Remembering

Campus becomes hectic the first week of June when seniors return from their internships to face the final requirements before being mailed a degree. Thesis defenses are given, final farewell parties by associations and classes are thrown, mounds of paperwork are signed and stamped, and thousands of photos are taken...again. While I enjoy saying farewell to the masses and snapping a few photos, I tend to love the quiet, stolen moments I can sit and chat with those closest the most. It is with these who have moved from student to friend that remind me why I love teaching. Why I love living in a foreign country. Why I love journeying alongside people. Why I love living among college students. For in these last chats, we remember.

We remember the journey - theirs and ours.

On one evening, we talked about the flux of foreign teachers and their legacies. For these graduating seniors, we have been the consistent foreigners. We have outlasted, much to our shock as theirs. Though, as one student put it: GDOU is the Hunger Games and somehow the odds were in our favor. A fitting summation to describe the ups and downs of this place, including the coming and going of foreign teachers.

There definitely have been many who have come and gone.

It was entertaining to hear which ones they remembered and what they recalled about them. Through moments of laughter and solemnity, we relived the years by those who intersected our GDOU journey for a year or two. It was interesting to Zach and I how quickly the remembrance of teachers dissipates. Two years after leaving is about the average for a foreigner to be remembered. Even Barbara, who was a constant on campus for eighteen years, has been largely forgotten. If mentioned, the response tends to be, "Wasn't she the one who was here a long time?"

A couple of days after the conversation, I was stopped in front of my building after class by an unexpected sight.

A bouquet of flowers propped up against the concrete wall.

I stood, breathless.

Goosebumps appeared on my arms.

A solitary bouquet that was a reminder of a hard season not so long ago.

In the hustle and bustle of senior activities, one lone, anonymous student remembered a beloved teacher.

Simon.

The quirky British man who took to our campus with a hobble, a boisterous laugh, and a horrid love affair of bad coffee. His dictations were infamous, as were his coined phrases of "my girlfriend" and "every coin has two sides." His death shocked our community in so many ways.

Standing in front of my building, I could not help but end up smiling at the tangible reminder of the recent conversation. It also showed me that that while the legacy of our time here is short to the masses, to some it will remain with them for far longer. 

Photo Journal: Nightscapes

Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; 

I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night. 

- Sarah Williams, The Old Astronomer to His Pupil

May Highlights with a Dash of June

After five years, I can say that the month of May has a definite rhythm and routine to it. If anything, it seems a bit redundant, crazy, and resembles a slalom ski route - we begin with a yelp of surprise, swerve madly attempting to attend or judge as many events as possible, and swoosh into the month of June, hands up, screaming with equal parts delight and relief that we managed to survive another round.

When I finally sit down to reflect and write, I realize that no post could encapsulate the insanity of the month, nor do I have the time because I realize that said reflection happens a week into June... because June it is not calmer. Thus, June's beginning stories get smooshed into a post such as this one.

Hello, oh highlights of May with a dash of June.

The month began with the annual Kentucky Derby hat competition with my classes. Once again, it was a hit and the creativity was spectacular.

Zach rocked the football field in his team's quest to win the championship. Alas, they got fourth when the match ended in penalty kicks. I was at the game, but cannot give a detailed description of the agonizing final moments since I was team doctor for the field vying for the championship. In the final moments, a goalie and striker decided to head butt. It resulted in a lot of torn skin, blood, and a crowd that had no concept of first aid and was more interested in taking pictures. It was a bloody mess, and in the midst of this mess is where Zach found me to rehash the final moments of his game.

Brian joined us for a weekend staycation, With him, we took our first ride in one of the white golf carts that drive erratically around campus. It was quite enjoyable.  

Competitions and performances are scheduled nearly every night during May. What we are not judging, we attend because we love supporting our students and we never know what kind of hilarity may ensue.

Towards the end of May (and the semester), this is what our classes look like and what I feel like internally.

The first day of June, I went downtown with one of my classes to watch them perform in a Children's Day performance. Unbeknownst to me, it was at a kindergarten where I know many of the teachers. My students were stunned when I was met with hugs and boisterous greetings.

On the first Saturday of June, I took part in the annual GDOU swimming competition. Two years ago, I was beaten in the 50m freestyle race by an unknown competitor. Due to my sister's wedding I was unable to compete last year. This year, I hoped for a rematch and for the result to be in my favor.

It was.

I beat her to the wall by two and a half seconds.

I went on to win the 100m freestyle race later in the day.

As always, it is one of my favorite days on campus.