I crossed paths with these two elderly ladies three times in one day. They are both much, much older, but one is definitely older than the other. They must be related, possibly mother and daughter, but I want to say that the younger one doesn’t seem young enough to be the older lady’s daughter, maybe they’re sisters. What caught my eye about these two women is that one of them has her hair dyed bright red, and the other has a head full of white hair and a slightly hunched back. The white hair is completely understandable, but the bright red? It’s typical to see older women here have tints of red and purple in their hair, but then there are women like this one who dye their entire head red or purple. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, I personally wouldn’t do it, I’m just used to seeing these colors on younger people. It’s funny because dying your hair purple or red is like an older woman fashion style here. They have their short haircuts that they style with curlers and loads of hairspray so that their hair curls into a perfect egg shape around their head that never moves, and then it’s… red or purple. It’s like dying your hair a darker brown, or a lighter blonde. It’s just so opposite from what I’m used to! I’ve seen them every day the past three days and for some reason that red hair catches my eye every time. I’ll have to be sneaky and snap a picture one of these days.
Every day I am with students for at least the first half of my day. Some of the kids I love, some of the kids I hate, and then there are the others that are just kind of there. In the past two days I have seen four of my students on the streets in town after school. Why?! None of them messed with me or did anything wrong, but I just don’t know what to say. The kids aren’t allowed to know that I speak Spanish because then they will just speak to me in Spanish rather than try to speak to me in English, so it freaks me out that I have already seen four students in two days because that means that I can’t just comfortably go about my business speaking Spanish to get the things that I need, I have to be looking over my shoulder all the time in case one of the kids happens to show up. Two of the four kids that I saw didn’t even see me, so maybe I’m making this into a bigger deal than it is. Who would’ve thought that after graduating from being a student that I’d be intimidated by my students? I don’t know. It’s weird being the teacher and not the student. I like being the student better.
Angie- I know EXACTLY what you mean about feeling intimidated by your students. My high school hired me as a long term sub to teach Health Sciences, and I was scared of some of the students. Sometimes I would take a step back and think "This is bullcrap...I'm the teacher! It should be the other way around!" It is weird being the one in charge and having kids come to you in need.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about you, but I take things personally a lot...Sometimes to a fault. It's hard not to get upset with students who are just down right mean and disrespectful. I can't believe some of the way kids will talk to some of the other teachers! Listen to me, I sound like SUCHHHH an old lady.
It's definitely been a wake up call for me about maintaining that "professional" attitude at work (which is still hard for me at times). Has that been hard for you at work?
You are so lucky and blessed to get to do this. I can't wait to keep reading :)
Maggie