I had the oddest dream last night that I thought I should recount to you all; I'm usually pretty good at interpeting my own, but this one is a bit beyond me.

In the dream, I was in a dark room and sitting across the table from me was Stephen King, himself (my favorite author). We were working on recording some stories which I was supposed to read; I seem to remember that they were meant for disadvantaged children. The recording was done by me reading the story into an ipod which was connected, by a cord, to my throat.
It soon became apparent, however, that there was a problem. I kept reading the wrong story. Actually, that wasn't quiet the case, I kept finding the story in the book and marking it with my finger, but when I began to read it, it was always the wrong one.
At first I kept thinking I was losing my page, and became flustered; all the more so because Mr. King, usually such a genial fellow, was becoming irritated and angry with my because of my constant failure.
Eventually I became convinced that the book was purposly changing on me. One of my co-workers, a native teacher from the village I teach at, appears and accuses me of not being able to read it. I tell her that the book is changing and show her; I point oto the story and then wave the book around, when I bring it out from behind my back, its a different story entirely. This scares me a bit, but seems to mollify my co-worker a bit.
However, by this time I'm horribly upset and call her by the wrong name She begins to berate me for not listening to her and not being able to pronounce the native names. For some reason in the dream she is standing several feet taller than me, or I'm on my hands and knees. This is especially weird as, in real life, she's shorter than me and a complete sweetheart of a lady
Now for the required "this is my life" section I've spent the last two years teaching in an Alaskan Bush village and, generally, I've hated it. I have been accepted to grad school, which begins in August and am looking forward to the move. Best of all, I'm returning home in less than two weeks now, and I'm excited. Despite that, the past few days have not been easy; the students in the school seem to be doing their best to remind me exactly what i'm leaving and possibly give me a heart attack in the process.

Hello fellow Stephen King fan and Welcome!

Your dream sounds like it could have come out of one of his novels.

The changing of the words could be related to the changes taking place where you work. You mention a co-worker getting upset that you don't pronounce her name correctly. So, the changing of words could be the difference in language and culture.

Have you felt "small" or like a "failure" on the job? You mention that your co-worker is standing taller than you and you felt like a failure in the dream when the words kept switching.

I'm puzzled though by the presense of King. Does he remind you of someone currently at your job or personal life? If so, do you feel this person "has you by the throat" the way the cord from the ipod did?

To answer your question; yes, I've felt like a complete failure on the job for the past two years. I went into teaching with the best of intentions and it seems to have blown up in my face time and time again. The village where I teach is very disfunctional, the students have no respect for authority; its a good day when I don't end up getting pelted by things being thrown at me. Add to this that I've had my house nearly broken into while someone was screaming they were going to kill me.....*shudders* Its been a rough two years.
I was hoping that, since things are nearly done, that it would go smoother, but that hasn't been the case. We have less than a week left of school, and its just as bad as ever. I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever felt so....reviled before (not by other staff members, thank god....well, the ones who have children in my class seem to think I'm just as bad as their kids make me out to be. The OTHERS, on the other hand, seem to like me OK )

As for Stephen King; I'm not quiet sure why he's there either. I've been reading a lot of his books lately and, more than that, I'm rereading his Memoir and I think that that might have a bit to do with it. He comes off as a great guy and, being someone who just completed my first manuscript myself (an epic poem of all thats *rolls eyes* yah, THAT is going to be a best seller ) I think I've been looking up to him lately.

I took the iPod's connection to my throat to possible have something to do speaking or communication. Actually, just thinking about it; maybe it has to do with me feeling that I can never say the right thing, and can't communicate with people, without angering them for some reason.