My first days of school

The school year is officially underway. I've survived my first week, and as my peers were keen to point out, only 176 days left. The first week seemed to simultaneously streak past yet last almost as long as it takes to get into the city during rush hour. During the first day, I wrote on the board "Mr. CD Johnson." I introduced myself as such. My day is now plagued with a multitude of "Good morning Mr. CD Johnson" and "Have a good night Mr. CD Johnson." With each Mr. CD Johnson it sound more and more awkwardly formal, that it has become very difficult to refrain from replying with a sarcastic "Good morning to you Ms. Delgerchimeg Esonmunhk." To my friends teaching in the states, that is actually the names of one of my students (kind of: I'm not sure about privacy laws here in Mongolia, so it is one student's first name and another's last, but you get the point) Just sound it out. Not to pat myself on the back, but I've committed all of their names to memory. The real test though will come tomorrow morning after a weekend away from them. 

It is incredible how well behaved and polite the students are here. I take no credit for that. They are a group of amazing kids. Don't get me wrong, they are still middle school students and can get a little squirrelly. It seems as if most of them are interested in challenging themselves and actually learning science, which is a pleasant surprise from what I'm used to with students taking their education for granted. Even though most are engaged and willing to learn, there are a couple that jump to my mind that will give me the challenge to find what sparks their interests. 

One of the students in my class caused me to have an it's-a-small-world-after-all moment. When describing where I was from, I mentioned I was from Michigan. Sitting infront of me was a student that is originally from Big Rapids, Michigan only 20-30 minutes from where I grew up. After flying halfway around the world, there is someone familiar with the small town of LeRoy, Michigan. It's a small world after all. 

Not only have the students here been great, but it has been really nice to get to know the staff as well. Here is the quick version describing some of them that I've gotten to know. Dan is the guy I will watch NFL games with the day after, and probably hockey too; he's from Canada. David has coined himself as my dad. It mostly consists of him calling me son, and me watching his bag and coat. I've got a great workout partner in Keith. Liz is one kick-ass partner in the science department. Riann is always there to catch me if I fall. I actually did fall on him. Sorry about your knee Riann. Lianne is such a motivator, telling me how great my stories can be. Laura is the neighbor that I'm going to slowly see how loud I can be before she tells me to quiet down. There are so many more I could mention, but sadly my laundry is done, and this blog is getting long enough. 

A realization did hit me today. When I was mentally preparing for my trip to Mongolia, I had many dreams as well as apprehensions. In all of those day dreams never once did I envision doing dishes, laundry, or cleaning of any sort. Cleaning in Mongolia is no more enjoyable than it was in the states. Unless I get a cleaner...