One of the funnier things that has occurred in the past two weeks that I have subbed at Santa Barbara Junior High is this:
Every morning I put up a PowerPoint slide to be shown at the beginning of each class. It usually says something like,
"Happy Tuesday! September 23rd, 2008. Please take out:
•Pencil
•Agenda
•Science Log
•Homework from last night
HOMEWORK: Complete vocabulary list"
Boring, right? Well, on the days that we don't have homework, I like to throw in this line: "HOMEWORK: Enjoy life." And invariably, more than one student will ask me "What does it mean to enjoy life??" What's ridiculous is that they are seriously asking me what I mean for them to do that evening. They aren't quite sarcastic enough to be joking about not enjoying life because school is getting them down or something. They just want to know, "What does it mean to enjoy life?"
Seriously? Seriously.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Hello, people. I don't have much to say. All my days are a blur. Here is my note to my teacher yesterday (I'm subbing for the same class for two weeks):
Per. 1: Noah can't be with others.. always distracting
Per. 5: Gave Sal a referral for getting out of his seat for the 1000th time AND for poking/hitting a girl in the chest.
Per. 6: German still hardly working. It's like pulling a mule. I talked to him after class yesterday and today.
Ok, but that's all boring. What is interesting, in my opinion, is how much I tutor every week. Since last week I have added on four new tutoring clients, which puts my total at nine hours of tutoring every week. That is an added income of about 1200 dollars a month.
Yesterday I tutored a girl in the nicest house I have ever encountered in my entire life. She sometimes goes down to Los Angeles for acting auditions, and her mother and father are gorgeous, of course. Cars owned: New Mercedes, and Porsche 911. That's from what I've seen so far--there may be more.
I think the term I am looking for here is "exorbitant wealth."
Per. 1: Noah can't be with others.. always distracting
Per. 5: Gave Sal a referral for getting out of his seat for the 1000th time AND for poking/hitting a girl in the chest.
Per. 6: German still hardly working. It's like pulling a mule. I talked to him after class yesterday and today.
Ok, but that's all boring. What is interesting, in my opinion, is how much I tutor every week. Since last week I have added on four new tutoring clients, which puts my total at nine hours of tutoring every week. That is an added income of about 1200 dollars a month.
Yesterday I tutored a girl in the nicest house I have ever encountered in my entire life. She sometimes goes down to Los Angeles for acting auditions, and her mother and father are gorgeous, of course. Cars owned: New Mercedes, and Porsche 911. That's from what I've seen so far--there may be more.
I think the term I am looking for here is "exorbitant wealth."
Friday, September 19, 2008
This week has been hell. I am so tired and worn out! I substituted for the same 7th graders all week and I picked up all of these tutoring clients recently so my schedule has been something like:
Set alarm for 6:30, get up at 7am.
Leave for work by 7:15.
Teach periods 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 + a 20 minute reading period right before lunch.
Leave school at 2:30 and drive straight to tutoring.
Tutor from 2:45 to 3:45.
Drive to other tutoring, from 4:00 to 5:00.
Practice music with Brendan. (Or help someone move for three hours, or perform concert with Brendan)
Grocery shopping, etc.
Come home at around 10-11pm.
Catch up on emails, facebook, youtube, music.
Go to sleep at 12:30-1am.
Repeat.
ps. The 7th graders...suck. I sent students out of the classroom EVERY SINGLE DAY for misbehaving, talking back, having attitude, not listening, etc. It got so bad that the principal came in and lectured my 6th period class today. It was awesome. Then he took out four specific imps and spoke with them in private. Nice to know I've got support, eh?
Set alarm for 6:30, get up at 7am.
Leave for work by 7:15.
Teach periods 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 + a 20 minute reading period right before lunch.
Leave school at 2:30 and drive straight to tutoring.
Tutor from 2:45 to 3:45.
Drive to other tutoring, from 4:00 to 5:00.
Practice music with Brendan. (Or help someone move for three hours, or perform concert with Brendan)
Grocery shopping, etc.
