encouragement

today one of the teachers, who is NOT an english teacher but had been in canada chaperoning the 4 week english program for 59 students, came to school for the first time in a month. he claimed not to be suffering from jet lag, but by 7pm, was dragging himself out the door.

in the afternoon, we were packing away some computers that the kids used for a special computer class and he kind of nonchalantly said to me, "going to canada made me realize how amazing it is what you're doing."

wow, talk about flattering. i know he wasn't saying it to be nice or because it was "the right thing" to say. he really meant it.

i guess sometimes i've just come to think of my life as normal. i wake up, just like everyone else, i brush my teeth and ride the train to work, just like everyone else. i work more hours than seem necessary, just like everyone else, but i earn a paycheck and pay my bills, just like everyone else.

but when it gets right down to it, i do it, all on my own, in a foreign country, in a foreign language. and, you know, in the whole scope of things, i'm doing alright.

'course i'm lonely and terrified that i have no idea what i want to do with my life, but that's a totally different story. for today, i should be proud that i've made it as far as i have with what i have. and, i'm gonna be okay. we all are, really.