Thought of the Day

I was talking with my wife about my lack of ability in regard to teaching and I said, "You know average is underrated".

It stuck me as silly and yet completely true.

Of course she said I wasn't average, but I know better.

Thought of the Day

Came up with this the other day lecturing to my class (it's a keeper).

Cynicism is easy to fall into, but hard to get out of.

Peru Fragments: Part I: False Starts, Detours and Other Adventures - Days 1-2

In the summer of 2014, I taught a short-term summer abroad class in Peru. Here are the fragments.

My colleague C and I worked for over a year on this project. This included (but is not limited to): brainstorming, hoping, planning, applying, paperwork, promotion, fundraising, more planning, more fundraising, hoping and praying, more promotion, jumping through hoops for our district overlords, and informational sessions in classes, for parents and countless one-on-one sessions. Then we faced the arduous task of prepping the curriculum!

There was a very sweet moment, when C and I were gazing upon the Andes mountains when C said, "Every headache, every disappointment, every inconvience....it was all worth it." And he was absolutely right.




This is the kinda of thing that is typical in the Sacred Valley. You look to your left and see a beautiful sight then you turn to your right and the new sight just blows away what you just saw. Although it was "typical" - it never felt that way. I was in a constant state of awe.

 

We started with 13 students in January, we ended up going with 5 as we were a "pilot program". I had already drafted the cancellation email in early March, but the stars aligned right and it happened. I didn't think it was going to happen until we were on the plane, and as we came to find out, it still almost didn't happen!

The five students were about as ideal as you could get - a few personality issues but nothing that was unexpected or something that even rose above an annoyance.

We all arrived at the SAT airport on time and walked through the gate together - it felt like it was really happening - and then we found out our flight was cancelled due to bad weather in the Midwest.

There was a drunk guy that sat down near us and pissed himself. The tip-off was the sound of trickling liquid pouring down the seat onto the ground. A sad sight to see as the police took him away. He was so drunk he didn't know where his wallet was. Of course, one of my students was taking pictures and posting them on facebook.

We worked with the agent at the desk (who was actually pretty awesome) for what seemed like an hour -  we hatched a plan. We would fly to Houston, stay over night, fly on to Panama City (with 6 hour layover), and then to Lima (arriving around midnight). This meant we just lost one whole day in Peru. At first we were all a little bummed but we made the most of it. One of our students had a friend in Houston, who picked us up and took us to some great Cajun food. We were in high spirits and we chatted in the hallway of the hotel until well past midnight making plans for an adventure in our six hour layover in Panama.

We knew we couldn't just sit in the Panama City airport doing nothing - we would have regretted it forever. Besides, the group was just itching for adventure, especially being that we missed our first day in Peru. We arranged for a visit downtown with one of the local guides - I thought we would see some ruins but somehow that got miscommunicated.  Anyway, we weren't even  5 minutes from the airport when our driver got into a fight with another driver. Our van was cut off to the toll booth by the other vehicle. The exchange was (of course) all in Spanish so I kinda zoned out and was mainly entertained by the whole heated escapade.

The only concern about this dispute was that as we were stuck in traffic the whole time - and both our van and the van that cut us off were next to each other. There was no time or space to "cool off". I didn't know at the time but it turns out our driver threatened the other driver by asking, "Do you want me to take out my gun?" In fact, after the bottleneck loosened, we were stuck again, and our driver got out of the car. Thankfully the situation did not resort to physical violence. Our driver called the cops as the driver was only 14 (although riding with an older male). Another van was called to take us to our destination. We dubbed it our "Panamanian Stand Off". What a start to the trip!

Downtown Panama was beautiful. I am sure there are other not-so-wonderful sides to the city we were not seeing, but what we did see was nice. We stopped at a local tourist market (decided against buying anything this early in the trip) and stopped at lunch at a very interesting restaurant called Diablicos.

There was a reason devil faces were all around but I really don't feel like typing it out, except to say the art in this place was pretty special. As was the food and service. We dined like royalty. Royalty surrounded by evil demons, but royalty all the same.

 

We got a huge appetizer plate and a few more plates (ceviche, soups, cow stomach, ya know the normal stuff). Maybe it was the fact it was 2:00 PM and we had only eaten a quick bite at the hotel at 6:00 AM in Houston, but I have to say the food was amazing. It was a great feast and like the best of meals, it was all shared with good company.  It was definitely fun sharing and exploring new foods together as a group. The ceviche here (served in a half of a coconut) might have been my favorite all trip long!  

We had really taken our time shopping and eating and it was time to head back to the airport. Our flight was at 6:00ish and it was about 4:30 so I was anxious to get back, being that we heard traffic was crazy from some Panamanian on the plane. It turns out he was right to warn us.  We headed right back into stopped traffic. At first, I tried to take it easy, and tell myself it was no big deal, but then it dawned on me (and soon C) that we could very possibly miss our flight to Peru.

