Tuesday, March 31, 2009

In Bulgarian please....

I just had class with my students and since its so nice outside today, I figured we could go outside. I asked the class if they wanted to go outside, and of the 6 people in class, NONE of them understood the question. I asked in BG and they opted to stay inside.....LAMES!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Repeat Offender, Red Alert!!!!

We got a pretender in out midst folks!!!

Gave my students a test the other day, and forgot to post about this one kid. He is one of those tough kids. He has a few muscles (I wrote about him b4. He was making his muscles jump while NOT doing classwork), and generally thinks he's too cool to study or speak ENG for that matter.

So the 10g class had a test tues and this kid was doing some MAJOR frontin. Now I know he didnt study, adn you should know that same thing. What is he frontin for? If you usually get bad grades and dont study, keep it funky and be true to that, and stop frontin. Put your name on the test, and pass it in!

So this kid gets the test and looks it over. I can tell from his reaction he dont know what the hell is going on. So I do what I do. Im at my desk chillin, lookin around sporadically to make sure everything is chill. So I hear a few whispers. He keeps turning around and whispering to the chick behind him. So I politely announce that I have BIONIS ears, and that I can hear even the slightest whisper. NExt time I hear it, someone is gettin their test taken away.

So hear we go with the FRONTIN. You all are familiar with the sings: He starts sighing and making extremely loud noises with this mouth. He puts his hand on his chin and tilts his head up to the left, as if he was thinkin EXTRA hard. The he woudl write something then scribble it out. Then make more noises as if he was frustrated. Then he comes up to my desk and asks me to explain one of the questions cuz eh didnt understand it. Then he sits down and continues to make obscene gestures, knowing DAMN WELL he didnt study.

So make a long story short (ha), I look at his test. He answers like 5 questions (2 of which are correct) and graffiti's ANGERFIST and HARDCORE onto the top of the test.

No further comment....

Being gay in Bulgaria

Ive wondered about this only slightly. During training when I first arrived, the subject was briefly talked about. One gay vol spoke about his experiences being gay in BG and interacting with people here. He basically said that if you are gay, keep that shit on the LOW LOW. People here may not be as understanding as say, people in the Village (the gay scene in NY...lol). He mentioned he had a boyfriend here, but most people dont even know his BF is gay or that they are together. I cant really say that I have seen any gay-bashing, but I know that BG are very clique-ish. As in if you dont look/sound like everyone else, then there is a problem.

I bring this up cuz there is a kid in my class who I am, for lack of a better word, confused about. Now its not my business if this kid is gay or not, but I was just curious about the issue.

This kid is what I would call border line gay/metrosexual. Ive noticed he can act very feminine sometimes, he hangs out with a lot of grls, and he can do this dance called the Kyuchek (which involves gyrating your hips and ass very quickly). Today I really took a good look at him, and he REALLY reminded me of one of those 'Queer eye for the Straight guy' dudes. He had one a banging paisley print shirt, with an awesome matching brown sweater vest. Now in a city full of like 2-3 shopping places, I find it quite odd that homeboy looked so well put together. He must be spending a lot more time/effort on his shopping, cuz damnit I do!

Anyway, all of you who know me know I love the gay community, so its nothin wrong wit homeboy being gay. Hell Ive been once or twice in my life....hahahahaha Just curious as to how gay people get along in this society,how they feel about being gay, and how other people feel about homosexuality in general (altho I think I already know).....

Sashe chante *in that RuPaul voice* Have a great weekend kiddies!

Cheaters Never Win...uhhhh

I only partly believe that. Clearly the people who CHEAT and get CAUGHT never win. Those are the ones who get punished and so on. But the ones we dont catch, or only SUSPECT (and cant prove), THOSE are the winners. Cuz they have successfully beaten the system.

Now you may be saying, well in the end they are only cheating themselve, but come on, lets be real. They could give 2 shits about cheating themselves. They are getting ahead however possible right now. And later, they deal with the repercussions of their cheating by getting caught, coming clean, or cheating to cover up the cheating.

All this for what you ask? I gave my students a test today and suspected a kid of cheating. At the end of the test (when I saw it) I asked to look through his stuff and he slyly hid some of the cheat sheets, while one fell on the floor. I asked if he used it during the test, and of course this lil shit head said no (which I would have said also). I cant fail him, cuz I really didnt CATCH him cheating, when I know in my HEART he did cheat.

New name....

Ive been thinking, should I change my name to Lady Sha Sha?


I think I like it, please address me as such MINIONS!!!!

Not so bad....

