I'm getting by; by the way, you're still on my mind

 Tonight we had Part I of our "Back-to-School" times where kids & parents could register, survey the classrooms, and meet the teachers. All in all, it was WONDERFUL to meet some of my students :) I am a teacher-dork because there's just something about having a ready classroom (photos to come, I promise) and then... seeing the faces of these little people for the first time that I'll get to share life with over the course of 175 weekdays. Big YAYYY :D

And even though I'm currently on a new continent, the neatest thing has been meeting parents & students here that... really aren't that different:

• the parent who is constantly frazzled, stressed, and in a rush - no matter what. Yes, met that one tonight already. Her purse is partially zipped, hanging off her arm by just one handle (since putting her arm through both would take extra time and focus) and she's constantly visually checking her palm pilot while mildly taking interest in the conversation with you... AND I'm pretty sure that if it weren't for Ramadan, she would've been holding a dark venti extra-shot expresso latte in a worn travel mug in her other hand. This is the harmless parent who also makes you feel somewhat exhausted simply by holding a short conversation with her; its as though you subconsciously transfer the necessary energy for her whirring mind :)
• the shy but incredibly sweet kid who is going to melt your heart again and again throughout the year. By his father's bidding, this little boy shuffled over to me and gave the kiss/kiss cheek greeting, mumbling all the necessary formalities. While I spoke with the dad some more, you could see the little one's eyes exploring and absorbing the whole classroom. As they are about to walk out the door, the little boy abruptly leaves his father's side and surprises me with a tight hug before running sheepishly away. This is the kid who, on those inevitable difficult days at school, you focus on as a reason for not leaving the profession :P

Those are the top two from tonight, who upon meeting immediately, I saw their American prototype - "you're still on my mind" :)

Best kid quote (this will probably be a somewhat recurring section of this blog) of the day: Kid zooms into the classroom and once the room has been adequately surveyed, he blurts in French to his dad before sputtering aloud in English to me, "how come we don't have toys in here??" Ahhh... welcome, my friend, to second grade :)