My sister rocks and here's one reason why. Can you find her???
Stay tuned for more Looney mobs...
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
I Loathe Brazilian Buracrazy
Anyone else want a button? Because I'm going to begin printing them this week. Since so many of you live so far from here and the post office is taking eons for mail they are going to say, "I Loathe Brazilian Buracrazy!" I'm not sure how that quite translates into Portuguese but that's fine with me. It'll just add to the burcracy I've been dealing with here.
Valmir will not be returning to EAB anytime soon. He got the official okay from his doctor last Sunday (February 13). His hand was completely healed. He called to share the good news and learned he would be able to return after a few extra visits, aka buracracy, (I just accidentially typed buracrazy and hence my blog post cuz it's kinda funny) on Monday (February 14).
After school on Monday, Valentine's Day, my phone rang and when I saw it was Valmir, I knew it couldn't be good. He wasn't able to see all three doctors needed to return to work. You might be thinking, 3 doctors. My goodness, that's a lot. Well, it is but you need to be cleared by:
Dr 1 - the doctor who treated you
Dr 2 - the school's doctor
Dr 3 - the social security adminstration's dr
He was cleared by #1 and then proceeded to see #2. #2 then said he wouldn't clear him unless he saw dr # 3. When he went to try and see dr #3, the receptionist told him there aren't any appointments until March 17th. He said, "But I'm healed and ready to return." The receptionist laughed and replied, "You're the first person to ever say that." This should give you a little hint into this system.
That was Monday after school. He hoped he'd be able to squeeze in on Tuesday afternoon but unfortunately dr #2 shut him down again. I was just a little frustrated to get this call. I know it's not Valmir's fault but didn't understand why the school wasn't helping him.
I then learned that they won't help him because they are worried about being sued. If they help him, the government will view it as a push back to work. The funny thing is that he's healed. Completely better.
Another funny thing is that since Valmir had to visit the SSA (Social Security Admin) since he missed over 15 days of work, that they are paying both Valmir and EAB for his time off. Yup. They're double paying. So Dilma, I've heard you want to cut the govt's budget, well, silly things like this would help ALOT!
And it wouldn't just help the budget, it would also help, um, let me think, children. 22 of them to be exact. It would help 1 teacher. It would help countless other people as well. Grrr!!!
In the meantime, I'm sharing an assistant with Erica. It's fine and all but it's when you are used to things being one way and then for a really dumb reason the change, it's annoying. For a girl who's trying really hard to focus on just her class and grade level, there sure are a lot of things interfering with my plan. Silly, silly buracrazy. Silly, silly adults.
My solution? If we just listened to my 8-year-old students who said simutaneously in two different languages, English and Portuguese, "That's just dumb," then maybe we'd be a whole lot smarter.
* This post has been rewritten about seven times since starting it last week so I apologize if it doesn't flow so well.
** This post has additionally been rewritten about seven times since last week as it's taken me that long to calm down and accept the buracrazy.
Valmir will not be returning to EAB anytime soon. He got the official okay from his doctor last Sunday (February 13). His hand was completely healed. He called to share the good news and learned he would be able to return after a few extra visits, aka buracracy, (I just accidentially typed buracrazy and hence my blog post cuz it's kinda funny) on Monday (February 14).
After school on Monday, Valentine's Day, my phone rang and when I saw it was Valmir, I knew it couldn't be good. He wasn't able to see all three doctors needed to return to work. You might be thinking, 3 doctors. My goodness, that's a lot. Well, it is but you need to be cleared by:
Dr 1 - the doctor who treated you
Dr 2 - the school's doctor
Dr 3 - the social security adminstration's dr
He was cleared by #1 and then proceeded to see #2. #2 then said he wouldn't clear him unless he saw dr # 3. When he went to try and see dr #3, the receptionist told him there aren't any appointments until March 17th. He said, "But I'm healed and ready to return." The receptionist laughed and replied, "You're the first person to ever say that." This should give you a little hint into this system.
That was Monday after school. He hoped he'd be able to squeeze in on Tuesday afternoon but unfortunately dr #2 shut him down again. I was just a little frustrated to get this call. I know it's not Valmir's fault but didn't understand why the school wasn't helping him.
I then learned that they won't help him because they are worried about being sued. If they help him, the government will view it as a push back to work. The funny thing is that he's healed. Completely better.
