First Day of Class!

Dear Readers,

Today was an exciting first day of school!
Slept badly last night, then lost track of time in the morning and Maria almost missed her school bus, then I almost got to school late. Didn't have my money because I didn't want to waste any more time finding an ATM after already being late.

This is going to be an intensive class. They say if you have a social life, family, kids, dogs, etc. that they will be lonely for a month because all you are going to do is study. I guess it can't be as bad as my last semester of my Master's when I was taking several classes. Anyway, it's only for a month. Our group of 18 students was split into three groups of six, and we will be working in the same group for the rest of the month. I like the people in my group and am determined to put aside my shyness and make some friends before this is over! I had lunch with most of the group today, putting me on the way to achieving my goal.

We had and hour and a half of introductions and lessons about different kinds of ice breakers and a summary of what the semester is going to look like, then an hour and a half of observing some professional teachers teaching, then lunch. We went to a little restaurant on Istiklal Caddesi (street) and I had lentil soup and gozleme (tortilla with stuff inside, grilled). After lunch, back to class, where we discussed the different parts of the lesson that had just been taught, how each piece was useful, and the outline for what our lessons should look like. I discovered that I haven't finished signing in to the Moodle, which means I have more homework tonight than anyone else in the group. At least I am not teaching in the morning, like three of the people in my group. I'll be teaching a 40 minute class on Wednesday.

We got out of school at 5:30 or so, then I ran back to the metro, which I took all the way north to Maria's daycare center on the other side of town. Then I failed to cross the street at the right place and ended up walking a half mile out of my way to the walking bridge. I have discovered the secret to crossing the streets here: Find a Turk who looks confident, get right behind him, and follow his stride. A car may run over one stupid pedestrian, but not three.

I got Maria, went to the ATM, withdrew the daily limit, paid the school, then walked down to the bakery where we ate the other day. We had a nice little snack, then took the metrobus to our neighborhood. It took a bit of asking around, since I hadn't taken the metrobus before.

By the time we got home it was 8:00. I checked my e-mail and typed Maria's blog while she ate and dictated, and then got her to bed. Now it's time for me to do my homework. I expect I'll be up late trying to get it all together. Hopefully tomorrow morning I will be a little more organized, and hopefully I'll have a chance throughout the day to do a bit of typing on my projects as well.

Thank you all for reading!

This is me, signing off...