LRW at the ISL.

My day started at 5:45AM, when both my alarms started ringing & my coffeepot finished perking. Why so early? Well, in order to arrive at the International School of Louisiana at 7:45, I have to catch the Franklin bus at 6:50, which arrives at Rampart & Canal at 7:11, then I have to grab a Canal Streetcar over to Magazine St, where I catch the 7:32 bus, which drops me off at 1400 Camp St (AKA the ISL) right on time.

Fortunately, all of this NORTA stuff worked out fine & when I got to the school, I walked straight in through one of the doors, along with what seemed like everyone else, and I told the lady at the door that it was my 1st day as an assistant to 3rd grade. She brought me up to a classroom and the day started pretty abruptly.

I spent the majority of my time assisting a male teacher named Ulyssse, although there is another teacher who will be going on maternity leave on Sept 9th, and so after that point, I will be splitting my day in half between the two 3rd grade classes, assisting Ulysse & this other woman's replacement.

I was a bit surprised that there was no orientation or anything like that. In fact I was pretty tied up helping the students (who are all very bright & speak excellent French, btw) and correcting quizzes and that sort of thing. I had my 1st skool lunch in ages. A big part of the job is classroom management AKA keeping bright 8-year-olds in line. They are good kids though, as far as I can tell. Cute and polite, so far.

Their day is rigorously organised, with trips to the library and snacks & a twirl on the playground. I think I like it. There's something nice about being "Monsieur Sam."

I'm not sure if it's forever. I'm reserving judgment about this job until I have some more time in it. It is a long day though. I get out of work at 4:00, & have to take the Magazine bus to Canal, arriving at 4:20 (oh the irony) and from there I have several options. Today I took the Elysian Fields bus & arrived home around 5:30. Tomorrow I will try taking the streetcar to get back to the Franklin bus, which drops me off only 2 blox from home, whereas the EF drops me about 7 blox away. In NOLA heat, 5 blox can make all the difference...

Thanks for reading!!