Ugh, it was IMPOSSIBLE to get out of bed this morning. I set my alarm for 0715 so could take a run and really prepare for my two discussions with the 3rd year students. I hit my alarm on my phone and went to bed knowing my second—backup alarm—would go off at 0815. The first alarm is named “Wake Up” the second alarm is named “REALLY WAKE UP NOW”—but I didn’t wake up. Nope, instead I slept until 0945 and didn’t put my foot on the floor until after 10. I got plenty of sleep last night. I went to bed around midnight and figured 7 hours was plenty of sleep.
The day itself was also productive. I really enjoy teaching at the university. There’s so much to do and my students are responding really well to my discussions. Today we were discussing sonnets about love by Wyatt, Spencer, Surrey, and Sydney. I did the first sonnet myself and used ideas from students to help make it work. The next two we did as a class and I’d give them time to work on it in pairs and then we’d discuss. The last sonnet I read to them and then passed it all on them to tell me what they believed it was. Of course I’d give them definitions of words and helps with some of the older words (some of which I didn’t even really know) so they at least knew the words on the page.
Even with this the girls needed a lot of help interpreting the poem and working through a lot of the language. It’s VERY difficult, and I even had to consult the internet a few times trying to grasp the full meanings of the poems. I was really impressed by their hard work, teamwork, and motivation throughout the entire class of over two hours. During our 15-minutes break I could see students re-reading the sonnets and trying to really understand everything that we talked about. It was just awesome.
Working at the school in Keda is nice, and I enjoy working with the kids and getting to know them. I enjoy watching a kids practice and practice and suddenly really seem to understand the material. I also really enjoy when I can just have a quick and in-depth conversation with my students, too. In a way I think as a professor I’d do pretty well. I’d be working with students who are already quite talented and lead discussions to get their understanding and thoughts. That’s why I went into history in the first place—I enjoy the discussion and the back and forth. At the grade school level I’m not able to do that nearly as easily.
OH! I also have to thank every single one of you who has donated to my fitness center. I’m 1/10 of the way to my desired goal. I doubt I’ll get to $4900, but even another $500 or $1000 will go a LONG way in Keda. So thank you everyone, and please pass along all the information you can to friends and family.
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