june 13, 2008 04:38pm – in Korea
My split shift leaves room in the middle of my day for exercise, Korean class, reading, watching TV and movies, and whatever quiet reflection can be squeezed in. Six hours of on-the-clock work (plus maybe two hours of preparatory work) is hardly an oppressive load for a healthy person in his twenties, but stretching that work to the front and back limits of a sixteen hour day takes its toll psychologically.
In all likelihood, the uncounted blessing of your workday (however rough it might be) is the period of free time between leaving work and sleeping. Concluding your period of free time at your bed, and at a time of your chosing is a luxury my otherwise somewhat cushy job doesn't afford me.
Unlike subbing, sometimes a class goes well. The students learn and have fun, and it can be really gratifying. On the the other hand it's a little nervewracking, kind of like substitute teaching. A bad class leaves my nerves shredded. And unlike subbing, the feeling isn't just from a batch of rotten students. I write my own lesson plans and form relationships with my classes, so when it doesn't go well and students respond badly, I feel like I'm preventing them from learning something that they care about. I've done wrong in these cases and I feel guilty.
Watching the clock all day, with nerves somewhat frayed makes relaxation hard. More on this later.