“So she gets to campus and she is hurrying because she is late for class and then she runs into him…” I begin. “And then he, what? Grabs her by her waist and pulls her toward him?” Krupa suggests. My fingers hesitate over the keyboard. “Hmm, I don’t know if they’ll get what that means,” … More Trying to do the right thing
Halloween 2016 has come and gone. Even though the orange tinsel and paper ghosts are gone from our classroom, memories of the holiday are still fresh in my students’ minds. I was forbidden from holding a Halloween party by the religious officials at my private Islamic school, but no one batted an eye when English … More A Halloween party by any other name
This post is dedicated to my Uncle Dave “from Florida” Fitzgerald, who has shared many pieces of wisdom over the years. One of my favorite “Uncle Dave-isms” is that there is magic to writing your goals down. From personal experience, I have found this to be true. I have also found that sharing goals creates … More Goals for 2016-2017
Students may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. ~~~ “Shall we?” I ask Pak Burhan, motioning to my watch. It is 8:10 Monday morning and time for our first class. While he gathers his papers I hold my work-in-progress activity binder close to my chest, hoping its … More Welcome Back, Miss: First Days of School
181 : Hours so far in Sidoarjo. 95 : Minutes to Jakarta by plane. 866,500 : Excess baggage fee to get my stuff from Jakarta to Surabaya (in IDR). 1,996,001 : Population of Sidoarjo, now including me and based on a 2014 estimate. 24 : Javanese words learned. When used properly, these words give the … More First Impressions of Sidoarjo: By the Numbers
“Assalamualaikum!” Peace be upon you! I call out the traditional Muslim greeting from outside the front gate of a neighbor’s house. “Walaikumsalam!” And peace be upon you! A man’s voice responds from inside. His head pokes into the ruang tamu–the front receiving room for guests–and he smiles in surprise. “Oi! Ada Miss Kelly!” Even … More “How did you freaking get here?”: A surprise homecoming in Pangkal Pinang
Where in the world is Kelly? 