Two Week Back Review: Work

On the first day back to work I brought my box of desk stuff to the office. Before I did ANYTHING else, I unpacked my stuff. I hung up my pictures, arranged my few nick-knacks, strategically placed my army men...

After that I started asking about what the heck I was teaching this year. That's right folks, I didn't know for sure who or what I would be teaching until the day before classes began. I think what I ended up getting was the best I could get. I have my students from last year (now 11th graders) and I am teaching the 12th grade too. The 11th graders are still split up into four classes of about 15 students each (Which I am super excited about. I hated teaching the big classes) and the 12th graders are split into two classes of 21/24 students each. Last year I taught every class 3 times a week, so I had 12 classes. This year I teach every class 2 times a week, so again I have 12 classes. Perfect!

I am a little worried about the 12th graders because they don't know the stuff I was planning on teaching the 11th graders this year (writing outlines, thesis statements, etc). So I wrote up my lesson plan for the fall semester for the 11th graders that started from pre-writing and first drafts all the way to making a final draft with lots of stuff in between like writing proper instructions. Then I shrunk it down and took out the "extra" stuff and squeezed it all in before midterms for the 12th graders. Hopefully it will work. It does make my job strangely harder and easier at the same time. It means I have to work really fast with the 12th graders, but since I am doing the same stuff with the 11th graders, it makes individual lesson plans a little easier.

I was excited because when I finally finished my semester lesson plan and sent it off to the head of my department, she said it was wonderfully detailed and that she was going to send it to the other writing teachers for use as a guide. EEEEE! I guess I don't suck at this whole teaching thing.

I decided to do the same thing with my 12th graders that I did last year with 10th grade. I asked them all to write me a letter introducing themselves and then wrote a letter back to each of them. It was time consuming but worth it. I've already gotten a few responses back. I want them to know I truly care about them and want them to do well.

There have already been a few frustrating moments of students not doing their homework or not speaking up when I know they have questions, but for the most part classes have been going really smoothly. I am much better now at planning a lesson that will take up the whole class period. I've been using power points and handouts and it seems to be a good combination. I am glad I am flexible enough to realize when a lesson plan isn't working. In one class I could see that they couldn't really understand the exercise I was trying to do with them on writing proper topic sentences. I ditched the power point and instead started talking to them about stuff I knew they like (specific sports teams/bands/etc). Once I had their attention I showed them specific examples of topic sentences using their interests.

I am a little worried that I am in over my head a bit this year. Not only am I teaching two graders, but I will also be teaching a few Theory of Knowledge (think basic philosophy) classes. I also have at least one, maybe two, students that I am advising for their Extended Essay (a huge essay they have to write on any topic. very important for getting their diploma). I also am going to be a CAS adviser this year for 5 students. That means a lot of interviews and paperwork I need to fill out. On top of everything else, a few students asked if I would be willing to be a supervisor for their club. Ai-ya! I guess it's keeping in character though. Everyone has been telling me for years that I always sign on for too much. In high school it was IB, dance, taekwon-do and a part time job. In college it was 5 classes a semester and running two clubs. Now it's this.

Let's see if I can stay afloat...shall we?

Two Week Back Review: The Trip Back

I've been back for two weeks now. Let's see...how has it been?

Things have felt really strange lately. I will honestly say I was feeling really down this time about leaving home and coming back here. I had had such a great summer with my family and friends that I didn't want to go. I hated having to say goodbye all over again, knowing I likely wouldn't see everyone for another full year.

The plane ride back was ok. From NYC to Beijing felt like a night you have trouble sleeping. I read, then slept. I ate, then slept. I watched part of a movie, then slept. I never slept for long but still the ride seemed to go a lot smoother and faster than usual for me. I didn't have my usual "Get me off this goddamn plane" panic attack that I usually have around the 7-8th hour. I rushed around the Beijing airport since my plane was delayed and I had to recheck my baggage...only to find out my next flight was delayed as well. Lovely. When I finally landed in Shanghai there was one small lovely gift the universe gave me. My luggage came out first. Glory hallelujah. I got myself a taxi and the memories came rushing back.

