Stress

Whew. My students today were stressed out. We were reviewing for a test they were about to take. Though it was a taxing subject, (Prepositions. You try explaining the difference for when we use in, on, and at.) I could tell something was up. One student had his head in his hands and was rubbing his eyes. I actually said "time out" right in the middle of an exercise and asked if they were stressed. Rodrigo told me about his coworker getting fired and having to do her work in addition to his own. Dani works in finance and said there was a huge problem with closing the books for October, and Alejandra said she has personal problems, specifically financial. I told them it looked they all needed hugs. I don't think they really understood because they just stared at me glumly until I got up and hugged each of them, and then they smiled and laughed. We played games for the rest of class, and I gave them the test for homework.

Another group of my students is always stressed. They work for a pharmaceutical company. Every day before class I hear about the latest craziness at the factory and how Pablo's boss doesn't listen to what he tells him, only panders to the bigger bosses.

My private student Maria Ines is a doctor and works at an insurance company. She is a supervisor and said she and her team are crushed by the relentless amount of work they have to do.

I feel for my students, and at the same time it makes me thankful for and proud of how I changed my life so that I wouldn't live in a way that didn't make me happy.