19 May 2006

the continuing adventures of guy smiley

(I tried attaching pictures to this but something is wrong, so that is why there is no pictures, and it's a week late...)

Today was the last day of school for 12th grade. And it didn't come a day too soon. Yesterday, I wanted to do something a little special for them, because while I think they are very lazy, they are good kids and I like them. So I baked a batch of peanut-butter cookies from my secret stash of American-via-Jordan peanut butter, bought some soda and cups and brought some music for a little last-English-class party. Out of 28 students, 4 came. Four! While they thought my music was too strange, at least they liked the cookies .

I was here last year for the seniors last day and so I knew what to expect. Lots of balloons, tears, the senior class officers handing off the school flag to the juniors. I even got smart and hung out in the back of the crowd so when the principal threw the bucket of water down the stairs, I wouldn't be soaked, like last year. One thing I did not expect, however, was to win a Maojor Award.

This year the seniors decided to vote on various categories for teachers. There were categories such as "Strictest Teacher," "Best Dressed Teacher," "Best Teacher," "Shyest Teacher," etc., etc. As the celebration was going on, three representatives from the 12th grade called out the winners. I really wanted "Lowest-grades Teacher," but alas my language tutor got that one. Then they named the three nominees for "Sexiest Male Teacher." I was named second. I could feel everyone's eyes on me. I was sweating. Could it be possible? Could little ol me, really be the sexiest teacher at "SOU Hristo Botev, Bobov Dol"? I held my breath. "And the winner of this category..."-I mentally organized my acceptance speech- "Mr. Pepojiski!" Everyone appaulded. Except me. Mr. Pepojiski?! The gym teacher?! The one with the gut and the receeding hairline?It's rigged!

In the end, I won the "Most Smily Teacher" award. I guess it's an honor to get any award, and this one came with a certificate suitable for framing, but still seriously: "The Most Smily Teacher?!" I feel like I should be a motivational speaker and not an English teacher. Oh, well. Next week we have the senior ball in Sandanski, I still have time to plot my revenge. Call me Mr. Smiley, we'll see about that...

6 comments:

Sarah said...

a few notes:
1).why does the director throw water down the steps? that sounds bizarre, even for a Bulgarian school, where incomprehensible is modus operandi.
2).i am trying to picture you as a motivational speaker, and nope, that image will not register in my brain.
3). "most smiley teacher" is a stellar award. be proud of that. it means either you have a great smile (which you do), or your students see you as a happy/positive/generally good-natured/approachable kinda guy
4). i would have wanted the "lowest grades" award too.

Jessicool said...

My freshman year homeroom teacher (who incidently was Bill Pullman (the actor)'s brother, but that's not important) NEVER STOPPED SMILING. It was pretty creepy. He'd be locking you out of homeroom because you didn't get there before the bell, and he'd have this huge smile plastered on his face. Or he'd be telling you that he wrote you up for some infraction and he'd be beaming the whole time. It seriously freaked me out, and I did everything I could to not have him for English class. Maybe your award for "most smiley" was kind of like that: "Most Smiley in a very CREEPY way."

I am always here to boost the ego,
J

Anonymous said...

You? smiley guy? hmmmm interesting but rather dull. now every morning and most evenings (if i leave work before 7) i encounter creepy park guy in kelvingrove park on my way to and from work. now there's an accolade to be proud of! wassahappenin???

ps: i still need to send your pressies! ha! sorry life at eqtr!

Anonymous said...

Most smiley???? Candy - this is like a cat bum bum in the face! This was a rigged election! Glad to see you are wrapping up the school year with a grin; though I worry about your mental state sometimes cuz! Need anymore peanut butter? I think the Grand Market just got a new shipment! Miss you tones, T

Anonymous said...

HAHAHA!! oh candy!! hate to break it to you, but you are rather smiley! anywho, i'll say it was rigged, here goes: IT WAS RIGGED!!! what poop!

ps. kerry smells bad!

your favoritestestest cousin :)

Mike said...

Andrew,

Here are some PC / Bulgaria blogs that I have found. If you know of any others that I have missed please let me know. Thanks!


-Mike Sheppard
RPCV / The Gambia
www.journeyacrossafrica.blogspot.com


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http://alanamckinney.blogspot.com/
http://www.alaskanbulgarian.blogspot.com/
http://www.andyhamiltoninbulgaria.blogspot.com/
http://www.angelfire.com/linux/peacecorpscinnamon/index.html
http://www.angelfire.com/oz/jessinbulgaria/blog/
http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/allegra/
http://blog.paramnesia.net/
http://www.brettnet.net/
http://bulgariangoodie.blogspot.com/
http://www.bulgariatimes.net/
http://chasinchance.diaryland.com/
http://www.deepgrey.net/el_koubi/
http://donvbulgaria.blogspot.com/
http://ea13.livejournal.com/
http://emilyinthepc.blogspot.com/
http://ericwiley.blogspot.com/
http://flickr.com/groups/pc-bulgaria/
http://www.freeend.blogspot.com/
http://www.geocities.com/blbinthepc/
http://www.geocities.com/bruyere_98/
http://www.geocities.com/joshkatem/
http://www.geocities.com/pcvteach/
http://www.geocities.com/sarah_bg01/
http://www.ghinck.com/
http://www.glory-ho.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCBulgaria2/
http://harm1020.livejournal.com/
http://hbettenhausen.tblog.com/
http://jasmineinbulgaria.tripod.com/
http://jbrianmurray.blogspot.com/
http://jenbulgaria.blogspot.com/
http://jenniferspeacecorpsjournal.blogspot.com/
http://jessicamorrison.blogspot.com/
http://kateinbulgaria.motime.com/
http://kitkatcor.livejournal.com/
http://www.lexlibertas.com/alaskanbulgarian/
http://lhgemmell.blogspot.com/
http://lizisnotworking.livejournal.com/
http://maegenrose.blogspot.com/
http://matyoo.blogspot.com/
http://mjmarble.motime.com/
http://www.moriahabroad.com/
http://www.nerobrazendiva.blogspot.com/
http://parisloveshelen.com/
http://peacecorps.mtu.edu/ploetz2.htm
http://www.petdecetstotinki.blogspot.com/
http://poofycloud.livejournal.com/
http://rebeccagrudzina.blogspot.com/
http://reldavis.freeservers.com/
http://sarahhyler.livejournal.com/
http://sarahhylerstiles.motime.com/
http://sarahstilesrocks.blogspot.com/
http://sarcasticarin.blogspot.com/
http://www.scook.freeservers.com/custom2.html
http://www.scottinbulgaria.com/
http://www.silenceissilver.blogspot.com/
http://sixq.net/shaina/
http://www.skipandcarol.com/
http://stephaniegiacoletto.blogspot.com/
http://tones.blogspot.com/
http://transmissionsbg.blogspot.com/
http://upcbpg.blogspot.com/
http://vassisblog.blogspot.com/
http://wheresjulian.blogspot.com/
http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=audrey618
http://www.xanga.com/syannelevovna/
==