November 18, 2008
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“Teacher, what does my homework say?”
“How should I know? You’re the one who wrote it!”
I am rather an unsympathetic teacher.
I love test time. The kids take it so seriously and are so quiet and studious that I feel so proud and like I have really accomplished something. I might change my mind after I see their test scores, but still—I had my moment of glory. Even if I did spend the whole week practically giving them all the answers.
We decorated the classroom for Christmas last Friday. It was a big success. I asked the kids to each bring a sock to hang. There wasn’t enough room to hang the stockings over the “fireplace” we made, but out class now has snowflakes hanging from the ceiling and all over the walls, a “fireplace” and a “Christmas tree” decorated with paper ornaments they made. But the stockings turned out the best. We are doing a “Secret Santa” with the kids, and my sock already looks a little lumpy.
On Fridays, we are going to turn the air conditioner up as high as it will go, sit under it with candles (well, we couldn’t really use the fireplace) and blankets while I read “The Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens for them. Oh, and I am bringing hot chocolate. The only thing missing is the marshmallows, but they just don’t have them here in Brasil. They started selling some multicolored ones at the mall in Recife…but I don’t have time or money to get them. So minus the marshmallows. But just about everything else…oh, we even have cotton balls stacked up in the corners of the windows for snow.
I went to the feira to buy some fresh fruit and vegetables. This is the consistent conversation:
Me: how much are tomatoes?
Seller: 80 centavos
Me: how much for three tomatoes?
Seller: why would you want just three? Just buy a kilo
Me: but I just cook for me, I live alone, and I only want three.
Seller: minha filha (my daughter), it is not good to live alone. You need to get a man.
Me: how much is three tomatoes?
Seller: But you must be so lonely, you poor thing
Me: really, how much for three tomatoes?
Seller: oh, give me 50 centavos. I will throw in a couple extra tomatoes.
And I end up with five tomatoes and a lot of advice. Repeat the same conversation about onions, bananas, mangos, and sweet potatoes.
I received my mid-term scores for my classes at FALUB:
Scientific method: 9 (out of 10)
Philosophy: 9
Epistomology of Education: 8.5
I am happy.