So yesterday was a pretty ok day. I was really bummed from being so upset on wed that I walked in to school yest with a bad attitude. I was basically really sad, and I just didnt want to be here. My first 2 10g classes went ok. We finished the passages on Gulliver's Travels and had some questions to answer. I wrote the work on the board and they worked in groups to answer them. As usual, the talkers did their thing and the good students answered the questions. I wrote the answers on the board and just left it at that. We did some busy work after and class was over. In the other 10g class I gave back tests to the students who were absent the day b4 when I gave them out. One kid failed, he got 9/25 points. He's one of those kids who thinks he is the smartest thing since sliced bread. He walks up to my desk and asks if he failed the test, and I say yes you did. Then he says sits back down. He comes back to my desk and asks if I saw what he wrote on the back of the paper, cuz I didnt put a check mark next to anything. I tell him yes, I saw that but it didnt get a check mark cuz it was WRONG. And yes I know how to count, I know what the answers are, and if you would like to spend this class going over the test, ill be happy to oblige. But otherwise, you failed, so please sit back down. The nerve of these damn kids. Like I purposely failed him when 1. WE ALL KNOW you didnt study, and 2. I heard him cheating. At the end of the test he was asking the girl next to him for answers, which I HEARD. I told her not to answer, and I took his test.

Anyway, my last class was with the other group of 9g. I told them to work on their dialogues and I Was very surprised when they actually did it. One kid from one group took the initiative and wrote the script in BG and had another group member translate it into ENG. I read it and it seemed really good. Its the horror film about a groupd of kids who go on a picnic and get killed/kidnapped my a monster. I think it might be a comedy/horror, cuz there is a gun in the movie from out of nowhere, the kids are drinkin beer, and at the end when the kids try to save the kidnapped girl, they start laughing when they find her. We worked together and I actually was laughing with them, and we got a lot of work done. So I think I will give the pizza party to this class just for completing their work, and move on in the next class. Sucks for them, but oh well.....

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

On again off again....

Yesterday DEFINATELY was an OFF day. It started out really well actually. I subbed for a teacher and took over her 4g class, and they were just the cutest lil things. I still had classes in the afternoon with the big kids tho, and thats where I always get in trouble.



So as you all (SHOULD) already know, I decided it would be a great idea to make a film with my students, for all the obvious reasons. Its something new and interesting, its fun, and it actually will help with there english. There is a lot of preparation that goes into making a film, we've had to read up on how its done, they are in the process of writing a script, and we will soon be thinking of ways to make the film look and sound real, including props like fake blood and a soundtrack (was that a run-on sentence?!?!). I was all excited just thinkin of the possibilities, esp since the students came up with really good ideas for what they wanted to do.



And just when I thought I was riding a good wave, WIPE OUT! So mon the students came ready with their movie ideas, and I told them they should begin working on a dialogue, and thinkin about more details (character names, setting of the movie etc). One group is working diligently. Writing, discussing, planning, you know that type of thing. The other group, uumm not so much. About half way through the class, theseMOFOs ask me if THEY CAN PLAY CARDS. WTF?!?! What do you mean can you play cards? So I say, wow, ur finished that quick huh? let me see your dialogue and then if everything looks good, then sure, you can play cards. And of course, here go the BS. Oh, we only have half of it. Check the convo:

Me: well then that means you half way done dont it? When you can produce a dialogue then you can play cards.

Smart Ass: But I started it at home and forgot it at home.

Me: Well I dont know that you wrote anything. I dont see it. Write it again then

Lazy Ass: Oh, I dont want to do all of that.

Me: Well look, this is the way it goes. Get your work done, then play cards.

Smart Ass: Ok

he turns back around. They CLEARLY (cuz I have eyes and Im not stupid) PRETEND they are doing work. Then one girl has the audacity to start tapping her fingers on the desk, as if she was so fuckin bored she couldnt take it.

Me: (angry) so that means yall gonna sit there and do nothin huh?

N.B. Smart Ass and Lazy Ass in the above convo refer to the same person.



So I let that one go. But yesterday, here we go again with the BS. I did a lil research on making films myself, and decided that doing a storyboard would be a good idea. So I made a sample storyboard just so they woud understand what it was (cuz some of them dont speak english *chuckles to self*). So the same group that was bullshittin on mon brought a new level of BS yest. I tell them about the storyboard after I read their completed dialogue. I asked if everyone knew who they were in the story. The boy who wrote the dialogue (Smart Ass/Lazy Ass) says yes. So I ask one of the girls in the group what her name in the story was. Homegirl didnt even understand the question. Moving along. Then I ask if everyone in the group has a copy of the script. One kid says yes (M), but Smart Ass says no. So I look at M, then he says no. So I tell them to do the storyboard, while some of the group members rewrite the script legibly and a copy for everyone in the group. So while Smart Ass is working on the dialogue (alone) M is playing with the 2 girls. Touching they hair, pokin them, you know border line sexual harrassment had we been anywhere else. THe 2 other boys in the group are just staring blankly into space.



So Im boiling at this point. Not only do we have just one more day to work on the script before spring break begins, but there is more work to be done but folks horsin around like this shit gonna come naturally. I was just in sheer and utter amazement at the fact that even after I gave instructions for what needed to be done, showed a damn example, they just blatantly gave me their ass to kiss with fuckin whipped cream on it!



