Zheige / Neige - This n' That (Dec. 14, 2007)

Aah, the Christmas season is quickly approaching and still...it doesn't really 'feel' like Christmas here. There is no snow, in fact - yesterday was a very warm day again. Some days I am wearing capris inside my home while other days I can't put on enough layers.

However, inside my classrooms it does feel a little like Christmas. We've already read a short version of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol", they have already learned a bunch of carols (Welcome To Our World, Silent Night, Jingle Bells, Away in a Manger, and This Baby). This week I am teaching about the traditions related to celebrating Christmas (eg. Christmas tree, stockings, candy canes, Santa Claus etc.) as well as the true Reason why we celebrate Christmas and why it was/is such a big event. Next week I will teach about the Christmas story - what happened so many years ago. Wow...that was just a month of lessons summarized!

Next week I will also be giving the students their small Christmas gift (not so small when you have to make one for 800+ students): a bookmark. I am still contemplating whether to give each of the students a Christmas orange as well - they LOVE them (and often won't buy them for themselves because it's not too cheap) but it's something that I would have to buy the week-of and could become somewhat stressful if this town runs out of little oranges... I've got a few days to decide yet...

Last night I rented my first movie: 'Elf' for less than 15 Canadian pennies. I also bought myself a bag of cookies and made a huge salad...I decided to reward myself after having a fairly productive day.

Today I did something for the first time: I got my shoes polished! It was quite fun and the man was also quite happy to get some business. Normally I would consider myself lazy if I didn't polish my own shoes but here it is different - these people often look like they can use some 'extra' money. My shoes look as good as new!

Last week I found out that I have even more students than I thought I did. I was talking with my friend, Kelly and her 'brother' (not really her brother but they are close so they call each other brother and sister - quite common here - in fact, I also have quite a large family here) and her brother said that he really liked my classes.
So I asked him "I am so sorry, I teach 800 students and I don't even recognize your face... What class are you in?".
He replied "I'm in senior 1 class 13".
In my head I was thinking Aaah, I can't even remember that class so I asked "You must think I am crazy but... on what day do I teach you?".
"Thursday".
Whaaat...I teach only 2 classes on Thursday and Senior 1 Class 13 is not one of them. "I am sooo confused...I don't even think I teach that class".
"That's true, I am only sort of in your class...you teach the class beside me but I always sit outside your classroom and listen to you (I teach that class after school hours - so he stays to listen to me instead of going home). You are always happy and always make us laugh. Your classes are meaningful"
Haha...I made a bookmark for him too. Apparently he's not the only one - I hope I won't be short any bookmarks!

Aaah...I think that's it for now. Thanks to those of you who have sent me a Christmas card - very thoughtful! Until next time...