In memory of my favorite HS teacher
Cultivo una rosa blanca I cultivate a white rose
en junio como en enero in June as in January
para el amigo sincero for the sincere friend
que me da su mano franca. who gives me his hand frankly
Y para el cruel que me arranca And for the cruel person who tears out
el corazon con que vivo, the heart with which I live,
cardo ni ortiga cultivo; I cultivate neither nettles nor thorns;
cultivo la rosa blanca. I cultivate a white rose.
Senor Mendoza was my favorite. He was probably the favorite of everyone who had him, or at least one of the favorites. He took us on cool field trips to the Art Institute and delicious restaurants, and blasted "Ojala que llueva cafe en el campo" (I hope it rains coffee in the country) on the bus so we could sing along. He taught us to appreciate artists like El Greco and Picasso. He dressed up as Santa on the day before Christmas break, and asked who we were talking about when we called him "Senor." He told us "10 dias sin uds. son 10 dias sin sol" (10 days without you guys are 10 days without sun) when we went on Spring Break. He did absolutely ridiculous things to make us laugh and enjoy learning the language.
He died last month, and I decided I wanted to send a sympathy card to his family to tell them a memory or two and the effect he had on me (I'm certified to teach Spanish, for goodness' sake!). And today I got a "thanks for the sympathy" card from his wife. It was so sweet, and she told me about this scholarship the school now has in his honor, which I might contribute to. She also sent this little drawing of him (professionally done from a photo, maybe) with "Cultivo una rosa blanca" by Jose Marti on the back. I remember dissecting that poem in his class.
Anyways, he was just such a great guy, and he definitely gave me a great example to live up to in my teaching.
en junio como en enero in June as in January
para el amigo sincero for the sincere friend
que me da su mano franca. who gives me his hand frankly
Y para el cruel que me arranca And for the cruel person who tears out
el corazon con que vivo, the heart with which I live,
cardo ni ortiga cultivo; I cultivate neither nettles nor thorns;
cultivo la rosa blanca. I cultivate a white rose.
Senor Mendoza was my favorite. He was probably the favorite of everyone who had him, or at least one of the favorites. He took us on cool field trips to the Art Institute and delicious restaurants, and blasted "Ojala que llueva cafe en el campo" (I hope it rains coffee in the country) on the bus so we could sing along. He taught us to appreciate artists like El Greco and Picasso. He dressed up as Santa on the day before Christmas break, and asked who we were talking about when we called him "Senor." He told us "10 dias sin uds. son 10 dias sin sol" (10 days without you guys are 10 days without sun) when we went on Spring Break. He did absolutely ridiculous things to make us laugh and enjoy learning the language.
He died last month, and I decided I wanted to send a sympathy card to his family to tell them a memory or two and the effect he had on me (I'm certified to teach Spanish, for goodness' sake!). And today I got a "thanks for the sympathy" card from his wife. It was so sweet, and she told me about this scholarship the school now has in his honor, which I might contribute to. She also sent this little drawing of him (professionally done from a photo, maybe) with "Cultivo una rosa blanca" by Jose Marti on the back. I remember dissecting that poem in his class.
Anyways, he was just such a great guy, and he definitely gave me a great example to live up to in my teaching.