That's when the first feeling of "I never left..." washed over me. Watching the familiar billboards fly by, the familiar skyline, even the familiar smell. I love that I recognized where I was every minute of the ride. I love that I had to give my cab driver directions. I love that when we got to the school gate (at around 1am, just like I predicted), the guard smiled when he recognized me and let the taxi drive all the way to my apartment building.

It was really strange unlocking my apartment door and walking in. I had been gone for over two months and here everything was, the way I left it. I had been looking at coming back as though it was a new trip and yet my apartment was already unpacked and stocked and...lived in. I tried to get my internet to work right away but since my laptop was re-imaged it was a no-go. I made my bed with the sheets past-me was nice enough to clean for future-me and went right to sleep.

I felt really disoriented the first morning. I assumed we would have work on Sunday to prepare for classes on Monday. I showered, ate some of the crackers I had leftover from the plane, packed up my work bag and walked to the high school. Locked. I decided to take my bike and ride over to the Coffee Beanery so I could get a real breakfast and some Wi-Fi. I got an e-mail saying that Sunday was a day off for teachers, but apparently I was to have been at work on Saturday. Oops. Well, I didn't get in trouble for that, thankfully. I sent off a few e-mails to let my coworkers and family know where I was, and then was disappointed to discover that my blog and youtube were still blocked. Also facebook is now blocked. UGH UGH.

After that I rode over to Carrefour and got some basic groceries. I honestly can't remember what I did for the rest of the day. I think I unpacked and just hung out.

I think I am going to split this up into at least two entries since it's getting really long.

Proxy Test

Hey...everything is blocked again and the VPN I used last time doesn't work no more.

I am testing out a proxy now.

I've been back in Shanghai for about a week and half now. Things are going mostly well. If this works, expect a better post soon.

Calm Before The Storm

I can't believe I'm going back tomorrow...

Blanket Teaser

These are just a couple of pictures of my mostly finished blanket. I plan on taking a picture where you can see all the squares clearly. If I get REALLY ambitious I will go through a label each square so you can all see where your square is. As of now, I have finished with the sewing and weaving in all the lose ends. I decided to hold off on the crochet border until I get back. I only have a few days before I go back to Shanghai and I don't want to leave it in the middle of the border.

These pictures are kind of goofy. I was thinking of submitting a picture for the Knitty calendar content but ended up not doing it. My mom basically took pictures of me at the cabin trying to be artsy with the blanket.

Here I am posing drinking "coffee" (the cups empty...shhhhh). Booboo behaved and posed for the picture too.
I like this one because I look very silly, but happy.
Now I should really get down to earth and start packing. Plane leaves around 4 on Friday. EEK.

Much love,
Stephanie

Where Did The Time Go?

So yeah, I haven't been posting much.

Partially because I've been busy, partially because most of the stuff I've been doing lately is probably only interesting to be, and partially because this blog is called "Stephanie in Shanghai" and not "Stephanie does random stuff around the North East of the USA".

Time is counting down. Two weeks until I go back to Shanghai. I am rather freaked out about this. This has been an amazing summer and I don't feel ready to leave behind my friends and family all over again. But part of me is certainly looking forward to going back...otherwise why would I have signed on for another year?

The blanket is going swimmingly. All 42 lovely squares are sewn together. It is, however, not really finished. I have tons and tons and tons of loose ends (literally) that need to be weaved in. I also want to crochet a black border around the edge to help it keep it's shape and to make it look more "finished". Expect pictures soonish...

I think I've put around 1,000 miles on my car this summer driving to Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, Delaware, New Jersey...basically trying to visit everyone I can before going back to China. Tomorrow I leave for the cabin again in one last stint to soak up as much of my "happy place" as I can before going back to a big city. Next weekend is one last trip to NJ to visit folks.

Anyway, that's what's been going on with me.

Here's a bonus of some things I've been up to this summer...

At a stone wall on the property in upstate New York.
Holding a baby turtle.
Feeding a hummingbird.
That's all for now folks!

Much love,
Stephanie

Checking In...

Just letting people know I am alive and having a great summer.

Currently I'm hanging out in the Boston area with some friends.

Blanket progress is going well! I will post pictures when I am all done with it.

Much love,
Stephanie