Can every day be like this?

I don't know if it's because I'm getting the hang of this teaching thing, or if the kids are getting used to the routine, or if it's a fluke of fate, or if these little monsters are trying to soften me up before they unleash hell, but teaching this week has been easy...like really easy...too easy.  I'm scared to say this, but I've actually been enjoying it. There is a huge part of me that's apprehensive to even write about this good fortune.  On the one hand I'm probably jinxing myself right now by even recognizing that it's been easy/fun.  On the other hand, I don't think this run is going to last much longer so I might as well write about it, at least that way I can look back on this time and have something besides frustration and a growing addiction to soju.  

It seemed that every Monday prior to yesterday the kids would come back not only having forgot all the information we so diligently worked on teaching them the week before, but it was like in the space that knowledge used to call home, there was now some sort of brick or cinder block that was preventing anything from going back in.  For god sakes, we talked about colors for 3 WEEKS! Monday rolls around and these little people look at me like they've never even seen colors before, like they just developed the sense of sight on their way to school.  This was obviously pretty crushing.  Along with not remembering anything, it seemed like every Monday their parents would serve them a venti quad shot cappuccino poured over granulated sugar and gushers for breakfast.  I heard somewhere that you can find a child's average attention span in minutes by dividing their age in half ...this means that my kids have a minute and a half on a good day.  On Mondays they might as well be embryos. 

Knowing this was the pattern that had developed, I came into school yesterday mentally prepared-- expectations lowered, patience tank reloaded.  9:30 the kids started to arrive and it was my day to greet them at the door.  As I sat there, I felt like I often do, excited to see them, awed by their cuteness, yet cautious because I know that behind those smirks lie little terrorists waiting for my moment of weakness, but not on this day.  By 10:30 I noticed that something was different, not only did they remember information from the week before, but they listened, they participated, no one faked an illness.  Not having to say, "listen to teacher" or "focus" or "Heather, you're not sick. Stop lying." made it possible for me to enjoy them.  I'm wondering if they unknowingly realize that being good benefits them as well.  When I don't have to put all my energy into getting them to comply, more energy can go into making the lessons fun and entertaining.  The lunch was even delicious on Monday.  No sneaky baby octopus.

To top off Monday's greatness-a student's mom brought a box of cheese for me as a gift.  A week earlier she had asked me in passing conversation, "what do you miss from home?" and I blurted out,  "cheeeeessseee" like an addict needing a fix.  I think she sensed the desperation.  When she handed me the box I was literally shaking with excitement.  I actually took a little Korean woman in my arms and hugged her like a kidney transplant patient would hug their donor.  I may have crossed some cultural and/or personal space boundary, but I don't really care.  That woman brought me joy that carried over to today, and hopefully will continue to through the rest of this week.  If not at least I've got a fridge full of cheese and fond memories of 2 days of teaching gone right.