Despite the difficulties of this year--and there have been many, let me assure you-- it has been a wonderful growing experience for me.
One of the best days ever happened just this last Thursday. We had a school-wide water fight. Yes, you heard me, a teacher planned, school wide water fight. Happens every year at this school.
At some point in the last 6 weeks of school, students will be standing outside on their afternoon break, waiting to go back to the last hour of class when all of the sudden, a teacher starts hosing hem down from the roof of the school. Teachers told me that I'd get completely soaked. They assured me it was great fun. Somehow students (many of whom I cannot stand) pelting me with water balloons and pouring buckets of water over my head didn't sound like much fun.
But, oh, how wrong I was.
I knew the waterfight was coming. I had luckily been forewarned by the lead teacher. SO I dressed in a way that is I was soaking wet (a) no one was getting a show and (b) my clothes would not be ruined. I pumped myself up for it that morning telling myslef it was just one more hoop to jump through. I was no looking forward to it.
But flash forward to when I suddenly had an arm full of water balloons, student were walking around oblivious having no idea what was about to befall them, and lo and behold, my favorite students were right there. I started pelting. I was amazing. Then they poured buckets of water over my head. It was so fun. I was dripping wet for an hour and half. Despite the crazy AZ summer heat, the students never let me get dry. It was amazing.
It broke down barriers. One students who has been DRIVING ME INSANE refused to get wet. In full revenge mode I sent about 15 girls armed with buckets of water after him. I really did feel better. Then he poured a bucket of water over my head. So dripping, I gave him a huge bear hug. Then suddenly, this kid who had legitimately made me want to punch walls and scream profanities was talking to me like I was his aunt, telling me about his health issues and what's going on in his life as we both stood there dripping. I told him about when I got my tonsils out (a procedure he might undergo) and how much it hurt. It was a beautiful moment.
I'll try and post pictures soon.
