figuring it out

Its been nearly a month since I posted! I honestly don't know how that's possible.

Actually, I do. The last month has been absolute chaos! I work and work and work. And then sometimes, I work. Okay... a slight exaggeration. If you know me at all you know I also sleep. A lot. hmmhmm. 

But truly, the last month has been very work oriented. I wish I could say I am farther along in planning and having in things in place with all that time spent, but sadly, not really. I was told at the conference in Finland, teaching at a PYP school can feel like your first year of teaching all over again. And it was so very true. So true.

You know that feeling when you've studied or spent hours preparing for something and then the test or moment arrives and you think, "I don't know this! What!?" That has been my life. For the last six weeks. 

When I take a step back, it's still a bit true. There is a lot I don't know-- new programs, curriculum, culture (in and out of school). But I can figure it out. And that's where I've been and what I've been doing. Figuring things out. 

Of course, that is a lovely learning process all in its own. Failures. Successes. Full-proof plans that blow up in your face. Figuring things out is fun.  But I have felt the slightest growth in my confidence each week. Again, plenty of slips and dips as well. But I am growing. I am learning. I am figuring things out. 

Not just at school, but outside of school too. When I can pull myself away from that world ;) 

I have this microwave/oven appliance in my kitchen. Even with all my culinary know-how (insert hysterical laughter here) I don't get this machine. I don't think it gets itself. Microwave- fine. Oven- fine. Combining them.... things seem to get a little....soggy. Or dry. Or burnt in one corner while the other corner isn't really cooked even though I rotated it half-way through. I asked the landlady about it and so kindly handed me several user guides in various languages.... not the English one, of course. But after several attempts, I managed to make a half-way decent pizza for dinner.
After a day of not figuring things out at school, I will take that and call it a little victory.