Washing Off the Grime After a Long Week

It's super hot and humid today. I just got home a little while ago and the first thing I did was get naked and take a cold shower. Well, a shower. Cold isn't a choice. In my house, there is no hot. Now, I feel fresh and clean and absolutely exhausted. I've been working and traveling a lot lately and my body is starting to feel it. That is not even in the same zip code as being a complaint. I love the travel and I have even more planned for next month. But I mention it because when I woke up this morning, I thought it was going to be a rough day. Then, I walked into my first classroom and a boy saw me and said, "Yes!" (as in, yay, the teacher we like is here). Talk about a motivator.

I don't go out of my way to be liked in the classroom. I'm not there to be their friend and if a student screws around, there are consequences. But it's nice to know that I'm managing to do my job and have at least some of the students like me. Sometimes, older students will tell me I'm the best teacher they've ever had. While it is awesome to hear, I don't quite believe it. I'm still pretty new at this whole teaching gig, but one thing I learned right off the bad is how quickly the students can get attached, which leads them to think you're the best thing since sliced bread. I did say that it's still nice to hear, right?

I have a weekend chock full of plans and then another full week. Except for Tuesday. Tuesday is a holiday and I'm looking forward to sleeping in and then doing something fun in the afternoon.

Ramadan started this week. At my school, most of the staff and one of the teachers are Muslim, so that means they can't eat until the sun goes down. It's announced officially on television each night when it's okay to eat and it's a little bit fun. Maybe it's not as fun for the ones who are observing the fast. I'm eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner like always. But so far, it feels kind of festive each night around six when they announce it's time to eat. Everybody goes straight for the food. It's tradition to start with something sweet and then have a meal. The best part about Ramadan (speaking only for myself) is the week and a half of holiday we get when it's over. I'm heading to Bunaken Island off the coast of Sulawesi and I'm hoping to see a dugong while I'm out snorkeling. It's near the top of the list of best coral, snorkeling and diving in the world. So, I'm super psyched!

For the second half of my holiday, I'm going to Kuala Lumpur to hook up with some family and friends from the Midwest that will be in KL for Idul Fitri (end of Ramadan). After my week and a half of holiday, I have to return to work. But only for a week. After a week, another friend is coming to visit for the last week in September and we're heading for Bali. Happy birthday to me!

I'm tired. But I'm so, so very happy.