Tutoring 101

I have embarked on a new journey this month. My dear friend had to leave the island for the month of April, so to help her out I agreed to take over her tutoring she does 12 hours a week. I know, I know... the things I get myself in to. We are on week 2 and it actually has been an enjoyable experience. We will see by the end of week 5 if all my hair is still in tact and if I am still saying that.

This week we have been feverishly working on a research paper on Ancient Rome/Latin. Whew! Outlines, thesis's, proper grammar and punctuation (I don't even think thesis is in the proper plural form). My thinking cap has been on these past 2 weeks. Its crazy how easily you forget simple things. Tell me, how quickly can you figure out which number does not belong:

25%         2/8        7/25           25/100

If you got it in less than a minute, I don't want to hear about it. :) Hey, anyone remember when I was trying to major in Math. Anyway...

All I hope is that I am actually helping this little girl learn and that she continues to grow academically in this month that her actual tutor is gone. The shining lights of Paris are at the end of this tunnel. We will be leaving the day after my friend returns. How convenient did that work out?

Tomorrow is a new day.

This might be confusing, but hang in there with me.

Monday, as mentioned, was not a great day for me.

I was called in to sub for a measly 2 1/2 hours for a 1st grade class. 2 1/2 hours, I got this, right? Wrong! The class was relatively behaved. I had these 2 students that just wouldn't stop. Whatever "threats" I made, however many smiley faces I took away, they did not listen. Their recesses were taken away for the next day, and they still carried on. They were very disruptive to the entire class, would not work on their tasks assigned, and continued to throw pencils and crayons at each other. As I replay this in my head, I should have called the office to come get them off my hands, but being the "I can handle everything on my own" type person that I am, I did not.

As one of the kids continued, the other decided to do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Literally, he sat in the corner, and would not move. I surrendered, and let him sit there, there was only X amount of time left in class, so I let him be. At least he was quiet.

So now we are at the end of class, where I have the kids lined up, all but one. I bet you can guess who it was. He continued to sit and pretend he was a sleep. He would NOT get up. I had to take the rest of the children down the hall to meet their parents, but I couldn't leave him unattended in an empty classroom. I went across the hall to get some real teacher support, and her great advice was "You have to get him up!" I kept trying, and nothing. That teacher finally came up to try. Fail. A 3rd teacher came over to try. Fail. They stayed, while I took the rest of the kids. When I came back, the teachers went to get the kids Dad. You think it would end there, yes? It was a good 10 minutes before the Dad was able to make the kid leave the classroom.

This all happened in between another frustrating event. As some may know, I am working Mondays and Tuesdays at the education center. That was supposed to start weeks ago. I have been waiting 3 weeks for a security clearance to get run, so I can have government computer access.

Lets back track to last Friday, called person A to figure out what was the hold up. Person A called Person B to find out the reasoning. Person A reports back to me that they have been waiting for my medical records to arrive before they can sign off. Hmm... Person A gives me the number to call Person B to discuss details. End result, Person C tells me to turn in needed paperwork on Monday morning.

Monday morning

me: "Here is the paperwork I was supposed to turn in"

Person D: "I have no idea what you are talking about, Person C works in that building"

(that is not really what he said, but you get the basic idea)

me: "Here is my paperwork, Person C."

Person C: "Um, I told you to turn it in over there on Friday, let me call them."

to person D "Yes, she needs an appointment to get a physical so we can start her a medical record"

Um, okay.

After subbing, time for my appointment.

Waiting. Some more waiting. Some more waiting. Waiting.

Doctor: "What can I do for you today?"

me: "I do not know, I need some type of physical to get a medical record started"

Doctor calls over to Person C.

Doctor: "Yes, Person C said you need an employee physical, she said you first need to go get this paperwork, fill it out, make another appt. and come back and then I can fill it out."

WHAT!!! If you followed along, can you feel my frustration.

I walked out in a huff, and decided to wait to the next morning to continue to deal with it.

This morning, I called the education center, to tell my story, saying I was going to call Person A to see if he can help get to the bottom of this mess for me. I was then informed that Person C called saying she had received a call from the Doctor, who was trying to figure out why I was so upset. Person C continued in her conversation, saying she had no idea why I was so upset, and if this is how I react I should not be working in a customer service position.

And scene.

This is where I am now. I haven't heard any further information, but we can probably safety say, however unjustified it may be, that I will not be working at the education center.

1st day of subbing.

It actually wasn't bad and I got one great deal out of it...

an hour and a 1/2 being the lunch/recess monitor for 1/2 days pay, 2 days in a row!

Recess was all inside today since there has been a downpour of rain all day. So the yelling was magnified against the gym walls. :)

I started with the kindergartners whom I watched Toy Story with for the first 30 minutes. Piece of cake. A little "no talking" here and "please sit down" there, and their recess time was up! They were the most behaved out of all the grades.

I sent the kids to lunch and went out to watch the 1st graders for their 30 minute recess and then the 2nd/3rd graders for theirs. They were soo rowdy. They had a little more attitude as well, then the kinders. I got a whole lot of "ummm, who are you?" Nothing I couldn't handle, but I had to use my mean voice. If I so in fact have a mean voice. The other teachers must have looked at me like I was going to get eaten. The students tried to take advantage, but I was stern. :)

I do it all again tomorrow. Woo!! As well, I am actually subbing on Thursday for a class of 5th graders. That should be a little bit more calm.

Job. Part 2.