Sitting in traffic is always a powerless feeling. However, this time around, my thoughts weighed heavily on me. I was in charge of this whole shin-dig.  Our driver did his best but the line stretched for miles and miles. Suddenly our adventure into Panama City seemed less and less like a good idea. My brain replayed all the things that took up time:  the "Stand Off", the fact that someone ordered an extra plate after we had received our food, how lenient and silly we were to let two of the students go to a market stand right before we got on the bus. I was starting to feel stressed.

If we missed our flight, we would most likely miss our next flight in Peru from Lima to Cuzco. If we missed that flight, it would throw our whole itinerary in the trash and who knows what we could miss....maybe even Machu Picchu?? If we miss this flight, our district overlords would be really pissed and I would feel stupid for even entertaining the idea of leaving the airport. I wasn't having a panic attack but I think I understand the concept more clearly now.

One of our students, F, played his music on the van's stereo system, including, Bob Marley's "Everything's' Gonna Be Alright" and "Don't Worry, Be Happy". I liked his spirit but hated hearing the songs in that situation. It's like being told to calm down when you're not calm - you know the feeling....right?

Luckily, our driver drove like an old pro. He was cutting, weaving and occasionally driving on the side of the road. He got us to the airport with about 35 minutes before our flight. It was clear looking at the security gate, we would be just fine. It turns out the Panama City airport is pretty small - something I didn't really notice when we got there. I sighed a sigh of relief. We were finally on our way to Peru!

We knew we would arrive late but C talked us into doing something a little crazy - going out in Lima when we arrived. C called his cousin as he had suggested we check out some penas (small pubs that play an African-influenced type of music) but all the penas nearby were closing, so we settled on a Cuban place with an obscenely loud band.

It was great and while I am pretty sure they were Peruvians playing Cuban music, the atmosphere was great. We had a drink but because it was so loud, it prohibited talking a great deal - we just watched the band play and locals dance. All this is to say we got back to our hotel room well after 3:00 in the morning with our wake up call coming in about two hours. We had to board our next flight to Cuzco. Travel worn already, we were finally ready to experience Peru at long last and we would not be disappointed.

On the way to Cuzco over the Andes. Quite a pleasant flight.

Part 2 Coming Soon.....

Fragments Here, There and Way, Way, Way Over Thre

Sometimes students drive me crazy.

On Monday in my World Cultures class I asked for ideas, thoughts, images or anything that came to mind when I said the word "Islam" and/or "Muslims".

....Silence......

After a few rephrasing of my question an older student finally said, "bin Laden". Okay, good talking point. I am happy for someone to start us off with something a little controversial. So I write "bin Laden" on the whiteboard, hoping for more.  Still there was more "silence"...I decided to call on a student by name, "Chris, what do you think of when you hear the word 'Islam'?" Silence and then he shrugs. I write "shrugs" on the board. Ok, I'll try another. "Simon, what do you think when you hear the world 'Islam'"? "Uh..I don't know." So, I write that on the board as well. 

PEOPLE. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?????

Yes, I finally started getting some feedback after that response.

Today in the same class, I walk in and I feel the energy level of the room. It was a "Sleepy Sunday Afternoon After Lunch Close to Nap-time Level" . I asked if they would like to do jumping jacks or walk around the building. I actually got a few smiles on that one. VICTORY.

This is part of the semester where you really start disliking classes as a whole. No, not all the students just the class itself. I actually really like a few of the students as individuals in that class. But as a whole, something is just off. Likely, it's all me (no, I don't really believe that).  I have two of my five like that. However, the other three are great (really) so that's a good thing - thankfully, I always end each day with a good groups of students.

Saturday we were in Costco near the meat. There was a huge meat thing (no idea what it was but it was about 3 feet long). I looked at my four-year-old and held it up,  "Hey, E, look, human leg!" E, looking concerned, "Really?". "No, we don't eat humans. Would you want to eat a person?" Without missing a beat, "A dead person."  Five second pause, "...if I was an animal."  My weird little girl!! So proud. :)

Stuck in my head all day long. So, so good. Basically what I want my rock music to be:




Last night I read through Book 67 (on women and marriage) of the Sahih al-Bukhari.

And I have three words to say:

HOLY CORN DOG.

I will have more, much more to say on this doozie collection of hadiths. I have to say most Muslims I have meet are either living with a horrible case of repression, disconnection or ignorance (or they actually believe this stuff).

Before you read the excerpt take this short quiz.

Muhammad is about to describe who he saw in hell as "the majority of its dwellers". Guess which of the following were roasting the most?

A) Rich People
B) Women
C) Hypocrites
D) Disbelievers 

Your answer.....

He said, "I saw Paradise (or Paradise was shown to me), and I stretched my hand to pluck a bunch (of grapes), and had I plucked it, you would have eaten of it as long as this world exists. Then I saw the (Hell) Fire, and I have never before, seen such a horrible sight as that, and I saw that the majority of its dwellers were women." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger ()! What is the reason for that?" He replied, "Because of their ungratefulness." It was said. "Do they disbelieve in Allah (are they ungrateful to Allah)?" He replied, "They are not thankful to their husbands and are ungrateful for the favors done to them. Even if you do good to one of them all your life, when she seems some harshness from you, she will say, "I have never seen any good from you.' "

Now this tradition is mentioned 2-3 additional times in the hadith from different witnesses.  In my understanding, this confirms that the saying is more reliable and deemed more authentic as compared to a source that is only recorded once in the collection or by one witness.

