The first days were very stressful.  I was a "floating" teacher, meaning I did not get my own room.  I had to move all my stuff when the bell rang and go different places.  It was nearly impossible to keep track of the work students turned in because I had no desk to keep it on.

This was completely fine though, at the end of the day.  I was ecstatic:  using languages and getting paid for it.

For one of their first assignments, I had students write a half page paper about themselves in English, anything they wanted me to know as their teacher.  Some told me their most intimate goals ("I hate seeing my parents live paycheck to paycheck, I want to be successful and graduate"), some their concerns about my class ("I hate French.  I will probably fail this class but it's not your fault.  I wanted sign language."), some their opinion about their teacher ("You are so pretty.  Thank God because I thought I had all ugly old teachers this year.").  One student turned in a paper that was blank except for one delicately calligraphed cuss word on it.  Generally though, I had a pool of upbeat, slightly nervous freshmen.  I can work with that.