My 26th Birthday

This past weekend was my 26th birthday. 

It was an absolutely blissful whirlwind of a weekend full of softball games, aerial yoga, laughing, drinking, dancing, socializing, eating and friendship. I still find myself amazed at how full and vibrant of a life one can lead here in Saudi Arabia. It takes a great deal of planning, organizing and dedication, but it definitely can be done!

I began the birthday weekend with getting my hair done at Yibreen spa on Thursday evening, quickly followed by margaritas at my superintendent's house (who I honestly don't think of as my "boss", but more of a wonderful and supportive family friend -- I realize that may be odd, but that is the international teaching community for you)

Friday morning I woke up with a bit of a hangover, but I was full of excitement for the softball game ahead. We played our first game at 9 am and were crushed by a Raytheon team from Jeddah. We only had nine players on our team and two of them had never even played softball before! I had fun and enjoyed myself but it never feels good to lose.

Right after the softball game I sprinted to Kore Studios, a new all-women's gym here in Saudi (is there any other kind?) to attend my very first Aerial Yoga class. The gym was absolutely gorgeous -- I wanted to live there. Stunning facilities and fitness rooms and ambiance. Quite expensive, obviously, but great for a fun workout class every now and then! They even have a fully equipped Crossfit gym! 

After the amazingly rejuvenating (and slightly painful) yoga class, I grabbed a healthy juice and then bolted back to the softball field to play another game and lose yet again....I played well. Had a few errors, but on the whole didn't feel like the worst player out there! I care about winning but I also just love being out there on the field no matter what. The pressure and stress isn't there because this is just a recreational sports league. It isn't life or death (although some of the military guys tend to treat it as such....)

I returned home after my long day of athletics to quickly shower, shop and run around the house with only minutes to spare to prepare my villa for my party. I was genuinely late to my own party! Fortunately I have some incredibly friends who helped me prepare the food and drinks and set up. It took me over an hour to stop running around the house getting drinks and snacks for people --- I needed to make sure that everything was perfect -- but at last I was able to settle down and enjoy myself! 

I had all of my different friend groups presents -- my teaching friends, my childhood friends, my volleyball friends and my softball friends. Though I was initially worried that people would break off into their own little circles and cliques, everyone actually got along perfectly! I loved seeing my different worlds collide. It made me feel so happy and fortunate. I have so many wonderful, supportive, inspiring and positive people in my life. 

That is really what life is about isn't it?

I feel so full of Gratitude for my friends, both new and old ones. It is easy to let the isolation and segregation of Saudi Arabia get to you -- though I have a very busy and fulfilling life, I will not lie that the loneliness does get to me from time to time, but surrounding myself with positive and encouraging people is what keeps me going and inspires me to continue to challenge myself and take risks in life. 

Are we there yet?

Is it Spring Break yet? 

I am utterly exhausted......

March, though it be my beloved birthday month, is always the most exhausting month of the school year. There are no breaks within the 31 days and the seasonal change from winter to spring results in both students and teachers feeling those first pangs of summer longing. 

My seniors have lost all motivation and my patience with their lackadaisical attitudes is wearing thin. At times I almost feel betrayed. I have put in over a year and a half of work with these guys preparing them for their IB exams and now that we are reaching our last month together, they have completely given up. It makes me feel almost used, as if the only reason they were paying attention to me at all was just a means to an end. Although.....now that I reflect upon it, isn't that what high school represents anyway? A means to an end?

But what is the point of coming to school at all if you "don't care about your exam grades"? Why don't we just stop teaching seniors once they get accepted into university? Or rather, why can't universities just accept students later in the year to maximize their learning time in secondary school? They do realize how detrimental their acceptance letters are to high school teachers right? Right...?

Sometimes I honestly just feel like throwing in the towel. Of course I won't though. I wish I could, but I just can't do it. I'm not a quitter because I consider myself to be particularly moralistic but rather it is because I am too stubborn. Even if I am reading a book that is boring me to tears, I have to finish it. I just can't "stop" doing something. I can't quit. I feel like it would make me weak. I would rather suffer through an endless task than quit quickly and painlessly. Saying that out loud makes me sound rather sadistic, but I've known for many years that it is just part of my nature. Though I would be lying if I said I didn't want to check out and kick my feet up and not pay attention in class. I have much more important and valuable things to do too -- like travel and work out and write and read and cook. 

So why do I do it? Why do I push myself to teach students who don't want to learn? Why do I continue to care when my students no longer do? 

Because I am a teacher....
(and failure is not an option)

Student brought in these glasses.....I just had to.......