So, I'm an American linguist, living in Europe to perfect my languages. I got hired as a teacher at an international elementary-middle school. It pays 3x the median wage in this country, and the hours are great. My problem is honestly: I hate my job. They have me teaching 6-7 year olds for half of the day, and I have never, ever worked a job that has literally sucked the life out of me like this does. I've worked all sorts of construction and manual labor jobs throughout my life; jobs that would leave you completely fried at the end of the day.

However, nothing has ever messed with me psychologically the way this job does. I fight with the kids all day. They don't listen unless I am literally running around doing work with them for those three hours. Also, they try to push me as far as they can. If I even stop to hand out papers, they will start trying to act out. I get furious and go through every disciplinary action available. They are good for one day, then it starts again.

I like the money, the hours, the location, the connections, and the prestige of the experience on my resumé when I search for a new job.

My question is, how do I maintain sanity?

I started slouching, I lost 15 pounds in a month, I'm loosing confidence. I need the money, I can't go back to my old job, it was hustling 24/7 just to make ends meat, (although I was never disrespected and I was dealing with adults.)

I know it's only halfway through my fifth week, but I don't know what to do. I'm afraid everything I've worked towards these years - my confidence, fitness, positivity, etc. is going down the drain.

What would you recommend? I do not want to quit. I want to muscle this out. I want to beat this. I know it can be done. Other teachers have had the same situations, and now in their second and third years, they absolutely love the job.

Help me redpill. What should I keep in mind? I'm so mentally shot I can't even think straight. I don't trust my own mind. I've gone through some hard stuff in the past, I've completed programs that more than 1/2 of the students dropped out of.

But this is something else.

Any advice is appreciated.

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