Saturday, November 29, 2008

Chicago

The Midwest is much different than most places (specifically the east and west coasts). And Chicago is much different than the Midwest. There isn't much corn, no large crosses in the middle of cornfields (Ever been to Effingham? http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2780290), and there is wonderful stuffed (not deep dish) pizza.

But in someways Chicago is everything the Midwest is about, and that is why it is the best of both worlds. While still being a major metropolitan area, with skyscrapers, concerts, bars, highways, sports teams, shopping and many other things, it has the feel of home.

Unlike New York, its very hard to get lost here. I know some would say that if you are a true New Yorker, then you don't get lost there either, but I can't buy that. You always feel lost in New York, and maybe thats the appeal of it.

For me though, Chicago is hard to get lost in. It's a city of neighborhoods, you always know where you are, and usually who you are. In New York, its a place to search for each of those things, and maybe thats why I'm there right now. I think Chicago is a place you end up in when you know who you are and want to stay that way.

In other words, I'm happy to be back in Chicago for a few days. Happy Thanksgiving.

On a lighter note, this is a text message I just got from my student:

"Happy thanx giving I noe iz very late I juzz remeberd buh I hope u enjoy da rest of da days we have left lolzz." They are amazing. Be Jealous.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Not as Seen on TV

Simply put: Synthetic ice does not equal real ice. Don't be confused.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

U.S. History Bible?

So I know that I said this blog wasn't about teaching, and it isn't; however, I cannot resist relaying what happened during my advisory today.

Some background, I'd say most of my kids speak Spanish. There are a few who don't...but most do. The majority of them speak Spanish as their first language.

The conversation turned to church on Sunday, and they proceeded to go into saying things in Spanish that I didn't understand that seemed to be jokes about their churches. They usually at this point, stop, and point out that they should switch back into English so that I can understand them (which I must say is nice of them!) But I told them not to worry, that I would just act like I understood them, and laugh at whatever they were doing.

Then this happened: They proceeded to take the U.S. History Regents Review books off the shelf. I was a bit confused at this point. They then passed out all of the books to everyone, and didn't give me one (not because I was the teacher, but because I was Jewish) and one of the girls started preaching in Spanish...everyone was cracking up, and eventually shouting Amen.

All I could think about was that they had chosen the U.S. History Regents review book as their Bible. If only, right?

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

New York in the Fall

So I did something today that I've never really done before. I kinda played hookie from work.

Well not exactly.

I went to bed late last night since grades for the quarter were due, and woke up feeling extremely bad. Not sure if was because I was actually sick, getting sick, or just plain exhausted, but I knew from the beginning that if I went into work today it wouldn't be good for me or for my kids.

So what did I do with the day? A lot.

I lesson planned, made breakfast (eggs and cheese of course), went to my coffee shop, planned out the next month of classes (in theory), went to the Met (and tried to convince them that since I was a teacher I didn't have to donate...doesn't work) and walked through, sat down, and read a book in central park while watching the leaves turn colors and the sun set.

Not sure if anyone else would agree with me, but pretty sure that it rivaled Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Well, maybe not, but it sure was what I needed.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Daylight Savings Time

So I'm currently sitting in a coffee shop with a few friends, and realized how confusing daylight savings time can be. An hour or so ago, I looked outside and it was dark. I proceeded to look at my watch, and thought to myself, "wow! its a lot earlier than I thought." Just now, about an hour later, I looked at my watch, and realized that it was a lot later than I thought it was. Its just confusing on all accounts.

Last week I had an argument with a friend of mine about whether or not the fact that it currently gets dark at 4:30pm could be considered a good thing. My argument was that it really does give you back time, because when it gets dark early, you think its REALLY late, when in reality it is not. So you basically get back time.

Of course, others would argue that its just a gloomy, dreary byproduct of the Fall and Winter seasons that makes people unhappy. You decide.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

The Things I Carried

When I came to New York I didn't bring a whole lot with me. I basically has what I had stored with some cousins that live in Jersey -- consisting mostly of clothes and other random necessities (Such as a TV, microwave, hangers, and my beloved black vest, which I've finally had a chance to break out in the crisp fall weather here in New York).

Now I've never been one to take the time to decorate my room, but I decided when I went home for my Brother's wedding a few weeks into August that I would take some things back with me to decorate my room. So what did I choose? Well, I brought my diploma, a flat-brimmed had that says "Da Bronx" in spray paint (another story for another time), a number of books, some posters, and two pictures.

One of the pictures was taken last year when I interned at the DCCC (the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) with the head of the DNC (Democratic National Committee), Howard Dean. I apologize for all the political acronyms...hopefully you'll get used to them.

And the other? The other really just hit me yesterday. It is a picture of me with Illinois Senators Barack Obama and Dick Durbin at a constituent breakfast a few years ago. It was very weird to look up and see a picture of myself with the President Elect, and I must say pretty cool. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I thoroughly enjoy figuring out how I could network to famous political people...so seeing a picture of myself on the wall with Obama was quite a proud moment.

I'll leave you with a link to a brief story reported in my hometown paper, the Chicago Tribune, today that relays just how far Obama has come in the last four years:

http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2008/11/o-mens.html

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Cliche Obama Post

A friend of mine who currently attends Columbia, and has lived a fairly sheltered suburban life, was chatting with me and mentioned that he went to Harlem to join in the celebration last night after Obama's historic election to the presidency.

In this conversation he said that he was "jumping and celebrating with peopel that looked like gangsters and thugs, it was amazing, and really made me rethink my perception." This brought two things to mind:

First, that beneath all overly hyped "Obama will change America in the first 30 seconds he's in office" mind-set, there might actually be something to the idea that simply having Obama as our next President will change things in out country--regardless of whether his policies are successful.

Second, its sad that it takes a bi-racial (yes, bi-racial) president to unite whites and blacks in one of the most racially contentious neighborhoods in the country. Where was the initiative to go and interact with each other before last night's historic election? I guess thats a bit of a futile question, and maybe it doesn't matter, but its one that I thought of right away.

On a final note, before heading to sleep so that I can be productive tomorrow, please do comment on these posts with any thoughts you have -- I want to hear them.

Coffee Shops

I figure as a young, hip(ish), 20-something recent college graduate with little time for anything more than my job, I'd try the blogging thing. I've always been one to share more with people I don't know than people I do know, and so this may very well be a good match for me.

A bit about me:

I'm a 22 year-old graduate of a D.C. University where my life revolved around politics and GW basketball--both of which are sports for me. I'm a native of Chicago, a city which I love, and hope to return to after a hiatus on the East Coast (one which has lasted for 5 years and counting). I now reside in New York City, teaching high school U.S. History to 65 wonderful 11th graders in the Bronx. While some of what I write about will be based on my experiences as a 1st year teacher, part of why I'm doing this is to find a way to focus on things that have nothing to do with that aspect of my life.

So, with that, welcome to "A Year Pursuing We The People." Maybe I'll blog about how I chose the name sometime...