January 30, 2006
Well, how was my first night in my shoe box? Well, I have to admit I enjoyed it. I slept on the leftover mattress. With the full size mattress on the floor, there was no place to walk around. On closer inspection of the closet, the rod was poorly attached, and poorly measured (to compensate a block of wood was attached with a screw and the rod was attached to the block). Despite the little things, I did enjoy the first night. Sorry, it is late. I haven’t eaten lunch, and I haven’t eaten dinner. Last night after picking up some clothes, I got on the wrong train. I ended up getting home at 10pm. After ironing, and putting things in order, I went to bed about 2am. And, I had to get up at 5:30am.

I tried to visit the local internet café, but all of the computers were in use. After shopping for a few things, I returned to my foster father’s apartment (debating whether to go to my room or not). After a couple of hours of trying to relax and write a blog entry, I realize that I should go.

Until next time…

January 31, 2006
I finally got a computer at the local internet café. I am starting to fall asleep at this computer terminal, so I better keep this short.

Today, I was given a sixth grade class to teach. The day went okay. Now, I am going to stop by a copy center to make some copies, just in case I am given the same class again tomorrow. Luckily, carrying 15 (or 20) pounds of worksheets paid off today. Even though I only found about the 6th grade class about 10 minutes before picking up the class, I had more than enough worksheets to keep the students busy. I think being relatively prepared made the day less stressful.

This morning, I finally took a photo of my shoe box. Once I transfer the photo from my camera, I will post the photo.

I am sure some of you might be thinking, “ I wonder how long it will be before the complaints start to fall like rain". At the moment, I am still enjoying the room (and the freedom). I am also enjoying sharing a kitchen and bathroom in an apartment where everyone seems to keep out of sight. Now, if they would only be a little bit neater. I like a clean living space. Unfortunately, a couple of my housemates don’t seem to share my cleaning philosophy. How soon should the new guy start leaving polite notes to his housemates about cleaning up after themselves? The trash had been sitting in the kitchen for at least 3 days; the same can be said for the dishes in the sink. I am seeing more and more little roaches crawling around the kitchen. I am sure it will only be a matter of time before I see the mice. I got tired of seeing the trash, so I took out the days old trash yesterday evening. As for the dishes I think I might wash them once, then start piling the dirty dishes (in the future) on the counter. At the moment, there are so many dishes that I can barely put my cup under the faucet.

Now, I am fighting sleep, so I better end this. Ja mata…

January 29, 2006
Finally, I am back on the internet. Yesterday, I tried to post an entry using the computer at the local internet café, but for some reason, I was not able to log on. I also tried Saturday, but all of the computers were in use. And again this morning I tried, but again all of the computers were in use.

After days of excuses, and procrastinating, I finally returned to my new room. Rainy day to carry my things up to the Bronx. The first thing I noticed was the room was actually smaller than I imaged. Before going up, I took a few measurements at my foster father’s apartment. I used the measurements to get a sense of what I could (or would) be able to bring with me. It turns out that I twin-sized bed would take up half of the room. I decided that I would buy an Americanized futon bed to save a few inches in my shoe box. I found an ad in a couple of newspapers advertising futon frames for $49. I thought to myself, “great, a cheap bed”. I went to the furniture warehouse, and it turned out that the frame was cheap, but the mattress (by my poverty standards) was not cheap. The “cheap” futon mattress was about $90. The sales person was trying to sell me a more expense mattress. Sorry, I have to keep this short. I have to return to my foster father’s place, pick up some clothes, and go back to my shoe box and get ready for work. I will be returning to one of the other schools I worked at in the past. Unfortunately, the start time is 7:45. Just a quick summary of today.

I did about 30 minutes on my rowing machine.
Shaved my head.
Relaxed in the bath.
Brought my teaching materials to my shoe box.
Bought a futon. It will be delivered sometime next week. Oh, by the way. Here in New York, there was a “friendly-fire (cop on cop) shooting incident yesterday at a big restaurant chain in the Bronx. Guess where the furniture warehouse I went to is located. Right behind the restaurant. Today, only Channel 2 news teams was there.

After I bought my futon, I realized that I should buy a blanket and an ironing board. I was also planning to buy a new lock for my room. The lock on my room door does not work. In the neighborhood there is a big department store chain (known for its tools, and some furniture), would you believe that this branch of this big chain had no furniture, and did not have any door locks.

Well, let me end this now. The internet café is about to close.

January 28, 2006
Again, where do I begin? Sorry for the week without an entry. I did a stint subbing in another school. I was really impressed with the school tone. There were not kids running, and cursing throughout the hallways. It wasn’t great, but again, relatively speaking it was a nicer experience than the previous school. Yes, the kids were wild, disrespectful, but (relatively speaking) I had a much less stressful experience. Why am I not surprised that they did not ask me to return.

Yesterday, I returned to one of the other wild schools (mentioned in previous entries). I only returned because a couple of administrators really, really wanted me to work there. I have a very hard time saying no. I decided that I could handle a day -- and that day being a Friday, made the chaos easier to endure.

So, what kind of day was it? It started with me receiving a schedule to cover an absent teacher’s classes. 5 minutes later, the schedule had to be modified. 10 minutes later I was rushed to a 3rd grade classroom. I was told that I might have to cover that class all day. The minute I walked in, I could tell that it was probably a class with a wild reputation. It took me about 10 minutes to get the students calm and focused. And once the students were calm…the regular assigned teacher came. The assistant principal later explained the situation with the 3rd grade class. The regular teacher assigned to the class is a regular teacher at the school who was assigned this class to replace the original teacher -- I don’t know what happened to the original teacher. What the “regular assigned” teacher has been doing (according to the assistant principal) is coming to school late, so that a sub would have to take the class for the day. However, the assistant principal did not accept her lateness yesterday; he made her take the 3rd grade class anyway. The assistant principal really would like me to commit to being a full time sub at this school, so he has been trying to give me really good (relatively speaking) classes. This is a school where the teachers (for the upper grades) go to their classrooms, and the students are “sent up”. Each time I’ve subbed at this school the morning “send up” is a little like the “running of the bulls”. Yesterday one teacher had a red Mohawk hairstyle, and another teacher (in the past) usually wore a faded jeans ensemble (with a faded jean baseball cap). In the past, I would wonder (to myself) how do you tell students to take their hats off in the school building when a teacher is wearing a cap. Yesterday, the baseball cap wearing teacher didn’t have his cap on. I also heard (through out the day) the sounds of teachers yelling in the hallways for students to take off caps, hoods and do rags (a kind of stocking cap worn in inner cities). There must be a no hat policy now in effect. I could go on, but I have things to do.

So, what else is new?

Last week, I rented a room. This weekend I plan to move a few things, and then next week, rent a truck to move the rest.

So, what is the room like?

Small. Very small. Very, very small. By Japanese measurements, the room is about 3 or 4 tatamis in size. By American measurements, it is about the size of a big walk-in closet -- or a college dorm (space for a twin bed, a desk, and not much else). Sorry, I don’t have a photo at the moment. I kind of got the room on an impulse. The rent is $100 per week. I have to share the kitchen and the bathroom. The one time I was there, I saw a couple of guys, a couple of women, and a woman with a child, so it looks like a full house.

When I first saw the room, I told the manager that I would think about it (with the idea in my mind that I would not take it). But after walking a couple of blocks, on an impulse, I decided to take it. When I refused the room at first, I began to think of reasons to not take it, and excuses of how I would quickly find another “better room” (in the mean time, I would have to stay with my foster father), but as I walked something in me just said I am an adult, and an adult wouldn’t be running home to papa. So, with only the briefest of looks – I don’t even have a clear mental image of the room (only that it is small…very, very small). I have not returned to the room since I saw it that one time. At the time, the guy in the next room had his stereo on full blast. Not the greatest first impression, but I was proud of myself for taking the leap.

