Light at the End of the Tunnel

I have always felt that the most difficult stretch of school, as a student and teacher, is that stretch between Christmas Break and Spring Break. It is so long and with the cold, winter weather, there is nothing to do. It always felt like I was cooped up in the classroom, dying for some break from school. I assumed this was a problem endemic to parts of the world that experienced cold, long winters. Coming to teach in this Caribbean country, I thought I would escape all of that. It may be a long stretch from Christmas Break to Spring Break but at least the weather would be nice and allow for me to get out and relax. I was wrong.

The past few weeks have been hard. It has been much easier to become negative. I have been quick to become frustrated with my students. I was much less tolerant of their little concerns that they brought to me. I was feeling overwhelmed . The students made me feel like the pieces of bread I throw into Dale Hollow Lake every summer. The fish swarming around me, violating my personal space and slowly picking me apart until there's nothing left of me. I had a revelation on Wednesday though. Spring Break is only 2 weeks away. Surely I can make it till then. If I can make it till then, everything will fine. I will be refreshed and ready to face the end of the year. Hopefully the fish don't pick apart everything though in the next two weeks.