So, it's been a while...

First Day of School!

Thursday, August 19th
Wow. It feels like forever since I last blogged! Probably because it was FOREVER ago! After celebrating our 3 week in Dhaka anniversary Wednesday, I realized I should probably update everyone on how I am doing over here! The rest of work-week was full of meetings and getting to know other teachers/alllllll the resources the school has.  You want it to teach with, you got it.  It is incredible! When I walk into the school store I feel like one of the kids in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory! Everything I could ever imagine... and then... MORE! There is glitter, glue, rubberband balls (score), folders, binders, felt, white board erasers that have multiple layers so when one gets dirty you peal it away and BAM you have 10 more.  You know you are going to fit in as a teacher when you are jumping with excitement about the evolution of erasers.  I have been once to stock up on goodies, and then a few more times just to ogle. 

My desk!

The first days of school were rather laid-back for me.  I didn't have my full schedule yet, so I spent a lot of time lounging in my room, wandering around visiting other teachers, and becoming a tea lover.  After living in Virginia for two decades and refusing to drink tea, I am finally a convert.  I don't know about iced tea... but we shall see.  On the last day of the first week, I got my official school schedule! I am the intern in IB English HL year 1, IB English SL year 2, Theater II, IB Theater year 2, and French III!!!! Whew.  It has been great so far! Because of my varied schedule, I am getting the opportunity to work in grades 10, 11 and 12 and work with multiple teachers! I only have pictures of the room where I work with 11th grade English because that is where my desk is! And... check it out- I even have my name plate on the door :) I am special.  I'll post pictures of the drama and french rooms soon, too! They are all such different environments and my days feel full of activity.  

Last weekend was great.  We went to the Australian Club on Thursday night for a few drinks and socializing and then to one of the teacher's houses for a girls-only gathering :) Friday we slept in, went to Sabina's with Tracy and Kelly and got the full pampering! I had a 45 minute hot oil head/neck/shoulders massage and pedi.  They shampooed and styled my hair and it stayed pretty straight for 2 days! Well worth the takas.

Outside Spaghetti Jazz

Because the first few days of school were so hectic, a lot of us newbie teachers didn't get to spend a lot of time together- so we arranged a dinner at Spaghetti Jazz! It was in the upstairs of a building in a dark street, and so fabulous.  There were records all over the walls, pictures of saxophones and famous jazz artists, oh and of course a whole section devoted to Elvis and Marilyn Monroe...??? very jazzy.  I got plain spaghetti with meat sauce, but most people had pizza (it had thin crust, so it was DElish!). We called it an early night and were ready for Mr. Jitu to come check out our couches for reupholstering on Saturday! He was the cutest man ever! He came right in, whipped out his measuring tape and went to work analyzing our couches while we poured over the fabric binder.  After picking out our colors, he went on his way with our promise to call him in a few days to do the job!

At the ARA for Happy Hour!

Sunday was the first day at school with my new schedule, so I felt like it was really the start of everything! The classes are the perfect size- I have two with 13 kids, one with 16, one with 17 and one with 20.  The students are so worldly.  In my advisory we went around and said how many countries we had visited and some of the kids were up in the 20s and 30s.  I was shocked.  For the most part they can speak multiple languages or get by in other places with the language.  They are extremely self-motivated and get to class early- they are sitting in their seats and ready to begin when the final bell rings (for the most part).  It is such a wonderful thing.  We've given our first assessment where the students got a copy of a poem they hadn't studied before and had to write a commentary.  They had 1 hour and a half and produced some impressive work that made me very happy!

Misti's great math skills!

As far as the food goes... The few school lunches I've gotten have been great.  The portion sizes are huge though so I think I need to learn how to say "a little" or just yank my plate away quickly. Misti (our new cook/bearer) is doing awesome.  She can write in English, so she keeps a nice list of how much everything costs that she buys and makes sure it adds up to the change that is left over.  Her banana bread is incredible... it tastes just like the stuff they sell at The Castle!  It is good that she makes it well because bananas here seem to go brown in no time! I wonder what that is about... Her chicken curry was the perfect amount of spicy and creamy, and she even makes little chipatas by hand! Yum.  She is keeping us full and happy, and is doing a great job cleaning all our veggies because we haven't gotten too sick yet! (knock on wood!!!!).

chipatas nom nom

I had dinner at Melissa's house on Tuesday night.  She made tacos, and I was treated to a diet coke from the commissary.  It was like an elixir of life. We even tried to make custard (which meant making milk first because we have to use the powdery stuff, and then adding the custard)... it didn't turn out as pretty as it should have but it still tasted perfect over mangoes... I guess if we want the presentation aspect we ask Misti to do it!

Today when we came home we had NEWLY UPHOLSTERED COUCHES!! They look awesome and brand new! I am so stoked. As soon as these walls get some paint on them our place will really feel like a home instead of an apartment we happen to keep our stuff in.  We heated up some dal and snacked before heading to the Australian club... I think it is going to become a Thursday night tradition.

Ok, that's all for now... we've got a jam packed weekend of activities so more photos and info to come! I miss and love EVERYONE back home <3