just a quick note
I’m off for another week of working with young people. Looking forward to it very much! It’s so much fun, even if by Friday night, I’ll only be fit to be used as a wet rag. It’s exhausting, this mentoring. But so, so interesting as well. I’ve got a really tough activity planned for this week, an ethical dilemma scenario and some other nifty things.
I also wanted to say sorry that I’m such a useless blogging friend lately and not keeping up to date with all my friends. I miss your blogs and your voices and your smart observations and when I’m back from this week (no internet where we’re going to be!), I’m so looking forward to catching up. Finally.
A special shout-out goes to Zen, Anna, Julie, Monica, Gloria, Marsha, LynneΒ and Patricia – you are wonderful and kind and fun and great and I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate you.Β Thank you for being my loyal friends and dropping by even when I’m semi-AWOL recently. I love you!!!
Posted on April 22, 2013, in day-to-day. Bookmark the permalink. 13 Comments.
cresting the words 
Hope you have a great week! Good luck with that ethical dilemma… π
Hey Anna, thank you, I had a great week! Lots of sunshine and after some initial bad feelings, we got the group to work very well together once again. The ethical dilemma was interesting… Only one group came up with a totally fair solution, the others made decisions on some rather arbitrary opinions and views… Sometimes it’s really cool to be more mature and experienced and see these things from the meta-level. π
I love you, too! We are the useless ones, actually. At least you are working with young people, and how interesting is that! I also love the photos. No spring here in my country, but I appreciate how everything is more beautiful in this season.
Ha! It’s not like you’re not working full-time, is it? π
It was very interesting indeed… I love watching all the group dynamics at play and knowing where to push, where to pull to get to certain outcomes.
I hope you have a great time mentoring those kids… and that they don’t wear you down too much. π Seriously, have fun! And love you too!
I was pretty tired by Friday afternoon! We were lucky and had great weather and warm nights and the house we stayed at had an open fire place in the garden, so we sat around a campfire for most nights… It felt like being sixteen again. π
Working with kids could be challenging, but you have the right attitude. Love you too π
It’s challenging in a lot of ways, but it’s also the most rewarding thing I can imagine. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed it in the last couple of years, only when this acquaintance I’m working with now gave me the chance to work on these mentoring weeks did I remember why I’d actually studied to be a teacher in the first place (and also why I gave up teaching, because that formal kind of education is just not the right framework for me!)
You are welcome! I love you. This shout out was so sweet. I hope your week didn’t leave you too exhausted. I’ll be eager to read ya when you come up for air. Of course that means I’ll have to be a good blogging friend and not take forever π
By Friday afternoon I was pretty wiped out! But I loved the whole week, even though the first two days were not so great (some weird undercurrents in the group, but we got it straightened out by Tuesday night). And by the way… you’re an amazing blogging friend and sister! π
I blush at “amazing blogging friend and sister”. This past month has really blessed me with a lot of love and kindness that I feel unworthy but very very grateful for.
I’m glad you made it through with your group! I know it can be a tough job. Good thing there are others like yourself who are up for the challenge π
Much β₯ sistafriend!
Teaching is exhilarating and exhausting! You are doing a great thing. It takes time to develop relationships, and then they will do anything with and for you, because you make them feel worthwhile they want to please you. Enjoy your handiwork in them! π
That’s the challenge with this work – I don’t see them except three times for one week each over the course of their year (or half year in one group). So the trust-building and growing together as a group has to be really fast and really good, so that it lasts until the next time. But I’m astonished every time again at how much these young people (most of which are legally adults, but I still think of them as kids somehow) will tell you and how much they trust you. It’s very rewarding, that’s for sure!