Egypt is normal to me :)

I haven't been writing too much lately because I have become "accustomed" (10th grade vocab word) to so many things that I feel like there is nothing to say. I don't really hear the prayers from the mosques anymore. Braying donkeys don't steal my attention. Cold showers are nothing to complain about. :) Guys holding hands with other guys doesn't seem weird to me. Some things, however, are still a little unusual.

There were a couple students in ninth grade whose English was just not at the level where the other students were, and they got moved back to ESL. These students could not keep up with the classes, and everything was just becoming more and more over their heads. To keep them in ninth grade would be a waste of everyone's time. Of course there was crying from the students, but one student's family got really involved. We reconsidered the move when we heard that the father hit the wife and was blaming her for her kid's problem--because I'm sure that none of it had to do with him.

Haha... right now I am in our apartment, but I can hear Krista counting down from 10 because by the time she gets to zero, they have to have their homework on her desk and be seated. The counting system is super effective. I feel like I treat them like middle schoolers, but hey, if they respond, then what's the harm in that? :) I found out that one guy, who I thought was 16 or 17 is actually older than me. Krista, Jessica, and I were laughing because we treat them like they are so much younger, when in reality they are about the same age as us. Sometimes we play student charades. (Shh...) We ask, "Who am I?! Who am I?!" and then dash up to an imaginary board and start doodling in the middle of our imaginary class. Alec is the best at impersonating people. We don't do it in a mean way, but it's just hilarious because their personalities are so distinct, and we would have never expected to encounter students like these. There was much less structure in the government schools, so they don't really know that it's not okay to get up in the middle of class and ask a specific question about their homework. Now? Really?

I've discovered that the best punishments are taking off points, marking people late, and giving the students sentences to write. I send tenth grade outside if we are doing a creative writing assignment or working in groups, and if I come around and see them working on something else, I say, "Minus one," and they freak out. Life is over. If they talk while I take attendance, they are late. "NOOOOOOOOOO, ya Miss! NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" Sentences are so fun. Alec and I share the ones that we make them write to humor each other. "Oooh! You made him write that he will not 'peruse' around the class?! Good one!" (Alec is hilarious.)

We have a vocabulary unit test over five chapters tomorrow, so I chopped up paper to make flashcards if the students wanted them. I also gave out rubberbands. I forgot that I was teaching some six year olds. One guy shot another guy right in the face with his rubberband, and I told him that that was not okay and to give me the rubberband. "Why, Miss? ... But why? ... No ... Why? What's the problem, ya Miss?" He kept backing away and wouldn't give me his rubberband. I said, "Come on. It's not a big deal. Just give me the rubberband. If you don't, I have to write you up to Pastor Tom for insubordination." He still refused, so I have a discipline referral sheet to write. Haha. Are you kidding me? Give me the stupid rubberband.

I have class in a half hour. I am working on vocab sentences with 9B today. On those days, it seems like the ground breaks open and all hell breaks loose. I love them so much though.

Have a good day!