Cultural Experience
Two new things this week:
#1: On Wednesday, I wore a "bati"--simple cotton Somali dress with a scarf tied around it and wrapped a scarf around my head. It wasn't exactly a Somali look, but still African...despite my pale, pale skin. It was fun, and the kids appreciated it since it was one of their parents that bought me the bati. And they had fun seeing me all dressed up--I got tons of compliments, though I'm sure I didn't look that spectacular. They were just tickled that I actually tried it out.
#2: Today I got a special treat from a few of my graduating senior girls. After school they took me to the Somlali mall. That was quite the experience. I had no idea that mall was hidden behind some of the main shops in Uptown. In the mall there were many little shops selling TONS of skirts, dresses, scarves, food, perfume, shoes, and whatever else you might want to find. First the girls wanted me to pick out a skirt--they wanted to buy one for me, but weren't sure of size and style. We did find one eventually, and it's unique and very pretty. I'll be happy to wear it--probably next week.
In the middle of our skirt shopping, they took me into one of the shops to have henna put on my hands and feet. That was just awesome. I can't say it was the most hygenic operation they had going in the shop, but it was super cheap and they did a great job. I have little vines and flowers and leaves all over the front and back of my hands and wrists, and even more of them on the tops of me feet and up past my ankle. The stuff will probably wear of the palms fairly quickly, but I'm hoping the rest lasts a couple weeks. The only downfall is that I have to try not to wash too much. But don't worry, I won't let it stop me from essential hand washing and showers...I don't think that would make a good impression, even with pretty hands and feet.
The girls were so sweet. They not only bought the skirt, but they paid for my henna, AND got me a treat from one of the shops to eat after the henna dried on my hands. That was some GOOD sambusa. The henna, cheap skirts, and good food really make me want to go back there, even though I certainly stood out like a sore thumb. I was the only white person in sight, and one of only a handful of nonSomali patrons. I was surrounded by the language and sights of the culture (like I am most of the day anyway), which made me really wish I would take the time to learn to speak Somali. If I'm going to stay at least a couple more years at the same school, it's probably worth investing the time and effort to learn it. Besides, it would be cool to be able to speak another language, and the pronunciations aren't that hard. We'll see.
Other news?
Graduation is this Sunday, so I've been spending all that "extra time" I have as a teacher getting things prepared for that again. I'll be MCing again, which is fine. Maybe next year someone else will volunteer. But I'm happy to do it since I really will miss this class. It's a small group, but they're hard working and have great positive attitudes. We'll see how next year's group does.
The school year ends in a week, then I have to get grades together and clean out my room, since I'll have to move everything out for the renovations they're doing this summer. I'll have to teach my summer school class over on the elementary school side, which should be interesting. That same day I start teaching summer school (part time thankfully) will be my first day of class for my first grad school class. Sometime in the next two weeks I have to get to St. Thomas and get my student ID card and books. I'm hoping to bike to and from work and class as often as possible. It'll be dark on the way home from class, but Chris said he might meet me sometimes part way, which would be sweet.
Last weekend we helped my parents build a shed in the backyard. That was the most I've been outside all spring. Building it was a pain in the ass, but also a lot of fun, since it was like a puzzle we all had to use our brains and brawn to put together. There were tricky parts, so I'm glad we were there to help. There's no way my parents could have done it by themselves without a serious mental breakdown.
I'm excited for the summer since Scott and Jennifer will be in Green Bay for a while. It'll be nice seeing them without having to drive to Texas in the summer heat. We'll save that for fall or winter.
Overall, I just can't wait for the school year to end. I love my job, but I need a BREAK. Even just cutting back to part time will help immensely. Even with taking a class, I can't imagine it being more hectic than what I've done all year. Then I can go biking, head to the lakes, hang out with friends and husband, and, most importantly, play video games! ;)
Thursday, May 07, 2009
"...the General so likes your music that he desires you, for love's sake, to make no more noise with it."
All of a sudden it's a week into May, and I've got a shitload to do. I knew things were coming up soon, but being sick this week has pressed the "fastplay" button. Right now it's x2. Next week it'll be x4. And the week after will be x8. I just found out today that finals for the seniors are a week earlier than I thought. That means I have to finish Othello by the end of next week so that they have time to write a paper about it. They haven't written an essay for a while, and I feel like they need a culminating project for this. I'm thinking something revolving around characters and quotes. Dang, and they need a quiz too, so they have something for this quarter.
