Since my alarm didn't go off today, I'm at home at 1:50 PM. I despise missing work, but it seems to happen a lot lately. It makes me feel ridiculous, but I guess that's a good sign. If at some point I stop caring, I suppose I should start thinking something's wrong.
There are things to write about, but then again, I don't really feel like they're worth the time. I'm very busy all the time, but I'm also experiencing quite a few things that are new to me.
My new classes are going well, when they actually happen. The position at Lexis is keeping me sane as far as financial worries go, and I've managed to give one class to a co-worker.
Tips for people moving to Mexico to teach languages...
1) DO NOT try to get a full-time job. Go for individual classes a few hours at first. You'll make roughly the same amount.
2) Stay with someone until you've gotten settled in. Try to live close to your work. (Especially true in the city) Traffic is a nightmare.
3) Organize yourself before you take on the job. I was sort of plopped into a class with the introduction, "Okay, here's your group, and then you go here." Find out as much as you can first about what's expected of you. I tried, but was pretty unsuccessful due to my schedule.
4) Find a place that will help you get your worker's visa! That's tough to do at times...
I am figuring these things out as I go, and at times, I experienced sleepless nights and constant fears because of not knowing these things first. I have a fair number of friends who want to become teachers in other countries, so I hope that this can help them.
Other than writing about tips for people wanting to do what I'm doing, I am trying (desperately) to find a book to teach my new German classes with. At the moment, I'm doing everything in the order I think my student should learn them, and the good thing is, he's fast. I like teaching a fast class more, because he's already mastered basic "Hello! How are you?" stuff and can talk a bit about his weekly schedule and describe himself and family...after two classes, I might add. His name is Juan, and he's 15, and I love teaching an interested (and smart) student. Teaching large groups makes it hard to narrow out the ones who are just coasting and the ones who want to learn.
I've picked up "Love in the Times of Cholera" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and that's on my current reading list. After reading "The Razor's Edge," I sort of lost track as far as reading goes. I managed to read a book of poetry by a monk who lived in Bardstown, KY and a book about Mexican culture and traditions, as well as some poetry by Federico Garcia Lorca, but I think I need novels in my life. haha
So, that's all for now. I'll try to get back into updating for you.
Love, always,
~Buster
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