Good evening to you all.
As I write this, it is about 10pm Sunday night. In less than an hour, I begin my first class. I am so nervous.
I have never really taught children before. Everyone says it's easy and I should be fine but that doesn't stop me from feeling like I am about to be thrown into the Atlantic Ocean. And I don't know how to swim.
Will they pay attention? Will they stare blankly? Will they just not care? Will they actually do what they're told, listen and learn to like me as their "John teacher"? I hope so.
I miss you all so much. I have had some serious blues off and on since I got here. Last night, I went to sleep around 11:30 and woke up at 3:45am and could not get back to sleep until about 6. So, I am kind of tired at the moment, as you can imagine. I keep thinking about Dangelo Girl and our last day together. For those who don't know, I actually missed my first flight from Newark Airport. I missed the plane by about 5 minutes. I just couldn't bear to say goodbye to her and my brothers.
Our last day, the day I missed the flight, we walked through Red Bank, talking, laughing, holding, kissing. She sat on my lap in the park and just held me close and everything felt OK. Everything felt good knowing she was nearby. It's really true: you don't truly appreciate what you have until you don't have it anymore. If I am to be able to stick this out for a whole year, I need to come home to see her and my family.
So, yeah, I'm not exactly a man of the world. I miss home. I miss my Dad, my sister, my brothers, my girlfriend, everyone. Trial by fire right? I'll never know what it's like till I do it, right? I guess. For now, it's touch and go. There's a great network of English teachers here, some in particular have been enormously helpful and welcoming. We kind of have to help each other out, right? We'll all we've got.
Hope everyone is doing well.
3 comments:
Nud,
I remember when you were a cute little baby Nud- now you are big manly manly grown up Nud! Oh, so cute (a single tear). I'll be in the orient teaching stuff for the next couple of years (if all goes well), so we can get together and sing "hulkster in Heaven" at a local Kareoke bar. Sweet. Always remember the Clam strips.
It's tough and I exactly know how desperate it could make you but once you get over it, it all worth it. And keep the adventurous spirit up baby because there are some people in this part of the world who love you and are sending you love an energy all the time, soooooooo...catch!
boos
'ello!
john, we miss you. troy sat at your desk the other day and everyone thought it was you for a second. :(
i have pictures from the day we took you out... of you singing and of everyone in dublin house. do you have a mail address? i am working on them getting on an email-able format.
i love you hard.
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