I survived my first week! and Im ready to kill for american food!!!

Well, I survived my first week of school and I’m exhausted. Although, I’ve taught before and I have never been this tired. I guess not knowing what’s going on can sap ur strength. Anyway, school got off to a slow start. Here, students don’t arrive till about the 2nd week. Since there are few deaf schools in the country many come from far away. Most families focus on their hearing children first and then deal with their deaf children. So, I was lucky enough to not teach. However, I looked at it as a good thing. While the students cleaned the classrooms, teachers caught up with each other. It was good to get to know the teachers first and see how things were run. On the second day, my luck ran out. I thought I was going to observe teaching first….someone forgot. So I was dropped into the fire. I had no time to prepare lesson plans or schemes of work. I was teaching KSL Class 8 where I had to teach things I knew nothing about, English class 4 where I had no idea how to use SEE and PE and Art which were easy but again, not prepared. I have no idea how I survived but I did. Over the next few days I started to get a handle on my schemes and lesson plans. Still didn’t know how I was going to do it but at least I was prepared in theory. It’s better than nothing, right? I think the students were so excited that I was a mzungu, they didn’t care that I was bullshitting their class. As the week went on, I was feeling more and more comfortable with my signing and teaching ability. As my confidence grew, I finally started paying attention to the students work. I was screwed. Half the kids can’t write their names, most of them say they understand and really don’t. I have one girl who writes ALL of her letters backwards and even mixes them up. She’s doing this as she’s copying my work straight from the board. She is in class 4. A this stage they should know how to write their names and are close to writing clearly. How do I help her when most of the class is way above her? Another thing I surprised was reading the class 8 English compositions. They were asked to write about their school. They at least got the title right. Their composition however, included 2 full pages of random words. No sentences, no reason, no comprehension. The best part… their teacher wants me to start a composition club with them because she doesn’t know how to teach them. In short I have A LOT of work ahead of me. Now do u see the reason behind my exhaustion? During training they told us, having high expectations is a good thing. But now Im wondering if I’m having too high of expectations?
Life outside school however, is improving. I’m starting to enjoy myself. I have made friends with the mamas in the market so now they give me the locals price instead of upping it 3x. I have to yet master cooking but have gotten really good at making an amazing Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich. Although I would kill for oreos, Peanut M&M's, mexican food and McDonalds( And I dont even eat McDonalds!)Washing clothes in a bucket and taking a bucket bath has become second nature but  washing my feet has become low on my list of priorities..very low. They are just going to get dirty again so why bother? My house is also coming together. I have lots of visitors, a banana slug, chickens, spiders and large bugs. I have a forest of corn in my front yard but I’m hoping when it’s ready, I’ll be able to pull it out and start my garden. Also Sasa has yet to have her puppies. I can’t wait! Well, I hope this catches everyone up. I’ll try to post more often and I’m still trying to figure out pictures. I want everyone to see them now, that way I don’t have to show everyone a bazillion when I get back. Miss everyone and hope everyone is doing well. If you ever decide to write a letter, please include what’s happening in the US. I’m desperate for news.