Strange, I just had a thought. This “room leap” just gave me the same feeling I had when I accepted the teaching job in Japan about 6 years ago.

I was planning to go to my room yesterday after school, but I had a little bit of bad financial news. Or should I have said “more” bad financial news.

I had an alternative reason for going to the above school. The payroll secretary forgot to include the two days I worked (in December), and I wanted to straighten out the mistake. I am learning that it is better to handle problems to bureaucracies face to face. On telephones you are just a voice, and on the computer, you are just some words.

As I was leaving the school, the payroll secretary from the previous school (see the recent entries about last week’s school) called me on my cell phone. Apparently, there was a mistake with the computer codes and none of the payroll data was approved. Basically, this means none of the teachers (at that school) would receive their regular pay for the next pay period. There was a silver lining. Any teacher affected could request an emergency check (for 60% of that pay period’s salary). I just need to go to the regional office to pick up the check. After the phone call, I was not in a mood to travel up to the Bronx to visit the shoe box that will probably be my home for a few months.

So, what are my financial plans at the moment?

Rent for my shoe box will be due around the first of the month. I need (want to) buy a futon (or folding bed) for my shoe box room. Then, there are the other household things (iron, ironing board, sheets, blankets, etc…). Also next month, I want to go to Washington DC for a job interview with the same organization that originally paid my way to Japan. After about 3 years of waiting, I’ve been invited for a job interview. If the interview is successful, I will be offered a teaching assignment overseas again. Although I would like to return to Japan, I put “no preference” for teaching location on my job application. It is very difficult to get a teaching assignment; an applicant has a better chance if he (or she) is open to any location. To go to Washington DC, I need to rent a hotel room, a bus fare (cheaper than train), I need to by a suit, I need to have money for food, and I would like to do a little sightseeing. I’ve never been to Washington DC.

Well, until next time…

January 23, 2006 9:58pm

Quick entry. Today I started subbing at another school. Although it is too early to tell, I think this school might be better. However, I don’t want to get my hopes up. I still have 3 more days at this school. All in all, I think today was a nice day, despite the rain. My schedule was nice (only 4 classes), and I had a preparation period first period. The only (minor) problem I encountered was the assistant principal wanting me to teach social studies lessons since I was covering for the social studies teacher. I did understand her reasoning, but I was a little annoyed that there was no plan, but she wanted me to still teach social studies. She did have a valid position. The students really should have the same lesson (to the best of the teacher’s abilities) that they would have received if their teacher was not absent. All in all, I had a fairly relaxed day. I was out of the school by 3:15; it has been a long time since I’ve been out of the building by 3:15.

After school, I returned to the realty agency that I went to on Sunday. It turns out that (despite the recorded message on the company’s answering machine) the company was closed on Sunday (that’s why no one answered the door). I paid the company a finder’s fee($150), and I received one of several possible rooms available for rent. I will see the first available room on Wednesday evening. Tomorrow, I have to go to a “violence in schools” workshop. In order to get my New York City Teaching License which expired while I was in Japan, I will have to take the violence workshop and a Multi-Subject Content examination.
Well, tomorrow is the workshop. Hopefully, I will have another good day tomorrow. Oh, by the way, the first room I will be looking at is a small room (I will have to share kitchen and bath); the room is located in the Bronx. A bit far, but if I can just get a little peace and quiet, then I think I could be comfortable living in the Bronx.

Ja mata…

I just tried to post this entry, but I used up my free internet minutes for this month. I'll have to wait until tomorrow to post this entry.

Where to start? Where to start? Oh, I almost forgot the reminder I left for myself.
http://www.blogger.com/profile/9502171
Above is the index page for my blog. The page names may change in the future which means the address will change, but the index page won’t change. A few weeks ago, when I changed the title, I did not realize that the address was changed as well. If you are going to bookmark my blog, you should also bookmark the index page so that you will always be able to find me in the blog o sphere.

Today, I did not do much. I washed a couple loads of laundry. I went downtown to a room realty company. Yes, I still plan to get my own place. Right now, I can only afford a single room, with possible sharing a bathroom and kitchen. When I got to the realty company (it looked more like an apartment building instead of an office building) the downstairs door was locked and the buzzer was not working. I called the company on my cell phone, but I only got the answering machine. According to the answering machine, the company had Sunday hours (10am to 4pm), which was why I came downtown to begin with.

Next month, I’ve been invited to be interviewed for a possible teaching assignment overseas. I am very excited!!!!

Sorry for the delay with my blog entries. Last week, I was really put to work. I was so tired that that once I returned home, I would fall asleep (without eating dinner), wake up around 2 or 3 in the morning. Try to make heads or tails out of the materials that I was given to plan my lessons, and then I would fall asleep at 4 only to get up at 6am. I would like to give a detailed summary of last week, but I am going to have to be brief.

Last Tuesday (Monday was a holiday), I started one of the hardest assignments. The kids really didn’t want me for a teacher. I think I brought too much order to the disorder that they were used to. When I appeared with a typed homework sheet and spelling word list, the students started to mutiny. They were drawing posters, and chanting that they wanted their teacher back. In order to keep (or try to keep) the students in line, I started threatening them with taking photos of their bad behavior and showing the photos to their parents. The principal was not happy with my “motivationally tactic”. She did not want (according to her) “the photos to become an issue”. She “just didn’t want to deal with the photo issue”. The principal suggested that I try some other kind of reward system. I mentioned that rewards were just a fancy word for bribery. She said that she would rather deal with bribery for the students than to deal with the photos of the disruptive students.

I felt like the principal was tying my hands. On the one hand, she wanted the class under control, but on the other hand, she did not want to do anything that would create a conflict with the parents.

When I found out that I would be substituting for the previous teacher, I wanted to try to set a new tone with the students. I wrote a letter of introduction outlining my classroom policies and procedures. And by the end of the school day, my letter was edited out of existence. The reason? I was told that my letter gave the impression that the school, and the students were out of control. Really!?!? When a student can say something to the principal like “I’ll call your mama” (with no consequence), or a student can be escorted out of the class (to call her mother), only to have that student return within 10 minutes (nobody was home), and begin singing at the top of her voice within 5 minutes of returning, how much control is in place?

Sorry, this entry is sounding a little choppy, I am trying to type as fast as my turtle slow hands can, and at the same time, I am trying to be brief.

On Friday, I arrived at school at 8:02, I wanted to print out a spelling list worksheet I made (I still don’t have a printer at home), and photocopy some work for the students. After about 20 minutes of running around, and finishing with 5 minutes before it was time to pick up the students, the principal informs me that due to an emergency (two teachers were absent), I would have to cover another class. Later, I was told that the teacher I was covering for notified the school administration about a week prior, that she would not be coming in.

Friday afternoon, my plan was to straighten up the classroom, and leave the school about 3:30 to go to the post office. I needed a postal money order for the Teacher’s examination testing fee ($88 dollars – plus $30 dollars if the payment is past the due date—and it was) 5 minutes to 3pm, the guidance counselor told me that the 5th grade students need to be taken to the main office to pick up their portfolios for Middle school interviews the next day. However, the portfolios were not ready, and the students were their usual impatient selves. The principal asked me to stay with the students in the hallway, while she (and the guidance counselor) put the portfolios together. They finished about 3:35. I asked the principal if she needed any other assistance (actually, I was expecting a thank you for giving up my time), but instead I only got a “no, there is nothing else”…Not even a thank you. I think that school might have gotten a little too comfortable with me. Although I was planning to return, I’ve decided to take some time off away from that school. Tomorrow, I will be subbing at another school.