Well remember when I said everything was falling into place, ya scratch that. I am kinda back to square 1 on my attempt to get a job.

Subbing. check. Still on board for that. Starting Monday.

Secretary at the Contracting Squadron. I was informed I did not get the position because I lacked Air Force work experience. Oh well.

Bank. Was all pumped for my interview, when a couple hours prior I receive a phone call saying they had made a mistake and my credit report came back not up to par enough for them to be able to offer me a position. After a lot of work and conversation, that I will not bore you with, I wrote a letter to justify why my credit is the way it is, and asking them to reconsider me as an applicant. The manager at the bank faxed that for me to headquarters, and I am still awaiting a response.

New part-time job. In the midst, of all the bank "drama", I received an email from the Assistant Education Secretary saying she got my name from a friend, and knew I was looking for a part-time job, lalalala. Basically, she would like me to work for her Mondays and Tuesdays and then any other time she needs off. For example, when she goes on vacation in May.

I am highly considering this one, I just want to make sure the bank is a definite no. Everything will hopefully be straightened out in a couple of says. I think I said that last time. ;)

Job

I blogged a little bit ago about my attempts at finding a part-time job, which you can find here. This week everything has been moving along and falling into place. I wanted to update everyone on the status.

I received an email at the beginning of the week from a Major in the Contracting Squadron. He wanted to know if I was still interested in a secretarial position I applied for weeks ago.

*Since there is so many people rotating through all the time, the normal process is to fill out an app. online which they basically keep in file for 90 days and call you if it so happens they need someone. If those 90 days go by without any response, you fill the app. out again!* So good news, I got a response! I went and spoke with him on Monday afternoon. Nothing out of the ordinary, simple conversation, not really an interview. It would be a full time position. He told me he would get back to me by the end of this week, hopefully. To say the least, I am grateful for the possible opportunity but less than thrilled about the position. I did a little bit of secretarial work while I was at Messina Hof, and found that it was not for me! We will see if I am offered the position when he gets back with me, but as of right now, it is looking like I don't feel that is where I need to be.

My background check is still processing with the school, and will be complete by next week. The secretary informed my I could "start" April 26th. She said they need subs daily, so we will see how often I get called and go in. I am going in next week to observe in the classrooms. This is not a mandatory requirement, but I feel it mandatory for myself so the kids don't eat me!!

Lastly, my interview with the bank is today at 1pm! I am really hoping for this one. This one would be part-time, so I would still be able to sub at the school.

In Brandon news, he finally got a hold of the Scout Master, and is the new Assistant Scout Master! They meet Monday evenings, there are about 12 boys as of now, and thats about all we know so far. He will have his first camp-out at the end of the month on the other side of the island. I plan to bake cookies!!

I have been slacking in the picture department, we will try to take more to share with everyone.

Daily Routines

Our life here on the island has slowly been progressing into a normal routine. I feel with the military you can never be into too normal of a routine, because things are always popping up and changing. However, you do the best you can, to avoid going crazy...

That be said here is what we have been up to:

B: Has been going to work Monday-Friday from 7:30a - 4:30p, like most others do. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays the whole base has mandatory PT (physical training) time. It actually starts at 7:00a, and lasts about an hour or so, those days he does not have to be in the office till 9:30a. He is looking into helping/assisting/volunteering, whatever you want to call it, with the Boy Scouts here on base. Option #2 is to help/assist/volunteer his time as a golf coach for his Communications Squadron. His office is awaiting their CDCs (training books) to come in to be able to certify him. In till then, he is unable to do certain things so he can completely focus on only the CDCs when they come in. Completing school is on the back burner until that time comes. Yet time is not being wasted, in the meantime, B is able to take CLEP test every week which test him out of specific college credits. He can easily get his associates degree completing these tests, which will roll right into a Bachelors degree. As well, he plans to apply to be part of the Honor Guard on base, again, only after those CDCs are complete.

me: While B is hard at work, I fill my time with cooking, cleaning, working out and playing with Mas. :) I have applied for a couple of federal jobs which I have heard no response. Apparently, I have heard there are only 74 jobs on base designated for spouses, and they are quite difficult to come by. I most recently applied to the Pentagon Federal Credit Union here on base, which I am praying has a positive outcome. My chances are looking good, I think, and I will hear from the manager to set up an interview before April 16th. Along with that, I submitted my 60 page application, YES 60 pages!!! to be a substitute teacher at the school on base. The application will take about a month to process, and then I will be set to go. Yup, I never would have thought, me = teacher, but hey life changes and you have to go with it. Once I do obtain a job, I have been looking in to going back to school online to get my MBA. Still completely haven't convinced myself that that is what I should be doing. :) In other news, I have been going to the church's women's bible study on Monday nights, along with zumba on Tuesday nights. Google it, I had to. As well, I am a key spouse for the Communications Squadron. I just got started with that so we will see what that entails.

Other than that, we take our daily Mason walks, grocery shopping Friday, and have been attending the base church every Sunday. Our Portuguese lessons started today, and will be from 11-12 every day for a month. All of our weekends, have been spent mainly inside due to lack of a car and non-stop sideways rain. However, on the sun-shiny days we have ventured out. We love drinking coffee here! Actually thats not an excuse we love to drink it in the US too.

And that is what we have been doing. We really have been enjoying our time here. Our car comes in this Thursday, so everyone get excited for that!!

Since this was a rather boring post I will leave y'all with Mas scratching his bum on a tree on one of his walks...