High school math and a room with a window

[taylweaver]

So it's been a forever since I have updated - over a week. And so much has happened in this week. mysticengineer pointed out to me that two of the ten most stressful things one can do are move and start a new job. Well, I moved on Monday and began my job on Tuesday. I feel like there is so much to get done that I don't even know where to begin. At the same time, it is nice to know that I will soon be settled in to both my new apartment and my new job.

As for what's been going on...

First, infinite thanks to mbarr for helping us move in this past Monday - by which I mean he shlepped far more than the rest of us put together, and it is deeply appreciated. As an aside, he is now somewhere in the South - he was in Texas over the weekend but he thinks he is headed to Mississippi now - helping set up communications networks for Katrina victims. (Is it any surprise that the people in charge have no clue what to do with a group of people waiting to get networks set up?) So thank you.

So Monday was moving day. I think I went to bed at 1 AM? Maybe later. My room is a mess, but at least a few things have been put in their proper places... I have my own bedroom now, and it has these gorgeous windows - they let in so much light! Sometimes too much. But Iight is a good thing.

And, even better, our livingroom now has a window. Granted, they were supposed to build a wall for us before we moved in, and it is still not quite finished - it added a bedroom where half the livingroom once was - but it is there, and the livingroom is great. And we have two couches, and a sibling - not mine - who made them fit!

We even hosted dinner on Friday night for thirteen people, which was a wonderful way to start our tenure here.

And then there is my new job. That is still a big stress because I am still somewhat clueless. I am a related service provider for deaf and hard of hearing students. I am what is known as a hearing teacher. I pull them out of class - or go into class with them - and help them with their auditory (listening) and lipreading skills. I found out on Tuesday that I am working in the Coney Island area - a loooong commute - about an hour and fifteen minutes - but at least I know how to get there.

I had orientation on Wednesday, in which I got completely overwhelmed, but also met two other observant Jews - the people in charge bought two kosher bagels for them when they bought breakfast. (It looks like it will be very easy to be Jewish in this job.)

Then, on Thursday, a more experienced teacher took me around and showed me how to start things off in all the different schools - who to speak to, what to ask... I met a grand total of one of my students. Friday was more of the same - except that when I went to drop something off in one school office, I returned to her car to hear, "change of plans."

In the afternoon, I will still be doing related services. In the morning, I will be teaching high school math to deaf and hard of hearing ninth and tenth graders at - guess where, daphster - yes, your very own Murrow High. So that was even more overwhelming - I found out on Friday and I am starting on Monday. I spent the afternoon at Murrow, learning as much as I could about how things work, and what I will be doing there. They know I am not the best signer, so I will be teaching with an interpreter, but it makes me nervous not to speak the language. It also makes me nervous to teach high school - a new age for me. But at the same time, I am so excited. I am going to have two classes! I will be teaching math! I have no idea how my supervisor knew I could do that, but math is a subject I want to teach. So I had this nervous/excited grin plastered on my face all afternoon.

So that's what's new in my life.

And yes, I know, it has been a while since I updated taylwoven. I have a feeling the Verizon guy hasn't gotten her phone line set up yet.

Comments

[wildblueyonder2.livejournal.com]

Dear Taylweaver,

I just wanted to let you know how proud I am of you and how happy to hear that you had a "nervous/excited grin plastered" all over your face. It's just awesome that you're going to have a chance to try different types of teaching and finally apply yourself to something which I just know you'll be great at.

Your room is a mess? Such is life. You have until Passover before that really needs to be fixed.