What's Heather been up to lately?

It's been a lot of fun adjusting to our new surroundings. I love the driving as insane as it is. There aren't very many rules for driving. It's survival of the most daring and that may be as close to racing cars as I get. However, today our one way road turned into a two-way road without warning. I guess you truly can do anything, anytime you want here when it comes to driving.

I'm loving my class. I'm supposed to have twenty-five students. Thursday I had eleven, Friday I had thirteen, and today I had sixteen. One additional student let me know that they would be on vacation for this entire week. So far I can account for seventeen of the twenty-five. I have Serbian, Indian, Russian, Azeri, Turkish, English (UK), American (that I know of) students in my class. I'm just now getting information sheets back from the parents so I'll know more when they are all returned. The children are full of hugs for me and being silly. They cannot for the life of them raise their hands before they speak. Two young men in my class crack me up. They raise their hands but then yell Mrs. Heather or teacher at me, over and over and over. It's hard not to laugh when they do that.

I have two wonderful para-professionals (para pros). Shabnam is Azeri and Sevendj is Russian. They are just a delight to work with. Shabnam helped out with the 4 year old class last year so she knows most of the children in our class and more importantly knows the ins and outs of the school. Sevendj is amazing, too. She comes highly recommended from the school in Kazakhstan. and she's doing well. She asked me last week if she was being too strict. I told her that she was doing just fine. She seemed to be worried about that. She said we were taught to be strict and I again reassured her that she was doing great.

I think everyone is still trying to figure out where they fit in and figure everyone else out at the same time. I know I'm still figuring people out and sometimes that is difficult for me to try and figure out if they are serious, stressed, preoccupied, etc. It makes things just a little more confusing. The boys seem to be adjusting pretty well but at bed time we tend to have emotional break downs from one or both of them. I'm sure part of that is because they are tired but I just can't help but think that some if it has to do with the adjustments. Tim and I are still having issues with diarrhea. The food is good, our bodies just aren't sure about it yet.

I am truly enjoying the more laid back pace of life. It's really good to be with our family all the time. I get to see the boys several times each day and I really love that. It's fun to hear the boys come home each night having learned some of another language. Jonathon is taking Azeri and Joshua is continuing with French. They both have their language classes 5 days a week. They both should be pretty fluent when the year is done, I would think.

I wish you all a very Happy Labor Day and we will post more soon.