Again, I apologize for the choppy writing of this blog entry, but I was trying to be brief and at the same time, give as many details as possible.

Well, until next time….Ja mata…

Hello Pen pal. I am going to try to keep this entry as short as possible; I have a lot of work to do. Last week was a fairly easy week (relatively speaking), so that was why I did not post a blog entry for several days. Basically, it was more of the same. On Thursday things started to change. I was assigned the S.A.V.E. room. I was given 3 boys from a third grade class, and 1 boy from a fifth grade class. All were low performers (academically speaking). One boy seemed to be starving for attention. He just seemed unable to stop talking for most of the day. He would also get the fifth grader to chase him around the room. Even when the fifth grader would threaten to punch the boy in the face, the boy would dare him. Once the fifth grade gave chase, the 3rd grader would be so happy running. Occasionally, the 3rd grader -- with his elbows tucked in at his sides) would start flapping his hands like a little bird, running and jumping like he was trying to fly. All the while, he would have the biggest grin on his face because he was being chased.

Also, another side note. During the trip to the bathroom (students in the S.A.V.E.[school detention] program are not allowed to leave the room unsupervised. The boys were having a conversation about their birthdays. One of the boys mentioned that his older brother went to prison (the day before) for stealing an ipod. They laughed and joked. I just thought that it was sad. Anyway…

On Thursday, I arrived to school at 8:18. Usually I like to arrive earlier (around 8:00am). The night before, I did about 20 minutes on my rowing machine. Thursday was the first time in about a week I was using my rowing machine. Before that, my knees were feeling a little sore…I think I might have over did the exercising. Anyway, I really wanted to exercise because I usually put it off and before you know it, summer will have come and gone. Sorry, I am getting sidetracked.

I arrived to school on Friday morning about 10 minutes early. I was expecting to be in the S.A.V.E. room (no preparation needed), but instead, I was asked to cover a 5th grade class, actually, one of the worst classes (if not thee worst) class in the school. Then, when I was able to remove the look of shock, fear, and dread from my face, the assistant principal drops another bomb. She tells me that she would like me to cover the class for today, and all of next week. And my preparation period was at the end of the day.

Later, I discovered that the teacher quit!

A bit shocked. A bit surprised. Yes. However, I should have been looking at the warning signs:

About a week ago, an administration asked about my future availability. Usually, a simple “what days (or weeks) are you available” question would be asked. Last week, the administrator wrote down everything I’d said.

A couple of weeks ago there was a faculty meeting in the teacher’s lounge. Usually, I just sit in the corner with my pile of worksheets. Since I am a sub, there is usually nothing in the faculty meeting that relates to me. I come to school, I babysit a class (or classes) then I leave for the day. The meetings are usually about school policy changes, paperwork etc… The last meeting, I was asked to sit in on the meeting -- and I was given a copy of everything the other teacher’s received. What does a substitute teacher need with a “do not disturb sign” for a standardized test that I would not be administering? Anyway, the kids were wild and out of control. Instead of writing anecdotes about the chaos, I just used my digital camera to take photos of the students not working. In total, I ended up taking 101 photos. When I finish with this blog entry, I am going to the drugstore to have them develop. I told the kids that I would be speaking with each and every parent, and offer the photos to any parent that wanted to see how their child behaved in school. Did I call? No. Why?

After spending the day (on a couple of occasions) to tell me not to tell the students anything about their teacher not returning (with the assumption that I knew anything), I was told that during last period (my preparation period) while the students were in the gym, the administrator came to tell the students that their teacher would not return to school.

When I came into the gymnasium, almost all of the students were crying. To be honest, I’d thought that the gym teacher hit the students. It turns out (as I just mentioned above) they were crying because they “wanted their teacher back”. Personally, I just think they just did not want me to be their new teacher. Although, anyone who knows me knows that I am basically as soft as a jellyfish, when it comes to teaching, I usually (try to) provide a structured, organized classroom, something I don’t think those kids were used to. It took me about 3 hours just to tackle the teacher’s desk, find the teacher’s textbooks, and put the classroom in reasonably presentable condition for next week. There were piles on top of piles of the teacher’s materials in various places around the room. I ended up taking home about 15 (or 20) pounds of the teacher’s books so that I could plan my lessons for next week; I felt like a pack mule.

Oh, I almost forgot to answer the question about calling parents. Since the kids were going home (in tears) with a letter stating that their teacher would not be returning, I did not think I would have gotten much support from parents if I complained about the behavior of their child. Ja mata…

Hello Pen pal. I just uploaded about 27 photos to my other website. The photos are from my October walks around the New York area.

One set was of photos taken while I walked around the perimeter of Central Park.
Another was taken on a walk from 23rd street to 125th street.
The last set uploaded was taken on a walk from downtown Brooklyn to 125th street. The last walk took about 4 hours to complete.

Well, I think that is about it. I was planning to go to the mall today, but having spent about 3 hours here on the internet cafe computer uploading photos, I am tired. I'll buy some take-out on my way home; I will use my rowing machine later this evening. I skipped a couple of days on my rowing machine. Ja mata...

Hello Pen pal. A quick entry. Yesterday I had a very easy schedule at school. I was in the S.A.V.E room for the day with 2 students. Basically, S.A.V.E. is a fancy name for in school detention. Teachers are suppose to send work for the student (from their class) who has detention. The students are suppose to work (independently) on the assignments given. Of course, rarely do they work independently. However, yesterday’s group (of 2) was okay. The day before yesterday, however, was a different story. I had a group of 3 students. They laugh, played, and sang songs (in Spanish). I could go on, but I would rather go onto something a little bit more positive.

Yesterday, during my (last period) prep – When I don’t need to make preparations for lessons, then (in my opinion) last period preps are the best. I decided to look through the newspaper for available (cheap) rooms. I came across an ad for a small kitchenette. There was no price listed – and I was not exactly sure what a kitchenette was. I did have a vague idea of a kitchenette, but when it comes to advertisements, definitions can (and usually do) take on alternate meanings. I “room with a park view” could be a room with a view of a parked car.

Anyway, since I had time to kill. I decided to call, just out of curiosity. To make a long story short, the person was a woman interested in rent out a part of her brownstone. She said that the previous tenant was a slob who didn’t appreciate the room. When I told her that I couldn’t afford to pay security and a month’s rent at this moment, she said that she would think about renting the room to me. I gave her the school phone numbers of two schools that I worked at. It is a long shot, but long shots are better than no shots. Yes, that sounds pretty corny.

Well, that is about it. Although today is Saturday, I will back date this entry for yesterday. Why? If I post more than one entry in a day, the last entry will appear first. Therefore, if I post an entry about today’s activities, then you (the reader) would be reading today’s entry first, then…...

Never mind the explanation; I was just being a bit of a perfectionist.

END ========================================================

January 4, 2006

Hello Pen pal. It has been a few days so just a quick update (I hope). Do you remember the entry I wrote about awhile back about a teacher who I thought was incredibly rude. She'd mentioned that I would enjoy having her class if she were ever out sick? Well, yesterday she was out sick, and I had her class. The result? She was correct. I really enjoyed subbing for her. Her class was very focused; her students (relatively speaking) were very independent. Yesterday was the first time in a very, very long time, I was able to have a stress free day. I did not have to yell once.

Onto another topic (briefly, I hope).

