One day til Interview

The Euphoric bubble burst a little bit today. If nothing else, I was so high, the only way to go was down. Now, I feel like I have a realistic understanding of the situation. My biggest worries were personal safety and if it was worth it. It was definately safe from what I saw, and it might be difficult but it does seem possible. All I needed to see was the possiblity.

I went to one of the middle school and observed a teacher I've been speaking to on the phone about her experiences. She seemed to really struggle with behavior management, especially in one of her later classes. However, I did pick up on many different schemes she used to keep them on task, which for the most part seemed very effective. I also was able to observe a class taught by an older Black woman, a 30 something white man who grew up in Oakland, and then a young white female who is teaching through Teach for America. They all had different ways of dealing with the students and different successes. I was brought back into reality by seeing the classes in this middle school. Yet, it didn't seem impossible, and that's all I needed to see.

Right as I left school a minor earthquake occured which shook me a little bit. San Fransisco is not exactly the most physically stable region and feeling one while I was here for less then a week was a little unerving, but oh well.

After school I traveled to Berkely. If I do get the job, this is where I would look into living. It's a little bohemian area where everyone seems to be between twenty two and thirty five. I got a mani, a pedi and a facial. I figure I should treat myself before this interview. The less stress I'm under the better. After all the pampering I took myself to a chinese restaurant before heading back to the Wharf.

I am incredibly nervous about this interview. I am not someone who makes good first impressions. Most people upon meeting me, don't quite know what to do with me. It's not until the 4th meeting I'd say, that I make that "good" impression. I also know I tend to be unintentionally very negative and judgemental. Although I don't mean it the way it comes out, it doesn't matter. So I really need to monitor how the words come out of my mouth even more then the words themselves. I've been polling various people to ask them what they think my strengths and weaknesses are and I've been trying to answer generic interview questions in preparation. Hopefully it goes well. As Adrianna said, once I'm committed to something, I see it through to the end. I'm committed to teaching here and potentially living out here for the next couple of years at least.

So here goes nothing.