8:22 on a Saturday Morning
Good morning all. I would, by pure function, be a morning person because I'm just so much more productive here in the AM than in the evening, but really, I'm exhaustedly tired. Not to mention it's cold as BALLS in my office.
Oh yah, and it's Saturday. Don't ask. I'm here because I don't have to be, and because it's a nice thing to do for some students. I have a plan of attack for my work, like write a final exam, but it'll be some time before I get my eyes to focus for a minute to get that done.
A few days ago, I had an incident where a student plagiarized her work, and it was really troubling to me. She's a senior, ready to graduate, and an international student to boot. It's easily an offense that could give the student an F in the assignment, an F in the course or some other sanction. I chose the 'other' option, and it's a nice one, really, but she's taking it really hard. Crying, coming to my office to talk to me, my intern about it. I feel bad, really, that she's so ashamed and having a hard time dealing with this. But I don't feel bad about my choice to have her go through the sanctions I chose; I feel they are more than fair.
My intern said, perhaps it's too harsh. I asked her to think of another student who is performing less to his ability and it honestly quite a handful. Would you say it's too harsh for him? She said no. I said to her, then that's an appropriate judgment. I'd treat any student, even if I knew them well, the very same way. She didn't pause. You're absolutely right, she said. It's fair.
I should hope so.
I love being a teacher, but nothing pushed me as far away from the love of the job like this semester. Part of it is having two co-teachers (argh), but all in all it's been a learning experience for me. I am going to be very glad when this semester is done, honestly.
***
Husbandido and I went out to dinner last night with FULL intentions of taking advantage of the Banana Republic friends and family sale (Mommy wants cashmere). We got hungry though...Husbandido got stuck in Friday traffic at the bridge that took him 1.5 hours to get through. Poor thing, he hates traffic, but gets stuck in it so often it's a sign from god to get over it. I wound up staying late at work to talk to the students as always.
Husbandido loves tapas because he's not one of those big plates kinda guys. He likes to sample everything. Seriously. A little this and that. We had to hash out where to go, and we decided on E&O because it's close to BR, but there was a wait. The food is good, but not ALL that to me, but it's easy. Whatever. We wound up walking over to the French District, as I like to call it, and had dinner at Cafe de la Presse. Say what you will about the French. I swear I'm a French person underneath this saggy clothing, but I loved my dinner, and the experience was wonderful with the exception of the surly host. Yes it was super expensive, but it made my night. That and the two Swatch watches I picked up afterwards too. that was a nice gift to myself. I love Swatches so much. What a nerd.
Anyway, I should write this final exam. I hope you're all doing so well, warm and snuggly in your beds. I hate all of you.
Voodoo