Hump Day

If nothing else, today was event-FULL!

After my regular morning routine, I went downstairs this morning to jump on my bike only to find that the back tire'd gone flat. It'd probably been flat for a while; however, when I'd come home Friday night it was fine. Sometime from Friday night until this morning (Wednesday) it gave up the ghost.

Sooo, I arrived at school late much to the delight of my second-period class who didn't have to take the test. It wasn't until fourth period, when one of the Special Ed teachers (she accompanies a student of mine who's blind) came to my room, that I had time to go change into my "normal" teaching clothes.

The rest of my teaching day was not worthy of writing about.

At lunch, there was quite a crowd for the Union of Students for Buddhahood today. I was so jazzed at the large amount of people that I handed out some of the free Dharma pamphlets on the Four Noble Truths that 西來寺 sent us. So, I talked about the First Noble Truth, the reality of suffering (dukkha). The kids really seemed to be getting the message.

Also, today for the first time, the 三寳寺 monastics provided the Union of Students for Buddhahood with a free lunch. The nuns made curry and noodles for us.It was quite a hit!

After lunch, I had time for a bit of a breather.

During Wednesdays during 7th period, a group of advanced Spanish students and I discuss Spanish literature. The students choose the books and we discuss them. Last semester we read Versos del capitán, La familia de Pascual Duarte and another book whose title frankly I've forgotten. This semester we're reading Los Diarios de Motocicleta by Che Guevara. Some of the kids appear to not have yet developed any social conscience. I hope that having read this book that one will slowly begin to emerge.

After the Spanish literature class, there was our monthly World Language department meeting. It was mercifully short and mostly had to do with the impending WASC visit in March.

After school, there was a UBC (Union Building Committee) meeting. With justification many colleagues were pissed off at the school district for proposing an end to preparation time for AP teachers, an end to sabbaticals, a salary cut for experienced teachers, etc. I heard the word "work action" (aka strike) mentioned for the veryt first time.

After the meeting, I got a ride home with Ken (my colleague and neighbor), since my bike's on the fritz.

With such an eventful day behind me, I doubly look forward to flying away Friday.