When I'm Up

After being in a growing funk for the last week or two, I'm suddenly...happy. You know, more or less. The weekend was most enjoyable (lesson panic notwithstanding), and things have gone right today. I really shouldn't broadcast this to the world when there are still a few hours of the day left, but if anyone was hanging out with me tonight, they might even find me rather bubbly and silly. (or maybe the term is "punchy"--didn't get much sleep last night) And I've just tripped over another brick of the foundation of happiness--people to let down your hair and get goofy with. But I'm starting to ramble. Any (or all) of these could be making me cheerful:

--Out of nowhere, I had a good lesson today. I was still writing it when I got to school this morning, but, miraculously, it worked. Actually, a couple of the classes were still disasters, but my gut feeling is it wasn't because the lesson stank. Grabbed a framework off a website at 11:30 last night for a lesson on "When was the last time you...?". Target vocab: last _____, _______ ago, and the _______ before last. Some listening, some writing, and some speaking for the kids. I whipped up a worksheet for my first class, and didn't even have to modify it afterward--that's a first. When I ran out of activity before I ran out of time in one class, the solution came to me instantly. Two co-teachers said it was a good lesson, and the one I've been getting the weirdest vibes from sat with me at lunch and asked what I wanted her to do in class. After lunch I went to the library to get "Where the Wild Things Are" for a class next week, and had a long conversation with one of the kids about which books are good, interesting, hard, etc. THAT'S the kind of thing I've been wanting. And to top it all off, Wild Things didn't turn out to be impossibly complicated.

--Rearranged my vacation intentions last night to include 2 weeks in Rochester. A total departure from what I'd originally had in mind, but the thought of being home just a little makes me cheery and hopeful. August seems crushingly far away, but January? I can live until January. All the arguments against coming home just seem to not matter--it is a long plane ride, and I will be jetlagged, but would I trade that for the welcoming embrace of loved ones and cherished places, the chance to gather my wits and regroup for another campaign, and a big green salad and breakfast at Jines? You betcha! I've even decided it may not traumatize the cats so much if I return and go away again--hope I'm right about that! What's more, rather than being disappointed at the radical contraction of my plans for Southeast Asia, I actually feel like a week in Cambodia is perfect--the kind of focus and manageability that I strive for in my lessons.

--Got my hair cut today after being driven to distraction by it for the last several weeks. I actually think I look kinda good! I was going to go short last time I had a haircut, back in May, but wasn't ready to give up my ponytail. I was ready today, and I do think this is a better look for me. I feel more professional, more up-to-date, more like I meant to look this way. I was nervous about walking into a random Korean hairdresser, too, but the lady was really nice, did a great job, and only charged me $7! I don't know when I've ever had a haircut that I liked instantly.

--Great Big Sea on YouTube! Granted, that's pretty much a daily occurrence, but it rarely fails to make me a bit effervescent, to use one of Bob Hallett's favorite words.

Off to HomePlus for groceries. If my happy groove continues, maybe I'll even find the right bus!