Parent-Teacher meeting and getting the Reading Room set up. These last two weeks have been really something and I almost lost my cool in front of my boss because of the latter. In my defense, I did tell him that I was an advocate for reading and the arts when I was interviewed. In fact, I told him that I value reading and the arts over everything else. But I should start from the beginning…
life lessons
It’s finally happening. Sunday is the day I start my Master’s Program in English and Creative Writing and I couldn’t be happier. I finally get to go back to school and be a student – not a teacher. Well, I’m still a teacher but…you know…I already gave this song-and-dance. Instead, let me talk about why I have been so tired these last two weeks.
Well…it happened. I finally snapped at a student who was my own. I didn’t think it would happen. I thought I had a handle on my temper, especially since I was dealing with teenagers. Moreover, I was dealing with my usual group of teenagers so I didn’t think that would have been the case. But, alas, here we are.
Since the 3rd of this month, I have been working on the first installment of my LGBTQ+ Crimeverse series. The details of the series I’m still keeping to myself as I’m still ironing out all the logistics around the series. You know, how many series are going to take up this universe, the models, the photographers, ghostwriters (if necessary), among other things. But, right now, I’m grinning ear-to-ear.
As of today, I have completed my first year as a big boy teacher and I am so proud of myself. If you recall, my first job as an educator was at a training center (Owen) and I loved every bit of it. The students were wonderful, my colleagues were supportive sweethearts, and my main boss was cool. The only problem I had with the training center, aside from my immediate supervisor, was that it wasn’t my speed. But Limai, on the other hand…
The Chinese government is a fickled thing. They have laws against discrimination against the LGBTQ community, and, yet, they have laws banning games and media that have feminine men in them. Yeah…talk about hypocritical. They don’t even allow any PRIDE Parade anymore because it was “going against the harmony of China”. Nevertheless, I’m still swelling with PRIDE. Let me tell you why.
There is something about letting a student know that what are doing is out of kindness and love without using words. To show them that you care about them even to only get involved when it’s for their safety is something. But, sometimes, you have to use their words and, though it’s pretty rare for me, go into a monologue of suppressed anger and annoyance.
Let me explain…
“I teach students, not subjects.”
-Unknown
I’ve been an educator for, at least, three years, now. Moreover, I’m closing in on my first year as a big boy teacher and I’m beyond proud of myself. I have seen and endured a lot and I still got one more month before the 2021-2022 school year closes out. But, what got me the most is the additional responsibilities of a teacher; it was a welcoming surprise.
Well, I’m back at school. Actually, I was back at school for a moment, then we were forced to go into lockdown, again, and, finally, able to leave my community…again. However, China’s Labour Day holiday is coming up so you can imagine my reservation about things getting back to normal. Nevertheless, I do have something to share…
This week and last week have been a trial of patience, devocation, and dedication for everybody at Limai. Teaching online with students who either have the attention span of a hummingbird or who just don’t like the idea of an online class. I mean…I didn’t like the idea of online classes when I was at university so how the hell was I going to convey the importance of it to my students. But I did my best…