adventures in teaching begin

The answer is, “things Theresa sees on her way to/from work.”

Week one is done, and I am feeling a bit more sluggish. This is definitely a new schedule for me, but I’m getting used to it. I am glad to be doing something again as well. Though I enjoyed my 2 weeks of vacation, I’m glad to have a purpose again—and that would be teaching English. I teach 2 classes: one from 7-9am, one from 4-6pm. Then I hang out at school for my third 2-hour shift as a substitute, to fill in for teachers in that building when needed, from 6-8. What a joy. I mean, I like getting up early, but having my workday so spread out makes me feel like each workday is really 2 days. I’ll get used to it though, and it does allow me to take advantage of the daytime hours so for that I am thankful. I just have to get around to actually taking advantage of these hours. Maybe next week, when I’m more used to this new life style.

I’m enjoying my classes and learning about all the protocol and processes in the English branch of the university for which I teach. It’s pretty crazy. This cycle (each year has 5 cycles of classes) the number of students skyrocketed. There are now over 4,000 students studying here, 40 new teachers, but all the same materials, classrooms and building staff (yikes!).

I teach in two different buildings and luckily am perfectly situated to have short commutes wherever I need to go. It’s less than 10 minutes walking to any of the buildings—there are four classroom sites that we work at. I teach on the university campus in the morning, and our English branch’s main building in the afternoon/evening.

Also this week, I attended some important events (at least for me). As usual, I went to the local Irish pub to watch the presidential debate. Usually, we'd go early to get good seats since this place is packed with USers on debate nights. But since I was working until 8 I didn't have this luxury. Luckily, not all of us work until 8, so I at least had a stool to sit on, even if there was no table for my dinner (potato wedges--not much vegetarian fare at this place). That night I also found out they'd be showing the "win or go home" Red Sox game the following evening. It was decided then and there that I'd have to return the next night. This time though, I planned ahead. I knew I'd be late for the game, due to my work schedule, and again starving, so I made extra lunch and packed it up for dinner, to eat during my sub period. Good plan, right? Wrong. You actually have to remember the plan before you leave the house to make it work. I forgot my dinner in the fridge, so another night of potato wedges for me. But the game was great. It was weird to watch it without sound, there were plenty of people there not for the game, but I was just glad to be able to see my boys play. =)

Alright, well I’ve got some planning to do for this week, finishing up 2 units and preparing for the first test (yup, a test already…students have tests every 2 weeks). Hope you’re all well. =)

written by  Theresa on October 18, 2008 from Quito, Ecuador
from the travel blog: Adventures in Teaching and Living in Ecuador
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