Working as a teacher in America is the pits. The only recompense is having a regular paycheck and summer vacation. Many of the kids where I work don't seem to be into learning, and many parents, it seems, is using school as a free babysitter. I rarely see parents who have a sincere interest in helping their kids have better futures by showing concern for their studies. And the way the kids talk back to the teachers! No sense of appreciation at all. On the other hand, I've seen teachers who are almost hindrances to the students' learnings. I don't see a lesson plan - they just do whatever. However, there are many teachers who are the opposite - dedicated and responsible, almost married to their career.

The education system in the US, however, places sole responsibility on the teachers. By the year 2013-14, the No Child Left Behind Act expects all students to be passing the state exam 100%. If not, schools and teachers will be penalised. And to think they're thinking of cutting down on teachers, at the time when they need so much more!

Moving around. It's been a blast being with my husband - I married my first boyfriend and my best friend, so I'm sure that's a major part of the reason why. It really doesn't matter where you are, so long as you're together. The fact that we're living far away from family helps us to spend much more time getting accustomed to being married. It sure is comfy! If I'd known that married life was going to be this fun, I would've proposed to my sweetheart earlier. Well, he was forced to propose by the fact that I was leaving for the US, and I wasn't going to wait for him! ^_^ My sister's boyfriend had the opposite reaction: they broke up. I actually thought that that was what would happen to my honey and me months prior to his proposal. But he refused to think about breaking up when I left for the States, so...I guess that left only one other option for him.