Life as a teacher

Here I am, once again with a new job.

It's less spectacular than my previous postings, but for sure not less challanging. It's teaching 10 year old kids maths, arts, sports and music. It's closer to home than all my previous postings: it's in the primary school where I myself learned how to read and write some twenty years ago. This morning my dad dropped me on his way to work, and with a little bit of giggling he said "you know, it's not the first time that I have dropped you to this school". Ok, sometimes history repeats itself, but I still try to prevent my parents from becoming too sentimental about the fact that last but not least, I have temporarily found my way home, with a "normal" job and a "normal" life; only what's missing is the "normal" partner. But who knows, maybe if I stick around long enough here in South Tyrol, maybe the "normal" partner turns up, too? ;)

But to be frank, life as a teacher is not even that bad. There is quite a bit of preparation to do, but the good thing is that as soon as I walk through the entrance of the school, there is no space for any thoughts that don't directly concern the teaching. Kids ask a million questions a day. Everything from whether I know what a Humvee is (not sure if I spelled it right, but I told them that I vaguely remember having seen them in Afghanistan...) or what would happen to my baby if I fell on my belly. Or if I know what I will dress up for Carneval. Or if it is possible to buy street children in Africa, as they don't have parents. Um. Or if I have a dog at home (apparently, I had dog hair on my jacket). There are moments when I think "my god, and I will have to answer such questions for the next 15 years", but more so there are moments that simply make me smile, 'cause suddenly reminding me again how funny and fulfilling these little persons can be.

Anyhow, that's my new job.