I write to you from the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, where I have been fortunate enough to go on vacation with my family. First of all, Asheville is amazing. There is basically everything any literate hipster could dream of... zillions of cafes, local bookstores, independently owned shops and restaurants, tons of microbreweries... all surrounded by gently rising green-covered mountains. In a way, it reminds me of Vermont, and I've relished the ability to live again in peaceful seclusion (although not quite as secluded as dear old Thetford Center!). Here are a few pictures from yesterday to communicate my joy:
I've been solidly MIA for the last few weeks. Graduate school finals week is a unique kind of hell, one with myriad forms of caffeine, a solid lack of sleep, but overall better choices than the finals weeks I experienced in undergraduate. I still managed to cook my own meals, eat healthfully, and not touch RedBull--I suppose that's the small amount of wisdom acquired over four years at KU.
So, what was I doing, you might ask? Well, the ultimate goals of my summer courses this summer (besides to readforever) were to produce several documents that I will later send off to the State of North Carolina to get my teacher's license. Those documents consisted of a 5-page "Philosophy of Teaching English," a 10-page "Philosophy of Teaching Adolescents," and what came to be (for me) a 60-some-page unit plan (consisting of 13 days of lessons for a unit on African literature). Now, 60 pages may sound like a lot, but I witnessed several of my classmates hand in units of 100+ pages. In one word: "Formidable," especially within the 5-week timeline. By the last day we had all lost our minds. Luckily, sleep and beer heal all wounds! ha!!
Apart from that, I also wrote a 16 page paper for an "Investigation Project" on autism that I made into a website. Last Thursday I presented my paper to my class (which was really just a way to introduce them to autism). I hope to continue to develop this website in the future for Duke, but you can take a look at it in its VERY raw state right now: http://autisminvestigationproject.wordpress.com/
So, that my friends, has largely influenced my disappearance from reality of late! I must say that although I lost my mind several times (living alone doesn't seem to help with that), it was an extremely challenging academic experience that I wouldn't trade for the world.
Having concluded that chapter, the next one begins on Monday, August 19th, at 8:00 am when I begin my internship in Durham Public schools. I'll be working right alongside my mentor teacher in 3 different types of English classes: (1) Standard English 10th Grade, (2) Honors English 10th grade, and (3) AP English 11th grade. Naturally, I am thrilled to re-live one of the greatest moments of my high school and English career. Pre-Monday, I plan to do some valiant soul-searching and possibly channeling of Mr. Luckert's AP English prowess--May the great English Gods bless me with their wisdom! If not, may they grant me mercy! haha. I'm nervous.
My new schedule will basically look like this:
Monday 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM Internship; 3:05 PM - 4:20 PM "Modernism Seminar"
Tuesday 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM Internship
Wednesday 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM Internship; 3:05 PM - 4:20 PM "Modernism Seminar"
Thursday 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM Internship; 4:40 PM - 6:10 PM "Technology, Society, Schools"
Friday 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM Internship
I'll be busy. Well, I think that's a solid update for now. I'll try to get back here before school starts on Monday with a more eloquent story post. I hope all is well with everyone--talk to you soon!
-S.
