Yesterday I went for the most beautiful run with my classmates Danielle and Elizabeth! We hopped on the 47 down to the Fishermen's Wharf, which was an easy 10 minutes ride, and ran into town and then turned around and ran towards the most gorgeous views of Alcatraz, Ghiradelli Square, and last but not least, the Golden Gate Bridge. Perfect sunset outing and great people watching.
And now the first week is over! So far, I've only had to break up one fight and taught with my teacher's baby on my hip for an entire class period. The thrill of new experiences! Today at Everett we had a half-day, A schedule (dang these schedules are confusing, even Ms. Olguin doesn't ever know the times) and a lot of the kids had their "Friday attitude" on. By this I mean that it was a bit of a rough morning, even though we moved some of the trouble kids like ShayRon and Dreon to the front of the class, they still figured out a way to drive us crazy. They definitely have their redeeming moments too, however. For instance ShayRon did his best to interpret the quiet and fuzzy morning announcements to the class and he made it into his own little comedy show.
At the end of the day the highlight was the 7th grade assembly! All the kids were corralled into the huge auditorium that was filled with loud hip-hop, parents and teachers. Let's just say a little chaotic. They showed some music videos, made announcements, passed out awards for academic improvement and did a skit---organized by me! The students were sooo nervous to get up in front of their peers, but they ended up doing a really good job and I was so proud of them.
Everything is different at the schools. The clothes are different (black pants and a white collared shirt uniform, and no red or blue because of the gangs---kids either have to take off those colors or they are sent home), the talk is different , the way kids interact is different, and expectations are different! It's really interesting to try to picture these kids in one of the schools I have worked at in Spokane and vice-versa. They are literally two different worlds. I want so badly for these kids to have opportunities to succeed in life and it kills me to think that some already seem to have their paths set to gangs or poverty and lots of struggles. Most ride the buses or undergrounds to school and they have to grow up incredibly young to survive. However, the one thing that I like about middle school is that kids are less set in their ways and there is more opportunity to be formative in their lives. It's ridiculously hard to get a 12th grader reading at a 4th grade level up to par simply because there isn't enough time, but they are still pretty young in middle school.
Students make me laugh all the time with the direct and no-filter things they say ("yo head look like an egg!"), but I try not to let them see me laughing. I already have a soft spot for them, which I can't let them see of course, and I feel like I'm getting into a rhythm!
And now for the first weekend...tonight we might go out and also go to Chinatown! Dim Sum anyone?
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