And now, the real reason we are here...

 I am sure people think, from reading my posts (if they grant me the gift of reading them) that life as an international teacher is all "travel, restaurants, flea markets and fun." Truly, there are adventures, misadventures and fun things, there is also the real reason we are here...WORK!

And, WORK starts, for real, TOMORROW.

Uruguayan American School is a small but old school (60 years!) that was founded as a joint effort by UY and US citizens to provide an American- style education. They offer a Uruguayan Program, for students hoping to study in UY after graduation, and an IB diploma for 11th and 12th graders for those who want to study elsewhere. We have had training days, met our colleagues, checked out our classrooms and had our first asado experience (sadly, it was too cold for the real bbq but it was still good). Rob is teaching 11th grade IB World History, and Theory of Knowledge (**coolest class ever**) and I am teaching 11th grade IB English B, 6 and 7 Digital Literacy, 10th grade writing and Tech Integration. It sounds like a lot and it probably will feel like a lot, but for now, I am only teaching the first 3 classes. Classes are 95 minutes long and we are on an A/B schedule.

Classes are small and reasonably sized. I have a class of 17 and a class of 3 as of now. This is my 26th year of teaching and I am honestly feeling pretty optimistic about tomorrow! This feeling is likely because I don't have any classes until after lunch. We will see how "chill" I feel at 11am!


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Other updates: our house is FURNISHED. It is amazing to have a couch to sit on. I am pleased. 



We have INTERNET and a TV! We got to watch the last show of Atypical together. What a fabulous show!
We have a WASHER and DRYER! Being able to get clean clothes is a relief, especially when, to be honest, I probably didn't bring enough clothes. 
We have HUNG UP OUR COATS. It is a small thing that makes me feel so much more organized.

Yesterday, we explored the Old Town with our principal Ron and his wife Heather (both who I worked with in North Thurston SD). You would be hard pressed to find a city that looks more European than this part of town. Beautiful old buildings, cobblestone streets and amazing doors everywhere.





2 points that are fascinating:
1. the "White House" is right downtown!

2. Mausoleom for Artigas, the founder of Uruguay, is directly across from the Office of the President, and we were the only vistors (save the 2 soldiers guarding it.) A far from from the Hanoi Ho Chi Minh Mausoleom, with intense reverance and long, silent lines.




Today, Marieka and I explored the Rambla, which I find absolutely endlessly fascinating. Water, sand, people watching all good.






We also learned a little about the dark history here- right on the Rambla, near where we took pictures, there is a house that was the site of torture and detention during the dictatorship;.



This movie is absoutely worth watching to hear how a political prisoner became the president, along with his guerilla fighting wife. It's on Netflix! He drove an ancient VW Bug while being the president and survived 12 years as a prisoner..
https://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-entertainment/emir-kusturicas-documentary-on-uruguays-ex-president-pepe-mujica-comes-to-netflix/

I kinda miss the crazy shirts from China, but we did see this the other day-

And this

And this












Comments

  1. StacyAugust 1, 2021 at 5:52 PM

    Good luck on Monday! Hurray!

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownAugust 20, 2021 at 4:51 PM

    Marcia, Maren and Annika are thrilled to read your updates. The photos and stories are great. Best wishes with the new school year. So happy to see MM's fuzzy little face. 😊

    ReplyDelete

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