Orphans

I've picked up a bad habit from Count Olaf (from reading the books, not watching the movie). I refer to my nieces as "The Orphans". I think its funny how Olaf says it about the Baudelaires---"HELLO, HELLO, HELLO, Orphans!!" But, my nieces are real little girls that have lost their mother. They have experienced real life tragedy, not just an entertaining, made-up series of unfortunate events. Maybe the whole adoption thing isn't real enough, for me, yet. I haven't really taken in the fact that these three real little people might soon be part of my immediate family (!!!???). That reality is too big and scary and complicated to digest and so I think of it like a story, like I'm a villanous Aunty Olaf or something funny and ridiculous.

Here are some of the things I most look forward to about adopting three half grown Sudanese women:

1- Girl Scouts
2- Family Vacations
3- Simbe the dad
4- Three new young friends
5- Blossoming bi-cultural identities
6- powerful tides of sisterly love
7- introducing them to the beautiful, rich culture of these United States
8- A house full of chatter
9- Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins
10-high school and college graduations

performing identities

Audrey encouraged me to consider doing some sort of "masters degree final project" in lieu of comp exams. Or at least in lieu of the full size comp exams. An exciting idea is percolating along these basic lines: This summer I'll take a group of twleve or so of my students that are going to be sixth graders next year and we'll use that digital video recorder that the school bought and make autobiographical documentaries. I can use the writing/theory work that I've done in some of my classes to frame the project and even to develop some strong curriculum. Hmmmm. Maybe I could write a small grant to fund the project.

One thing I'm not sure how to work out is the isolation of such a project. There will be these twelve incredible students, of course, but I would love to do the whole project with another adult partner as well. But I can't imagine things working out if my partner is somebody from the U who doesn't have any history or passion or commitment to these particular kids. Plus, if it's "my project" why would anyone else want to get involved? Maybe if the grant comes through and we're both getting paid (??) but I need someone who has some background in the theory/rationale for the whole project as well. Tricky. Maybe I do it alone. Or maybe I just consult with Audrey. I should email her about this idea.

plural murder

i think it's such a catchy, excellent title, that i have to write the book just so that there will exist in this world a book with such a great title.

The first session of our writing club, yesterday, was very cool. I'm psyched and wrote another one and a half pages this evening. my goal is twleve by our next session.

I'm a bit nervous because I don't think I can handle very harsh criticism at this fledgling stage I'm in right now. And---I think it might be too hard to revise and write new material at the same time. I need support and encouragement and accountability and goals, and not a whole lot of critique, yet.

Teaching

My sister-in-law is starting a new business venture which includes some very cool, very original ideas. I keep on imagining myself as some sort of entrepenuer. I certainly have some of that risk loving/leadership skills and a creative spirit in me. But I really love teaching. It's very challenging and rewarding. It's the perfect combination of all my passions and interests. I'm an anthropologist, librarian, mathematician, writer, and psychologist every day. And I get to believe that I'm somehow working for social justice. Little human creatures are sufficently complex organisms to keep me enthralled for at least another decade.