A short summary of the events of the last two and a half years (in chronological order): survived my first year of teaching, bought a house, bought a dog, completed a second year of teaching at the Philadelphia public school, got a job at charter school in Philadelphia, went to Mongolia for a month, started at the charter school and felt like I was right back in first year again, got pregnant, bought maternity clothes, started to see success at charter school, revisited blog, began new post on blog called "two and a half years later"....
Discovering this blog again has been like an surprise gift. I think I have blocked a lot of the trauma from the first year out of my mind; to reread just the few snippets I managed to put on here have been humbling and motivational. I am now nearing the end of my third year of teaching in Philadelphia. Each and everyday I complain about the sheer amount of work required to feel marginally prepared, but deep down, deep deep down, there is an element of enjoyment to the job. Needless to say, this year has had it's moments of uncontrollable crying, mental health days and the desire to quit and beg at the door of Barnes and Noble for a quiet booksellers life. I'm proud of myself; I am now a teacher. I even have a student teacher in my classroom for two weeks. If they are sending students to me something must to going right.
So as one thing starts to become more manageable, a whole other side of my life erupts. Around August 25th this year, our little girl will be arriving. Each time she moves, I smile and my hand automatically goes to my growing belly. She's coming and she is coming soon. I cannot wait. I am in KCK for my baby shower tomorrow. An American tradition that I am fascinated by; an all female affair (B is heading to the bar with his brothers and friends) celebrating this little baby and probably scaring me to death with painful labour stories and tales of colic.
