02-09-10 Pohang, South Korea

So terrified...my heart is stomping against my chest...trying to get out...

It's 9:30 AM, and as much as I love teaching, I'm sweating and shaking, my nerves are breaking, and I really am reaching for my ultimate daydream that my students won't show up...

You've gotta understand, if you've ever taught young'uns, you can hear them stampede to your room, their indiscernible chirps get increasingly louder with each breath-stopping step, each second passes and each hair on your body stands up at attention, little follicle soldiers ready for action, you realize you're holding your breath, but you can't will yourself to breathe...you just wait...and panic culminates deep in your bones and you're paralyzed...waiting for that explosive release...and then it happens....time stops when you hear the knock on the door...it all rises to a blissful climax when they slide that door open and shout, "HELLO TEACHER!!"

1st grade...little monsters that can't be contained in one activity for more than 5 minutes...