In the previous blog entry, I mentioned that I was planning to move out and find a place of my own. I searched the newspaper and found a room being offered in Brooklyn for $120 per week; I would have to share kitchen and the bathroom. I called the phone number listed. I was told the room would be available, but I would have to act quickly. I was told that I would need to bring a deposit ($120, security [$120], and a broker’s fee [$120]) to get the room. In total, I needed to have $360 to get the room if I liked what I saw when I went to see the place. I was given an appointment to see the place today. I was also told to call before I came. I was very excited! I searched the internet for information about the neighbor (ie nearest public transportation, banks, stores etc…). So, what was the result? I called today and I was told, “Sorry, the room is uninhabitable”.

END ========================================================

January 1, 2006
Happy New Year! Yesterday started with an argument between my foster father and myself. A little background information?

When I agreed to move back in, I said that I would contribute to the rent and to the phone bill. For reasons I rather not go into now (for the sake of time), I am not going to explain why I was being so specific. Basically, to ensure that the money I worked so hard for (see previous blog entries related to work) went where I wanted it to, I gave my foster father postal money orders. He did not like receiving money orders; he wanted cash. And he found every reason why money orders were not good. Now, back to the argument.

Last month, my foster father paid the rent early. In my opinion, I think he was hoping that if he paid early (before I received my paycheck), I would then have to give him cash; since my main (and consistent) argument has been that I would only contribute to the rent and the phone (household goods I would buy as needed).

With the rent paid, my foster father went on, and on during the month about his responsibility to take care of the rent (how he can’t wait—the rent has to be paid before for the 1st of the month. On and on. On and on. Okay, so what did I do?

Since he refused to take the postal money order and apply it to the next rent. I combined that money order with another one for “my contribution” to next month’s rent and mailed both money orders to the housing manager. In total, I mailed $400 dollars, and with the internet, I was able to confirm that the money orders were delivered December 27th. My foster father waited until New Year’s Eve (banks and post offices closed) to tell me that he was going to pay the rent, and he was expecting cash from me (the $400 I promised). Never mind all that talk about paying the rent on time. And never mind that instead of nothing in his rent account, there was $400 there (the monthly rent is $619 dollars). It became my fault that the rent is going to be late. I’m skipping details and other situations, but basically I was furious. I told him I was moving out (within 2 weeks).

Now, I just have to follow through.

After the argument, I think my foster father realized that he was wrong (to a point). But instead of admitting he was wrong, he gave me $60 dollars “for my Christmas present”. Now, I think in the 20 years that I’ve lived here; I must have received a Christmas present 3 (or maybe 4) times (cash each time). At first I was going to refuse it (I really don’t like hand outs), but someone told me that I don’t know how to take a complement, and I refuse (too often) when someone is offering me a gift. So I took the money.

I bought a sweatband and weightlifting gloves (to use on my rowing machine). And I went to the American Museum of Natural History (suggested entry price of $14). Unfortunately, the $14 did not buy my way into any of the special exhibits, so I skipped the special dinosaur show and the butterfly show. Unfortunately, I am becoming a real cheap-skate in my old age. So how was the museum? It was okay. The place was huge!! And being very bad with directions, in the beginning, I just wandered around the solar system exhibit, before I followed my usual plan of action. I started at the top (the 4th fl.), and walked in a clockwise pattern (as much as possible). Usually, the crowd are greater at the beginning; I start at the end and work my way back. Since I was alone, it wasn’t as much fun as I think it would have been if I had someone to talk to. Also, it would have been easier to have pictures taken with me in them. It is difficult for me to ask a stranger to take my picture, then when the picture is unclear, to ask that person to take the picture over.

About the photos. I took about 80 photos (I am in two—both fairly blurry), I will try to narrow down the collection to about 30 (or so) and post them on my other web site. Sorry, I still have to upload the other photos from previous walk-arounds.

Well, I think that is about it. Now, I am going to go to the mall. I was too tired yesterday after walking around the museum. The first photo was taken at 1:33, and the last photo was taken at 5:22(inside the museum). Since I did not eat lunch, I was walking on exhaust fumes.

I bought “take-out” at a local soul food restaurant. Since the argument, I’ve decided not to shop, cook, or clean for others (which is what I’ve been doing for the past 4 months) until I move out.

I wanted to try posting this blog entry using my free internet connection minutes for the new month, but my foster father’s lady friend is still on the phone. I think she has been on the phone for almost an hour. Oh, I think she just got off the phone, so I’ll try posting.

END ========================================================

December 30, 2005

Quick entry (I hope). Before I get on my rowing machine, I thought that I would do a blog entry (trying to keep up with my new year resolution). Even though I used up my free minutes for my internet connection, I think that if I don’t keep up with my entries, I will end up starting the New Year the same way as the previous years, lots of plans and promises, but no results.

After procrastinating for a couple of days, I finally used my rowing machine yesterday. I only stayed on for 15 minutes; I did not want to risk injuring myself. In the past, injuring myself was something I often did. My knees, my back, my arms, my shoulders, etc… At one point in time or another, I am sure I must have injured every muscle in my body. This time, I really want to try to do things right, or at the very least, to do things better.

I don’t have much to write about today. I made a few errand runs today, and spent a couple of hours at the internet café.

My plans tomorrow are to

Go to the internet café to post this blog entry (I'll back date it to the approx. time this was written)
Go to the American Museum of Natural History. I haven’t done a single thing worth writing about this vacation, and I haven’t gone anywhere.
Go to the mall to buy another white shirt.
To exercise on my rowing machine.

Now that I’ve put it in writing, it will be interesting (to me) to see if I follow through with the plan.

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Yesterday I finally received my rowing machine. You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this machine. There is a whole story that goes with this machine, but in trying to keep with my new resolution, I am going to try to keep this short. Below is a cut and paste from an e-mail that I’d written. I can save a little time by cutting and pasting it below.

…A little bit of background information might help you understand my situation.
*I made a full payment by check.
*Although the check was cashed, about 2 weeks after it was cashed, I was still receiving messages on my account saying that they were still waiting to receive payment.
*They gave me 3 different delivery dates (each one came and went).
*I was told that there was a “glitch” in their computer system, and with a five dollar gift certificate, I should please be patient.
*After waiting about another week, I just canceled the order; it was then that they told me the item was out of stock.
*In total, it was almost about a 2 month run around.
For me, it was highly annoying day by day coming home wondering when and if the item would be there. I find that as I get older the abundance of patience that I once had slowly dissipating.

With the above episode over, I searched the internet, and I found another rowing machine. Why did I choose a rowing machine? I wanted a machine that would let a homebody (someone who does not like going out) like me to exercise in front of the TV.
For about the last three years (off and on), I’ve been leading a fairly sedentary life-style. That year – I was in Japan. I was paid to sit in the teacher’s room from 8:30 to 5pm (Monday thru Friday), even though kids were on summer vacation. Since the school paid for an English teacher, I guess they were determined to have an English teacher. Basically, I was the only one in the school (not including the old lady who gave me coffee each morning, and the principal, and the few teachers who would occasionally come in to read newspapers, chat or work?!?!).

Sorry, I am getting sidetracked. Basically, from then on, my life (professionally and personally) has been on a slow decline. For the most part, it has been my fault. Starting with the exercising, my New Year’s resolution is to get back on track. With this blog, I am hoping that by putting my plans (and actions) in writing, it will motivate me to do something to turn my life around.

