Coming Full Circle

This week I began the final stage of my Peace Corps service, observations of my counterparts.  When I first arrived at my school I spent a few weeks observing classes to get a feel for how my soon-to-be counterparts taught.  Now, here I am, almost 2 years later, repeating the process to see how far they've come.  I'm pleased to say that after only a few days, I can definitely say improvements have been made.  I unfortunately also must say that this process is going to be the death of me.  Why?  Because this is really the beginning of the end.  I've given up my classes!  I'm a teacher with no classes to teach :(  And I have to sit and watch all the classes that only last week I was teaching be taught by my counterparts.  Not that we haven't been sharing the classes all along because we have, as "team teachers," but now I just sit there, unable to help with anything or jump in with a random comment (although I still do...and I need to stop!).  I think this is going to be Azerbaijan's ultimate test of my patience!  Good thing I've had 2 years of training in building up my patience to prepare me!

And FYI I wrote a draft of this post while observing a lesson.  I can't just sit there!