Come home at around 10-11pm.
Catch up on emails, facebook, youtube, music.
Go to sleep at 12:30-1am.
Repeat.
ps. The 7th graders...suck. I sent students out of the classroom EVERY SINGLE DAY for misbehaving, talking back, having attitude, not listening, etc. It got so bad that the principal came in and lectured my 6th period class today. It was awesome. Then he took out four specific imps and spoke with them in private. Nice to know I've got support, eh?
Monday, September 15, 2008
Ok! I'm back to substituting again. Today was decent. I would give it 6 stars out of 10. I would say the best part was the totally gorgeous student teacher who will be accompanying me today, tomorrow, and Wednesday.
The worst part was students just talking and talking and talking and talking and talking...
The worst part was students just talking and talking and talking and talking and talking...
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Today I substituted for advanced 8th grade math at Santa Barbara Junior High.
It was fun! I had nearly all of my GATE students from last year spread out among my 5 classes. And, like I wrote about yesterday, they are still as wonderful as ever. Some of them still haven't stopped talking in class (just like last year), some of them still have braces on, still have the same haircut, and so on. And some have changed slightly, which is cool to see.
Being in the same town for 27 years and working with so many youth in so many different settings has allowed me to see all kinds of people growing up, and I like that. I like that a lot.
On a side note, I rode my bike to work, which was wonderful and quick. I rode downtown afterward and played on my computer in a Starbucks and a few of my students from the day saw me in there. "Hi, Mr. V!" and some giggles.
Later, at 10pm, I was grocery shopping (because grocery shopping at 10pm on a Friday night is a beautiful thing to do and it is never crowded) and saw two students that I have subbed for a lot at Dos Pueblos. We talked for a moment and that was cool, too. I know kids from all these different generations, and it's a bit trippy. I see styles in Junior high and high school, I see who is partying with who (on Facebook), I see people making college decisions, and I just have this sort of omniscient view of a lot of little lives around town. Sometimes I feel like a wise old grandfather who is watching his offspring grow up like a wild garden around him.
It was fun! I had nearly all of my GATE students from last year spread out among my 5 classes. And, like I wrote about yesterday, they are still as wonderful as ever. Some of them still haven't stopped talking in class (just like last year), some of them still have braces on, still have the same haircut, and so on. And some have changed slightly, which is cool to see.
Being in the same town for 27 years and working with so many youth in so many different settings has allowed me to see all kinds of people growing up, and I like that. I like that a lot.
On a side note, I rode my bike to work, which was wonderful and quick. I rode downtown afterward and played on my computer in a Starbucks and a few of my students from the day saw me in there. "Hi, Mr. V!" and some giggles.
Later, at 10pm, I was grocery shopping (because grocery shopping at 10pm on a Friday night is a beautiful thing to do and it is never crowded) and saw two students that I have subbed for a lot at Dos Pueblos. We talked for a moment and that was cool, too. I know kids from all these different generations, and it's a bit trippy. I see styles in Junior high and high school, I see who is partying with who (on Facebook), I see people making college decisions, and I just have this sort of omniscient view of a lot of little lives around town. Sometimes I feel like a wise old grandfather who is watching his offspring grow up like a wild garden around him.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Ok. It has been a few weeks now and I am definitely back from traveling around Mexico. In fact, I am so back that I have started substitute teaching again around town!
I almost got my job back, at Santa Barbara Junior High, where I worked for four months last year. Almost. The school wanted me, but, long story short, I basically didn't have enough credentials (or any sort of background whatsoever) in History and so the school district couldn't hire me.
So I am subbing. And guess what?? I've subbed three days already, and school has only been in session for two weeks. I got to do some pre-calculus for my friend Matt Long who teaches at Dos Pueblos High School.
Tomorrow I will be back at the junior high. For math. For advanced math, actually, which means one thing: I will get to see all of my beloved GATE students again.
Today, my friend Felipe went to visit some of his Young Life kids over at the junior high and so I went with him to visit.
IT
WAS
AWESOME.
