I remember when I was a kid I would literally hide behind my mother when we were out doing errands, and I would spot a teacher out and about. "Oh don't be shy, let's go say hi." I even dreaded it in high school. It's not that I didn't like my teachers, I just didn't know what I would say to them if I ever saw them outside of school. "So uhh what brings you to Walmart today?" "So uhh did I pass the test this past week?" I also forget that teachers have lives outside of teaching and that they once were our age doing whatever our age kids do--weird to think right? It didn't really cross my mind that here in Vigo I would bump into my students on the regular since it's a small city. I've been here only two weeks, and it's already happened 4 times--three times with my students and one time with a colleague. They approached me every single time as I have hundreds of names and faces to remember, and they only have one so obviously, I didn't recognize some of those who approached me. The first time I was looking for the grocery store and two girls approached me. I had no idea who they were, but they mentioned something that happened at school that it instantly connected. They were very kind and helped me find the grocery store and pointed out their favorite stores along the way. The next time was when I was walking to the school. I see many students walking to the bus, to school etc walking to work that I didn't recognize that at one bus stop there was about half of one of my classes. Approaching it, I heard roughly 10 voices shout my name: "Charina!! HI!! Why are you walking? Come on the bus with us, I'll let you use my bus pass!" They were so sweet and found it strange that I chose to walk 30 minutes over taking a 5-10 minute bus ride. They all hopped on the bus and waved goodbye through the window as if I wasn't going to see them in class that day. The third time it happened was again when I was walking to class. "Charina! Behind you!" I didn't recognize and smiled to be nice, and she caught up to me and said she was walking to class also. "It's Marta!" You know when people introduce themselves to you and you have no idea so you nod and say their name back like you remembered instantly. "Oh Marta!" For all those college kids who've had a drunken night, you know exactly the situation I'm talking about. Anyways I don't think I pulled it off very well that she had to say "Remember, I'm Marta! The one who likes the piano and sat right next to Anna!" In one of my earlier posts I mentioned how I had each student say their name the first time I met them and a like of theirs, and all of a sudden I remembered who she was, who sat next to her, and what all their likes are. I've felt horrible in every scenario not remembering their names and faces, but I'm hoping soon enough I will! I bet this happens to teachers all the time. I can name my pre-school teacher and up and remember their faces, but I'm pretty sure if I ran into one now they'd be thinking, "Who the eff are you?" but obviously tell me that they remembered who I was. Here's to remembering everyone's face and name in soon time and hoping that I don't run into my older students when I'm out and about as drunken Cha--now that would be weird!
Yours truly,
TLT
Yours truly,
TLT