Normally, I don't mark the comings and goings of any of the staff around here, because it's always uncertain how long anyone is actually going to be here. But it's been a busy week. Of major import is the arrival of Ed, who taught high school for a year somewhere in North Carolina. His most striking comment was something along the lines of, "The kids here are pretty much like the kids in America, with the exception that the older ones aren't coming to class stoned or pregnant." That'll make ya stop and think, huh? All I need now is another teacher from a metro area wanting to show off his gunshot wound that he got at school. But alas, the only other recent arrival is a Korean woman who will be taking our Director's place in the classroom so he can get back to the business of directing. In the usual fashion, "Christine" (I just love the whole idea of giving someone who has their own name an English name, don't you?!) was going around, and will continue to, to watch classes. The class she watched with me last night was a bunch that's well-behaved, mostly, if a bit slow. But they acquitted themselves (and me,) very well, so that's always good. No hitting, no taking pictures of my butt, it was what it should always be.
And culturally, I'm learning enough to be at this odd, one-foot-in-one-foot-out eddy point. I know I'm not going to be here a hell of a lot longer, but for the sake of the time I am here, I need to keep learning, which bodes Lord-only-knows-what once I am gone. Remembering, passing on, building.....it really does all matter. Wow.