I basically walked out of the hallways into the lunch area and was more or less mobbed by what seemed like my entire two GATE classes from last year. They are all still super funny and weird and beautiful and going to change the world. I just talked to a big huddle of students for the whole lunch period. It was wonderful. I got to hear how they went to Israel, Seattle, the movies, motorcycling, etc. I got to hear new inside jokes, hear about school and how all the little seventh graders are (not cool, apparently).
The principal was out there and when all the kids mobbed me he started telling seventh graders that I was a famous character from The Hills television show and that's why they were all so excited to see me. Just so you know, I look nothing like any of the people on The Hills.
I almost got my job back, at Santa Barbara Junior High, where I worked for four months last year. Almost. The school wanted me, but, long story short, I basically didn't have enough credentials (or any sort of background whatsoever) in History and so the school district couldn't hire me.
So I am subbing. And guess what?? I've subbed three days already, and school has only been in session for two weeks. I got to do some pre-calculus for my friend Matt Long who teaches at Dos Pueblos High School.
Tomorrow I will be back at the junior high. For math. For advanced math, actually, which means one thing: I will get to see all of my beloved GATE students again.
Today, my friend Felipe went to visit some of his Young Life kids over at the junior high and so I went with him to visit.
IT
WAS
AWESOME.
I basically walked out of the hallways into the lunch area and was more or less mobbed by what seemed like my entire two GATE classes from last year. They are all still super funny and weird and beautiful and going to change the world. I just talked to a big huddle of students for the whole lunch period. It was wonderful. I got to hear how they went to Israel, Seattle, the movies, motorcycling, etc. I got to hear new inside jokes, hear about school and how all the little seventh graders are (not cool, apparently).
The principal was out there and when all the kids mobbed me he started telling seventh graders that I was a famous character from The Hills television show and that's why they were all so excited to see me. Just so you know, I look nothing like any of the people on The Hills.
Friday, August 22, 2008
This was Tulum, Mexico. Site of one of the last Mayan ruins before the civilization collapsed. The ruins are beautiful up on the cliffs over the great blue Caribbean ocean. The one random picture that looks like guys are being tortured upside down is actually a Mayan ceremony, and you can see a live video of it (from the exact same place I took the picture, actually) here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWOGb_WroDk
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
That last post took place in Chichen Itza. It was a gorgeous location for Mayan ruins. Rather large and spacious with amazing structures. I was there early enough to beat any sort of crowds as you can see in my pictures.
After Chichen Itza I headed for Playa del Carmen, a beach city on the Caribbean. Think Cancun, but smaller. My girlfriend, Elissa, had plans to visit her family in Texas around the time I was going to be out in this part of Mexico. She found tickets to Cozumel that included a layover in Houston, Texas on the way home, so this opportunity to have company on my trip transpired quite perfectly! We had so many adventures in four days it was amazing!
I wasn't able to take pictures from our two snorkeling adventures, but they included: snorkeling in underground caves that Mayans used to make sacrifices in; snorkeling in the Caribbean Ocean right in the middle of all kinds of blue and white and beautiful fish.
These two pictures (above and below) were taken at my FAVORITE food place in all of Mexico. It was away from the strip in Playa del Carmen (read: locals spot) and the food offerings were substantial and exquisite.
After Chichen Itza I headed for Playa del Carmen, a beach city on the Caribbean. Think Cancun, but smaller. My girlfriend, Elissa, had plans to visit her family in Texas around the time I was going to be out in this part of Mexico. She found tickets to Cozumel that included a layover in Houston, Texas on the way home, so this opportunity to have company on my trip transpired quite perfectly! We had so many adventures in four days it was amazing!
I wasn't able to take pictures from our two snorkeling adventures, but they included: snorkeling in underground caves that Mayans used to make sacrifices in; snorkeling in the Caribbean Ocean right in the middle of all kinds of blue and white and beautiful fish.
These two pictures (above and below) were taken at my FAVORITE food place in all of Mexico. It was away from the strip in Playa del Carmen (read: locals spot) and the food offerings were substantial and exquisite.
