10 Nisan/25 March, 2010
Mar. 25th, 2010 11:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bearshortyWow, this article describing in detail what exactly middle class is in America is scarily really describing my parents. I mean I knew we are middle class but still. And my parents came to America at the age of thirty six and completely started over and in a new language too. Which always reminds me that anything is possible. But, of course, both my parents have college engineering degrees and are smart, especially Papa, so it is no surprise that they can relearn and be smart at new professions too. And Mama is shrewd with money so she could save up for a house after five years in America. My parents, for all their dysfunctions, actually make a great team because they balance each other out.
Today Papa had a day off (he has to take the remaining vacation days from last year before they disappear) so they can drive me to school. This was I could actually go to the library and take care of things and stay until five without anyone having issues with it.
I went to the writing program campus first, where the director I wanted to see was on vacation. But I saw one of my folder reviewers and had a nice chat. No full time next year – too many budget cuts and many full timers are actually getting fired. Instead, the University generously is allowing PTLs to teach five courses per years instead of just four. That way they can hire a bunch of part time people, pay them less and with no benefits. Joy. So I left my part time form in the directors mailbox and will probably just do that again in the fall.
After that I took the bus to the main campus to the library where I had access to a printer, which I used generously and actually had a nice productive day. By the end of the day (with a break for pizza, as it is Passover next week and I’m filling up on bread), I also went through journals to see if I missed any articles or book and I found a great book from 2008 all about London courts, which will be very useful. And being in the library just reminded me how much I love being in the library and being scholarly. I always feel so at home there. It is a nice feeling to be reminded of who I am after sitting at home for so long.
When I got home the neighbor kids were out playing and they wanted me to play jump rope with them. I taught them a jump rope game I played as a child – you just ten times with both feet, nine times running, eight times on one foot and so on and then you do it backwards. I used to be damn good at that game and even now, with my center of gravity being different and with jumping being much harder is was still easy to impress seven year olds. Then as I had enough of jumping and wanted to go for a walk, the neighbor girl wanted to walk with me, so after we checked with her Dad we went for a walk. I was telling her some mythologies stories like about Perseus and I was mightily amused at her reactions to them. She never heard of Greek mythologies and couldn’t at first understand the concept of many gods. “But there is only one God” she told me bewilderingly, trying to correct my misconception. It took me a bit to get her to understand that people used to believe in many gods and told stories. At her age I used to already read about it. But she doesn’t read much as I don’t think her parents encourage her.
Today Papa had a day off (he has to take the remaining vacation days from last year before they disappear) so they can drive me to school. This was I could actually go to the library and take care of things and stay until five without anyone having issues with it.
I went to the writing program campus first, where the director I wanted to see was on vacation. But I saw one of my folder reviewers and had a nice chat. No full time next year – too many budget cuts and many full timers are actually getting fired. Instead, the University generously is allowing PTLs to teach five courses per years instead of just four. That way they can hire a bunch of part time people, pay them less and with no benefits. Joy. So I left my part time form in the directors mailbox and will probably just do that again in the fall.
After that I took the bus to the main campus to the library where I had access to a printer, which I used generously and actually had a nice productive day. By the end of the day (with a break for pizza, as it is Passover next week and I’m filling up on bread), I also went through journals to see if I missed any articles or book and I found a great book from 2008 all about London courts, which will be very useful. And being in the library just reminded me how much I love being in the library and being scholarly. I always feel so at home there. It is a nice feeling to be reminded of who I am after sitting at home for so long.
When I got home the neighbor kids were out playing and they wanted me to play jump rope with them. I taught them a jump rope game I played as a child – you just ten times with both feet, nine times running, eight times on one foot and so on and then you do it backwards. I used to be damn good at that game and even now, with my center of gravity being different and with jumping being much harder is was still easy to impress seven year olds. Then as I had enough of jumping and wanted to go for a walk, the neighbor girl wanted to walk with me, so after we checked with her Dad we went for a walk. I was telling her some mythologies stories like about Perseus and I was mightily amused at her reactions to them. She never heard of Greek mythologies and couldn’t at first understand the concept of many gods. “But there is only one God” she told me bewilderingly, trying to correct my misconception. It took me a bit to get her to understand that people used to believe in many gods and told stories. At her age I used to already read about it. But she doesn’t read much as I don’t think her parents encourage her.
