Random Descriptions of My Travel Adventures

A student sent this email to the instructor for the class in which I'm a TA. Everything is reproduced exactly as written however the names have been changed to protect the innocent, and the stupid. Remember, this email was sent Friday morning just before spring break. "hello, [instructor], this is Wilma Flintstone I am informing you that I will not be attending class today because I have the flu very badly to where its even very difficult to write this email, but I figured that I would let you know before starts today. I should be back on my feet again after the break. Thank you fir your time I am really sorry that I could not make it an I know chapter 8 is due today, do you believe it is possible for me to email it to you? I know it is an inconvenience on your part but I would really appreciate it. Thank you for your time. -wilma" When she finally turned the assignment in, it was definitely worth the wait. This particular exercise was a simple identify the location where...

These are some choice quotes from essays I had to grade recently. The students were expected to choose two Nobel Peace Prize winners and describe their achievements. Keep in mind this is an upper division class, meaning Juniors and Seniors....might give you a bit of a scare. "Woodrow Wilson had been recognized for the peace program in his Fourteen Points and his work in achieving inclusion of the Covenant of the League of Nations in the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. Having done so, Wilson began to be acknowledged for his surprising support in the reform of the Nation. The cause of peace and the cause of truth are of one relation. Woodrow Wilson had been elected President of the United States at the time of the acceptance of the Nobel Piece Prize." Yes, not the Peace Prize but the Piece Prize!!! Hello! Where do I even begin with the red pen! The scary part is most of the essays are like this, the good ones are the exception. Same essay.... "Wilson's pursuit to change vi...

So much political excitement at the federal level and of course in Oaxaca and I'm simply here bogged down in preparing for school. Just saw this on Yahoo! news, check it out. Things are so much more exciting in Mexico, but, I will say 3 cheers for the Lamont victory over Lieberman in Connecticut! A small example of what democracy in this country can really be about. Mexico leftists block foreign banks in protest

Check out this article from the New York Times entitled "Mexican Tribunal Rejects Demand for Vote Recount" by James McKinley Jr.

I'm back in the U.S., just arrived a few hours ago (drinking some wine) and because I'm so worn out this will be brief. While I am glad to return home (took a long hot shower, did laundry, rediscovered my own living space and my car) I am not looking forward to the mountain of responsibilities that greeted me as I arrived home. In my usual style of procrastination (which is why I did not post in this week, waited until the last minute to get a paper done) I think I will be posting some of the things from my trip that I didn't get to while in Oaxaca. I'm going to miss writing about the city and so will try to prolong the feeling as long as possible. I suppose I can turn the blog into random postings about what my students say and turn in throughout the Global Change class I'm teaching this semester. So hello again friends and family, Tempe, my apartment and the new car I'm not sure I'll remember how to drive! Now that all instructions are in English on the...

I am in full procrastination mode, our end of program project and presentation are due this week (next two days) so in addition to playing endless games of solitaire on the computer a short blog entry is also in order. I’m sure the project will be wonderfully sub-par as my usual procrastination affected efforts are but that is a worry for tomorrow. I have had a few glasses of wine so this post might be a bit sloppy but likely no more than usual. I’m also tired from a roach incident last night but since I have stated that I will no longer post about that I will stick to my guns. The mega march in Mexico City I spoke of turned into a mega campout! I don’t know how many people are camping but I did here that every state in Mexico will be represented. According to some news sources the traffic is snarled and commutes are taking hours (though I’m not sure if this is abnormal) and Obrador has basically asked for patience because this affects the entire country. Exciting stuff! I was speakin...