It's the first day of classes at SFSU, but my first class isn't until tomorrow. So what better time to read YA fiction?! I'm currently enthralled by Little Brother by Cory Doctorow. Though I'm not finished (about a third left to go), I'm thinking more about civil liberties and what patriotism means for those who want to actually fight for rights and freedoms. Not that the book is totally heavy - a 17 year old vows to take down Homeland Security after a terrible terrorist attack cripples the Bay Area. Thanks to Rebecca for the recommendation!
I must admit a secret love for those who hack, starting with Elsbeth Salander in The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo. She does incredible things with weak excuses for security and brings down bad guys (well, most of them) (and totally in her own way). With the interwebs being so full of ideas, openness makes more and more sense. Heck, Doctorow even has his book downloadable for free and a blog post explaining why. I like it.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
English Episodes #16 - Endings & Beginnings
My last day of teaching regularly was yesterday, a fact that is both exciting and sad. I've grown to really enjoy my intermediate class, there are definitely some amusing and eclectic personalities therein. But with grad school looming, I needed to clear my schedule as much as possible so that I can try to get in and get out of masters land.
That said, my last class was certainly a blast. We ate breakfast at Denny's (right around the corner from school). I was skeptical about such a field trip, but they totally loved the typical American experience therein. Also the fact that things were so BIG (it is America after all). Someone tried to drink the syrup like a shot, but didn't get far at all. I like how in a more causal context they start asking more personal questions both of me and each other. Grand Slams eaten, pictures taken by our good-natured waiter, we left behind empty plates and cups that were swiftly taken away.
A short stroll around Yerba Buena park had them taking tons and tons of photos in paparazzi gone wild style. I like that my classes like each other, it's nice to welcome in new members into a community that's willing to grow for them. Back at school, I gave them a short break before reconvening class. A couple were late, though, because they'd gone and gotten me a cake! It said "Beathany Good Luck We Love You" - so sweet! They'd also gotten a card that was furtively passed around and signed. One of my Korean students had her awesome mini-Polaroid camera and documented the cake, our breakfast, and my silly reaction :) I felt very loved. And very full of sugar with my black forest cake love and all. My colleagues seemed sad that I won't be there regularly, though I will keep subbing since my classes this semester don't happen in the mornings.
All in all, a very good day. One that makes me glad I've been teaching. I also have invites to Rome and Barcelona, Japan and Korea, so perhaps I'll be trying to get overseas and take people up on those. Time to renew that passport!
That said, my last class was certainly a blast. We ate breakfast at Denny's (right around the corner from school). I was skeptical about such a field trip, but they totally loved the typical American experience therein. Also the fact that things were so BIG (it is America after all). Someone tried to drink the syrup like a shot, but didn't get far at all. I like how in a more causal context they start asking more personal questions both of me and each other. Grand Slams eaten, pictures taken by our good-natured waiter, we left behind empty plates and cups that were swiftly taken away.
A short stroll around Yerba Buena park had them taking tons and tons of photos in paparazzi gone wild style. I like that my classes like each other, it's nice to welcome in new members into a community that's willing to grow for them. Back at school, I gave them a short break before reconvening class. A couple were late, though, because they'd gone and gotten me a cake! It said "Beathany Good Luck We Love You" - so sweet! They'd also gotten a card that was furtively passed around and signed. One of my Korean students had her awesome mini-Polaroid camera and documented the cake, our breakfast, and my silly reaction :) I felt very loved. And very full of sugar with my black forest cake love and all. My colleagues seemed sad that I won't be there regularly, though I will keep subbing since my classes this semester don't happen in the mornings.
All in all, a very good day. One that makes me glad I've been teaching. I also have invites to Rome and Barcelona, Japan and Korea, so perhaps I'll be trying to get overseas and take people up on those. Time to renew that passport!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Home Front News
The summer seems to be a month of change for me. Birthday last month aside, I've got a new class, some new writing clients, and will be starting my grad program next month. I'm also moving at the end of this month into a new apartment. There are things to pack, furniture to debate keeping or selling, and organization to be had. Good thing I've been writing about professional organizers here recently! It's mostly exciting, not overwhelming (though I'll be hiring movers for the first time - back preservation says no lifting for me! Especially not with 1 flight of stairs going out, another going into new place).
