If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I cannot believe that the first week of August has passed! It seems that for months days have merged into one another and time has had no meaning. As the days of August pass, however, I am beginning to acknowledge that time is passing – especially as the new school year approaches.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that we have been told that we will be attending school full-time in September – and that the kindergarten to grade 3 children will not be expected to wear masks. We have also been told that the group will stay together throughout the day in the classroom – including lunch. The ministry of education has also promised that spaces will be deep cleaned daily. I shudder to think what all this means for me as a teacher – I know for sure that more will be expected of me and that I will be expected to follow certain protocols, keep things clean, and keep the children separate from one another. Thinking about all this is causing me stress. As of yet our school board hasn’t given us direction but our union has been on top of things and is having discussions with them.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that I am trying my best to not let all the uncertainty affect me. Now that we have opened up a little more in the city and are in stage 3, I am able to meet up with a friend of mine and share a coffee and a meal. This past week we dined in at a restaurant – for the first time since the quarantine began – and were able to linger over our meal. I took public transit to meet up with her and I was surprised by how few people are currently taking the bus and train. I am thinking that will change in the Fall as schools re-open and parents go back to working at their companies.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that meeting up with my friend was definitely the highlight of my week. For the rest of the week, I have been reading and crocheting. Our week inside has not been pleasant, though, as construction work is happening on our balconies and the noise has been unbearable at times. Even though many people complained that the noise is affecting their ability to work from home, the construction activity was not halted. This is what happens when the people who make these decisions live in their big, fancy houses far away from the city!
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that this weekend we have made plans to go to a huge Chinese supermarket. My husband is excited as he is keen to find some supplies for the recipes he wants to try out. My excitement stems from doing something different – and from getting out of the apartment for a while!
If we were having coffee, I would tell you that the following week will be more of the same. Hopefully something will happen to surprise me 🙂
What would you tell me if we were having coffee?
© Colline Kook-Chun, 2020
(This post is linked to Eclectic Ali and the Weekend Coffee Share)
I can’t imagine how teachers will get through the fall. I’m thankful I work for a post-secondary institution in a province where we are not allowed to go back to work or classes in person unless it is absolutely necessary. I hope you enjoy the rest of your August.
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The plan for elementary school feels like no plan at all. Logically I cannot see how social distancing can be implemented, especially in grades 4-8, when class sizes are so large and classrooms are small.
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I hope there will be a better plan for teachers and students during this difficult time…Hope everything will work out. In California the situation is not easy, as UTLA still in negotiations with the public schools
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We hope so too. There are still a few more weeks before school starts.
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Such odd times. I hope they have all of the bugs worked out for when school opens. So, the little kids don’t wear masks, but do their teachers? I hope the rest of your weekend goes well 🙂
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Yes, the teachers do. I am not looking forward to wearing one the entire day – and I am not sure how to teach with it on my face as I struggle to speak with it on.
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I do not spend much time with children, but from my limited experience, the little ones, like that age group, gain a lot through facial expressions. Perhaps that can still be conveyed with a mask – as an adult, I can read people’s expressions through the mask – but I’m sure not ideal.
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No it isn’t Trent. Especially as I am teaching the children a new language. Facial expression and mouth formation is especially important.
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If we were having coffee I would tell you that the highlight of my week was that my husband and I had dinner outdoors at a local restaurant and it was delicious. not only that it was like a real date altho we’ve been married 26 years :-). Covid makes formerly normal life seem like a real treat sometimes! Stay safe in the classroom Colline, I worry about our teachers returning to work.
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What a treat Tina! Not only the date with your husband and eating out, but also a return to a bit of normalcy.
I worry too about returning to the classroom. I do foresee a spike in cases once we go back to school.
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I can empathize with you on the construction noise. We’re getting a new roof and even in the basement I couldn’t escape it from 8am – 6pm.
They’re very hard working, but it’s very loud. Hard to think, impossible (for me) to read.
Good luck with the school reopening.
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It definitely takes away the pleasure of lazy days – especially as we cannot escape to other pleasurable spaces.
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I would tell you that although things are so uncertain, normal life has to start somewhere, and for me, sooner rather than later is better. I would also tell you that things have a way of working out, unfortunately worrying about it won’t change anything. And I will say to you, good luck with all of that!!! 🙂
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I think I am frustrated that decisions aren’t being made – and that I cannot begin to prepare myself and my space for what I need to do. I do not do well with things happening last minute! 😀
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That I can totally understand! Best of luck. 🙂
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Thank you.
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My teacher friends here have similar tensions Colline. The times are challenging but you’ve always been up to meeting the need. Your job is important and I know you well enough to know that you won’t let your students down in any way. Just stay safe yourself.
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Thank you Gary. I know that I will be taking extra precautions to protect myself – especially as I work with young children and they are not expected to wear masks.
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I can imagine it must be a nightmare as as educator in these times working out all the logistics to ensure safety
I was surprised its August, where has the year gone, seems like I spent it sitting around… and our lockdown seems to be getting even more restrictive I miss the outside
~B
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I hear you Beaton. The year is going by and we have done nothing but sit around at home. Doesn’t feel like we will be able to achieve much this year.
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Yummy food. Liked your post. I feel your pain and anxiety about the coming school year. I taught for 27 years and would be scared to death if I were still teaching. I’m jealous that you got to go to a restaurant. I haven’t been to a restaurant since the beginning of the pandemic in February! Wow, can that be true!?
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It is amazing that something we took for granted is such a treat now. I am hoping that people slowly go back to restaurants and to shopping – if people don’t, the economy will struggle to restart.
As for teaching – I will keep you updated 🙂
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Yes, the schools on LI will open with restrictions and lots of questions and unknowns. It is extra challenging with little ones. I wish you well.
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Thank you. I will be blogging more about the situation nearer to the time and while going through the experience 🙂
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I hear you, Colline. I feel like this too. I am thoroughly fed up with being at home with a husband who works all the time. At least the schools are closed and I am getting a break from home schooling which is not easy when you are also working. Everything ends though and summer is coming here so I shouldn’t moan.
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Hopefully it will get better for you there Robbie. School here is starting up again in three weeks and we still don’t know what it will look like.
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