Day 1 Back to School

I couldn't sleep last Sunday night. I've had the same problem since 1968, but back then I was a new teacher and had reason to be nervous. Forty years later and the old familiar worries still keep me awake. Did I have enough in my lesson plan to fill the four hours? What if I didn't hear the high pitched sound from watch and overslept? Had I packed all my papers and books I needed? Would I miss the Belmont bus and have to walk to the Red Line station? How long would that take?

Silly to worry, I thought when I entered Truman College, a half hour early. I walked straight to my room, saw the green "blackboard" and was comforted by those desks in tidy rows. So familiar.

Maria from Mexico was first to enter the room, though tentatively. Big smile, shake hands, exchange "nice to meet you"s and wait for others to arrive. Jesus, tall and friendly, walked up to meet me. "Hi, my name's Sue. What's your name? Where are you from?" Then more students came in.

Like last year, my students are from all over. And, although this class is supposed to be Level O (whatever that means) everyone understood my two questions and I could understand them when they answered. Like last year I have students from Eritrea. This year I know where that is. I can't wait to tell them that my son and his wife will soon be traveling to their part of the world to gather up their "kid 2." He'll be Eithiopian but from an area near Kenya.

I wonder what Akil and Josef's stories are? They are two students from Iraq. One is young and the other is about my age. Then enter two students from Ecuador and one from Guatamala. Won't Yoalin be surprised when I tell him that I have a grandson who is Guatamalan. When will we be able to exchange stories?

Before class is over, I tell my students that I'm going to be a student that night. I've signed up for another Spanish class. Let's see, this makes my fifth one. We'll see if I've improved. But just like math, if you don't use it, you lose it. Big grins appeared on Jesus, Yoalin and Maria's faces when I said, "Esta noche yo estoy un estudiante!"