Coffee Chat: Two coffees, mini doughnuts and feeling flat!
So it's been a while since we've sat down and had a chat. How are you? I ask out of politeness, knowing that I need some time to process my own thoughts. Let me ask the question again: How am I?
Well - in a single word, flat. It's an odd word to describe myself for a Friday afternoon, but I actually think it's rather appropriate. I found today just dragged and driving home, I was craving a coffee and something sweet. I don't put any sugar or sweetener in coffee, so the sugar had to come from somewhere. I made the call to pull into the supermarket on the way home; I wasn't sure what I was going to pick up, and I didn't need any groceries - so I thought I'd grab a litre of milk and wander the aisles til I seen just the right 'something'.
In a fortunate encounter, I found a pack of mini doughnuts in the bakery section, right next to the proper doughnuts. The pack cost 2 bucks, and I found myself thinking - absolutely! I'd say it'd have been maybe three years since I last had one, and, on stumbling upon them, I had intense cravings. So I left the shops with my two items - feeling like this 'flatness' was soon to be overhauled. It didn't take long to get into them, I cracked the pack open in the car and had the first two!
On sitting down then at home, I have to be honest, the remaining 6 in the pack are no longer available, so no, I cannot offer you one. Now, let me be honest - these doughnuts were good. And, should I add, I found myself using my finger to get the remaining crumbs out of the pack. It was that energy hit I could have used hours ago.
In taking another sip of my coffee, I am rather glad to be home. I really enjoy working in a High School, but Week 8 and Week 9 of every term I just collapse. I don't know why, but it's just part of what I do. And so, this does feel like that routine - but it doesn't help with the lethargy that goes along with the exhaustion of this point of the year.
I actually think part of my problem is my job itself. I really enjoy teaching and being in the classroom, but this year I am in the classroom a whole lot less and working on other projects and developing literacy interventions. In theory, this sounded like my dream job, but the truth is, I find myself getting bored a lot. The previous couple of years I was in a role working closely with students and parents - a lot of behaviour management issues, parent meetings, but also the role had an emotional focus too. There was never a spare minute - and yet now, all I seem to have is spare minutes.
Although, this is partly procrastination kicking in too. You see, I had a large pile of marking of essays which our Year 11 students gave me on Monday. But, I really havn't been too inspired to mark them, I'm about 2/3 of the way through, and a couple of good ones have jumped out, but nothing is really particularly exciting on that pile. I knew this was a low ability cohort coming through, relative to my previous senior classes - but gosh, I felt really exhausted reading the rubbish some of them produced, and in truth, a bit disillusioned. I'm not sure quite how some of them developed such bizarre rubbish in their analysis of William Butler Yeats - a brilliant poet who should have inspired essays evaluating his poetic voice; instead, I got mediocre and surface level.
Oh, I noticed your cup is empty. Mine too - I really need a second beverage. Back in a sec.
Now where were we? Ah, my discontent!...
It probably doesn't help them that my audiobook this week isn't particularly exciting. The 90 minutes in the car is usually fairly good, I enjoy getting lost in stories and podcasts and song. But this week I was doing something that resembled an academic chore - getting through a book which is a bit too philosophical and attempting cleverness rather than being entertaining. It has made the trip home very, very long indeed.
And that takes us to this point. With the weekend stretched out before me! I have a couple of plans, I wouldn't mind getting the lawns mowed - they could use a bit of a tidy up, and I wouldn't mind doing some weeding in the front garden. But otherwise, I'm hoping for a quiet one - and, I wouldn't be surprised if I was hanging on on Hive a bit - I have my spaces where I like to loiter, afterall. I think this is a fair hope for quiet then; before, the next danger zone: Week 9.
Why is Friday Week 10 feeling so far away?
How about some close-up sugar love to get us all through?
(And oh yes, I can read your body language, I know when you're anxious for the conversation to conclude!)
That sucks that the new role is somewhat boring. It's never good when time drags like that. The boring audio book doesn't help the situation, by the sounds of it. Good call on treating yourself to some sugary donuts. That's a small win!
Absolutely a small win - and, despite the 'boringness' of the role, it's funny, because it really shouldn't be, but it varies. The previous two weeks I was working on a massive data project; was staying back late, working weekends, and complaining because I couldn't find five minutes to eat lunch.
Always discontent! But, great contentment in greeting the weekend; have a fab one your end.
I think it's our nature as humans. Haha I can't trust a person who only see the good in things and is positive at all times. It's just not right 😂
#NoComment 🤣
No comment indeed Milly; in the lead up to the exams, the class was looking solid. Producing really good stuff; I'd say the question might have thrown some of them - but, it was a super essay general question. Who knows! But, having been home a few hours now, I feel re-energised. Sometimes having a rant let's it out ;)
Have a good weekend.
I know how it goes. My mum was a teacher and my dad a headmaster.
I'd love to experience a day at an Aussie school or even your class.
When I worked in tourism, I had a program where I worked with multi-repeat guests, who had an interest in poverty-stricken areas in rural Jamaica. I'd make a wishlist of schools lacking resources, and I took travelers to visit schools, arrange talks, and spend the days in the schools. It was a bittersweet experience when they saw the condition of the schools and facilities and lack of, yet so touching to see the happy faces of the kids. That was the only way many of those rural schools got access to computers.
It was a rewarding part of the job.
Have a nice weekend too:)
That sounds like you had access to a very different perspective to my own. Seems like an incredibly rewarding setting. Australian schools vary greatly, depending if they're in a free school, cheap fee paying school, or mega rich mega fee paying school. But, it really comes down to the area the school is located in too. Some of the best schools in the state are free, but, you need $2,000,000 to buy a house anywhere close to them.
I teach in a cheap fee school, but in a low socio-economic area. End of the day, kids are kids, but their values can widely vary and that really dictates what a classroom looks like.
Wow! That's even more interesting. Such a vast range, but I think I'd be most interested in the cheap fee school in the low area. They might still be way better than what schools of the "same level" in developing countries are, and there could be a myriad of ideas gained from such an experience:)
drinking coffee and being accompanied by donuts like that is so much fun,
Thinking about what you say, it's a good thing you weren't my teacher because you would have been disappointed by what I would have written. Although instead of disappointing you I would have made you laugh out loud and made your day :D
by the way i love your lenovo laptop what model is it?
Morning Fabian;
The laptop is a Lenovo Thinkpad, E14 I think. It isn't particularly stylish, but it's solid and works really well. I used to only get HP laptops, but the batteries would die so quickly - this machine is over 12 months old and lasts forever still. I'm a lenovo-for-life kind of guy now I think.
That part got me laughing. I read this with a cup of tea in one hand too. Nope! I'll pass on the doughnuts.
Morning Kei; I'll pass on the doughnuts now too. I reckon I only have 'em every three years or so, and feeling content. Chocolate coated almonds on the other hand, well, I could have those every day! (Just for clarity, I don't, but I definitely would never get tired of them)
Morning to you too. It is past midnight here and I'm still wide awake. I'm not sure I could go years without doughnuts though.🤣🤣
A wonderfully written piece, Tim. I enjoy your conversational style. I would have loved to have had you as my English teacher. Those kids of yours will appreciate what they had one day hehe. I can kinda relate to what you are saying re the job... I am a person who likes to be hands-on too... involved with people, learning, resolving... and lately my work has become rather... should we say...transactional. It's a bit ugh! I have turned down opportunities to erm climb the ladder previously because I didn't want to lose touch with the relationships.
Lenovo, huh? ditto 😂🙌💗
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