Donezorz

I don't really like mixed feelings.  I'd rather be swinging with volatility between emotions than have mixed ones.

The end of the year brings such feelings.  Thankfully (as I've already pointed out), I don't teach seniors so there's none of that sadness or hopefulness about them leaving.  Instead, here's a rundown of the past few days, hopefully explaining my mixed emotions.

After a long weekend of grading exams, I went off to Delhi on an 11-hour bus ride with students.  The students were great, but ANY period of sitting/laying awkwardly for 11 hours is tiring.  Upon arrival in Delhi, many of us got a few hours of sleep before heading to the airport.  I got a light schedule but I had to bring a group of students to the airport at 4:30 AM, and then at 8:00 AM before taking a break.  Bad emotions.

After my break, a few of us decided to haul our tired selves over to the US Embassy.  Within its walls is the American Club, a Shangri-La of beef, beer, and bowling for those who miss those things.  There's a pool too, but it didn't start with B.  Four of us sat around, eating gorgeous cow flesh until we were content.  A humorous note:  The hamburger at the club is called the "Illegal Alien."  Funny on so many levels.  They also had the Fox News morning show on in the lounge, and I realized I did NOT miss American news shows.  Good emotions.

Upon arrival back in Mussoorie after an early-morning train ride and trip up the hill, I was ready to relax, have a few days of simple meetings, and go for vacation.  I quickly realized that was not going to happen.  I had a letter delivered to my door that I won't get in to in-depth.  It informed me, if I may summarize, that one of my colleagues was dismissed, and, ahem, people were not happy.

Now here come the mixed emotions!  I kind of agree to a point with the dismissal.  I do think dismissing a teacher with kids right after graduation is wrong as they don't have time to say goodbye.  But... wait.  This is all a moot point.  My opinion doesn't matter.  I realize this and accept it.  I realize that I am tired, emotional, uninformed, and I have accepted my place lower on the ladder.  Other people disagree.  To them, their opinion does matter, they don't realize how tired, emotional or uninformed they are and don't realize their place is not to deal with hiring or firing.  

So, with this mix of people like me and people not like me, our all-staff meeting descended into crying, screaming, and impassioned speeches pretending that the speaker spoke for me.  Many people simply walked out.

So, my mixed emotions.  I love this school.  The kids are great, even when they're little turds.  The education is excellent and I am proud of my work.  I enjoy what I teach and my department is helpful and caring.  The view, although nature is still overrated, is great and I live in a clean, peaceful section of the world.  On the other hand, I hate politics.  I hate the politics of power-grabbing, emotional wrecks who think they know what's best.  I hate being told what to think and do.  I hate debate over if this is a Christian school (people are Christians, not organizations, and yes, a Christian school can fire somebody).

So, I have mixed emotions about being done for the year.  We didn't end on the best terms, and there may be some guerillas about next year in addition to the monkeys on the school campus.  But, is there ever a match for the joy a teacher (or student) feels when the school year is out? 

I'll be moving house and heading to Nepal over the next few weeks.  I'm not sure how much I'll be posting until I get back towards the end of July.  Don't expect daily updates or anything.

Peace.

Where to?

I know, I know.  I still have work to do.  I'm proctoring/invigilating (neither words I've used before) a few exams and I have 89 finals coming in on Thursday and Friday to grade before Monday before heading to Delhi with the kids on Tuesday and coming back in time for the banquet and final meetings next Friday and Saturday.  

...I'll keep in mind to watch my schedule next semester- if I make it there.

But, despite all the work ahead of me, I'm excited for a vacation.  I received a few more details about my trip to Nepal.  Everything is apparently set up for us except my train tickets that need to be purchased.

I'm still figuring out exactly what to do between June 20th and July 5th, though.  Some of that time will be taken up by moving and settling into my new house, of course.  I'm also looking into excursions to places not that far away.  There are so many, though and I just can't decide.  It would seem, however, that unless I go farther away than I want to, I will be stuck in the monsoon conditions.  I might just make a pilgrimmage to a place known for its apple cider...

I'll let y'all know.  If I don't write in the next two weeks, it means the exams have killed me.

Viva Nepal.

Today, as we do almost every Tuesday and Thursday, we started the day off with a high-school assembly.  After a devotion by the art teacher about the story of her getting married, a blurb about change in our lives, and announcing her pregnancy to the kids (go Guenthers!), one of the Nepali students got up on stage.  The Nepali students are possibly the most patriotic students we have at our school, with the Bhutanese right behind them.  Wait, you've never met a Nepali or Bhutanese person before?  What's that?  Where's Bhutan?  Never mind.  

The Nepali girl described how eight years ago today almost the entire Nepali royal family was killed by one of the princes.  It's an engaging true story, so if you haven't heard about it... hear about it.  The video that followed was a tribute to the royal family comprised of a bunch of pictures and videos set to a Nepali rock song.  What?  You don't know Nepali rock music?  Whysoever not?

Anyways, after it was over, the Nepali flag went up on the screen and the national anthem started.  Instantly, every Nepali student sprung to their feet.  I noticed a few other students do so as well.  I watched one of my colleagues, an Indian Christian woman who I knew would be doing what I should be doing.  As I saw her rise to her feet, so did I.  Within seconds, the entire student body was on its feet.  It wasn't about politics- most of our Nepali students are Royalists, in the minority in Nepal.  Most citizens of other countries just don't care.  It wasn't about national identity- students and staff from all over the world were standing.  It was just a moment of solidarity.  Standing with those young people whose country has been suffering and unstable for eight years.  I wouldn't normally stand for a national anthem from a country I've never been to.  I don't even stand for the American national anthem that often.  But, I stood, I realized, because I like my Nepali students and wanted to support them.  

This place, and especially the students, seem to be winning me over.