I got so mad I left the damn room. I am just so tired of the fuckin laziness. And I swear I done worn out the word lazy by saying/writing it so many damn times. But there is no other way to describe it. Its like pullin teeth with some of these kids. They dont want to do anything. And Casanova probably think he the shit tryna sweet talk ole girl out the panties or whatever.



I left work so fuckin pissed. I practically ran out the school. Trippin over my own feet while walkin. I tried to call Matt and he didnt pick up. I thought I was catchin a panic attack cuz I was breathin extra heavy and my mouth was gettin dry. All I kept thinkin was if I see one of them I might kick them. Then it was mad cold and the wind was fuckin my hair up so I was EXTRA mad. I walked all the way to the store to get a bottle of vodka I was so fuckin pissed. I swear my hand was shakin for that drink. I drank it with ease too. Then Matt called me and I got to scream through the phone at him to let go of my frustrations. I told him I didnt think I could make it here for another year. The lack of will to do anything just boggles my mind. Like these MOFOs come to school just to pass the time. They dont expect to do anything at all. And thats what pisses me off. The fact that I gotta bust my ass on lesson plans and try to help you while making sacrifices, and you takin this shit for a joke. And the fucked up thing is, they ALL gonna get good grades and go to the next grade, even though half the class can speak/comprehend english. SAD!



That damn vodka was just what I needed! Matt made me feel better too. He related a frustrating story he had and it made me feel like I wasnt alone, which Im not. I know other vols have horror stories about their students not doing work. I just feel so frustrated cuz not all of them were like this. I had hope for a few of them. But even those students are startin to get out of pocket and lazy and I just cant really handle it.

But after I calmed down and thought about it, I realized that I cant make anyone do anything they dont want to. If they dont want to do classwork, or homework, or study, then thats their business. It is what it is. But Ill tell you one thing, they asses WONT be makin the film anymore. Ive thought about it, and Im not in the business of rewarding students who dont do anything. It sucks for the other group who actually was doing the work, but as they say, one bad apple spoils the bunch. So we will just continue doing work out of the textbook, which I know they love and adore.......

Well hello there....

As usual, I always want to make my readers feel welcome and comfy over in Shaun's World. So Id just like to take a sec to say HEY THERE to Jason. He just became a follower of my blog, and has already left a comment somewhere.

Bravo na teb!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

During the break

After each 40 minute class, there is a 10 minute break. But after the third period, we have a 20 minute break (called the big break..hahaha) So usually during this time, I see the students smokin cigarettes outside the school grounds, or on the line to get a quick snack from the lil snack shop on the first floor. Often times they also play music through the intercom system we have at the school.

So today, these MOFOs decided to BLAST Tupac Hit 'em up. And when I say blast, that shit was so damn loud. Im in the teachers room down the hall from the radio room (connected to the intercoms, the one in the teachers room doesnt work) checking test, and all I hear is "First off fuck ya bitch and the click you claim" Now I dont know if everyone even understands this song, but I just thought it was funny that they were playing it........

*singing to myself* Grab your glocks when you see tupac, call the cops when you see tupac....

And let the dissin ensue....

So um fashion here. Whats it all about?!?! Ive written about a few fashion rules that these people seem not to be aware of (like wearing white thongs/panties under white dresses) or care about for that matter. And today I saw something that really consumed me with confusion.

But first, let me just say this one chick in my class, thats a bad shorty! Everytime I see her, you rockin some new kicks they dont even sell in BG, or got a hot scarf on. Today homegirl showed up with this fly leather bomber jacket with this cute blackleather bag which I am contemplating liftin off of her if I dont find my own joint in Paris or Milan. I heard her fam got a lil dough, and that they be takin trips to different countries. I know when I first got here last summer, homegirl ditched school to vacation off some island in Italy. I gots to give her props!

But this other chick, a teacher. She rolled up into the teachers room today with this knee-length fake leather jacket with faux fur trim. I swear that thing look liek she hand made it out of stray dog fur/hair (whatever you wanna call it). Now yall now how I am about fashion. Im all about it. And when I see something completely wrong, it really confuses me, and Ill be damned if I was straight sittin in my chair looking VERY confused.

And while Im talkin about teachers, it always makes me kinda squirm when I think about the shit they be wearing. I know they dont make much, and there is not that many options in this small town. BUt I really be lookin like no hun, please go home and change! And some of them be wearing the same outfit (and I mean down to the mutha fuckin stockings and everything) 2-3 days in a row. That really concerns me hygenically (and Im only being partly funny). It just boggles my mind the shit they be wearing in this piece. And the students. Man if some of these 12g dont think they the shit! And dont let me get started on the hair styles they be weraing. Oh goodness......

So since the weather is gettin somewhat nicer, Im really lookin forward to seeing more body suits and thongs.

Oh the joys of my life!