Oh sleep - how sweet thou art!

I have had an insanely busy week. But I did manage to have some fun along the way!

Let me talk about the day I had teaching on Friday first. It was a year 3 - good age. Exactly what I thought I wanted for a permanent classroom - it was quite a distance away from where I live and I ended up running a fair ways to get there in time...I barely made it and was sweating when class started! I could read every name on the register (attendance) which was a good start. The children were the typical pasty white English children and were very polite to start. Then - it was like they all consumed a mountain of sugar each - they were running and screaming and jumping. They were completely insane. I would be giving a lesson and this kid would walk straight up to me and interrupt me to ask a stupid (I know, no questions are stupid...) question. I went over and over and over that they must raise their hand if they have a question and they must stay in their seats. I would get them quiet for 5 seconds - just long enough for me to tell them it was far too loud to learn and they would start again. If you can imagine two boys, both named Frankie, faking every injury imaginable, asking to use the "toilet" every 15 minutes, and making every effort and attempt to do the least amount of work possible - well, they were the least of my problems!! I don't even want to go into more detail - they were appalling. At times I do question my abilities - but I have to dwell on the children and classes that were positive in order to know I am not a rubbish teacher! 

I worked all weekend and do not know how I am still standing up properly. I am exhausted. Absolutely spent. It is almost 8pm here and bed is no later than 9pm tonight. At work today I sat down beside my locker and promptly found myself sleeping 10 seconds later. I know I know, I don't need to hear it - next week I only have two shifts at the pub so I won't burn myself out, I promise. As long as I collect myself at the end of the weekend (like tonight) and get to bed early, all will be well! Specifically, last night at work was nuts!! Excuse me, it was "mad" I should say (they don't understand what nuts means...well, not in the way I mean it. Haha) . I started at 1pm and we had a wedding until about 1am, so it was quite a long shift, which was tiring. Afterwards, however, the whole staff at the pub had a bit of a private party - it was really great to get to know my co-workers a little better! There is a really great group of people working there!

Sometime during the week I got to the National Museum - which was HUGE and fantastic. Originals from all the greats! Van Gogh, Manet, Monet, Valsquez, Rembrant, Vermeer, Goya, Degas, Titian among so many timeless artists. Absolutely amazing...I think that was the only touristy thing I did this week, as I was so busy doing other things! 

I'm toast. I have to go to bed - I hope all is well with everyone back home. 

Much love to all, 

amy