(no subject)
K. So, I need to move to Graz. Like, now.
Because something finally happened to me today that I was really hoping to avoid for another couple weeks: I asked myself if this was how I wanted to be spending my life--in a little town, playing video games and crap to pass the time.
And of course the answer is an emphatic no.
But I'm not thinking about that right now. Instead, I'm thinking about teaching. There was (gasp!) a good discussion in class today. They had heard of the civil war. They even knew (vaguely) what it was about, and when I asked if the totally simple explanation (abolition of slavery) was really what it was about, they pretty much all knew not to accept the easy way out. So I talked about that a bit, then about the civil rights movement, and Durham in general. And my sense of humor and cadence of speech clicked with them remarkably well. They laughed. When does that happen?
Course, in another class, I just basically gave a lecture about the American higher education sytem. And that wasn't boring. At all. I swear. Yes it was. So teaching, you know? It can really go either way.
Ah, something else happened that was a little bit funny--I showed them my yearbook and a few of the girls managed to find that page that your parents put in the back that usually has baby pictures and stuff. Yeah, that went well. Totally. I swear. No it did't.
And when I asked them to describe what they'd found, and to practice their english doing it, of course they wouldn't.
Oh well, you can't win 'em all.
But I miss everyone a lot. And I'm trying to find ways to email everyone, but sometimes I just don't know what to say. And those of you who have received emails or, hell, are reading this, know that I ramble. So a ramble without a clear focus is trouble, and I'm trying to avoid it. Once I've got IM (damn you mac-incompatible network! Damn you all to hell! Get your damn hands off me you damned dirty PC! Sorry, couldn't pass up the second reference.), it'll be easier. Then I can actually hold a conversation, one more baby step away from formality.
But I love hearing from everyone, by email, by livejournal, by whatever means possible.
So once again, I'll say I love everyone and call it a night.
You know, it's night here? Yeah. The earth is weird. Time is weird...and fucks with...oh whatever.
Because something finally happened to me today that I was really hoping to avoid for another couple weeks: I asked myself if this was how I wanted to be spending my life--in a little town, playing video games and crap to pass the time.
And of course the answer is an emphatic no.
But I'm not thinking about that right now. Instead, I'm thinking about teaching. There was (gasp!) a good discussion in class today. They had heard of the civil war. They even knew (vaguely) what it was about, and when I asked if the totally simple explanation (abolition of slavery) was really what it was about, they pretty much all knew not to accept the easy way out. So I talked about that a bit, then about the civil rights movement, and Durham in general. And my sense of humor and cadence of speech clicked with them remarkably well. They laughed. When does that happen?
Course, in another class, I just basically gave a lecture about the American higher education sytem. And that wasn't boring. At all. I swear. Yes it was. So teaching, you know? It can really go either way.
Ah, something else happened that was a little bit funny--I showed them my yearbook and a few of the girls managed to find that page that your parents put in the back that usually has baby pictures and stuff. Yeah, that went well. Totally. I swear. No it did't.
And when I asked them to describe what they'd found, and to practice their english doing it, of course they wouldn't.
Oh well, you can't win 'em all.
But I miss everyone a lot. And I'm trying to find ways to email everyone, but sometimes I just don't know what to say. And those of you who have received emails or, hell, are reading this, know that I ramble. So a ramble without a clear focus is trouble, and I'm trying to avoid it. Once I've got IM (damn you mac-incompatible network! Damn you all to hell! Get your damn hands off me you damned dirty PC! Sorry, couldn't pass up the second reference.), it'll be easier. Then I can actually hold a conversation, one more baby step away from formality.
But I love hearing from everyone, by email, by livejournal, by whatever means possible.
So once again, I'll say I love everyone and call it a night.
You know, it's night here? Yeah. The earth is weird. Time is weird...and fucks with...oh whatever.