“Is that… a music class?”
“Yeah.” My coworker pointed toward the back of the office. “The music room is on the other side of that door. Cute, right?”
“Extra cute.”
I’m not used to hearing tambourines and a chorus of fifth grade voices in the middle of my work day, or passing through a Capoeria class (!) on my way to the bathroom. But those are just some of the nifty little quirks of my new gig. I’m particularly tickled by the classical music that signals the end of every class, fire drills and getting called into the principal’s office.
Fortunately, he wanted to introduce himself, not give me detention for the length of my skirt. Phew.
There are so many little oddities to get used to outside of the cubicle life. Like, this afternoon, when the Phys Ed. teacher introduced herself in front of her students as Mrs. F, I had to stifle a quick giggle. I knew that had we been back in the main office, I’d have known her as Ann or Megan, but I’d forgotten that when in front of a room full of sixth graders, teachers don’t have first names.
Or, god forbid, lives outside of the classroom. If they only knew!
One of the nicer perks about my new job (on top of the fucking excellent health insurance) is that, unlike first days of new schools when I was a kid, I already have a friend at this one. To see the same friendly face at Sunday afternoon football and Monday morning coffee is really very nice. As is the head’s up of decent places to grab lunch. Invaluable information.
What is also nice is having a boss show so much confidence and enthusiasm in my skills. My calendar is filling up with meetings and new tasks and challenges. It’s exhausting, but in a good way. And speaking of, I should really get some rest.
Tomorrow is Parent/Teacher Conference day.
So will you get all of the school breaks? Fall, Christmas, Spring Break, SUMMER? Sorry, had to ask.
take care of yourself fish.
hope you’re feeling better now.
Yes! Christmas break, spring break, and a coupla weeks in the summer.
It’s GOLD.
great to hear abt the new job! can feel ur excitment!!
i did 2-day workshop at my high school last week and it was fantabulous! it was my first teaching experience and i had a great group to kids. can’t wait to go back!
great to hear abt the new job! can feel ur excitment!!
i did 2-day workshop at my high school last week and it was fantabulous! it was my first teaching experience and i had a great group to kids. can’t wait to go back!
how did THAT happen!?!
Congratulations on an excellent first day as the new kid at school:)
A school that teaches capoiera? I’m jealous of these kids…I didn’t get exposed to that until college.
Hope the days that follow bring the same feeling of excitement and exhileration you’re feeling now!
What on earth is Capoeria?
I’m trying to think back to how school would have been if I had a teacher that blogged. High school would’ve been all kinds of weird =)
Good luck with the job, Fish!
So happy for you that you like your new job! Congrats, again.
i’m still not exposed-what is capoeria?
the job sounds wonderful. it makes life so much easier when you actually enjoy facing the work day.
congrats.
It’s like a combination of Brazilian dance and martial arts. Really cool to watch.
yay for jobs you like! So what are you donig at the school? What’s your job?
new gig? How cool. Hope it’s as fun as it sounds.
Do they have you teaching or doing admin for the school? Fundraising?
Did the capoeria kids adequately stretch, ala Dustin Hoffman in Meet the Fockers?
Glad you feel enriched, and jealous, it takes balls to do what you did, I couldn’t take the pay cut.
God, I’m jealous. Not because of the days/weeks off, but because you get to teach. So freaking jealous. I want to just give up everything and do that.
Congrats on the new job, Fish! Glad to hear it’s turning out to be such a joy
What are you teaching, Fish?
Congrats!!!
Sounds fun and interesting! I’m glad you’re liking it over there. On the other hand, I’m so jealous.
This place is no longer fun or interesting without you here. Now I’m even bitchier and nastier than before if you can imagine that!
Congratulations on your new job. I have been teaching for years and still love it. I was in an office before and teaching was the most fulfilling job change. Hope you can get some rest because some days you’re going to need it.
Hurrah for you! And how CUTE are all the kiddies? CUTE.
I don’t actually teach (God knows I don’t have the consitution for it). I run the school’s communications — fundraising, public relations, etc. My role at parent teacher conference is an interesting one. More on that later.
I am so jealous!! Congrats on finding a job that makes your heart sing
Yes, the difference between a elementary school child and a scat-freak can be negligible at best. My mom tells me stories that sound like the scene in Alien with the chest burster.
Sounds awesome! Welcome to the world of education.
Fish, so glad that the new job is fulfilling and fun! Sounds like everything is looking up for you. How awesome!!
How excellent to read such a happy, energized post after the past few days. Your spirits definitely seem lifted, and I’m so glad.
I’ve been reading your blog for a few weeks now, I started with the original posts though, and I’ve been working my way through slowly but surely. I just now got up to November 2004. In anycase, your blog has always somewhat reminded me of my oldest sister, so much so that I just knew that the H had to stand for Heather (which is also her first name) since about the third post I read. However, when I got to the NY Times article, that really threw me for a loop, as Hunter is also my last name… such odd coincidences…
I hope you have a hall pass, young lady.
Hi,
I’ve been reading for 9 months or so, have commented once or twice. I didn’t realize you were transitioning to fundraising/Pr. That’s what I do (though in Boston, and for abused/neglected kids) Speng 4 years in advertising and 9 years in fundraising. Which is all to say, if you need someone to bounce ideas off of, brainstorm with, complain to, or just chat with, let me know!
dnewark@rfkchildren.org
ah, charter schools. where there are options like music classes. and jobs in pr.
we don’t see that much in public schools.
Congrats, Fish. It sounds wonderful. I work for a very small newspaper and thought many times about working for a non-profit instead. Somehow I don’t find what I do as fulfilling as what I once did. Keep posting about the j-o-b and you might tip the scales.
ah…you just brough back all those horrible memories of getting detention in high school….and they were all because my skirts were too short….:)
I work in the corporate world, but once or twice a month I substitute teach at my old highschool… Makes me want to quit my real job and never go back! You are so fortunate!
I saw this article in the newspaper here and I am assuming it is the same girl that lived next to you. http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051201/NEWS01/512010362
I used to be a 7th & 8th grade English teacher. If you need any tips, just ask! Have fun! Always keep Excedrin in your purse.
have a funny-fun-fun time on your nine dollar bahamas trip!
lucky girl.
not that I am overly pendantic, but …
Capoeria is actually Capoeira, a brazilian dance that incorporates self defense moves.
The best thing about having sixth graders around is that they can help you with the backend programming of your blog, since kids are born now with a mouse in their hand.
Congratulations! I’ve considered a return to academia just not as a public-relations professional. As a doctorate-holding professor perhaps.
Professor Caldecutt? God help those impressionable minds!
Am a new reader … who has spent every lunch break in the last week reading your archives… and am pleased that you sound so happy! I also am a non-corporate person with low pay- but hey, it’s worth it for feeling that at least I am making a difference to someone in my life!
Good on you for furthering your eduacation, Beuatiful women like you should be proud and stand up for your gender I sympithize with your plight, but that’s not to say that you know where I come from I’m just a simpleton here in the town of b.It,So get’s so old here that I don’t know what to do soI wrote thing to mail to you!!!!!!