My main form of transportation: The bus. Contrary to what you might think, they had the most amazing coach buses in Mexico. Way nicer than most found here in the states.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Ahh, Palenque. The Mayan ruins in the jungle. These are quite beautiful, as you can see. It was very hot that day, and I walked around feeling tired, sweaty, and sticky (due to the humidity). You could hear howler monkeys in the jungle while walking around the ruins. It was spooky.
One cool thing, I hopped a "No Entry" sign and followed a path to some more ruins that were not open to the public. They were not very spectacular but it was absolutely splendid to walk in the middle of the forest among ruins and be completely alone.
One cool thing, I hopped a "No Entry" sign and followed a path to some more ruins that were not open to the public. They were not very spectacular but it was absolutely splendid to walk in the middle of the forest among ruins and be completely alone.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
I spent just one night in San Cristobal de las Casas, but somehow I managed to walk nearly the entire town, visit a small village nearby that specializes in pottery making, take a four-hour nap, hang out in the center with my Canadian friends, and watch a movie. Then I left the next morning at 6am.
The pottery town is called Amatenango and the people there are basically old-school, pre-Spanish groups. They don't even speak Spanish! I mean, they do, but not at home or amongst themselves. I believe the word we are looking at here is called Indigenous.
I sat down for a bit and befriended Alberta, the girl pictured below. She is 24, and was very sweet. She said she paints about 40 of those birds a day. Oh man, if you could hear those girls talk, it is SO BEAUTIFUL! Like sighs of despair and love mixed together. Their language lilts and whispers. It is enchanting.
On my way back I caught a ride in the back of a Nissan flatbed truck. You will see a lot of these trucks being used as public transport. It cost about fifty percent of what a normal bus would cost, and the locals use them all the time.
The pottery town is called Amatenango and the people there are basically old-school, pre-Spanish groups. They don't even speak Spanish! I mean, they do, but not at home or amongst themselves. I believe the word we are looking at here is called Indigenous.
I sat down for a bit and befriended Alberta, the girl pictured below. She is 24, and was very sweet. She said she paints about 40 of those birds a day. Oh man, if you could hear those girls talk, it is SO BEAUTIFUL! Like sighs of despair and love mixed together. Their language lilts and whispers. It is enchanting.
On my way back I caught a ride in the back of a Nissan flatbed truck. You will see a lot of these trucks being used as public transport. It cost about fifty percent of what a normal bus would cost, and the locals use them all the time.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
In the city of Oaxaca there is not too much to see, and I decided to leave early, adding a city onto my schedule that I hadn't intended to see originally: Puerto Escondido (literally "Hidden Port")
It was two of my most relaxing days on my trip. I found a little cove that was away from the masses and settled down to read, swim, sun, read, nap, eat, read, swim, and so on. I read Eat, Pray, Love in three days. I had fish tacos for brunch, home-made french fries, and sodas in glass bottles, which is the best way to drink a soda (pop).
It was two of my most relaxing days on my trip. I found a little cove that was away from the masses and settled down to read, swim, sun, read, nap, eat, read, swim, and so on. I read Eat, Pray, Love in three days. I had fish tacos for brunch, home-made french fries, and sodas in glass bottles, which is the best way to drink a soda (pop).
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Ok, so I enjoyed Oaxaca quite much. I got to see the Guelaquetza Festival, Monte Alban, and the city was quaint, colorful, and clean. I like clean. It was a wonderful change from the hustle of Guadalajara. Here are a few pictures from my last day in Oaxaca city:
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
This took forever to upload, and I am SO SORRY! If you have been checking on here at all in the last week you have probably asked yourself: "Where the heck is Phil??" Well, my friend, I have been everywhere. Swimming underground, watching movies, seeing even MORE ruins, taking overnight buses, biking, meeting indigenous peoples, etc. Enjoy these photos from Monte Alban. And try to imagine clearing off the top of a small mountain to make your religious/civic center for your city. 1500 years ago.
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