Countdown Time

The students can smell the summer vacation approaching. (It disappointingly smells of new books as most kids are off to Academic Camps, private institutions or simply have more frequent visits from their bitter tutors who slog their way from house to house melting in the summer heat.) This has created a much higher energy level around the school but thankfully the majority of my classes have been canceled this week.

I've had lots of time to make up my lesson plans for next week's camp that revolves around food. Unfortunately because I work here, my school doesn't get an extra budget for the camp so we can't actually see, smell, touch, taste or make anything food worthy during this food camp. (Schools without a foreign teacher get loaned one for a week and they have a budget where students can have English food fights all week long and still have money left over.) But no matter how much my stomach rumbles while talking about food it knows that comfort food is coming soon. Those five half days just need to be endured and then it's a month straight of glorious holidays.

I'm heading back to Canada for the month of August because every time I go home it's in the middle of winter. The "Oh, you're from Canada you must like the cold" phrase no longer applies to me and when I get told this I immediately have to catch my hand from reacting as my brain has sent out orders, "Oh you're a dumb ass you must like being slapped up side the head."

First it's off to my parents patio where a lawn chair, cold beer and a pile of new books will fill my days. Then to Calgary to visit friends and my brother before journeying back here for a couple of days of recovery before the second semester begins.

Summer vacation starts in....8 more days.