Emmalee in the Desert

I had this giant post drafted about how my classroom and teaching life here is totally different than my previous experiences in Korea and Minnesota. I read it and didn't feel super great about just pointing fingers at cultures and listing differences. They're apparent, they're real, they impact me, but I'm not really here to write lists and draw comparisons. I had a check-in meeting with my vice principal yesterday and I'd be lying if I told you I was calm or excited about it. I didn't even know my vice principal's name before I moved here because in my interview process I was working with the secondary principal and the director of the school. I went in and was nervous - I came ready to take notes and be honest about my shortcomings in this entirely new environment. He told me to put it down and asked me how I'm doing. I responded with something like "Pretty well! I've loved meeting students, my department is super supportive, I feel lost in...

So here I am, on the other side of the world. They tell you in new teacher orientation at many schools that there are 4 stages of adjustment (honeymoon, disillusionment/frustration, adjustment, and acceptance.) It's so brain-bending to do it all over again - I find myself mentioning Korea so frequently but it became my new normal. Things I'm dealing with at this point are not really "This is different from Minnesota" but more "This is different than Korea" which is strange to hear my brain say. I've been here just a little less than a week and I have some remarkable (ha!) experiences to share with you: 1) I made it through immigration and onto campus. The relief I felt once I stepped into my new town home was more than noticeable - I have been anticipating this specific move since mid-January 2017, and imagining far-away places since probably April 2016, maybe earlier. It's so nice not to worry or wonder - I'm still figuring out SO much...