>12:47 a.m., and i am starting my new job in less than 8 hours. “hi, i’m the new kindergarten teacher. what? big black circles? um, no i am not using drugs. but thanks for asking.”

i should have done a giant 3 mile walk tonight to wear myself down. instead, i unpacked more boxes and was reminded of how i was one book case short when i broke down the last apartment to move here. ack.

maybe if i turn on the fan, it will make me sleepy. maybe if this giant knot were not pulsating over top of my right shoulder blade. it’s an anxiety know. i know. about what? about the $7 U.S. Dollars i am about to have to last me almost an entire month. that should be interesting. no, really, i love beans and rice. daily.

so, what shall i encounter on my first day? lots of fresh faces. teachers who have never been in charge of their own classroom. i did discover the other day that my immediate neighbor in my new school is one of said brand new teachers, so at least there will be one person nearby who knows less than i do, as a matter of fact. and i think i will be the only bilingual teacher on my grade level. yikes. oh, well, at least there will be no one to compare me with on a regular basis. at least proximity-wise.

am chatting with pal online, and i hate to say this, but i should be sleeping.