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Some things worse than broken bones

Here's my progress report and plan. Other than the aching, itching and burning under my splint (and dreading the big black boot), I am doing better than I thought I would. I am extremely bored and even frustrated. There's nothing so far that I can't do for myself - everything just takes twice as much energy. I am going back to school tomorrow. I had not planned to go until Tuesday. The students are in standardized testing tomorrow so I can slip back in and "case the joint" for desks, tables, etc. that need to be moved and find out which is best for the layout...crutches or scooter or both. Going in at 8 or 9 on Tuesday and seeing the students' work for last week and meeting them at 10 would be overwhelming. Plus...I need to see how long showering and doing my hair and really getting dressed (make-up and all) will take. I have been spreading those things over the day...except make-up...there's been none of that.

Here we go again...

Well, I'm back in school. No students yet. Just paperwork and getting ready. So far the session is starting well - with the exception of the stress. : ) Once again there are full-time positions open, and I'm in the running. I will be glad when the hiring is done and the unknown is once again known. This should be sorted out this month...or next. I obviously want to be added full-time again. Having benefits would mean a lot to me. I love my job, but at this point I accept that anything could or could not happen...expectedly or unexpectedly. Now if that last sentence isn't gobblygook...then I've never written or read gobblygook. I believe in positive thinking, but I will admit the anxiety creeps in at times.

So far other than that stress and all the tension between all the adjunct teachers over who is or isn't going to be added full-time, good things are happening. The new bosses are great. The classroom part goes so much better when the bosses know what they or doing...and/or care what's going on in the classroom.

As you know..you will be hearing more and seeing the pictures!

My 3 Sons

If you've been reading my blog long, you have heard about my 3 Japanese sons. I went to dinner with them tonight.

This picture made about 5 years ago is very precious to me because they had it made especially for me at an Internation Dinner. I was sick and wasn't there. They were very excited about giving it to me.

Hiroki, Akihiro, Yan

This one was made tonight. Yes...it's a posed family picture.

Hiroki, Me, Yan, Akihiro

I taught them the first year I taught ESL. They were young when they got here, stayed in ESL a little longer than their classmates, and needed a lot of encouragement and help, which I gave them. I went to their soccer games; I met them in the computer lab on Sundays; I made them individual web pages, which I updated to fit their latest diagnostic tests.

They have told me they may have given up if not for me. I was determined they were going to pass the TOEFL and go on to academic classes, which, of course, they did. I will admit I played favorites. No students have ever gotten as much attention from me. I even took them and picked them up at the airport, an hour for here. When I went to their soccer games I yelled if anyone on the other team touched them. I was a grandstand mother. My excuse for playing favorites is they needed it! They have never forgotten all the individual attention they got. To them I am Mom..their American Mom.

They invited me to dinner tonight. We went to Sidelines, a sports bar, and had wings and fries. When we go to dinner, Akihiro drives, and they have to pick the place. I tell them I drove and made the decisions long enough. I particularly liked it that Akihiro chose a place he goes to often. I am not a huge wings or fries fan...but those were wonderful!

We have gone to dinner several times since they have been out of ESL, but this time was different. Akihiro is graduating this week and will go back to Japan, so it's not likely we will all four go to dinner for a long, long time. Maybe never all 4 together. I told Akihiro tonight I wasn't going to be sad...that we were going to have fun making pictures and then going to dinner. We did. The other pictures are in the album, all posed and much fun. They ones of all four of us were made with the self-timer.

A few other students call me Mom and many, many call me Grandmom, but these were the first. They will always be my 3 Japanese sons. They even have a "brother" bond. They are all friends, but I think they only time they all 3 get together is with me.

I am very proud of them. I love them and they love me.

PS: I think the best sketch I've ever done is this one...of Hiroki.

I need to sketch the other two.

Bouncing Back - as always

I am feeling much better - not so sad about my grandsons leaving. First, the university they are going to is really a better place for them They are from a much large city in Turkey. This town is too small for them. Also, in retrospect I KNOW if I called them and told them I needed something, they would be here in less than four hours...and in the meantime they would call friends here to help until they were here.

This was the first day in the classroom of this session. Almost all of my students are from India this time. Today was a good day. I think the session will be good!

Downside

The next time I start "waxing poetic" about my students, somebody remind me they leave. I know...I know...they will stay in touch...I have made a difference, etc. etc. Of the students in the pictures I posted in the last blog I think maybe 5 of them are still at my school. I am teaching in strange circumstances. Last session's students I knew would stay only one semester. So...I was prepared for them to leave. Then there are the ones who will graduate. I welcome that, too.

But then there are the unexpected losses. My head boss left for another university and reunited with our old top recruiting man...and guess where more of my students are transferring? I found out today that 2 of my grandsons (who I first started teaching three years or more ago) are transferring to the univiersity where my old boss and old top recuiter are. They are Turkish; he is Turkish. I should have expected it.

They came to tell me Friday...but couldn't. They told me another one of my students was transferring to the same university, but when I looked at them and said, "But you are not?" they could not tell me. They are brothers. Today one of them came by, with the other student who I knew was leaving, to tell me they are leaving (this Wednesday). The other one didn't want to see me cry. I really think I need to "get a life." I actually was unprofessional enough that they saw my tears. That's taking it a bit far. I know I would have probably been emotional anyway...that's just how I am...but I just wish I had been expecting it. They were already registered with us for this semester so I had no idea. Students leave...that's just how it is. I guess what bothers me is they're not going home, they're not graduating, they are not even dropping out - they have been recruited right from under us....before the session even gets started. I think they went to one class. Somehow that and the fact I had no warning makes it harder.

We won't even talk about the professionalism (or the lack thereof) of the ones who are recruiting. I guess it is to be expected, but that doesn't mean I like it or think it is ethical.

So...just remind me....students leave. I think there is something called professional distance or something...and I need to learn about it!!

Surely I can teach as well and be a little less attached????

Of Gmoms, Gsons and Gdaughters

Sometimes age is a definite advantage. In teaching it is for me. I am grandmother, grandmom, grandma, and my favorite - GMom - to many students. If I tried to count I would leave someone out. At first I became Mom to my three Japanese sons...then one more..two more...and on and on. Somewhere along the line I became Grandmother. That's when my family really grew!! I have a very diverse family...some of my "children" are from Japan, some from Turkey, some from Saudi Arabia, some from China, some from Nepal, some from Morocco, some from Taiwan, some from India...and I'm probably leaving a country or two out. When I was younger I made more of an effort to keep a distance between me and my students. I don't anymore. I probably am hugged more in a day than most people. I have thought about it a lot, and it really does have a lot to do with my age. The students are comfortable with me. And they stay in touch. After all if you had a Gmom, you'd have to stay in touch, right? And when you saw her you would have to either hug her or kiss her on both cheeks, right? If you were as great as my "kids" are, you would!