Well, I was planning to write about my rowing machine, but I am going to stop here, so that I don’t turn this entry into a 2 hour ranting. Ja mata…

P.S. – The last couple of times, I’ve tried to post more than one photo, but I have not been successful, so I have to limit myself to having only one attachment. The photo is the completed rowing machine. It took me about a couple of hours to put it together. I would have finished sooner if I was not watching TV at the time (also if I had the correct tools).

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Happy holiday! Well, I am almost sure your Christmas was better than mine. I wasn’t really in a festive mood. I stayed in my room until about 2pm. No breakfast and only two bathroom visits. Each time I was planning to come out there was either an argument or a conflict, so I just stayed in my room. I really did not want to deal with conflict this morning. As for the weather, it rained all day.

A couple of hours ago, my foster father’s lady friend’s son stopped by. He had his daughter and his girlfriend’s son with him. Why am I writing about the kids? I thought both of them were incredibly rude, but I could have just been overly sensitive.

While my foster father's lady friend's son was in my room (dropped off a few DVDs for me to watch – which was very nice), first his girl friend’s son basically walked in without an excuse me or a may I come in. Then later, the daughter came in, after her father left. She was eye-balling my things like she was casing the joint (english expression meaning to make a plan to steal by studying the surroundings). She asked me if she could use my computer to down load music onto her new MD3 player.

* I was struck speechless by the fact she knew I had a computer (laptop) under a pile of paper and junk on my table.
* I was surprised (dumbstruck) at her gall. Although I’d seen her once or twice (when she was a baby); I was basically talking to her for the first time.

A part of me wanted to go into an old geezer tirade about lack of respect from kids today, but instead, I just told her that I did not think it was a good idea. So, what did she say next (waving and jiggling her MD player)? She brags that she is so spoiled. I’m thinking to myself, “really”. She told me that she asked for the MD player yesterday, and got it today. What next?

A few minutes later, the girl friend’s son walked in again (followed closely by the daughter). The kid (son) was 9 years old.

He asked, “What do you have on your computer”.
Me: Excuse me?
Son: What games do you have I can play with on your computer?

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Sorry. My e-mail was supposed to be a reply to your e-mail, but it has turned into a blog entry. I was not planning to write anymore blog entries for a while, but since I have one, I guess I will post it. Unfortunately, it is late now, so I won’t be able to reply to your e-mail tonight. Happy Holiday!!!

December 27, 2005
Hello again. There was a little bit of a delay with sending the above apart of my reply. When I logged onto a "free" internet company I discovered that they changed my free 20 hour internet access (per month) to 10 hours without any notice. Each month I would keep a record in my notebook each day I was on the internet, including start time and end time, plus the total time spent on the internet each time. I would usually round up to be sure that I would have enough time to last. All of that record keeping, and they just change the time without notification. Now for the next 5 days, I will have to go to the internet café. Oh well.

This will be my final entry for a while. Why?

...just a quick one I wanted to tell you before I forget. You know something, after reading your blogs in Japan, and then in America, I personally thinkyour English is getting worse in your writing.

I received an e-mail from one of my pen pals (he currently lives in Japan). We were a couple of American English teachers working for the same company. There was nothing necessarily bad about the e-mail, just bad timing. I have a bad habit of answering the few e-mails I get when I am in a bad mood, in this case, listening to a minor incredibly petty (and incredibly loud) shouting match between my foster father and his lady friend. Not to mention the other "family" things I've avoided writing about. If you look at some of my blog posting times, you will be able to see that sleep has not been a high priority with me.

About my blog. I see my choices as being very limited:

1. I could just ignore the above comment(continue making embrassing mistakes [for a teacher] ).
2. Spend an extra hour (on top of the 1 or 2 hours I already spend per entry) to try proof-reading my entries.
3. Take a break from writing about the stress at work and at home (until there is less stress in my life).

I choose 3. In a couple of weeks, I should be feeling better. If I delete my blog by then, then it means I was feeling worst than I thought .

Take care.
Best regards.

Quick entry. Tomorrow evening (actually today [I just looked at the clock on the wall]) I have a workshop to go to after school at BOE HQ in Brooklyn (4 to 6pm). The workshop is about process for getting the New York State Teaching license that I lost (and the new requirements in place) since my return to New York. That reminds me, in a future blog, I really should comment on the many changes to the teaching styles that have occurred while I’ve been overseas. The reading, math, science, social studies, and assessments have all changed. I suppose it was good that I returned from an educational point of view. Sorry, I’m getting sidetracked.

The first entry I want to make was about yesterday. Since I’ve been working, I’ve never been late to school. Yesterday, I arrived at 7:48; school starts at 8:30. I did not receive my schedule until 8:29. Never mind that I’ve been carrying about a 15 pound shopping bag filled with worksheets. Yes, filled with worksheets! I also have a backpack loaded with other teaching materials. I usually don’t know what grade I’ll be teaching, so I try to have enough material to at least pretend that I am professional and prepared.

Anyway, after receiving my schedule – and to no surprise, I have a class first period! The assistant principal also asked me to make a copy of the handwritten schedule for her. I had to wait about 3 or 4 minutes for a regular teacher to finish making her copies (in the copy room), she said that she could not let me skip her to make my one copy because she had a lesson first period (and had just put in OHP transparencies into the copy machine).

Today, I would be doing prep periods (for other teachers) in their classrooms. What I like about this school (relatively speaking) is that there is usually enough space to give me a classroom to do a prep period schedule in a classroom, but not today.

Since I had no classroom, I carried my jacket, backpack and shopping bag (filled with worksheets) up to the 3rd floor. I arrived about 15 minutes late. Upon arriving, the classroom teacher scolds me for coming late telling me, “don’t come late to my classroom” in front of her students. I wanted to explode, but instead I did a bumbling, fumbling attempt to explain why I was late. Never mind that she had already met me (a couple of days ago). She met me in the main office around 5pm; she was impressed to have met a substitute teacher who stayed after 3pm. Anyway, back to the present.

It just so happened that I had a lesson plan (and materials) to teach (entertain!?!?), however, the classroom teacher said that was not necessary, and that I could save my lesson for another class. She said that her class would be no problem while she was out of the room, and that I would love having her class.

To be honest, as much as a hate to admit it, she was correct, (relatively speaking), her class was very, very, extremely well behaved. I could see the students had the potential to fall apart (and go wild) if she took the day off, but they were very well behaved. They managed to stay on task for the whole period. So, what happened when the classroom teacher returned?

Nothing!

She came in and started talking to her students as if I didn’t exist. I waited about a minute (or two) to see if she would say anything to me…but, nothing. I put on my jacket, my backpack, and picked up my shopping bag…still nothing. No thank you. No, “how was my class? Nothing. I walked to the door, thanking the class for having me…nothing. She continued with her directions to her students ignoring me.

Later in the hallway, she walks past me and says “hello, how was your day?” I wanted to tell her off, but I ended up saying “fine”.

Next period, I was supposed to go to help the reading teacher, so I carried my things to the reading teacher’s room, only to be told that my schedule had been changed, and that I should take my things and go to the main office.

What was the new change?

I would be doing one on one instruction for one of the problem students. For 2 periods! I actually enjoyed it.

There was more to the day, but for the sake of time, I am going to jump to today.


Today, I arrived to school at 7:50. I received my schedule at 8:30. Again, for the sake of time, I’m skipping the details.

My Schedule?

I would be working in the S.A.V.E. (Schools Against Violence Education) program. I was told that every school had the program. I would be giving instruction to a group of 3 students -- who were each suspended from school for on reason or another. Basically, I would have the group for the whole day minus my lunch and my prep period. Again for the sake of time…

I really enjoyed myself. For the first time, I made it through the day stress free. Notice that I did not use “relatively speaking”. Yes, one boy was difficult (try spoiled rotten – or he has issues I am unaware of), but for the most part, I enjoyed myself. I was a little annoyed that those boys could still be a little disruptive with only three in a classroom, but, relatively speaking I would enjoy doing it again. Problem, “lighting rarely strikes twice”.