It also means that my other class with seniors in it must finish Night by the middle of next week so that they can watch the end of the Holocaust video I've been showing them and so that they too can write an essay about it all. And they'll have a quiz??? Too many things too soon. This end of the year has just swept up too soon. I swear they're having the kids finish a few days early for some reason this year. And everything has taken longer than it was supposed to. Damnit. I'm just too damn thorough. When I teach a book, they f-ing know the book.
I guess I'll have to plan better for next year. It WAS my first time teaching both of the texts. And we WILL finish it on time...it's just the project that's getting a last minute deal. Which means a lot of grading too... The other classes are just fine--they just finished reading a drama, which we've done all sorts of fun stuff with. And then they too will write an essay. Dang it. I didn't mean to leave all the essays for last, but seriously, they haven't written one for months, and they are in dire need of a refresher course in that before they head off for the summer. We've done fun little group and individual activities and presentations and things. But I want them to be able to show they can write a decent essay after all is said and done.
I know, I know, the traditionally taught teacher rears her head. If I had fit in the essays earlier, I would have ended with my interesting projects, like I did with the 9th grade. They wrote plenty of essays (since they were a grammar and writing class). And now they're able to sit back after the MCA and get into literature and more interesting writing assignments.
The books and essays were supposed to be staggered a bit more, giving me more time to get the different essays for different classes graded. That's my own dang fault for not sticking to my calendar.
Okay, enough school venting.
In other news? I...
*registered for my summer and fall courses for grad school: Native American Literature and Literary Criticism. I can do that.
*rode my bike...once.
*haven't been going to the gym enough.
*have been doing an okay job of staying on track with my physical therapy knee exercises.
*was sick Sunday-Wednesday so I took 1.5 days off, and am still sick now, and probably still will be tomorrow.
*haven't cooked anything interesting for two weeks.
*saw Wolverine and was not impressed. I wanted to see Gambit! Not some dude who sort of acted like Gambit with no charisma, accent, or character.
*am going to see Star Trek tomorrow, and I'm going to like it. Yes, I will.
*saw Flight of the Conchords perform with Eugene Mirman opening with his comedy act. It was sweet. Even with the fire alarm going off for the first 20 minutes. boowoooop! boowoooop! boowoooop!
All of a sudden it's a week into May, and I've got a shitload to do. I knew things were coming up soon, but being sick this week has pressed the "fastplay" button. Right now it's x2. Next week it'll be x4. And the week after will be x8. I just found out today that finals for the seniors are a week earlier than I thought. That means I have to finish Othello by the end of next week so that they have time to write a paper about it. They haven't written an essay for a while, and I feel like they need a culminating project for this. I'm thinking something revolving around characters and quotes. Dang, and they need a quiz too, so they have something for this quarter.
It also means that my other class with seniors in it must finish Night by the middle of next week so that they can watch the end of the Holocaust video I've been showing them and so that they too can write an essay about it all. And they'll have a quiz??? Too many things too soon. This end of the year has just swept up too soon. I swear they're having the kids finish a few days early for some reason this year. And everything has taken longer than it was supposed to. Damnit. I'm just too damn thorough. When I teach a book, they f-ing know the book.
I guess I'll have to plan better for next year. It WAS my first time teaching both of the texts. And we WILL finish it on time...it's just the project that's getting a last minute deal. Which means a lot of grading too... The other classes are just fine--they just finished reading a drama, which we've done all sorts of fun stuff with. And then they too will write an essay. Dang it. I didn't mean to leave all the essays for last, but seriously, they haven't written one for months, and they are in dire need of a refresher course in that before they head off for the summer. We've done fun little group and individual activities and presentations and things. But I want them to be able to show they can write a decent essay after all is said and done.
I know, I know, the traditionally taught teacher rears her head. If I had fit in the essays earlier, I would have ended with my interesting projects, like I did with the 9th grade. They wrote plenty of essays (since they were a grammar and writing class). And now they're able to sit back after the MCA and get into literature and more interesting writing assignments.
