In the tunnel and looking forward to the light

With earthquakes in Padang (didn't feel it) and a fire in a north Jakarta neighborhood (going through my closet for for clothes to donate at church tomorrow), there are plenty of people suffering more than I am, but it's been a long week. Mostly, it's the mile-high pile of finals and other papers that need to be graded. My stack is still hovering about the 200 mark, so it's not really going to be a weekend. Grades need to be in by the end of next week, but I'm going on a retreat with the outgoing 11th grade kids in Bandung from Wednesday to Friday, so that cramps my grading time.

The stress must be getting to me because I've found myself close to tears twice this week over slightly frustrating situations that normally would just get a fleetingly furrowed forehead from me. On Thursday, it was the fact that I couldn't print from the library, and yesterday it was the birthday package for my sister that I had packaged/repackaged/re-repackaged and tried to send three times but was still going to be way more costly than I had thought. Don't worry: the document got printed, and the package was sent, though I think Erica might getting her presents from me around Thanksgiving.

I've also been on unsteady ground for what I'm doing for the next few months until the 10th grade students move up to 11th grade in January. Last year, I taught 8th grade, but this year it looks like I'll be teaching 10th grade, which is great because I get to know the kids before January and I'll have a lighter teaching schedule which allows me to reflect on the year of teaching I just finished and how I can improve for next year. As I grade the finals, I've been jotting down notes about what I can do to improve for next year. It's getting to be a long list, but it's also an exciting one. Anyone want an Indonesian pen pal?

All this (plus the October heat) means that going home for Christmas can't come too soon. I'll be in the United States from December 20 to January 6, and I'm already counting on cold weather, snow, and lots of catching up with family and friends. Can't. Wait.