Student: Miss, can...? (Pause)
Me: Yes, sir? What can I help you with?
Student: (Pause) Naw, nevermind. I'm not even gonna tell you...because I know you're just gonna tell me that I can do it myself.
Me: Perfect.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
"You Don't Know Frank Sinatra?"
Efren (4th year immigrant from MX) & Araceli (5th year immigrant from MX) are the only two students in 3B. They have been at Kealing for 3 years together; they work well together & are comfortable with each other.
Today, Efren mentioned Frank Sinatra when we were talking about memoirs. He asked Araceli if she knew who he was. She looked confused & said rather enthusiastically, "NO."
Efren freaked out & said, "What? I can't believe you don't know who he is. He's a CLASSIC. Like, he's from the As! Not the Bs or the Cs or the Ds or the Fs!! From the As...a classic." (Note: Efren is a 14 year old boy with a Mexican accent, which made this whole thing about Frank Sinatra that much more entertaining to listen to. He seems to constantly impress me with his cultural diversity. It's refreshing.)
Efren also made sure we knew he listens to Frank all the time on his 8 Track at home & he also has some of Sinatra's songs on his iPod. ;)
Today, Efren mentioned Frank Sinatra when we were talking about memoirs. He asked Araceli if she knew who he was. She looked confused & said rather enthusiastically, "NO."
Efren freaked out & said, "What? I can't believe you don't know who he is. He's a CLASSIC. Like, he's from the As! Not the Bs or the Cs or the Ds or the Fs!! From the As...a classic." (Note: Efren is a 14 year old boy with a Mexican accent, which made this whole thing about Frank Sinatra that much more entertaining to listen to. He seems to constantly impress me with his cultural diversity. It's refreshing.)
Efren also made sure we knew he listens to Frank all the time on his 8 Track at home & he also has some of Sinatra's songs on his iPod. ;)
Friday, October 21, 2011
To: Iraq, From: Lebanon
I have an Iraqi student this year in my ESL class. She is a refugee who has been in the U.S. for 2 years. The past several days, I've learned so much about her life & I admire her so much.
Earlier this week, I told her I was cooking a Lebanese meal for a few friends & we talked about all the foods I was going to make. She recognized everything & said, "Oh! I know these foods, we have the same in my country." (I love that she says, "in my country..." all the time!)
In my small little mind I thought, "Oh, I wonder if they get to eat traditional middle eastern cuisine very often? Maybe they don't." (Not sure why I thought that. Probably because I wanted to think that.)
I had a brilliant idea! "I'll pack up some leftovers from my Lebanese dinner & bring them to school for her to take home for her & her father!!" :)
I came to school today excited to share my gift with FJ. Enjoy our conversation...
I asked, "How often do you & your dad get to eat chicken & rice (hashweh)?"
She said, "Oh! A lot. (smile)"
"Oh, really? That's great! What about grape leaves? Dolmas?"
"Yes, we eat those too!"
"WHAT?? Do you cook them yourselves?"
"Yes, my dad cooks a lot. He used to be a chef in Iraq. (smile)"
"Are you kidding me?!?! I don't want to give you the food I cooked!! Y'all are going to think it sucks! Do you even still want it?!" (We're both laughing at this point.)
"Yes! I think I want it. I want to try it."
What just happened? Well, you live. You learn. ;)
Earlier this week, I told her I was cooking a Lebanese meal for a few friends & we talked about all the foods I was going to make. She recognized everything & said, "Oh! I know these foods, we have the same in my country." (I love that she says, "in my country..." all the time!)
In my small little mind I thought, "Oh, I wonder if they get to eat traditional middle eastern cuisine very often? Maybe they don't." (Not sure why I thought that. Probably because I wanted to think that.)
I had a brilliant idea! "I'll pack up some leftovers from my Lebanese dinner & bring them to school for her to take home for her & her father!!" :)
I came to school today excited to share my gift with FJ. Enjoy our conversation...
