Well, I guess that everything happens for a reason. This morning, I should have woken up at 5:45 AM so as to prepare for my 7:00 AM class. On Mondays I teach six classes, beginning at this early hour, whereas on Wednesdays, only two classes, from 11 – 1. Anyway, point is that somehow I didn’t wake up and for the first time since I arrived here, I just didn’t show up for my job. I do wake up when I hear the phone ringing and my counterpart on the other end wondering where I am. So I quickly dress, find that I’ve left the milk out after cooking last night, and head over to school. Unfortunately I’ve already missed three of my classes – unprofessional. However, nobody seems to be too upset, “eeh, it happens.”
Before my last class a few students approach me and say that they have some friends visiting from the US, and would it be okay if they sat in on the class? Sure I say, and then they suggest that we hold class in the amphitheater. I should have figured then, but I didn’t. Well, I walk into the amphitheater and instead of 3 or 4 guests, there are roughly 20 people. The people, I find out, are from some kind of church affiliated group. Although most of you could probably guess my reaction to such types, I decide not to jump into any judgement and just go on with class.
It turns out that this was one of the best classes yet. Since I didn’t want to cover anything new today, we instead kind of did a general retrospect on the American History we’d studied thus far – what did we not talk enough about , what was cool, etc… Some of the members of this group participated in the class and in a very positive way. We ended up discussing the idea of “hindsight being 20/20” (which was, by the way, a new term for my students,) the importance of perspective, and other such abstractions.
I was a bit nervous at the beginning because I do not know this class so well (for some reason this class is always getting cancelled,) but things really picked up. It was also a bit of a test to be performing in front of a group of Americans (mostly youths but with some older folks as well.) After class a few of them came up and praised my teaching – and that felt great.
The bit about oversleeping was fortuitous because had I gotten up on time, I probably would have been much more tired by the time that last class rolled around… so, there you have it. Another interesting moment here in Romania.
Till next time,
You should have stumbled in waving a bottle and mumbling slurred obscenities about how hard it is to make bail around here. I think it would have been a refreshing sight for the American guests. Then again, maybe not.
I’m glad to hear that class with the churchies went well, by the way – I take it they didn’t try to convert anyone. Did you ever find out what church they were from? I have a pretty dim view of organized religions myself, but some are worse than others.
And damn, I know you work hard, but a 7am class is savage. I’m amazed that this is the first time you’ve missed one. I was obsessive about getting to every class in college, and I probably would have missed one by now.
I have a dim view of people who have a prejudged dim view of others.