Why the janitor hates me...or, I will be on the good teacher list!!

I have always been told that the first person you should befriend when working for a school is the janitor. That person, if they like you, can make your life much easier. They can see that you have what you need as far as supplies go, and if they like you, you will most defiantly get perks. For example, at the school I was at last year I was the only one to receive a much sought after, state of the are solid metal pencil sharpened. On top of that, I got it installed the same day I requested it. For those of you who are not familiar with the way a school janitor operates, this is almost unheard of. There are forms and wait lists, and then you have to re-fill out the forms because someone lost the original form. I was most defiantly on the janitors good teacher list. Let us put aside for a moment that it was a woman janitor.

I was filled with hope as I started my new job that I would be just as lucky at this school.

Day 1: I am shown my classroom, and then told I had to move it eight doors down. It was then that I met Mr. Kim. Mr. Kim is a middle aged Asian man with a thick accent, and Mr. Kim is assigned to help me with the task of moving an entire classroom. Mr. Kim does not seem happy about this assignment. This is not the way to get on the good teacher list.
As we set to work, I quickly discover that Mr. Kim is missing a since of humor. This is defiantly not looking good for me. I wonder if he had one at one time, or did he lose it over the years of scraping gum off walls, and vomit out of the slide.
As we work, I talk, and I notice that often Mr. Kim stops to look at me with his eyebrow up and a look of disgust on his face. This is followed by a slow shake of his head. He seems to be saying, crazy white lady.

Day 2: The moving continues. I arrive early to get a jump on things, and find Mr. Kim has called in sick. I am left, unsupervised, to decided what I should take to my new classroom. The principal said I could take everything that wasn't nailed down, so I got to work. I spy a coat rack in the corner and stop to evaluate. It isn't nailed down...it's bolted. Does that count.? I say no. With tools I brought from home I set my aid to the task of removing the coat rack, that defiantly wasn't nailed down.

Day 3: Mr. Kim stops by my room, and a ask him to hang up my ill gotten coat rack. He stares at it in disbelief, and says "How you get this off wall? It was on good." I held up the screwdriver and smiled. He shakes his head and raises his eyebrows at me...crazy white woman.

I decide to leave Mr. Kim alone for a few days. Maybe some time away from me will convince him I am a super swell person, and that I should go on the good teacher list. I REALLY want to be on the good teacher list. I wave and smile each time I see Mr. Kim, but he has resorted to shaking his head at me each time I see him....crazy white lady. I'm doomed...

Yesterday I come in to find ants have invaded my room. There are so many that my box of half eaten cheese its looks as though it is moving across my desk. I must take care of this on my own. I will not bother Mr. Kim with this, but I have no luck. There are too many of them. I decide to email the school secretary. She likes me. I explain that although I once defended a small village in the Amazon basin from a hoard of ferocious army ants using only a hoe and a large glass of water, I am defeated here. Before I can stop her, she calls Mr. Kim.

He walks into my room like and asian John Wayne. A can of spray on each side of his gun belt. Hands at the ready. He stands in the door way with the light behind him putting him in shadow. He may have been chewing the stump of a cigar, but I can't be completely sure on that point. I defiantly hear wah, wah, wahhhhh as he walks in. This is my chance to redeem myself. This is what janitors are made for. He is in his element.

I walk to the desk, where they had been the worst,...and...wait...they are gone!!!! What!!! Where did they go??? No, no, no, they can't be gone!! I run to the sink where they had been equally as bad. They are gone there too. Nnnnooooooo. Mr. Kim looks around and says "This no infestation. They said you have infestation." He shakes his head and raises one eyebrow...crazy white woman. He leaves, and I am now officially never going on the good teacher list. In fact, I think I have been put on the crazy teacher list permanently. Sigh...

Thirty minuets later I walk over to my desk, and the ants have returned. I can hear them laughing at me, and I think one of them actually gave me the finger. It is a conspiracy. I am never going to be on the good teacher list.

I will keep you posted as events unfold. I will make this man like me. I will get on that list.