Another funny thing is that since Valmir had to visit the SSA (Social Security Admin) since he missed over 15 days of work, that they are paying both Valmir and EAB for his time off. Yup. They're double paying. So Dilma, I've heard you want to cut the govt's budget, well, silly things like this would help ALOT!
And it wouldn't just help the budget, it would also help, um, let me think, children. 22 of them to be exact. It would help 1 teacher. It would help countless other people as well. Grrr!!!
In the meantime, I'm sharing an assistant with Erica. It's fine and all but it's when you are used to things being one way and then for a really dumb reason the change, it's annoying. For a girl who's trying really hard to focus on just her class and grade level, there sure are a lot of things interfering with my plan. Silly, silly buracrazy. Silly, silly adults.
My solution? If we just listened to my 8-year-old students who said simutaneously in two different languages, English and Portuguese, "That's just dumb," then maybe we'd be a whole lot smarter.
* This post has been rewritten about seven times since starting it last week so I apologize if it doesn't flow so well.
** This post has additionally been rewritten about seven times since last week as it's taken me that long to calm down and accept the buracrazy.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Monday Night
Tonight I...
- got a Valentine's Day package from my mom and dad filled with cute heart covered p.j.s, peanut butter hearts, an InStyle magazine, several baking mixes, peanut butter, sunflower seeds, peanut butter hearts (small ones this time) and a cute t-shirt which were all wrapped in fun Valentine tissue paper,
- got soaked walking home in a rainstorm (I was just over halfway when the skies literally opened) while carrying above package and my netbook,
- chatted with my dad who's extra healthy today,
- walked for an hour with Hayes for my physical and mental health,
- took a hot shower (it's a miracle to have hot water!),
- ate yummy taco soup and Parmesan baguette slices from Boulangerie for dinner,
- watched a rerun of Law and Order SVU,
- covered up with a blanket while sipping tea because it's a chilly 70 degrees here tonight,
- read two emails from teachers in India who welcomed me,
- signed up for a summer laptop conference in Memphis (Graceland anyone?),
- listened to crickets chirping and
- will read more of Maximum City (a book about Mumbai) on my Kindle snuggled up under blankets before I go to bed early.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Casting Update
In case you were wondering. Valmir's still out. At least one more week. Sigh.
Each day my students and I are crossing more body parts for good luck than I knew possible. In case you were wondering, third graders also think crossing lips and elbows will help. At this point, they can cross whatever they want as long as it gets Valmir back quickly!
Each day my students and I are crossing more body parts for good luck than I knew possible. In case you were wondering, third graders also think crossing lips and elbows will help. At this point, they can cross whatever they want as long as it gets Valmir back quickly!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Who's On First?
Yesterday I went to play softball for the first time in about god only knows how many years with a group of female teachers and expats against the EAB girls' softball team. I'm definitely sore (my back, arm) today but it's a good sore and playing was a lot of fun.
Dad - You'd be bummed by my stats. 1 walk. 1 pop out and 1 hit. I just wanted to hit the ball!
Our teacher team was a hodge-podge of players: 5 EAB teachers, 1 American Embassy consulate officer, 1EAB fifth grader (coach's son) and 2 EAB teacher assistants (one is the assistant coach). One of the teacher assistants had never played softball and actually wanted to just come and watch. She was convinced to play by Nickie's (Kindergarten teacher) son, Teague, a 4-year-old. He told her that you just gotta try your best.
She asked lots of great questions about the game. Things that you forget about...strike zone, how to hold a bat, what's a hit, where to run, etc. Her first time to bat she got a hit. Not bad for the first time.
This assistant has been immersing herself in American culture. She came to watch the Bears v Packers a couple of weeks ago and tried to learn about American football. She's going tonight to the Super Bowl bash. Now she's learning softball and I'm not sure what else. It's great! There's one part of American culture baseball/softball culture that we need to teach her about. It's about bases. Yesterday, she was excited about her play and posted the following on facebook, "I made it to first base!" And yes, that's true but being an American and since there's no other context applied, that has a second meaning. Tomorrow, I'm gonna provide a follow up lesson that "making it to first" can imply something completely different.
Dad - You'd be bummed by my stats. 1 walk. 1 pop out and 1 hit. I just wanted to hit the ball!
Our teacher team was a hodge-podge of players: 5 EAB teachers, 1 American Embassy consulate officer, 1EAB fifth grader (coach's son) and 2 EAB teacher assistants (one is the assistant coach). One of the teacher assistants had never played softball and actually wanted to just come and watch. She was convinced to play by Nickie's (Kindergarten teacher) son, Teague, a 4-year-old. He told her that you just gotta try your best.
