People
Mary from Elim, the remote village in Alaska where I used to teach, just called - she's in San Diego visiting her daughter. I'll get to go see her this weekend, and it will be the cliche blast from the past. It's been five years since I was there, and a couple lifetimes ago. It will be great to see her and catch up, though tragic as well I'm sure - mortality is so high there, and all the students I had such high hopes for haven't lived up to them (or lived at all). It always breaks my heart when a wonderful child turns into a criminal adult who hurts others.
Mary and I don't keep in touch at all, but I have no doubt that it will be just like stepping back into our old friendship. It was lifetimes ago, and I'm better educated and more "civilized" now, but what I loved then I would still love. Maybe her husband Bunny will be there, too. They got together against all odds - she's a white woman in the village (she went there with her husband, but he left her) and is at least 20 years older than Bunny. (Bunny got his name when his father killed all his family; Bunny was able to run away fast enough to not be shot.) They're a very sweet couple. She rejected him a long time, but he was so persistent - ignoring everybody who spoke against it. And they do that lots. I lived through it and it's unpleasant.
I went to the clinic about my shoulder and the doctor was a hoot - he was all about me becoming a superintendent and then secretary of education for the US, and he blames Republicans for education problems (I'm usually eager to blame them, too, but I'm not sure this is a fair call). I don't know how long he's lived in the US - he's from China, and it seems most Chinese people aren't so quick to talk with strangers about politics. He was cracking me up - saying he's envious about my travels, but he can't do something like that because of his "baggage" - meaning family. I'm not sure how I'd like to be referred to as a valise. He also danced and sang around the room. The verdict? Rotator cuffs are fine (yay!), and it's probably tendonitis/bursitis. I have a hunch that it's exacerbated because I'm out of alignment - because my neck also hurts and my back is weak, so I insisted that I get a referral to the chiropractor - nice to be all aligned before leaving. He made fun of my insistence, but was happy to oblige.
And while there I finally filled my antimalarial prescription - doxycycline hyclate. I'm under-thrilled with taking it, but just yesterday on NPR I heard a doctor talking about the millions dying in Africa of malaria. So I'll take the damn stuff. We also chatted of all the other things I need, and they have over-the-counter stuff so I stocked up on the generic Neosporin, bandaids, etc.
Again, yet another reason to love the secretaries where I work - I went in and immediately they were very happy about my haircut. All of my friends I've seen, they all say, "It's different! It's short!" But nobody has said anything positive. Only person who did before today was my calculus instructor. But they all gave two thumbs up and told me why it was good. They're so great. I'm glad they don't see my negative sides and don't pick on me, dislike me, etc. I just need to be careful to keep everything positive. We are talking about me returning next year to teach the GRE course again, and that's a nice chunk of change for me. Plus, if I do it again next year, I will have already done much of the preparation this year. I spend a fair amount of time prepping for it - looking stuff up to answer students' questions, making up quizzes, etc. etc. I'll still have plenty work to do next year, but it would be easier and I could take a couple classes probably.
I really like the students in the GRE course - I'm sure some think I'm crazy or unpleasant, but they're all very well-behaved and I have some enjoyable conversations with several. Many are uncertain about their futures, what they want to do, and I like helping by sounding out ideas. I always appreciate people who are frank and candid with me; while I certainly don't expect them to follow my suggestions, it's always good to hear what others say/think. A couple think of teaching high school and I strongly encourage - especially them because they have great energy and I think would be phenomenal teachers. Plus, you do it for a few years and learn a lot, and then go back for a PhD. It's a valid route!
Mary and I don't keep in touch at all, but I have no doubt that it will be just like stepping back into our old friendship. It was lifetimes ago, and I'm better educated and more "civilized" now, but what I loved then I would still love. Maybe her husband Bunny will be there, too. They got together against all odds - she's a white woman in the village (she went there with her husband, but he left her) and is at least 20 years older than Bunny. (Bunny got his name when his father killed all his family; Bunny was able to run away fast enough to not be shot.) They're a very sweet couple. She rejected him a long time, but he was so persistent - ignoring everybody who spoke against it. And they do that lots. I lived through it and it's unpleasant.
I went to the clinic about my shoulder and the doctor was a hoot - he was all about me becoming a superintendent and then secretary of education for the US, and he blames Republicans for education problems (I'm usually eager to blame them, too, but I'm not sure this is a fair call). I don't know how long he's lived in the US - he's from China, and it seems most Chinese people aren't so quick to talk with strangers about politics. He was cracking me up - saying he's envious about my travels, but he can't do something like that because of his "baggage" - meaning family. I'm not sure how I'd like to be referred to as a valise. He also danced and sang around the room. The verdict? Rotator cuffs are fine (yay!), and it's probably tendonitis/bursitis. I have a hunch that it's exacerbated because I'm out of alignment - because my neck also hurts and my back is weak, so I insisted that I get a referral to the chiropractor - nice to be all aligned before leaving. He made fun of my insistence, but was happy to oblige.
And while there I finally filled my antimalarial prescription - doxycycline hyclate. I'm under-thrilled with taking it, but just yesterday on NPR I heard a doctor talking about the millions dying in Africa of malaria. So I'll take the damn stuff. We also chatted of all the other things I need, and they have over-the-counter stuff so I stocked up on the generic Neosporin, bandaids, etc.
Again, yet another reason to love the secretaries where I work - I went in and immediately they were very happy about my haircut. All of my friends I've seen, they all say, "It's different! It's short!" But nobody has said anything positive. Only person who did before today was my calculus instructor. But they all gave two thumbs up and told me why it was good. They're so great. I'm glad they don't see my negative sides and don't pick on me, dislike me, etc. I just need to be careful to keep everything positive. We are talking about me returning next year to teach the GRE course again, and that's a nice chunk of change for me. Plus, if I do it again next year, I will have already done much of the preparation this year. I spend a fair amount of time prepping for it - looking stuff up to answer students' questions, making up quizzes, etc. etc. I'll still have plenty work to do next year, but it would be easier and I could take a couple classes probably.
I really like the students in the GRE course - I'm sure some think I'm crazy or unpleasant, but they're all very well-behaved and I have some enjoyable conversations with several. Many are uncertain about their futures, what they want to do, and I like helping by sounding out ideas. I always appreciate people who are frank and candid with me; while I certainly don't expect them to follow my suggestions, it's always good to hear what others say/think. A couple think of teaching high school and I strongly encourage - especially them because they have great energy and I think would be phenomenal teachers. Plus, you do it for a few years and learn a lot, and then go back for a PhD. It's a valid route!
posted by NOLA at 3:18 PM
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