One day down... how many to go?

Today was the first day of the new semester, so I got all new teachers and classes. Fate has smiled upon me like a little boy when he burns ants to death with magnifying glass. I don't think anyone -- and I mean anyone -- gets as nervous as I do on the first day of the semester. I felt flushed and sick to my stomach throughout much of the day. I stopped jittering during third hour though.

But I had reason to be nervous. There were two teachers I did not want to get. Naturally, I got those very two teachers back to back, first thing in the morning! (Did you know that ants give off smoke when you burn them?) One seems to be a cranky loudmouth who can't leave her political opinions at the door (which isn't very good for a history teacher; even though I agree with her, I'd complain if I had more guts). And if I don't develop a deep-seated fear of writing essays by the end of the semester, then my name isn't Jordon Kalilich. My Spanish teacher likewise wants to dive into work, work, work and blows up if you get out of your seat. The only reason I'm not still ill over just these two teachers is that the day has been so long.

Next I had Algebra II, which I switched into largely at my geometry teacher's urging. The teacher is new this semester and seems very laid back, which I found to be so very relaxing that I stopped shaking. She didn't talk much except to read the entire text of the syllabus, which is usually so full of "fluff and bull" (a catchphrase picked up from my freshman English teacher) that teachers who want to get things done just skim it. Then she gave us a test to see how much we knew. I didn't get as far as I'd hoped because (a) I didn't know some of the stuff, and (b) I didn't have

Dang. I forgot to buy a calculator after school.

a calculator. Hopefully I won't really need one, but I probably will. I'll have to get one this weekend, because I don't think I'll need it before then.

This semester I have B lunch, which is during third hour. That is, you go to third hour, then you go to lunch, then you come back and finish the class. It's a crazy idea to me, but I've never had that lunch period before. It does seem to make third hour go by faster. And it's a lot of fun because I get to eat with an all-star cast of friends and friends of friends from previous semesters' lunch periods.

Though he didn't mean to do it, my last English teacher made me hate English. In particular, he made me hate writing essays (but I wouldn't say that the fear is deep-seated yet). When I walked into the English room (right next door to my algebra room), I almost cried tears of joy at the sight of the young teacher and her friendly handwriting on the board. I then sat and watched as a motley crew of friends -- well, mostly acquaintances -- took their seats and talked with each other. It turns out that the teacher doesn't stink, and it should be an easy class. I would liken this turn of events to the little boy's sister who wants to be a vet when she grows up coming out into the yard and asking the little boy what does he think he's doing torturing one of God's creatures and then saving the poor little ant just before he is to be a crispy critter.

Oh, and I'm taking health class (Life Management Skills, actually) online. It should be pretty easy.

So that was my first day of the semester. It shouldn't be that horrendously horrible. I just have to get used to the quirks of each teacher and all the work I'll have to do. I just have one more complaint.

How teachers should be consistent with one another! One is always telling you to do something that another teacher says you shouldn't do in their class, and so on. Case in point: my Spanish teacher doesn't "believe in" extra credit, and yet my English teacher gave an assignment today to help us "start off the semester with some extra credit points." I'd pay to see them defending their ideologies in the teachers' lounge. Sheesh.