I got to watch some TV to relax -- I've been online for TOO long tonight. Best wishes, eat well and don't forget to always turn your blinkers on when changing lanes.

Goodnight sweet internet.

Fragment Time

I feel like I need an art project soon. I have ideas, but they all suck.

I go through these reading stages where I can do prolonged reading of the most dense or boring material (or what others would call dense and boring) and then suddenly I have no desire to read anything above an 8th grade level (this is where comic books come in handy). I am going through the "comic book" period right now.

So I am in the middle of a Star Trek: Next Generation re-watch (or "watch" as I haven't seen most episodes) and I finally hit a rough patch - the start of season five. I have slowed down my rate and I fell asleep in the middle of an episode --three episodes in a row! Granted, I was on the bed and sleepy but still this hadn't happened but maybe once before. I usually fell asleep around the 15-25 minute mark and then would wake up with five minutes to go when the music got dramatic or something blew up. I am still counting the episodes. I was talking about it with someone later - and they nailed it - the color scheme and lighting (not too bright, hushed and pleasant colors) almost induces relaxation and sleepiness (with a little help from Picard's voice and the whooshing of the doors).

The damned Klingon shows always bore me. The are so predictable and are basically the same three characters every time. There's the back-stabbing Klingon (required one per Klingon episode), the older, more reliable Klingon (sometimes the character is the hidden "spy"), and then a bunch of no name tough guys. That's it. Damn, even Wharf bores me, it's always "Sir, I believe we should fire immediately". I understand he's head of security but still, predictable, annoyingly grim and predictable. Sidenote: spell check on Blogger has Klingon in the dictionary. Wow.

I like the fall. It makes the summer in South Texas almost worth it. Almost.


I also feel like I haven't written anything of substance in awhile. I have half finished blogs I should get to. It kinda bothers me. Almost.



The funny thing about teaching three classes in one day - I get a little loony the last time around. I am tired and at times-- I dread walking to that last class (at 3:30) to give the same discussion I have already had twice in the day. Then I get in there, open the door and the adrenaline kicks in and I am all ready to roll. Teaching is such a performance art. So, how about another list!

Things I like about Teaching College

You always get the last word.

You sometimes see light bulbs go off.

You get to be around inspiring young people.

Academic freedom

Making the class laugh

Asking hard, deep questions

Telling stories

Watching young people excited to live life on their own terms.

Trying to change people's minds

Drawing connections from an older class topic/reading/film

Fragmentally Here

Today's Fragments....

Easter came and went. Candy overload at our house.

Being Easter week I was thinking about the stories in the gospel after Jesus' resurrection. In a few of the stories, people don't recognize Jesus even as he walks and talks with them (i.e., Luke 24).  Until this week I had never really thought about this metaphor before - but how often do we not recognize Jesus? He's been there walking and talking with us the whole time? You could claim Jesus was purposefully masking himself - but I think the writers are making the point - we're too wrapped up in the "possible". We're so grounded to objective "reality" that we've convinced ourselves there's no way God is right here. Next to you and me.  The gospel authors are not saying "seeing is believing" instead the ideas is,  if you don't believe - you can't see.

A few weeks ago my "pastor" said "The opposite of faith isn't doubt but fear". But what if it's fear and doubt? I mean, I'm really lacking faith!

You know it's the spring time when both my student's and my own motivation just drops like a rock. It's like it's adversely tied to the temperature rise of the spring season. As the temperature rises, the motivation goes down. My class seems to end on a whimper every spring (which is sad).

At the bottom of my syllabi, I place this:

“Little surprises around every corner, but nothing dangerous.”

(and just like Wonka, I say it with a smile - knowing it's a lie)

Keepin' it Real in the Fake World

I was listening to NPR the other morning when I heard my Texas senator, John Cornyn say that Supreme Court nominee, Elena Kagan's had experience in academia but no "real world" experience.

This isn't the first time I have heard folks refer to those of us who teach at the college or university level as lacking "real world" experience.

Now, that I think about it, it's all true. Most of my life is not in the "real world" at all...

Rating my Reality at Work

Teaching = definitely not real
Organizing lessons = sorta kinda real, but not really.
Creating assessments = trapping students, not a fair and balanced reality
Grading = subjectively non-reality
Serving on Committees = drawing/day dreaming in meetings = not real
Dealing with Student-Instructor Conflicts = seemingly real but conflict based on "non reality" of the classroom, thus making it pure fantasy
Designing Schedule/Purchasing = real on some level by its method of input, fake in the abstract
Research = not real, most likely research with a liberal basis, meaning non-facts
Writing = real in concept;  but because it's not written with the purpose of selling something or trying to elect someone, it's as real as unicorns or global warming.
(okay, so I'm not really researching or writing but ya know, it's a possibility in my field of "fake work")