DAY 35

I am getting used to my schedule now and my students. Sometimes I feel as if I am in alternate universe-at least as far as work is concerned. My boss asked how I was doing my first week and my initial reaction was" shit what did I fuck up", until I realized he was actually just asking how I was doing. The kids are great, no real discipline problems other than talking; I have a tea break in my schedule and an hour long lunch (granted I always have something to do at lunch, but even half my lunch is longer thatn it was at my old school); on Fridays I have a half day, I don't make my own photocopies, or have to buy or set up labs, and we had a dress down day at our school and the students paid not the teachers! I am being paid well, I have nice living accomadations that the school pays for and most importantly I feel appreciated, which I haven't felt for a long time at my job. I love all the "fluff' -the pay, accomadations etc., but I think what I was really missing at my last job was the appreciation thing, it makes such a difference about how you feel going to work.

When I move back to the states I hope to find a teaching job with at the very least the appreciation thing!

I have made it to day 35...which is kind of an inside joke between the newbies and me. We said at day 35 culture shock would settle in and we would be miserable. So last night we went to a wonderful wine bar in Kadikoy to celebrate. Things are still up and down I had to go to the eye hospital last week, because I had a horrible eye infection. I don't like going to doctors with translators; so hopefully my language skills will improve or more likely I am going to find English speaking doctors.

I am starting to find my way around here little by little, hopefully by the time people start visiting I will at least be able to get us out and back!