Long Time, No Blog

I can’t believe it’s been over a month since my last posting. April flew by in flash and now May is already racing away. In general, teaching has been going very well; I am getting to know my students as individuals on a deeper level and enjoying sharing new experiences with them everyday. Graduate school has been a bit of a bother, but I know how two months free from reading, writing, and reflecting on education theory which is a welcome relief.

The New York City schools took spring break the week after Easter and I tried to experience everything possible within my short vacation break. I planned to stay in New York for Easter to sing with my choir at Easter Vigil and Sunday services. Unfortunately, I fell ill on Saturday, made an emergency appointment with an urgent care doctor, and was put on a high dose of antibiotics to fight a nasty strep throat infection. I was so sad about not being able to sing that I even cried right before I fell asleep for ten hours.

Fortunately, I felt much better the next day and was able to make a trek to the East Village to get half a dozen delicious doughnuts for my grandpa before making to the airport in Queens. I flew across the country to visit my fantastic family in Arizona. Although the visit was very short, I truly enjoyed seeing Pappy, Mare, Mom, Dad, Granny Betty, Tory and Elena, and especially the little ones Donovan and Gracie. I got lots of warm hugs and even a good Scrabble game in along with great conversations and encouragement.

I flew back to New York on Wednesday because I knew I didn’t want to spend my spring break without making a trip to Boston. Musheer was very busy this particular weekend but still a gracious host. We made our second appearance at the Handle and Haydn Society, experiencing the three and a half hour Bach masterpiece The Saint Matthew Passion. I spent sometime listening to him practice organ at church and made dinner for the two of us more than once. Each time I must leave his side to go home 190 miles away it gets just a little bit harder.

I know have just under two months left in the current school year; they call this the home-stretch. I’m preparing my students for their big standardized English language test that includes speaking, listening, reading, and writing activities. I am taking regular field trips, at least once a month, for reading rewards and my students are so excited about reading books and taking comprehension quizzes. After school ESL now takes place in my classroom four days a week, excluding Thursdays when I have choir rehearsal. And this coming Friday the entire sixth grade will take a day trip to Philadelphia with a historical tour of this great city.

Musheer is now diligently studying for final exams and writing eloquent papers. He recently found out that he will have an internship this summer at the Inter-American Development Bank in downtown Washington, DC. This is a great opportunity for him to work in economic development with an excellent international organization. I am excited for him and know he will enjoy the work this summer. I plan on spending some time with him this summer in our nation’s capitol and will hopefully welcome a visit from both by mother and father.

As the end of the year approaches, I am able to look back and reflect on how far I’ve come in the past few months. I feel very blessed to be in the place I am now, learning from every knew experience and all the wonderful people whom God has placed in my life.