I asked, "How often do you & your dad get to eat chicken & rice (hashweh)?"
She said, "Oh! A lot. (smile)"
"Oh, really? That's great! What about grape leaves? Dolmas?"
"Yes, we eat those too!"
"WHAT?? Do you cook them yourselves?"
"Yes, my dad cooks a lot. He used to be a chef in Iraq. (smile)"
"Are you kidding me?!?! I don't want to give you the food I cooked!! Y'all are going to think it sucks! Do you even still want it?!" (We're both laughing at this point.)
"Yes! I think I want it. I want to try it."
What just happened? Well, you live. You learn. ;)
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The Reunion
I witnessed a reunion that almost made me tear up last week.
I had 2 newcomers last year from Mexico who were sisters. YS & ES. They were VERY different. YS, the older & more mature one is very sweet, loves to laugh, & has a lot of compassion for people. ES, a year younger, is a spaz, loves to dance, gets distracted easily, makes other people laugh (& scream), & always has a good time. They both had to transfer to another district over the summer because they moved. I haven't heard from them since the end of last year, but frequently wonder how they're adjusting & doing.
On Friday last week, I was eating lunch in the staff lounge when 2 students walked in (which is frowned upon) & said, "Ms. Schwarzlose!" I look up to see YS & one of her cousins walking right towards me. Ahhh!
I leapt up & gave her a big hug & lead her into the hallway so we could chat. Hearing her English was even better than when she left us a few months ago made me smile! She is precious.
All of the sudden, the bell rang to go to last period. One of my other students, AA, who was in Language Arts class with YS last year & would help her with translating, walked up in the hall. When she saw YS, she screamed, "WHAT?" & gave her a huge hug. Then, she looked at me with tears in her eyes, gave me a hug & hid her face in my chest because she didn't want anyone to know she was getting emotional about the unexpected "reunion." I traded contact info with YS so we can all keep in touch now!
AA misses YS's friendship this year. They were very close last year & bonded over a lot of different things. It was simply awesome to see that moment last week.
I am constantly reminded that I have a very special job here. I have unique students, from around the world, who are going through different transitions than other students. I have students who create tighter bonds simply because of class size, atmosphere, & vulnerability. :) Which, I wouldn't trade for the world. I am thankful.
I had 2 newcomers last year from Mexico who were sisters. YS & ES. They were VERY different. YS, the older & more mature one is very sweet, loves to laugh, & has a lot of compassion for people. ES, a year younger, is a spaz, loves to dance, gets distracted easily, makes other people laugh (& scream), & always has a good time. They both had to transfer to another district over the summer because they moved. I haven't heard from them since the end of last year, but frequently wonder how they're adjusting & doing.
On Friday last week, I was eating lunch in the staff lounge when 2 students walked in (which is frowned upon) & said, "Ms. Schwarzlose!" I look up to see YS & one of her cousins walking right towards me. Ahhh!
I leapt up & gave her a big hug & lead her into the hallway so we could chat. Hearing her English was even better than when she left us a few months ago made me smile! She is precious.
All of the sudden, the bell rang to go to last period. One of my other students, AA, who was in Language Arts class with YS last year & would help her with translating, walked up in the hall. When she saw YS, she screamed, "WHAT?" & gave her a huge hug. Then, she looked at me with tears in her eyes, gave me a hug & hid her face in my chest because she didn't want anyone to know she was getting emotional about the unexpected "reunion." I traded contact info with YS so we can all keep in touch now!
AA misses YS's friendship this year. They were very close last year & bonded over a lot of different things. It was simply awesome to see that moment last week.
I am constantly reminded that I have a very special job here. I have unique students, from around the world, who are going through different transitions than other students. I have students who create tighter bonds simply because of class size, atmosphere, & vulnerability. :) Which, I wouldn't trade for the world. I am thankful.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
