pontification #2

Middle schoolers' (midgets as some might say) backpack sizes are disproportionate to their size.
The smaller the midget, the larger the backpack or amount of contents within.

The larger the midget, the smaller the backpack or amount of contents within.

I have yet to see any midget provide sufficient evidence to refute my claim. Maybe the larger midgets can quickly transverse the school to their lockers and thus have enough time to use them. Or the smaller midgets try to make up for their diminutive size by showing their great strength.

I need to conduct more research to back up my claim.

go panthers!

Thoughts since starting at the middle school include:

1. 45 minutes is not enough time to teach and give each individual student the attention they need and deserve.

2. Aren't middle schoolers smarter than to pass a note right in front of me?

3. These kids are midgets.

4. Hearing the concert band amuses me.

5. Dress code really improves the actions of midgets.

6. The 7th grade little people are still innocent.

7. What happens to students after 7th grade?

8. The last names of "Mohawk" and "Minutes" exist.

That's all for now.

ehhs

I finished teaching at East Hollywood High School. It was a great experience. I learned to respect kids for who they are, and they will in turn respect you. Those kids were awesome and work harder than a lot of people think they do.

On my last day there I had them fill out a little paper where they wrote things they liked and didn't like about the class that I taught. Here are a few responses...

Like:

1. "You don't yell."

2. "I like you very motivating cuz u so cute."

3. "I enjoyed how you were really motivated to get us to work, even though we didn't."

Didn't Like:

1. "Gave Taylor a swear slip."

2. "I didn't like that this is your last day."

3. "I dislike nothing."

4. "You're a good teacher."

Other:

1. "I'm sort of neutral and don't know what to say."

2. "Hit the middle school kids, cuz they sucks."

Next week I start at a middle school in Provo. No more commuting!

(If you haven't kept up with things, we used to live in Murray for a year, and I rode the bus down to BYU. After moving back to Provo I have had to travel back up to Salt Lake to teach. I'm excited to get a little more sleep!)

game time

Quite often one might find a glass of water left on the table or next to the sink from Lisa. Often she's letting it become a littler warmer because it's too cold from the fridge or waiting until she has more room in her belly to drink it. She's doing really well on her New Year's resolution to drink more water, especially since she's been pregnant. I made a resolution a little late- to drink Lisa's water. Whenever I pass one of her water cups I'll either drink most of it or drink all of it. Why not? Free water, I say. Saves me a few seconds of getting a glass down and filling it up or from getting my hand wet as I drink from the faucet. It's a fun game and garners some great reactions from her.

Oh, and did you know I love cold water from the fridge?

sad goodbyes

Last night Lisa and I watched some of the special features from the extended version of Return of the King. The part that really caught my attention and emotions was when they were talking about wrapping up the filming and saying goodbye to everyone. They had been shooting for over 14 months. I'm sure they were sad that they were done filming the movie, but they seemed almost shell-shocked that they would be leaving the people that they had built strong relationships with over those months.

I relate to that. I think most of us can. For me it brought back the feelings of leaving the mission field. 2 years of working hard on a single purpose with many other people, missionaries or members, and then saying goodbye seemed surreal. It didn't seem like it should be happening. I was finally understanding what I was doing, how to speak with the Dutch and Flemish, and was at the peak of my game. Yet, they still sent me home.

Walking down the terminal to the airplane I kept trying to think what it would be like at home, and I couldn't figure it out. It didn't seem like there would be anything. It seemed empty. I'm sure that's what ol' Frodo, Sam, Aragon, and the others were thinking. That's why I sat there almost crying with them last night. 3 and a half years haven't buried those feelings as well as I thought they had. I still miss my European friends and companions. Dominic Monaghan said to the cast and crew of Lord of the Rings, "All of you have made me want to be a better person. That's the greatest compliment I can give." I echo those words.