Summer of Service

My senior year of high school, I made a senior scrapbook, thinking that five years from now I may crack it open and remember SOMETHING that I did during those four years of my life. Then, I decided to come to Jishou and the scrapbook came with me so I could show my students some of my pictures. Ok, so why am I telling you this? As I was looking through the book I saw on one of the last pages, the question, "What are some things you will never do?" and the only answer I had written down was "Never become a teacher." Now I find myself here in Jishou, half-way across the world teaching English to Chinese students...and LOVING it! This is honestly one of the best experiences of my life and it scares me a little. For a long time (ok like 6 months...) I have been trying to figure out if I still want to become an attorney or if I should focus my time and energy elsewhere and to be honest I think that teaching could be it. Its hard to describe, but standing in front of my students in the classroom makes me feel...well, happy I guess. Yes, happy. Who'da thunk it? Certainly not the 18 year old who made that scrapbook 2 years ago. It touches me right here in this little guy [point to heart] :-). Now don't get me wrong, teaching is not great all of the time. According to one student, my first day of class was a little dull and apparently I still talk way to fast, but I am still able to enjoy it even in the awkward, not all that good at it-stage. The students are great and we're getting lots of feed back from Anastasia and Leslie to help improve our teaching styles, so I guess we'll see what happens...

Happy reading,
Francine