One long day down, one to go...
I had a really difficult time getting to sleep last night, for no apparent reason. Although I think I have been stressed, on some subconscious level anyway. I kept thinking about the classes I was going to teach today, and even though I knew I had a really good lesson plan for my 8:45 morning class, for some reason it was on my mind. And the main reason why I think I've been stressed is I could feel it in my neck and shoulders. Tenseness and stiffness was all I could feel, even when I tried to make myself relax and sleep. I'm not sure why.
Today went well though, and I had fun with my classes. I was rather silly with my morning class - I was teaching them the names of different articles of clothing, so I brought in a bag of my own clothes, and played a game where they each told me to put on one article of clothing... so eventually I was wearing a bunch of layers of clothes and looked really funny, and then they each told me to take one article of clothing off. It was pretty fun and the kids had a laugh. Then this evening, I was amazed at one of my students. The last time I taught him, he was hardly confident to do anything, and he seemed VERY new to the class (and tonight I found out he actually was), but also new to writing, period - he does not know how to hold a pencil properly, and struggled a lot with even trying to write the first time I taught him. Tonight he was a lot braver with trying to write as well as speak. He actually blurted out answers without me having to prompt him, several times. It made me really excited. It's so telling of how just a bit of encouragement can go a long way. By the way, this child is about five years old, so add to all this the fact that he's just adorable.
Tonight after work, I took a taxi home instead of the bus and metro, as it had been a very long and tiresome day (even though it was a good one) and I wanted to get home so I could try out the yoga class that was scheduled to happen in my compound's gym! I did make it to the class and it was REALLY nice. Just what I needed. The instructor spoke a little bit of English and was very friendly, and the class was very relaxing. The instructor even went around, towards the end, and massaged each of our necks and heads briefly. I think tomorrow I shall actually go and get another full-body Chinese massage at the place right near my flat where I got one before - only 48 yuan and so relaxing. :)
Hopefully tonight I can sleep better, and tomorrow at least I don't have to get up quite so early. I only have to be at work by 10, so I can sleep at least until 8:30, or later if I want to take a taxi to work. Looking forward to talking to Rudy tonight, and I only have two classes to teach tomorrow and my week will be almost over!
Today went well though, and I had fun with my classes. I was rather silly with my morning class - I was teaching them the names of different articles of clothing, so I brought in a bag of my own clothes, and played a game where they each told me to put on one article of clothing... so eventually I was wearing a bunch of layers of clothes and looked really funny, and then they each told me to take one article of clothing off. It was pretty fun and the kids had a laugh. Then this evening, I was amazed at one of my students. The last time I taught him, he was hardly confident to do anything, and he seemed VERY new to the class (and tonight I found out he actually was), but also new to writing, period - he does not know how to hold a pencil properly, and struggled a lot with even trying to write the first time I taught him. Tonight he was a lot braver with trying to write as well as speak. He actually blurted out answers without me having to prompt him, several times. It made me really excited. It's so telling of how just a bit of encouragement can go a long way. By the way, this child is about five years old, so add to all this the fact that he's just adorable.
Tonight after work, I took a taxi home instead of the bus and metro, as it had been a very long and tiresome day (even though it was a good one) and I wanted to get home so I could try out the yoga class that was scheduled to happen in my compound's gym! I did make it to the class and it was REALLY nice. Just what I needed. The instructor spoke a little bit of English and was very friendly, and the class was very relaxing. The instructor even went around, towards the end, and massaged each of our necks and heads briefly. I think tomorrow I shall actually go and get another full-body Chinese massage at the place right near my flat where I got one before - only 48 yuan and so relaxing. :)
Hopefully tonight I can sleep better, and tomorrow at least I don't have to get up quite so early. I only have to be at work by 10, so I can sleep at least until 8:30, or later if I want to take a taxi to work. Looking forward to talking to Rudy tonight, and I only have two classes to teach tomorrow and my week will be almost over!