Monday, March 30, 2009

Jet-lagged teacher

I taught my beginners and intermediate classes tonight and at one point I felt like I was still on an airplane and experiencing turbulence. Very strange moment. Anywho, we are all still struggling through with jetlag and the post-vacation blues. It's really hard to say goodbye to family that you know you won't be seeing for a long time and then transition back into day to day life. It's ironic because we probably see members of my own family less frequently than our Aussie ones but because I COULD potentially see them more regularly (by jumping on a plane and flying cross country), it doesn't seem as difficult. Irrational but true.

I also have to keep reminding myself to drive on the right side of the road instead of the left. I can't believe it is taking me so much longer this time to get back into the swing of things. Because of the left/right driving thing, my windshield wipers are still going off every time I think I'm indicating to turn left or right. Luckily in Portland, no one would notice windshield wipers operating at the wrong time... it's hardly ever the wrong time here.

Picture of an Aussie car console... Holden Captiva Maxx


Izzy made it through her school day only a little bleary-eyed and is of course still wide awake and raring to go tonight. After all, our bodies are still operating on Melbourne time which is early afternoon instead of 9:46pm. She finally fell asleep last night at 2:00am and if that happens again tonight I'm going to make us all warm milk with sedatives in it. (just kidding!)

Okay, I'm off to try to coax the little koala bear back to bed. Wish me luck.

Have a great Tuesday,

Jan

9 comments:

Kristina P. said...

I've had enough of a hard time with the hour time difference for Daylight Saving. I can't imagine that kind of jet lag!

bodaat said...

Good luck! I rely on natural sleep enhancers to get my schedule back on track after a trip abroad. I swear, it works. :)

3 Bay B Chicks said...

Psst…remember me? We used to be such wonderful friends. I’d stop by your blog and comment, you’d stop by mine and comment. It was fun. I think you even offered to come by my house, cook dinner, and watch my kids. No? Is that memory a little fuzzy for you?

It’s OK. I’ll get over it. Let’s just promise never to lose touch again.

-Francesca

rebel said...

Oh my, lookin' at that picture, I'm not sure I could drive there. I'm one of those people who really have a hard time doin' somethin' out of the normal. Definitely backwards.
Hope you get some sleep tonight.

Anonymous said...

I remember going to France as a ten year old where we drove all over Normandy and Brittany for two weeks. When we got back home I got on my bicycle and headed off down the road only to find all the drivers kept beeping at me .... you guessed why, I was riding on the right hand side! I never got the hang of driving on the right in the US which is kind of sad ......

Glad to hear you all got back safe and sound. I love jetlag - that sensation of your head having an out-of-body experience is something else!!! ;)

Love, Angela xxx

Jan Holt said...

Thanks everybody for the support and tips. Today, the koala bear has awakened growling and stomping... Glad I'm sending her to school.

Hugs,

Jan

Deanna said...

Welcome home. Driving on the left side of the road would be hard to get used to - and then reverse thought process.... ohhhh makes my head just thinking about it.

love said...

Sherrlyn of http://www.lovesimplyhappens.blogspot.com says...Time lags are hard but sounds like you have it under control.

I used to drive a jeep all over when I lived in Guatemala. Now everything seems a breeze here in the US
Sherrlyn
P.S. I just posted new pictures

Chef E said...

Oh, I went through a similar thing in Italy, even though you traveled longer than I...I was awake for three days, and still had trouble falling asleep...