She asked lots of great questions about the game. Things that you forget about...strike zone, how to hold a bat, what's a hit, where to run, etc. Her first time to bat she got a hit. Not bad for the first time.
This assistant has been immersing herself in American culture. She came to watch the Bears v Packers a couple of weeks ago and tried to learn about American football. She's going tonight to the Super Bowl bash. Now she's learning softball and I'm not sure what else. It's great! There's one part of American culture baseball/softball culture that we need to teach her about. It's about bases. Yesterday, she was excited about her play and posted the following on facebook, "I made it to first base!" And yes, that's true but being an American and since there's no other context applied, that has a second meaning. Tomorrow, I'm gonna provide a follow up lesson that "making it to first" can imply something completely different.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Casting
The past two weeks I've been without Valmir, my teaching assistant. Why you might ask? Well, he's in a cast.
He broke his pinky finger while swimming in the ocean over Winter Break. I was surprised when I returned to see him wearing a splint on his pinky finger. I of course teased a bit because he could quite properly drink tea with his finger being forced erect in this splint.
He returned the first week or so and then went back to the dr on a Sunday evening after having worked for 5 days including 3 with students because he was still in some pain. After watching the sad end to the Bears v Packers game, I got home and talked to my parents. I noticed that Valmir had called twice and not left a message. While I was talking with my parents, I heard the phone ring a third time and finally the "beep, beep" signaling that he left a voicemail, I was able to hear that unfortunately the dr casted his hand. That's pretty normal round here and maybe anywhere for a broken finger.
Here's the unique part. In Brazil, if you are wearing a cast you cannot work. Simply cannot. You have a paid medical leave. So Valmir's home for a broken pinky finger for 2 weeks. The dr originally wanted three weeks but Valmir talked him into 2. Seriously he cannot come to work for 2 weeks or he could get into trouble. Please cross your fingers as he returns to the dr tomorrow that he will be back because I need the ying to my yang again.
Think about the trouble I'd be in if that was law in the U.S. So, if you're looking for some paid vacation, come work in Brasil! If you're willing to break a limb, this is the place to live. Wonder how many people break their limbs on purpose because of this law. I will not be one of those either accidental or otherwise.
He broke his pinky finger while swimming in the ocean over Winter Break. I was surprised when I returned to see him wearing a splint on his pinky finger. I of course teased a bit because he could quite properly drink tea with his finger being forced erect in this splint.
He returned the first week or so and then went back to the dr on a Sunday evening after having worked for 5 days including 3 with students because he was still in some pain. After watching the sad end to the Bears v Packers game, I got home and talked to my parents. I noticed that Valmir had called twice and not left a message. While I was talking with my parents, I heard the phone ring a third time and finally the "beep, beep" signaling that he left a voicemail, I was able to hear that unfortunately the dr casted his hand. That's pretty normal round here and maybe anywhere for a broken finger.
Here's the unique part. In Brazil, if you are wearing a cast you cannot work. Simply cannot. You have a paid medical leave. So Valmir's home for a broken pinky finger for 2 weeks. The dr originally wanted three weeks but Valmir talked him into 2. Seriously he cannot come to work for 2 weeks or he could get into trouble. Please cross your fingers as he returns to the dr tomorrow that he will be back because I need the ying to my yang again.
Think about the trouble I'd be in if that was law in the U.S. So, if you're looking for some paid vacation, come work in Brasil! If you're willing to break a limb, this is the place to live. Wonder how many people break their limbs on purpose because of this law. I will not be one of those either accidental or otherwise.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Guinea Pig Anyone?
You know you live in Brazil when a wild guinea pig (called a prea in Portuguese) runs into your classroom. Not mine but my 1st grade friend Erin. This is what it looked like. I saw it!
It's now in a cage in the science lab. At least they don't eat guinea pigs in Brazil like they do in Peru! I just read that they are hard to capture. Not in Erin's room. Erin had already evacuated herself and her students. Her brave teaching assistant used her will and a cardboard box to trap said rodent.
The funniest part of this is that moments after the guinea pig's arrival, the lockdown drill began. Erin's students thought that the reason for the lockdown was the guinea pig. They thought it might have rabies and that's why they had to take cover. I guess some didn't want to lay down on the floor after it entered. Can't really blame them!
I had never heard of this animal until today. I mean, you hear of large rodents like capybara and rats but wild guinea pigs, who knew?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)