Role-Reversal

When I first came to LU as a freshman, I was a declared missions major.  I was going to Ecuador as a single woman missionary and I didn't need no man.  After my first week of freshman orientation in a classroom full of boys, my advisor Harvey Hartman gently counseled me to find another major.  He thought it would be wiser for me to find a trade to bring to another country, and after much praying and thinking, I switched my major to ESL (a brand new major at LU).

ESL teachers were in such high demand in 2001 after I graduated, that I was able to get a job immediately even though I didn't have a teaching license (all I had to do was have a successful year of teaching and take a class, and I could get it easily).  I had a love/hate relationship with the elementary school I taught at.  The principle, Ms. Jessie's philosophy was that kids shouldn't be doing workbooks all day (which I agree with), therefore I had ZERO curriculum to work with when I arrived (a little extreme...).  Everyday I would wake up in a panic, because I constantly was forced to create some lesson plan out of thin air.  It was stretching, but I became more creative, resourceful, and learned more than I ever would have if I had just been handed a curriculum manual.  

The last three days I have been thanking God for Ms. Jessie.  Last month our Icelandic teacher told me he had started running ads for the English class I was going to teach in his back room.   I laughed and told him that I didn't think it would work out.  I was wrong.  We landed on Friday night at midnight and on Saturday and Sunday I was working on lesson plans and decorating my classroom.  My students are great.  I ask, "What's your name?" and the only response I get back is..."What's your name?"  I feel like I'm with little robots, repeating everything I'm saying. If it weren't for Haley being in the class with me, no one would talk;  she is a great teacher's assistant.   Colby is now a stay-at-home Dad (for 3 hours a day, that is), and I rush out the door to work every morning.  Haley LOVES school and I'm glad she's getting to meet some new little friends through this.  Darcy, however, is going through a mild depression.  She screams when I leave and refused to change out of her pajamas today (at least she didn't stay in bed and eat ice cream all morning, though).  I think she'll be okay...