The books and essays were supposed to be staggered a bit more, giving me more time to get the different essays for different classes graded. That's my own dang fault for not sticking to my calendar.
Okay, enough school venting.
In other news? I...
*registered for my summer and fall courses for grad school: Native American Literature and Literary Criticism. I can do that.
*rode my bike...once.
*haven't been going to the gym enough.
*have been doing an okay job of staying on track with my physical therapy knee exercises.
*was sick Sunday-Wednesday so I took 1.5 days off, and am still sick now, and probably still will be tomorrow.
*haven't cooked anything interesting for two weeks.
*saw Wolverine and was not impressed. I wanted to see Gambit! Not some dude who sort of acted like Gambit with no charisma, accent, or character.
*am going to see Star Trek tomorrow, and I'm going to like it. Yes, I will.
*saw Flight of the Conchords perform with Eugene Mirman opening with his comedy act. It was sweet. Even with the fire alarm going off for the first 20 minutes. boowoooop! boowoooop! boowoooop!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Thou praisest the worst best.
Blah, blah, blah, next time I'll write more often, blah blah blah.
Cool things that have happened lately:
*Got accepted in the Masters program for the Graduate English Program at the University of St. Thomas. Yay!
*Chris got accepted into the Masters program for Public Health at the UMN. Go Chris!
*Started physical therapy for my knees a couple weeks ago. I've been doing the exercises for the most part, and have seen some progress. Go me!
*Bought a new hybrid bike. I haven't used it outside a parking lot yet. But as soon as the weather stays consistently nice and my knees get stronger, I know I'll be out there. Chris got one too :)
*Took students on a Saturday field trip to the Guthrie to see A Raisin in the Sun. So I got paid to see play that would cost me $30. And the kids were well-behaved, loved the play, and were awestruck by the architecture of the new Guthrie theater.
*Saw a lot of improv comedy shows and a couple good movies. Go Mustache Rangers! Go Boom Town! And yay for I Love You, Man.
Annoying things that have happened lately:
*Got some sort of stomach flu when I visited Karin in Madison. Aside from being sick at my friend's house, which is not fun, I also missed out on visiting my other friends in the area and in Milwaukee and Chicago.
*Had a migraine yesterday that put me out of commission from 5pm-6am the next day.
*Paid way too much money to the government. Stupid taxes.
*Everyone is busy! Including myself...but it just has made most people inaccessible and stressed out.
Interesting things that will happen soon:
*Teaching Shakespeare for the first time to my 11th and 12th graders. Othello is not my favorite, but it seemed the most accessible. Crossing my fingers.
*....more blogging....
Blah, blah, blah, next time I'll write more often, blah blah blah.
Cool things that have happened lately:
*Got accepted in the Masters program for the Graduate English Program at the University of St. Thomas. Yay!
*Chris got accepted into the Masters program for Public Health at the UMN. Go Chris!
*Started physical therapy for my knees a couple weeks ago. I've been doing the exercises for the most part, and have seen some progress. Go me!
*Bought a new hybrid bike. I haven't used it outside a parking lot yet. But as soon as the weather stays consistently nice and my knees get stronger, I know I'll be out there. Chris got one too :)
*Took students on a Saturday field trip to the Guthrie to see A Raisin in the Sun. So I got paid to see play that would cost me $30. And the kids were well-behaved, loved the play, and were awestruck by the architecture of the new Guthrie theater.
*Saw a lot of improv comedy shows and a couple good movies. Go Mustache Rangers! Go Boom Town! And yay for I Love You, Man.
Annoying things that have happened lately:
*Got some sort of stomach flu when I visited Karin in Madison. Aside from being sick at my friend's house, which is not fun, I also missed out on visiting my other friends in the area and in Milwaukee and Chicago.
*Had a migraine yesterday that put me out of commission from 5pm-6am the next day.
*Paid way too much money to the government. Stupid taxes.
*Everyone is busy! Including myself...but it just has made most people inaccessible and stressed out.
Interesting things that will happen soon:
*Teaching Shakespeare for the first time to my 11th and 12th graders. Othello is not my favorite, but it seemed the most accessible. Crossing my fingers.
*....more blogging....