Ja mata…

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Quick blog entry. Today I was a substitute teacher for the same 3rd grade class I had on Friday. Relatively speaking the experience was less stressful than some of the other classes (and school) that I’ve been to. They were wild, loud, disrespectful, and at times very vulgar. I was told by the science teacher that the regular homeroom teacher of this class yelled so much (at this class) that she lost her voice, and that was why the regular homeroom teacher did not come to school on Friday.

To try to manage this class, I remember that I had a digital camera. So I told the students that I would take photos of them doing the things that parents tend to not believe (i.e. crawling on the floor, playing and drawing on the desk, etc…) Their behavior improved only slightly. Unfortunately, I could not record some the things that the students have been saying in class. For example:

Remember that this is a 3rd grade classroom.

Get away from me bitch!
Fuck you!
Shouting out “I peed on myself” (then laughing out loud[then others imitating])
Don’t touch him he has AIDS.
Just a few of the comments that I remember at this moment. Also, it is unfortunate that I am too slow to catch the things that have been thrown across the room (pencils, scissors, markers, balls of paper, rubber bands counting blocks, dominoes, books etc…). I have attached a photos of just some of the items that I collected today.

Anyway, to make a long story short. Threatening the students with the photos has only been moderately successful.

How is this for a response? One of the wilder students, who has been caught on camera; playing with a toy, crawling on the floor (looking for the disks that his toy shoots), sticking paper on his forehead, not reading (during reading time), etc…He has done all of that, but he continued to be disruptive, even over the repeated reminders of the photos. He only shrugged his shoulders with the reminders in an “I don’t care” attitude. However, he lost one of his gloves, and he cried like a baby, worried that he would get in trouble for losing his glove.

December the 4th was supposed to have been payday, but since it was a Sunday, I will probably receive my paycheck in the mail tomorrow, or the next day.

Finally, there is snow storm expected tonight. The weather report predicts that we (here in New York) might receive either a light dusting of snow, or 4 to 6 inches drop. I am looking forward to getting my second paycheck since returning to NY. My first one was small, this next paycheck will be a little bigger. Is it irony that (at the moment) I am earning less money than I did teaching English in Japan, but I have much, much, much more stress to deal with.

Well, until next time…

New school, same old nonsense. Today I substituted at another school. This school was smaller than the other schools. There were only 3rd, 4th , and 5th grades. I was the substitute science teacher. However, since I did not have any science materials, I did my usually math worksheet lesson. I try to have the students do some kind of academic exercise for the first half of the class, then the second half, I have the students work on a word search puzzle. The first class was a 5th grade class, and relatively speaking, they were okay. Since it was first period, the students came directly to the classroom. The second 5th grade class is when the problems (and the usually aggravation came). The teacher brought her class to the room with no pencil… Nothing! These kids were basically the same as the other students mentioned in previous e-mails. Since they had no pencil, they used that as an excuse to go wild. I was angry and annoyed being put in that situation. The class was so wild and out of control that I had to call security to come. However, the principal came instead. At first, I was happy to have the principal come to the classroom. Unfortunately, the students reacted as if she was nothing more than another teacher. The principal said that she would return with pencils for the students.

The next class was a 3rd grade class. And yes, they also arrived without pencils. However, the class was much smaller, and therefore much easier to manage.

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December 5, 2005

It has been a while sorry. Again, I was planning to do a day by day report, unfortunately, I let the days pile up. I also let the e-mails pile up.

Highlights from the past week:

11-28-05Monday I was substituting for a science teacher. The morning experience was given above. After lunch, I was given a 4th grade class for two periods, to say that that 4th grade class was wild would be an understatement. The assistant principal warned me that this class was “a bit difficult”. It took about 20 minutes (with the help of the reading teacher to get them calm and focused. After the reading teacher left the classroom, I was able to keep the class under control for about the next 45 minutes. I’d used the threat of asking the homeroom teacher to allow me to dismiss the class, meaning that I would be dismissing that class late. Then, about 20 minutes before the end of the double period was to end, the 4th grade class’ homeroom teacher arrived. I made a big show of letting the class know that I meant business. I walked over to the homeroom teacher and loudly asked her if she minded if I dismissed her class. She said no. The one thing I had to control the class, I had lost, right then and there. Then, the homeroom teacher announced that the class had to stop my lesson, because they had to pack up to leave. I was annoyed that I had lost the one ounce of power that I’d had. However, I was relived that she was taking her wild class… or so I thought.

It turned out, she was taking her class a few students at a time to get their things and then return to me until the end of the final period. Do I need to tell you what happens when a wild class is told that it is time to go home.

They go wild!!!

What little control I’d had was lost. And the situation was magnified by a homeroom teacher dismissing what I was doing as not important. I had wild kids following the homeroom teacher, wild kids in the hall, and wild kids in the classroom. I was suspose to be controlling them…I think. The homeroom teacher was no help at all. I understand what she’d wanted to do, but it was (in my opinion) a total disregard for me as a teacher, a colleague, or as a person. I felt as if I was just something to keep her kids occupied. With a class that wild, I understood that she wanted to minimize the wild behavior, by taking a small group at a time; however, she should have let me know the plan, so that we could have work together.

Calling out “table one” (and groups of kids not knowing if table one was her group of table ones, the table one group in the class at that moment, or just kids wanting any excuse to go wild), was (in my opinion) an opportunity to watch chaos rein, I felt like a dope with my back against the wall. I had had enough, I told the whole class to stand and follow the homeroom teacher. I then proceeded to clean the classroom.

11-29-05 Period 6, I had a 5th grade class. They were wild and out of control. Behavior usually reserved for the 6th grade. However, since this school had no 6th grade, this class was more than willing to pick up the mantel of chaos. Nothing I did or said had any impact. At the end, the homeroom teacher gave me the home phone numbers of the most disruptive students. Calling the homes of those students was a total waste of time.

One mother seemed annoyed that I was calling her.
Another mother seemed confused as to which son I was referring to.
A father seemed to not have cared less.

11-30-05 I had a return visit from the 4th grade class mentioned above. This time, I had the class right before lunch. I let them know that if they took my time, then I would take theirs. The behavior was much, much (relatively speaking), much better. I was so happy! I used the wildest student as an example. I made him eat is lunch last. I stayed in the lunch room to make sure that he ate his lunch last. He was defiant right to the end. But in the end, I won. The battle, not the war.

12-1-05 Another return visit from the same 4th grade class mention in the two previous entries. Again, I had them right before their lunch period. This time I was so cocky; I thought that I’d had the means of control. I went to the homeroom teacher to remind her to have the students bring pencils. And I offered to take her class to lunch. She needed no convincing to the benefits of having someone else take some of the control for her wild class. She also asked for a favor. At that moment, I knew the answer should have been no, but I wanted to be nice.

Instead of doing my lesson, the homeroom teacher wanted me to let her students bring their writing folders to continue with a writing project. I agreed. I asked for details about the project (and what I needed to do), she said the students all knew what they had to do.

In the substitute classroom, I quickly reminded the students about my rule – take from me and I take from you. Take my time, and I’ll take your lunch time.

In the beginning everything seemed to be working. But as the period went on the class became louder and louder. The writing project seemed to be everything but writing. They needed scissors; they needed glue; they needed tape. They did this. They did that. They talked, and they played. They seemed to be doing everything, but write.

