I realize that as of yet, I haven't spoken a lot about my job and what it's like being at Branksome Hall Asia. My posts are mainly about going off campus, and as such I've had questions like, "when do your students arrive?" from a few of my friends. Surprise! The students have been here for two weeks! I tricked you all! Muahaha.
It'd be too much for one post to cover all that I do, so today I'll give you a brief image and cover what I am doing now.
I am one of 6 Teacher Dons that work in the grade 11 and 12 residence at BHA. We're slightly different from the other residents because our girls each have their own room (they share rooms for the grades 6 through 10) and they are doing the International Baccalaureate curriculum. If you don't know, the IB program is extremely rigorous and demanding. The girls are only two weeks in and some of them have already been close to pulling all nighters to finish essays and assignments.
Each night, three of us are on overnight duty. If there is an emergency, we're right here within reach. But also, if the girls are acting out, we have to put things back in order. In the morning, we're in charge of making sure the girls get up, go to breakfast and get to school on time. If you've been a teenager or know any teenagers, you probable can imagine some of the challenges we face with that task alone.
My night time hangout. (I really just wanted to include a picture). |
And so, we've had to crack down. I am currently sitting on the second floor of our building, waiting and daring any student to poke their head out their door. My ears are poised for the slightest sound... although I think I'm starting to psyche myself out with phantom noises. (The echo in the dorm doesn't help pinpoint where sounds are coming from either...).
The consequence for leaving their room after 11pm? They will come home from school the next day to find that they have relocated to the first floor, away from their friends, and also with the possibility of crickets and centipedes crawling up their drains. The only question is, how long do we wait? Until midnight? Until 1? Will the girls try to out wait us?
As I write these words, it is nearing midnight and I want to go to bed. But how long do I wait? Morning comes too soon. Morning is still so far away.
Love and Hugs.
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