See You Soon

Well I finished my last week at CBL - I was surprised the school threw a small going away party for me with the faculty and several students wrote me going away cards.

I spent the last two days helping Francesca, who will be replacing me, to meet the students and and getting on board with where we were in the material. Hopefully being she is fluent in English & Spanish she will have better luck with the students and thew administration than I did.

I fly home on Monday, and right now I am almost packed minus the clothes I washed today that are drying and a few toiletry essentials I'll be needing until I actually leave. So yeah... guess I'll be seeing most of you soon.

Well except for my few Colombian readers, though to you if you find yourself in the USA and near Southern Indiana just let me know and I'd love to hang out and share my hometown with you like you all have done with me.

Okay. Time to let you out of the dark.

Okay my last blog post was actually about Roberto, on the day I posted it (Februaury 24th, I believe.), he had resigned with no warning from the school. I have continued living with the Valderramas even though he left. I figured this was going to cause things to stir up a bit at the school--I was right.

The Academic Coordinator Tito, who to be honest i don't really seem to get along with has sort of stepped up to fill the principal role that Roberto left open. So I knew soon enough that he was going to try and whip things into shape--unfortunately as always--I was left a bit in the dark to this. So it seems that I may have dropped the ball on one or two things due to the fact I was failed to be properly informed.

So I was called into a meeting on the 2nd of March, I was rather quickly and in Spanish followed by broken English what was the problem and asked as to why I was not complying with several of the new changes. I addressed this with the fact that I have continually asked for memos to be emailed to me, so that I could run them through Google's online translator quicker, I also mentioned that the school had failed to find me a Spanish Teacher which had been promised to be before I took the job (over 8 months ago) which also could have aided me in the process greatly. Due to these failed responsibilities of the school I had had quite a lot issues understanding let alone comply to any changes that had been implemented.

Then they addressed that several of the parents were concerned about their students progress, my gut an honest response I blurted out was "So am I." I explained that I had been promised a Spanish teacher before I came--and that I never would have taken the job if that had not been part of the arrangement, Tito and the new head administrator looked at me like i was crazy--and said they were not aware of this. I further explained that there is simply too big of a language barrier between myself and the students. I simply cannot understand what they are trying to say to me most of the time... and when I do understand I never know what to say to try and fix it. The classroom simply doesn't function.

So it was finally decided on a recourse.

I resigned.

My Last day will be this coming Friday, March 18th.

The school has already found a replacement teacher for me she will be working with me this coming Thursday and Friday to meet my students and get a feel for where they are in class. She will then be taking over next Tuesday (Monday is some Holiday here). Though thankfully the Airport is still open that Monday (the 21st) as I will be flying home that day. A big thanks to everyone who has been reading and following this Blog, thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.

I hope to chronicle a bit more of my experience here (hopefully) in book form--I plan to post a few teaser chapters on here once I finish them--and there maybe another post or two before I actually leave.

Take care friends, hopefully I'll be seeing most of you again soon!

- Mitch

hey...

So things are weird. There have been some big changes going on. Some which I am not allowed to really talk about. I am fine and healthy and am still at work down here... There had been a scare or two this week about some big changes going on... Though to all my US readers if you would like more info feel free to email me: mitch.stuart@gmail.com and I will be more than happy to fill you in on what is going on. Or if you are in regular contact with my parents or other members of my family they should be able to give you some of the details.

Most of all I think things maybe getting kind of bumpy down here and all prayers and well wishes are greatly appreciated.

Dreams

So first off this blog update is not really about Colombia or teaching but in a weird way it is about school...

For the last three to four months I have had a recurring dream where I find out for some reason I did not officially graduate high school. Then I find myself walking the Halls of Good Ole BHS. I continually have run ins with old teachers that I used to bump heads with... and I feel like I will never finish there even though I go for only half their normal school day--I then find myself at USI in the evenings being a constant mockery to my peers at a collegiate for having to still be in High School. I keep having this same sort of dream over and over--I just can't shake it I am thousands of miles and 7 years out of High School and it is still in my nightmares... What the heck is up with that?

My Students Part 4 First Grade

My Students Part 3 Third Grade

My Students Part 2 Second Grade

My Students Part 1 Adv English

I have not forgotten you.

Hey so as always its time to play catch-up (and not the kind for your fries) its been a mix of very interesting & very boring... at the same time?

I guess I'll start with what changes are going on at the school...

Lets see... One of the main administrators of the school has for the moment stepped down and the former accountant has stepped up to fill the position--which is actually not bad as he seems to be taking a more active role in the position and much more of an interest in the school than the person he is replacing.

The school eliminated its English Coordinator position, and Claudia decided that she would leave instead of staying on and adjusting what her job entitled. Though she also is producing a short film and is trying to find more time to work on that project so perhaps the whole situation was a mixed blessing for her.

My good friend and fellow English teacher Carlos left last Friday. He also taught Theology and Physical Education--and a new teacher has been brought in to replace him in his Theology and PE classes--though the English spot is unfilled--what is going to happen with his students I have no idea.

Also my friend Sandra is now team teaching my first and second graders with me for half of the time I have them in class. She has been a huge help and hopefully the wildness of the first graders won't wear her down to the breaking point of her sanity. As for my sanity--we all know its been AWOL for years. Ha ha ha ha

Okay now to the excuse for why I haven't posted for awhile. Well I came down with a flu bug. I ended up missing 3 days of school and have since been attempting to catch up on everything I wasn't at school for and reorganizing my class plans along with getting to have my first usage of my Insurance and my first experience with Colombian healthcare. Honestly I was impressed! I was in to see a doctor about 15 minutes after I arrived even though I didn't have an appointment. I then did had to get a blood test and a urine test done because the doctor worried that I might have dengay (sp?) but thankfully the test came up clean but I was given an IV with medication to help treat my flu bug while I was waiting for the test results and was then given medication to take as I walked out the door. No co-pay, no needing to visit a pharmacy--I was actually impressed at the overall convenience of the whole process... though I worry with all my constant exposure to the kids I'm unbelievably likely to get sick again.

Alright well thats probably enough for now I need to try and get ahead on some of my planning for next week.

As always your well wishes and prayers are always appreciated.

Feel free to comment here or to send me an email at mitch.stuart@gmail.com

Godspeed friends,

--Mitch

(Any donations can be given to Milton or Marla Stuart who can be sure the funds are transferred to me. Just kidding, unless you want to--then by all means feel free.)

Welp, time to fire this back up.

Back in Cali. It feels so strange to be back in South America - I'm still readjusting. To the climate and I swear there is something about switching hemispheres that just wears me out like I can't explain. Hopefully I will get my self back to Southern self soon. O. The bright side I have my first two weeks (and probably most of the third) already planned out which means I can take it easy for a few days. Though right now I have been at work for 3.25 hours and am already ready for a NAP! Though being today is only meetings I shouldn't be surprised that I am bored and feeling sleepy.

Well let's see... there were no major issues with my flights though I think TSA may have "confiscated" a snickers from my checked baggage when they inspected it. I am pretty sure I left with three but only arrived with two. Oh well my peanut butter and cereal both made it through no problem so I can't complain to much.

Also I just wanna say it was great visiting everyone while I was home- to those I was unable to visit/connect with I wish I could have gotten to see you all more than you know. Those I did see, thanks for taking time out to hang with your favorite Colombian :P hopefully I will work something out so that I can have a lot of people over to show pictures and tell a few stories sometime when I get back stateside. It'll be more fun than it sounds - mostly it'll be stories of miscommunication and misunderstandings at my expense.