Greetings friends!
It has been a very eventful few weeks since B and I arrived back in Shanghai. First of all, we had to get used to the sweltering heat and humidity of this amazing city. After scowling at the weather for approximately 800 hours, I finally accepted the fact that I have to WORK in humidity for at least a month. Actually, today is quite beautiful at 30 degrees! Trust me, 30 is nothing compared to 37 + humidity. Guh!
Anyway, so we buckled up for another year at SUIS. B waltzed into his familiar territory and I embarked on a scary new adventure yet again. I really am sick and tired of being NEW at my job and would LOVE to just stay put...
Last week was orientation and it was great. During orientation, I did a lot more reflecting than I did planning (let's be honest...). There were a couple of times that I thought to myself, wow I really miss my old digs. Why? Because I knew what I was doing. I was comfortable.
But was I comfortable?
As our new principal gave us a speech about how the school was "not perfect" and we would face many "challenges", I felt really ... COMFORTABLE! I appreciated the honesty and the genuine facts that no school (no job for that matter) is perfect. There was a sense that we were all in the same boat and here to help each other, not out of obligation but just because humans are naturally helpful. There was a sense that we had choice.
The year before, I was bombarded by boasting and swooning over a company that I didn't really care about. I care about the students and a happy work environment. I don't care about the business and the marketing and all that jazz. Sorry, I just don't.
So this is when I realized that there are two kinds of comfort. There's being comfortable in what you are doing. You know what you are doing and it is routine so you aren't stressed out or worried. This is very comforting and keeps me calm.
Then there's being comfortable where you are, not what you are. This year I am a Grade 10 English Literature teacher. Have I done this before? No. Am I terrified... maybe...
But I am also in a place where people seem genuinely excited to have me there. My boss has already shown that he values me and my needs... hell, the man wished me a Happy Birthday on Skype ON my birthday this summer! Honestly... I love him. My English team seems really chill and real. They seem like they want me there and I just feel comfortable. It's kind of hard to explain, but I feel really comfortable.
Please don't mistaken my spiritual and emotional comfort for PHYSICAL comfort. This heat though... the struggle is real in the 'hai.
So needless to say, after orientation I was quite excited to start my journey at my new school.
The first week has been crazy but fine. People are stressed, but communicating it in healthy ways and I am finding common threads with people. Have I kept myself at an arm's length a little bit? Yes. I can't help it. Sometimes I am so afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing that I doubt myself hard, but then I remember that I am supposed to be here and I CAN do this. I've got people rooting for me, even if it IS just Bernard and my parents. :) That's enough.
So the first week was quite good. I had a couple of ups and downs, but so it goes. To be honest, I think most of it was the heat. SERIOUSLY THOUGH, picture yourself running circuits in a sauna, wearing a snowsuit, times it by ten, and then you will know what it means to set foot outside of my apartment. It's so hot, that right now, I'm actually only warm in 30 degrees + hella humidity. Hell, I was a little "cool" this morning walking the dog because there was a slight warm breeze. Save me...
So I'm comfortable in a sense. Am I uncomfortable about teaching teenagers? I think the word is not uncomfortable but "green". I know I am new at this but I think challenges are refreshing and stimulating and help us grow as people. I think this challenge can make me happy in the long run. I'm looking forward to a reflective year and NOT in a way that I reflected last year.
Already this week has brought on a couple of major challenges such as the faces of all my angsty teenaged students looking a little something like this:
However, I know that I will win them over. I'm too awesome not to. ;)
So here's to a new year and hopefully the beginning of a budding career at my new campus. I'd love to stick around long enough to be comfortable in more than one way.
Love you all and stay cool!
Yours,
Sarah the comfortable Wun