By the time I’d realized that I was not in control, it was too late. Like sharks in the water, they smelled blood.

No matter what I did, or said. Nothing worked. They continued to get wild and out of control. To save time (I am typing this way past my bedtime), I’ll just jump ahead. I could not control the class, so I would not let anyone leave. I knew eventually someone would come. Eventually the principal came. I was shocked that her presence had little more effect than another teacher stepping into the room. I quickly pointed out the 4 good kids who did not deserve to be punished. The principal told me to take them down to lunch, while she stayed with the wild ones. No sooner was I in the lunch room, and turn around to return to the classroom, the principal had started sending down the other students because “they were quiet”. The punishment for the 3 or 4 wildest of the bunch, they had (or got to) eat lunch in the principal’s office.

Sorry, I have to end this. It is now very, very late. In a few hours I have to get up and return to this school to work. I did not want to procrastinate with my blog entries another day.

Finally, here in New York, we had our first snow fall of this year. There is supposed to be another heavy snow fall on Tuesday. I also wanted to write about a problem I’d had with a big internet mail order company, but it is late. I’ll write more at another time. Ja mata…

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November 22, 2005
Yesterday, I had a couple of job interviews for substitute teaching positions. The first school, I was really looking forward to visiting. At the moment, most of my teaching experiences have been in low income neighborhoods. I was excited when I received a request from a school downtown to come in for an interview. Remember, in a previous blog entry, I’d mentioned (I think) that I sent my resume (with Per Diem certificate) to about 75 elementary schools.

Well, the minute I stepped off of the train downtown, I had a feeling that the school was not going to be the kind of school that I would want to work at. And, once I walked through the door, my fears were confirmed. It turned out that the school with an elementary school moniker was really a high school. A high school for special education students! At that school, there were guards and a metal detector. I felt very uncomfortable. I arrived about 30 minutes early, and I sat in the office waiting for the assistant principal to come. While I sat, I watch various (aggressive) students coming and going. I kept thinking to myself, how could they possible believe that I would want to work at that school. However, I felt a little guilty about sending my resume to that high school, so I wanted to wait and speak to the assistant principal in person (rather than leaving a note).

After the special ed high school I decided to go to the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) to find out what happened to the renewed driver’s license that I’d applied from about a month ago. I thought that since I just had a question, I would be able to just walk in and ask. Of course, I was being woefully naïve. I ended up spending (about) more than an hour of waiting time. However, I liked their new (for me) waiting system. You take a number according to your problem (or situation), and wait for your number to be called. Before I went to Japan, (at the DMV) you were told what line to wait on, and you waited. I like the new system better. Once I was able to gauge the approximate speed that the numbers were being called, I was able to go out for lunch, and return (with time to spare).

For lunch, I went to the MacDonald nearby. While I was eating in the MacDonald, there was a loud group of guys discussing their “business”. One of the guys was discussing how he liked to smoke pot with his wife.

After the DMV, I had another interview at another school for a substitute teaching position. Now this interview I was not expecting much, so I was in no hurry to go. This school was only blocks away from the other schools that I’ve already had a less than exciting experience. Before I could go however, the assistant principal wanted me to call before I came; I assumed that he wanted to make sure that he would be available. I called from my cell phone. And would you believe he did not remember me, or the request that he made during the original phone call (setting up the interview day). After reminding him that it was his idea for me to call before I came; I arrived about 15 minutes later. While waiting for the assistant principal to come to the office; there was a pushing incident right in front of the main office. One of the students pushed another student into the classroom teacher. The security guard (carrying a gun on his belt) decided to deal with the situation by bringing in the participants into the school office. Oh, did I mention that was an elementary school? While all of that was going on, I was thinking to myself, “oh yea, I really want to teach here”.

So, what was the result of that “oh so important interview”!? After waiting for about 15 or 20 minutes, in the meeting (that lasted all of 3 or 4 minutes), the assistant principal asked for a copy of my resume and my Per Diem (substitute) certificate, once he had it, then he remembered that I sent my information to him by mail. He then very professional got up and took me to meet the payroll secretary. He shook my hand ending the meeting, and asked the payroll secretary to get all of my contact information. He did this giving her my resume with my contact information written on the top of my cover page, on the first page of my resume (in large letters), and written in small print on every other page of my resume.

Today, my teaching assignment was to return to a previous school where I was the substitute science teacher. Today I was given a 6th grade class. The kids were wild 10 minutes into the class. About 30 minutes into the day, a student threw a chair across the room. 3 hours into the day, the same student filled another student’s backpack with water (books and all). In a classroom with 25 students, only about 4 students were not loud, argumentative, disrespectful, nor overly-playful. Speaking to the assistant principal only helped a little bit, not much, but it did help a little bit. Unfortunately (in my opinion), since there were no real penalties for disruptive behavior, the disruptive behavior only continued. Near the end of the day, a group of students in the class decided to pick on another student by stomping on his things, and putting his winter coat into the classroom sink and leaving the water running over it. By the time I found the coat, the sink was filled with water and the coat. I sent for the other assistant principal. Her solution was to threaten to have the whole class suspended if someone did not “squeal” and/or confess. When no on would admit anything, she asked me to dismiss most of the students – leaving the usual disruptive students, who eventually confessed, but were only a couple from the group.

The next day, I was supposed to return to the school. Originally, I was asked to come for two days. The regular teacher had jury duty. The next morning, the head teacher called to say that I was not needed. Now, I did already know that the regular teacher would be returning, because she came to the classroom around 4:30, and she told me that she was dismissed from jury duty early. However, I believe that I might have complained a little too much about a lack of consequences for disruptive behavior to a couple of the teachers and to both of the assistant principals. The head teacher called me about 7:45 the next day to say that “the teacher may be returning, but he wasn’t sure. He also said that I should keep my morning open just in case, he calls me to let me know that the regular teacher would not be coming in. He apologized for the last minute cancellation and hung up the phone. I think the head teacher was just trying to not burn his bridges. I think on the one hand the administration did not want me back, but on the other hand (knowing how difficult) it is to get substitute teachers on short notice (especially in schools with a difficult student population) did not want me pissed off refusing to return. Actually, I was seriously debating with myself whether or not I would be returning to that school. I am stuck with the same idea. If I am not teaching, and if I can’t control the class, what good would I be doing returning? In the end, I decided that I would return. Well, that was before the phone call. Was I mad? Actually, I was relived. I was going to force myself to return, but I really didn’t want to return. So, what did I do? About 10 minutes, after the call from the head teacher. Another school called. The elementary school I went to on Monday for the interview.

The Phone call / The school
The principal called to see if I was available to substitute for a class that in her words “was a very difficult 5th grade class. Reluctantly, I agreed. When I arrived, the principal realized that the teacher she thought was going to be absent, was coming in for work. So, I became unneeded. I did volunteer to return home, but I was told that they would find something for me to do. Since the school now had an extra teacher in the building, the administration decided to use me to give make up preparation periods. Preparation periods are those times when another teacher teaches the class, so that the regular teacher can prepare or do other class work related activities.

The schedule that I received was a prep. period for myself; a couple of 6th grade classes, a meeting with the assistant principal (yes, the same one who wanted the interview), a 1st grade class, and 3rd grade class last period. Midway through my prep period, I received a schedule change; the meeting was cancelled and became my lunch period, my lunch period became a 6th grade lunch detention(!?!?). During the time I was supposed to have lunch I received a call to go to the office for… another schedule change. Now, the 1st grade class was changed to 2nd grade, and the last period 3rd grade was changed to a class with the “very difficult” 5th grade class. So, instead of eating lunch, I had to dig through the materials that I dragged with me to come up with lessons (and the materials) for the new classes. I was a little annoyed that the last class (before the holiday vacation) was the “very difficult” 5th grade class – a little annoyed, but not very surprised.

