Not the blogger I used to be!

When I was in the Peace Corps from 2010 - 2013, I blogged a minimum of twice a month. Now that I'm back in Minneapolis, I can't believe how sporadic I blog. Not as if things aren't going on to write about, but more a testament to the reality that I'm a "some time" writer.

I'm at the keyboard today to settle down. Many things going on and writing helps organize my thoughts. Mother's health, my trip to see Elaine and Suzi in Ohio, bathroom remodel, buying a car again - or not, pushing WAOA to update the curb appeal of our building, and getting in enough hours as a tutor. And did I mention that I've had a stupid cold? Maybe that's why I'm sitting down because I'm slowing down.

Re: mother. I talked with nurse Jean this morning and sent a summary to my sisters.
Re: Ohio trip. I got out "thank you" notecard, but need to think more about a gift - since she told me she already bought a corkscrew which I noticed she needed.
Re: bathroom. Pleasant visit with carpenter Skip yesterday and clarified some items. Now I need to pick out bathroom tile and colors, and add an estimated cost. Total cost is still relatively reasonable.
Re: used car. Put off for another week to see if that late model I spotted online is still unsold.
Re: WAOA. Appointment set with one landscape company for this Thursday; also called Minneapolis city hall about ash tree, stump removal and re-planting a tree.
Re: cold! A few nose blows still but no longer taking drugs.

Once I get those things down on paper it seems like things are not so bad. I'll add in a few more minor things to like finishing taxes and walking to the grocery store. Easy.

So here is one photo from my week in Ohio. I really need to write a separate blog about it - for reasons that will become apparent. That's Suzi, Elaine, and me at Shansi House on the Oberlin campus.

Minneapolis Manners

I often wonder if people from the coasts, especially New York City, would snicker at the politeness of transit users in Minneapolis. Today, I counted 10 out of 12 passengers exiting the bus saying "thank you" to the driver. It was an ordinary ride, not as if she'd maneuvered us through harrowing traffic. And the drivers often say, "Have a nice day" to passengers getting off. Same goes for exchanging greetings. Just something I've noticed that confirms "Minnesota Nice."

All that niceness goes out the window when it comes to the treatment of pedestrians. Whether it's un-shoveled sidewalks, or failing to yield to pedestrians, Minnesotans should not be proud. Bicyclists don't fair much better. Some even regard bikers and walkers as freakish - as if we're reminding drivers of money ill-spent on a car and gas and all that goes with it - parking costs and insurance.

Perhaps being nice is because children are already taught in 1st grade about Peace. At least that's my observation while tutoring at Lyndale Community School in south Minneapolis. I took this cellphone photo of postings outside a classroom door. Down the hall in another classroom, I also heard a young man say "thank you" to his 1st grade teacher for something she helped him with. (So I in turn complimented him for saying "thank you" to her.)

I've added some of the "Peace is . . ." beliefs by children below this photo.

Peace is playing safe.
Peace is helping everyone.
Peace is meditating. (A 6 year-old is a meditator?)
Peace is saying sorry to someone.
Peace is clearing the table by myself.
Peace is using words instead of fighting.

Some Somali children seemed a little stressed on Friday Feb. 28th. I think they must hear someone in their family talking about recent violence in Mogadishu. Unprompted, 2 boys mentioned separately to me that "I'm never going to Africa because I could get shot," and another said, "I don't want to be a policeman because they beat people." No news like that in Minneapolis. Another observation from Friday is that many Somali moms and dads come in the building to pick up their children. They are usually all dressed up, so this seems to be an important day.

One month later . . .

OMG, it's been a month since my initial post to my new blog. Even in the Peace Corps, I generated a post at least twice a month. I'm not sure why that was, but I suspect that back here in America I am distracted by too things before I sit down to write. Like many, I flit from thing to thing in a state of perpetual distraction. No wonder I can't focus: my world is filled with inconsequential things.

The upshot is that I don't make time to write let alone contemplate what I'd like to write about. So when I do sit at my computer, I have a hard time trying to pull together diverse thoughts.

The simplest place to start is my day at Lyndale Community School. This morning I worked with some 3rd graders who were working on biographies and that meant reading, taking notes, writing a synopsis, creating a poster, and then reciting the key points in character. Two boys had chosen Michael Jordan, so I worked with them reviewing the notes they had previously taken about him. That is, when he was born, where did he live, what did he do, and why was he successful.

These 2 boys were so excited about Michael Jordan that they missed a key point: that he play basketball! They talked about his birth date, where he played, that he was MVP, but they never mentioned what sport! Once we got that cleared up, they put on their posters and practiced, practiced, practiced for a parent program on Monday. Good luck Hassan and Yasir!

Next I coached 2 girls about their chosen persons, Rosa Parks and Frederick Douglas.

I asked each of the 4 students to tell me about themselves as a way of comparing biographies with auto-biographies. Each of them comes from a large family, i.e. at least 4 siblings. One proceeded to tell me how a grandmother is white so mother is fair-skinned. I find it interesting that of the 4 students, dogs are not highly regarded as pets. One girl gave me a list of the names of her stuffed animals - and their birthdays!

Later I moved to a 1st grade classroom and discovered one little boy with shoes too big and no socks or undershirt on one of the coldest days of the Winter. I often wonder who teaches immigrants how to dress for cold weather. 

Thank goodness for "indoor recess." That announcement was welcomed excitedly by students today - a far cry from last month when they were most unhappy when told that is was too cold to play outside. I find myself admiring the teachers for their day-long energy and ability to maintain the interest of children. 

Another beginning

Day 7 into the New Year and I can't put off blogging again anymore. What next? update my 2014 dreams poster? Now that will be a piece!

A new blog has been on my mind for several months, but it doesn't seem to be taking a particular shape or voice in my mind. So many things I could write about. "So many things" is the story of my life. But being forced indoors due to cold weather has finally landed me at blogspot again.

Mostly I have inequities on my mind as a retiree and tutor. Minneapolis has rotten reputation for gap between minorities and whites. For my blog, I think I'll focus on happenings at Lyndale Community School and toss in whatever asides come to my mind.

1st of all: Xamın (pronounced ha' nim) is the Azerbaijani word for madam, lady or mistress. That's me - an older, unmarried woman.
2nd: Uptown. That's an area of the city of Minneapolis near the intersection of Hennepin Avenue and Lake Street, and not far from lakes. Lots of shops and restaurants for a relatively high density part of the city.

As always, at least one photo to add interest to my posts. Here are some 1st grade children I tutor.