Not only am I a foreigner here, but I am also the youngest teacher in the school. When I talk to the students I like to think that I am really not much older than them. I feel like I can relate to them in a way other teachers may not be able to. After all, I’m just out of college! And before that, I was just out of high school! I was a high school student not too long ago! Right? Right...?
Imagine my surprise when I opened a journal by one student and saw a birth-date followed by the year 1992!
Wait. What? 1992? Wasn’t that just...like...10 years ago?
Let’s see... I graduated high school in 2002, and it is still just barely the 21 century. If these kids were born in 1992, they must be like 12 years old!
In disbelief and shock I whipped out my calculator and figured out how many years ago 1992 was. I almost fell out of my chair when I found out that the new students were a mere 15 years old. Even more flooring was that we are, indeed, in 2007, and that I am 7 years older than them! That’s an entire generation gap!
I realized I have lived my life in decades. I was born in 1984 and everyone I ever really talked to about birth years (friends, sisters) were also born in the 1980s. People born in the 1990s were too young, and if you were born in the 70s, I just couldn’t be bothered to do the math to see how old you really were. When we’re talking decades, everyone was pretty much the same age as me. Born in the 80s. Now I’m 2 years into my third decade and I’m noticing!
When I see news articles reflect dates like 2010 I wonder who on earth would think that far into the future?! Then, I remember it’s only 3 years away.
REALITY CHECK.
Working with students really does keep you young. In spirit, anyway...
And now to give you a glimpse of my students here is a short video for you. On Friday, I had a small BBQ with my English Club. It was exciting for me because I started the fire all by myself, and exciting for them because...well...it's an American thing to do. We had hamburgers and hot dogs. I had to improvise with the ingredients but overall it went pretty well.
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6 comments:
How Cute is that video! You are so clever to share BBQ! What a way to start Monday...for us in the US, anyway. OF course the age "reality check" was a bit harsh for those fo us born in the 50's! But I just chalk that up to exuberant youth! Love you Dad (Gus)
So cute! Thanks for sharing. You are so fun. You love life and it shows. You are such an inspiration. I can see why those girls love "Tori".
Love you,
Your old, born in the 60's, eek- stepmom.
Terri
Haha old. No I'm kidding. I was watching this show the other night about Spainiards in Japan. Did you know there is a Parque España in Japan?
The same thing hit me when I saw a sign at the grocery store saying "If you were born before this day in 1989, we will not sell you tobacco products". 1989?!? That's crazy talk!
hi. you must be shawn's special friend. you're so lucky. if he weren't taken i would be all over that.
jealous in jersey,
neil
I love it! How fun. The food looks scrumptous. I wish I was there. I can see why the girls love you too. Oh and I know what you mean about feeling old, except for me anyone born in the 80's seems young...oh, would that be you:-)
love--Kasia
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