Here's what you can do if you are the friends or family of someone who has the great misfortune to be a new teacher in a new school: Stay Away.
Don't come visit. Don't phone on Sunday night to chat. Don't send friends to "see how things are over there."
If you do come, bring your own cookies and clean sheets. Make a meal. Do not expect someone to work a 14 hour day and then come home to entertain out-of-towners who have been lolling around all day watching TV and are "just rarin' to get out there and see the REAL China."
I think the worst week of my life occured this August: I moved to a new apartment on Friday, started a new job Monday, and my daughter AND HER GUESTS arrived Monday night.
This is when you know you are officially middle aged: you find a beautiful naked 20 year old man (who is NOT your student OR related to you) sleeping on your sofa as you stumble into the kitchen for a cup of coffe, and your first thought is, Hmm, I should cover him with a little afghan and turn the air con down, it's blowing right on his neck and he might get a cold...
If you wonder why I haven't posted, it's simple: I am a new teacher, teaching a new curriculum, in a new school. It's Sunday and I'm going in. To work. For free. Because I have to if I want to catch up to the point where I"m only a month behind. Will post another day. Promise. Like, at Christmas. Maybe.
