My "first" day

I went to my school today. It was an interesting experience. The education system is very different here! All you teachers will be interested in this post.

First of all, the school is completely surrounded by a gate and I couldn't figure out how to get in. I started walking towards the big gate where all the cars were and fortunately someone was headed out for a smoke break so the gate was opening. I started to walk through and the lady said "No puede entrar aqui." (You can't enter here.) I told her I needed to find the office and talk with the secretary. She ended up being the secretary so I was in luck. She showed me around a bit and introduced me to some of the other teachers. She explained that today was the first day of school but a lot of the teachers were on strike so they weren't at school. After a little tour, she took me to the office and had me fill out a card with my name, address, phone number and N.I.E (Our equivalent of a Social Security Number. Although I have an actuall SSN here too. It is all very confusing!) Then she introduced me to one of the bilingual teachers who helped me get a locker and introduced me to a few more teachers. She told me I could wait in the staff room for the Bilingual Coordinator to get there but she didn't actually know if she was coming in today or not. So I sat there for a bit looking at some books they had in the office. I looked up after a few minutes and the woman who had been helping me had vanished. I understand why though. She had just figured out, on the first day of school mind you, what classes she would be teaching and when. I was amazed when she told me this! I can't imagine showing up on the first day of school as a teacher and just finding out what classes I would be teaching.

So I sat there for about 10 or 15 minutes wondering what to do because I don't know who the Bilingual Coordinator is or how to find her. In the middle of texting Ben and asking him for advice a woman walked in and looked at me and said: "Kristin?" She had found me. Her name is Fuencisga, or Fuen, which was much easier for me to say. She showed me around a little bit more and then went and got her schedule for teaching and told me that she would contact me about when to come in. She said the school also has two language assistants and that they needed to figure out which teachers would want to work with each of us. I probably won't be going back in until October though. More sight-seeing for Ben and I. :)

Another interesting tid-bit, the secretary teaches a class! I don't know if this is because teachers are on strike or because that is just part of her job. I was a little surprised though when she told me she had to get going so she could teach her class.

Even though I have no clue what my schedule will be like, I am looking forward to working at the school Everyone I met today was very welcoming and friendly. I think it will be a good experience.

Ben and I did a trial run of how to get to my school the other day and I took some pictures of the school.

I figured out today that this is the gate I will enter through. There is a button you push and then from the office there is a camera that shows you out there standing and someone beeps you in. 

The main entrance.