Second day of "retirement teaching"
By Denise
@petatonicsca (7070)
Japan
September 6, 2022 1:26am CST
I'm officially retired, but am teaching private lessons at the same school. I started that on Monday and it's Tuesday now. You know what is weird?
I now have no office, no classroom, and the band director very kindly assigned me a band locker (the size to put a flute in) so I don't have to carry around my bag and flute all day.
I feel a bit homeless, even though I am still allowed to be teaching here. It's weird.
Have you ever been in a situation of belonging and not belonging at the same time?
8 people like this
7 responses
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
6 Sep 22
And I have something worthwhile to do, and I get to keep in contact with my students. That's important to me.
@JudyEv (342105)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Sep 22
That would be weird indeed - and I don't think you have a car to keep stuff in, do you?
@JudyEv (342105)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Sep 22
@petatonicsca That wouldn't be a good idea at all.
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
6 Sep 22
I have a car, but I don't want to keep a computer, flute and lunch in a car that sits in the sun when it is already 33ºC outside.
1 person likes this
@bluerubymoon53 (3286)
• United States
6 Sep 22
I kind of feel that way when I'm working on shows at the local community theater. I feel "at home" there but then I also feel like I don't belong there.
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
6 Sep 22
Oh yeah, theatres can be that way. I feel that way if I take my students (or myself) to perform somewhere other than school.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
6 Sep 22
@petatonicsca
I bet it is weird having all those things one day and now they are gone. Now, you can ejoy retirement and hope it will get easier as the time goes on. Yes, I have felt where I was an outsider looking in and not a person that belonged before.
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
6 Sep 22
Usually I can go somewhere (like the museum) and feel like I belong, so this is really odd for me.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
7 Sep 22
@petatonicsca
I bet it is. It takes getting used to. You are probably so busy working that now you have the time to do things you want and it must feel strange to you.
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
6 Sep 22
I have taught music for years, including private flute lessons. Now I am only teaching flute lessons.
1 person likes this
@Greencindere (669)
•
6 Sep 22
Yes every time I go home to Serbia I feel that way. Last time I stayed longer than usual and the feeling subsided a little over time. I think they might be true for you as well. Give it time I guess is what I’m saying lol
@petatonicsca (7070)
• Japan
6 Sep 22
Ah, yes, going back to what used to be your country is hard. When my mom got too old to keep it up, we sold the house I grew up in so I am a nomad if I go back. Of course I haven't been back since 2016-- my plan was to go in 2020, and you can imagine that didn't happen!
1 person likes this
