Penguins?

Of course, we all return in the end. And what better way to do it than with a trip to the Oriental Institute, an impending over-night trip with 46 eleven-year olds, a fire across the street from my school completely blockading traffic and a plethora of penguin paraphanelia (try saying that one five times fast)?

Things are moving quickly and soon it will be the end of my first calendar year of teaching. I cannot wait for the winter interlude; I'm exhausted. I know that much harder jobs exist in the world, but this one is quite tiring. We went to the Oriental Institute in my old stomping grounds on Wednesday, and I must say it did make me miss my old job quite a lot. I felt comfortable at the museum, like I knew what I was doing. The words just seemed to come out correctly, there. I'm swimming in papers all over my bed right now of 8th grade historical fiction/perspective taking assignments. They're doing wonderfully; I just know I need to sleep in order to get ready for the impending overnighter tomorrow in Wisconsin. The 5th graders will celebrate shabbat together, and I'll be there for it. I'm leaving early for a family event, but I'll be there to watch them, and listen to my nuggets read in Hebrew and laugh loudly.

Recently, it was Hanukkah (I finally know how to spell it!) and I received just about every penguin that I think Starbucks, Target or any other major retailer has produced this year. I love them and I love the fact that the kiddos want to draw, sketch, create and purchase them for me. That's a few of them. There's a few more absolutely HUGE ones; but, I can't put them on my desk. I embrace it; it's really cute that they paint them for me, or pick them up in random places. I think the trend will die down in the spring, but I adore them nonetheless. Some days, I think I'm doing it all wrong. But, other days, I think I'm good at this.

I'll have more to report once the Shabbaton is over, and once break begins. For now, it's a rush. It's a struggle to get up at 6 in the morning when it's dark and my apartment is cold. But, they're hilarious. And smart. And brilliant. And inflexible. And silly. And they make my day.