No taste = no calories

Preface: I wrote this last week but was unable to post it until today.

As I sit here eating my tasteless chocolate flavored swiss roll, I do not feel guilty. I don’t feel guilty because if it doesn’t have any taste it doesn’t have any calories either, right?

So I started teaching yesterday. It’s rough teaching kids who don’t speak your language. Of course that’s understandable, but my gracious…I didn’t expect it to be this hard. Classroom management is the least of my worries at this point. I can’t even understand if my kids need to go to the toilet which creates quite a problem if a three year old pees his or her pants in the middle of circle time, or what is supposed to be circle time. I can barely get them in a circle before one jumps up and begins reading a book. I understand that this is typical behavior for three year olds regardless of their nationality, but I can’t even get mad at them because they don’t understand what I’m saying. They’re not disobedient; they just speak Chinese, or Japanese, or Korean, etc.

I miss you all a lot. The team here is great, but I miss the comfort of each of our friendships. I can write something that raw because I’m sure if you’re reading this we’re close friends. If not though, thanks for reading. I’m sure you’ll get to know me really well if you keep up with my year. J Anyway, I miss little things, like calling you all. I don’t have internet at my apartment yet so my communication is neither consistent nor lengthy. When internet gets hooked up though I’m sure I’ll be writing you all a lot more.

Speaking of mail, I may not be writing many letters home. I went to the post office for the first time on Sunday, which took an hour and a half to find by the way, and it was packed. Sorry guys, but emails are going to be easiest. Expect cards at Christmas and maybe your birthday. J

Rachel gets here a week from today. I’m really looking forward to that. At least we’ll each share a piece of home by being together.

My advice for today: NEVER take American food for granted. I didn’t know how much I would miss it until today when the spaghetti sauce smelled like vomit, seriously. And when my chocolate swiss roll was not an oasis away from the bland rice, but instead proved to add to my growing longing of good, familiar food.

I love you all dearly.