I also saw Tales of the City at the A.C.T. last weekend. What a musical musical. I think they tried to jam every 70's reference ever into it, but I found the tales of these different residents on an imaginary San Francisco street engaging and amusing (for the most part). The stories were serialized and come in many volumes, though I've yet to read them. However, I've also become addicted to Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street series. These are also serial stories published first in a newspaper (see the theme?) and hysterically funny to brutally honest by turns. I find them almost impossible to put down, especially since the short chapters mean you can read just one more. And then one more. And then yet another.
See what happens when I join summer reading? SFPL tracks your reading by time, not pages. I just signed up and need to post some backdated reading times, but I'm fairly sure that I read at least 40 hours in two months. As do most of the people I know, though our material is wide-ranging.
There may be photos of apartment transformations in the next month, but look for student and birthday party ones sooner than that.
I also saw Tales of the City at the A.C.T. last weekend. What a musical musical. I think they tried to jam every 70's reference ever into it, but I found the tales of these different residents on an imaginary San Francisco street engaging and amusing (for the most part). The stories were serialized and come in many volumes, though I've yet to read them. However, I've also become addicted to Alexander McCall Smith's 44 Scotland Street series. These are also serial stories published first in a newspaper (see the theme?) and hysterically funny to brutally honest by turns. I find them almost impossible to put down, especially since the short chapters mean you can read just one more. And then one more. And then yet another.
See what happens when I join summer reading? SFPL tracks your reading by time, not pages. I just signed up and need to post some backdated reading times, but I'm fairly sure that I read at least 40 hours in two months. As do most of the people I know, though our material is wide-ranging.
There may be photos of apartment transformations in the next month, but look for student and birthday party ones sooner than that.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
English Episodes #15 - The Land of Intermediate
From advanced to intermediate - the range of English is so broad! I've been teaching an intermediate class now for a few weeks, which has proven somewhat entertaining as we all get to know each other better. I find a sly humor and childlike glee in their scatological humor because they're excited to get puns, even bad ones.
Speaking of bad puns - did you hear about the accident in the pie factory? 3.1415926 people were killed. Colleague told this joke this morning - the groans were loud.
We took a field trip to the market yesterday. They attempted to find apples (not really in season), discover new foods (doughnut peaches, tiny cucumbers, bizarre giant squash), and map out the area of Civic Center. We went inside City Hall to explore some more and happened upon a wedding! Looking at a statue of Harvey Milk, a justice of the peace asked us to move as there was going to be a wedding. It was just the couple and another (friend? brother? other family? hard to tell), we all loosely gathered around and watched. My students were curious (and concerned): where were their families? Is this common? Don't you need two witnesses? We all clapped and said congratulations when it was over. I love unexpected surprises on excursions!
Today someone told the class that a qualification you need to be a rock star is to have good looks and be a womanizer... where even to begin on that one? I did point out that it doesn't have to be that way, particularly if the rock star in question is a woman who likes men.
On the other hand, one of my new students loves Jane Austen. Another is a professional chef. We definitely have things to talk about. Entertainment abounds! Stay tuned for excepts from stories about someone getting a new job we wrote today (I love circle writing activities): I may have added zombies, vampires, and aliens to a few, but why not?
Speaking of bad puns - did you hear about the accident in the pie factory? 3.1415926 people were killed. Colleague told this joke this morning - the groans were loud.
We took a field trip to the market yesterday. They attempted to find apples (not really in season), discover new foods (doughnut peaches, tiny cucumbers, bizarre giant squash), and map out the area of Civic Center. We went inside City Hall to explore some more and happened upon a wedding! Looking at a statue of Harvey Milk, a justice of the peace asked us to move as there was going to be a wedding. It was just the couple and another (friend? brother? other family? hard to tell), we all loosely gathered around and watched. My students were curious (and concerned): where were their families? Is this common? Don't you need two witnesses? We all clapped and said congratulations when it was over. I love unexpected surprises on excursions!
Today someone told the class that a qualification you need to be a rock star is to have good looks and be a womanizer... where even to begin on that one? I did point out that it doesn't have to be that way, particularly if the rock star in question is a woman who likes men.
On the other hand, one of my new students loves Jane Austen. Another is a professional chef. We definitely have things to talk about. Entertainment abounds! Stay tuned for excepts from stories about someone getting a new job we wrote today (I love circle writing activities): I may have added zombies, vampires, and aliens to a few, but why not?
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