Meeting New People And Learning To Teach

Before starting to teach, I had to make it through training week and I have a story that I just must share.

At the meet and greet, the night before training started, I was introduced to the other members of the ESE team. It was then that I met my soon to be work bestie. He was loud and boisterous and a little wacky. I didn’t know what to make of him at first and when I heard him refer to himself as a dork, I had no doubt that he was.

I heard him mention card games like Magic the Gathering. (I can’t remember which one he mentioned, honestly, but you get the idea.) While I don’t play the card games, I definitely have my geeky tendencies so at the first opportunity, I said “Let’s double back to your comment. In what way are you a dork? Cause I am too!”

We were soon sharing cosplay pictures back and forth and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the rest of the ESE team move on to other people.

I wasn’t sure what the year would bring but I knew I wasn’t the only weirdo at the school.

Training Day

As training week started, this guy and I continued to chat. And when we were heading for a group lunch, I stepped off the sidewalk because there wasn’t enough room for all three of us. No big deal but when I stepped back on, he reached out his hand for me.

I stepped up without taking it but thanked him. Then we got to stairs and he reached out his hand again. Well, chivalry isn’t dead, I thought. It was really kind of sweet so I took his hand. After all, I didn’t want to be rude.

I then joked “You’ve already heard that I’m clumsy, huh?”

He said “No, I’m just used to it.”

Me – “Oh, that’s right, you have a wife.”

Him – “Yeah but also you’re just roughly the same age as my MOTHER.”

Thud. What? Nooo. 😒😂

I quickly responded with “Your mother is 29?”

Everyone laughed, but I was dying inside.

There Goes My Appetite

On the way to lunch, I tried not to let it get to me. I already have some insecurity over starting my teaching career at an “advanced” age and that definitely didn’t help. But I put it out of my mind and headed into The Loop.

Are There Assigned Seats?

After I put in my order, he motioned me over to sit across from him. I was relieved and headed over. I didn’t want to have a shy girl in the cafeteria moment.

As we were eating, a trainer walked by and reminded everyone not to just talk work and to really get to know each other.

He said ” Oh yeah, we are. We are already besties!”

Not what I was expecting but I didn’t hate it. And because I never miss an opportunity to be a smart ass, I said…

“Even though you called me old…”

As we continued to talk, I asked him how old he is and found out that he is 25. Seriously??

“Ok, technically you could be my son but you’re not!”

He then asked how old I am. I sat there glaring at this guy who has unimpressive social skills and apparently doesn’t know that you don’t ask that question.

So he guessed, people! He guessed!

“55?”

Omg, man.

For the first time ever, I defiantly said I was only 50.

Fixing The Problem

He told me that I had a youthful spirit and mentioned the cosplaying. I accepted that and we moved on to less emotionally painful topics.

As we talked, we also found out that we are neighbors, like just a few roads apart. I see carpooling in our futures.

Anyway, we headed back to school. I forgave my new bestie for his insult. I decided, instead, to focus on how awesome it is to have someone I can talk to.

And also, I have a really good story now and I assure you, I am telling everyone. 🤣