, work four hours, then hang out at the office planning lessons until it's time for my evening lessons and don't get home until close to 11 pm, when I make myself dinner.
This schedule would soon become unbearable if it weren't for my flatmates, other teachers at the school.There's nothing better at building close friendships than mutual challenges and frustrations. We all must deal with the old paint flaking off the ceiling, and the lack of amenities, which changes each week: first, we had no gas (so no stove or hot water), then no internet, and most recently, no water at all. I ended up taking a shower with a large bottle of cold water. We can also relate to the challenges of the school: the short notice regarding our schedules; difficult students, and the poor quality of the books (not only are they as boring as waiting at the DMV, they are also often actually wrong).
It may seem as if I dislike my new life here. But in an ironic way, it's all of these challenges and difficulties that attract me to a life abroad. I'm continuously stepping outside of my comfort zone, and I think, growing and learning in the process. One of my students asked if I was bored here. Far from it.