In the beginning, God set up the pattern of a seven day work week. Six days of work and one day of rest. It is a spiritual recipe we were designed to follow with all of our hearts. The “teacher’s life” seems a perversion of this - one is constantly looking forward to a summer or winter break to finally take a rest. “Rest” is usually lurking too far in the future (hope deferred makes the heart sick), and this lifestyle increases the risk of burnout. The biblical model instructs us to keep much shorter accounts on our rest cycle – to rest up every week.
I have learned to rest where I am. Rest, for me, often means a 10-15 mile run – it takes up to two hours. My place of choice is Kabul University, shaded and relatively car-free. On weekends (Thursday and Friday, here) and perhaps twice more after a school day, you might see me passing by there.
Rest, for me, also includes having company over. Hamroz is a great hostess and it is our privilege to have a house frequented by, perhaps, 15-20 visitors per week. We try to keep Thursdays open to spend together, and it sometimes works out.
Rest, for me, features especially time with my wife. We date. We play. We host. I can usually come home for lunches. The dark and dangerous nights without power usually mean more time alone. Lots of pillow talk.
So breaks from school do not have to be breaks from “work” for me. They have been times to learn language (which I wish could be my full time job for a season – wish thus far unfulfilled; what a privilege it was for the first year and a half in Costa Rica when all I did was learn Spanish), times to run the ISK facility (not my cup of tea), time to run children’s programs (I can handle that), times to court, get married and honeymoon, times to make friends across this immense cultural barrier.
Having a friend like Hamroz, as well as all the short two-hour vacations at Kabul U, lessens the need to take breaks seasonally. Were I in the habit of leaving Asia for summer breaks, I would likely be single, relatively friendless and unable to communicate, except in English and Spanish. As it is, I consider myself a blessed and fruitful man. Can my family and friends in the USA bear with the sacrifice? Please post your comments.
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2 comments:
Terry,
It was good to hear from you and I'm happy that you've carved out a new life in Kabul.
I remember our conversation at Stetson MS when you told me about your plans to teach overseas, you said you were hoping to marry while there. I'm glad you realized your dream and from your blog it sounds as if you hit the jackpot!
Having been married a couple of times I don't find it unusual that, "you haven't been seen around!!"
While I miss seeing you I take comfort in the fact that you're doing well and carving out a better life for you and your family.
Your friend,
Ed McC
Hi! Yes, I agree that rest is meant to be a weekly thing. Here are a few thoughts of mine. Yesterday I was substituting in a psychology class and was reminded of the effects of constant exposure to stress. I explained to the students what life was like in Kabul. Actually, I only talked about the stress of walking on the streets: the men staring, the cars driving slowly beside you, the thoughts of who are they, what will they do, will it explode, will they grab me, the traffic, the dust, will the kids be as kind today as they were yesterday, how can I be a light even here on the street? And we get used to that, but it is a constant stress. We learn to deal with it. But in the long run our bodies become tired of the constant adrenaline rush and coping with the stress. I think it is healthy to have time away. Perhaps not a whole summer. But to take a break from living in the difficult foreign culture we choose to emerse ourself in is healthy for our physical and psychological health. As for visiting people at home...for me it has been so healthy to connect with life and people here at home. I have a strong group of people supporting me here and to connect with them is good for me and them. My parents and siblings needed to know they still had a sister. It has also given me an opportunity to see and feel more clearly what I'm giving up, forcing me again to make a choice and not just flow in what I'm doing just because it's what I've done before. I've gained a better perspective. But that can't be done in one summer holiday either. That requires a few months at home. And I know your situation is quite different. You, too, will figure out what's right for you and Hamroz.
Blessings!
Heike
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