So how was the lunch detention? I arrived at the assigned classroom only to find the class was having a pizza party. The teacher explained that she used to do “lunch time detention”, but she resigned from the assignment. She thought that was why the administration was going to use her room. Anyway, she said that I could stay in the room for the 20 minute detention. My plan was to go get something to eat after the 20 minutes were up. Even though the teacher offered me pizza, I did not feel comfortable eating pizza while on duty, so I passed on the pizza. About 10 minutes later wild kids started showing up asking questions about the pizza. They turned out to be her students. I guess she only took the ones she thought deserved a pizza party. I don’t know where the other students were. Anyway, they were in and out of the classroom being disruptive.

Then about 5 minutes later, other 6th grade teachers came in complaining that the administration wanted all of the 6th grade students to have detention for something they did the previous day. The teachers complained about having to have their own students in their own classroom for detention. At this point the classroom I was waiting in for “lunchtime detention to start (or finish), was finished their pizza party…and the students started getting loud and wild. I could not believe that a class that wild actually deserved a pizza party. I was getting annoyed at the situation I was in the middle of, but did not know what I should have been doing. With about 5 minutes left of my 20 minute detention, and the other 6th grade teachers having some kind of “heated” discussion in the hallway, and the classroom getting increasingly wild, the classroom teacher grabs her coat, tells the students to start cleaning up, and she walks out the room. I run after her telling her I was only supposed to say for 20 minutes; I also wanted to know where she was going. She told me to me to just watch her class because every 6th grade teacher has a prep teacher in their classroom to watch the students for detention, and that I needed to stay until she returned.

Once she left, her class went off the wall. The students started acting like they were having a party, playing games, playing rap music on the classroom mini portable stereo. They ignored and argued with me. When they refused to turn off the radio, I unplugged it. They group by the radio promptly plugged it back in and turned it on very loud, laughing, dancing, and singing along to the rap music blasting out of the stereo. The rest of the class was enjoying seeing the substitute powerless, and unable to control them. I was tired, hungry, and angry that I basically gave up. I only focused on keeping the wild ones contained, so I allowed no one to leave. I felt like a security guard at a prison. At times, I couldn’t decide if I was the security guard…or the prisoner! I felt trapped!
When the teacher returned, she seemed less than interested in hearing about the disruptive and disrespectful behavior of her students. I quickly noticed that without the “pizza prize”, the students were barely listening to her. I think only the fact that she controlled their grades, gave her only slightly more attention and respect than what I’d received.

What about the last class? Nothing you have not already read in previous entries, so no sense in repeating it again. Three o’ clock came, and everyone (not doing after school) was eager to leave to start their 4 day holiday vacation. Me, I was so exhausted, that I did not have the strength to leave until about 4pm. When I returned home, my plan was to lay down for a couple of minutes, then go food shopping for a few items I needed to help my foster father’s lady friend with the Thanksgiving dinner. I volunteered to make the rice, the macaroni salad, and a couple of pies. I laid down and promptly fell asleep. Later, I was told that I was snoring up a storm. I guess I was more tired than I thought. When I woke up, I was not in a mood for cooking, or cleaning, or for the other nonsense that goes on around this apartment. I decided to go for “take out” Chinese food.

Thanksgiving Day
Not much to write about. I decided to go to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. I took a few photos with me digital camera. Sorry, I still have not put up the other photos. I will try to put up all the photos ( the old and the new) this holiday weekend.

Happy Holiday!

November 15, 2005
Just a short entry. I just finish making some lesson materials for tomorrow’s lesson. I thought that since I was on the computer, I should write a quick entry.

Originally, I was told to come every day this week, but the payroll secretary made a mistake. Yesterday was Parent / Teacher conferences, so no substitute teachers are used for half days. Therefore, I returned home and wrote the previous very long blog entry (while watching TV). Then, I went the Staples copy-center to photocopy some pages out of various workbooks. Just like in Japan, where I was assigned to travel from school to school; I am doing the same thing now. I am making a kind of emergency teaching kit (containing several lessons for various grades and abilities. As a sub. teacher, I have no idea where I will be going, nor do I know what grade (K to 6) I’ll be asked to teach. When I am prepared with something, I can handle the classes a little bit better, than if I walk in with nothing. After making my copies (about an hour), I went to an internet café to upload the previous blog. I also started uploading a few photos (6) onto my other web site. I was planning to upload more photos, but the internet café was full – no computers were available.

Today, I was a substitute teacher for another teacher who was in the building; however, she was substituting for another teacher who was absent. Today I was stopped in the hall and asked about my sub. assignment. I explained to the woman not realizing (until a student told me later) that I was talking to the teacher I was substituting for, that was when I realized that the teacher I was subbing for was not the one with the broken ankle.

My schedule (today) was the same as the previous days; also, I had the exact same classes, so I had to come up with some lesson plans, or else the students would be wilder than usual.

Highlights:

I had a couple of pre-k classes. The pre-k kids are nice (relatively speaking), but I am not a pre-k teacher. I don’t really like working with the very little kids; they are too needy. The first pre-k class teacher was a little reluctant to leave the room, but once she saw my classroom management was okay, she was comfortable with leaving the room. Today, she was even more comfortable with leaving an assignment for me to do. I was suppose to collect the drawings of each student and ask each student what he (or she) drew, then I had to write what each child told me into a notebook. Unfortunately, as soon as the teacher left, the little ones started coming up to me at the same time each talking at the same time. I just gave up. I was also a little annoyed that the assistant teacher said she was going to the bathroom, but ended up staying out for most of the period.

The second pre-k class teacher seemed more willing to leave me alone with her class; she left me alone on the first day. The assistant teacher also took this time as her lunch period, so again I was alone with the little ones. Last Friday, the assistant teacher told me that a parent volunteer would come in and help me. The volunteer came in looked around, and left. Today, I was alone with the kids, but the assistant teacher took the most disruptive kid with her, so the class was actually very nice…relatively speaking!

The second grade class was a bit disruptive, but relatively speaking they were a nice bunch.

From the second grade I went to the other pre-k class. From the pre-k class on the first floor, I had a sixth grade class on the third floor, at the opposite end of the building. Which brings me to the bell schedule; there are no bells between classes, and no travel time between periods, and a couple of the teachers return to the class late, which makes me late for the next class.

The Kindergarten class was nice…again relatively speaking. Although I don’t like teaching the little kids, I would have to say that the kindergarten class today was the best of the classes that I had today.

What about the sixth grade class. I’ll keep this short by saying, “similar to junior high school public schools in Japan; the students were aggressive, arrogant, immature and many seemed to not care less about learning anything.

For lunch, I drank a Nutrament health shake. I miss the healthy choices in Japan. I think I am going to try to make onigiri (rice balls). Of all the foods, I think I miss the onigiri the most. A healthy meal in a ball. Whenever I was hungry, I would eat a couple of onigiri, and drink a bottle of green tea. Now, here in New York, the shelves are overflowing with junk food.

Well, it is getting late, so I better stop now. I still have to shower and iron my clothes for tomorrow. Ja mata…

END ========================================================

November 17, 2005
This week I’ve been substituting at the same school. I thought this school was much better than the other two, but yesterday proved that it isn’t much better than the other schools.

Yesterday, most of the day went okay, with the exception of the 6th grade class that I had. One boy in the class, decided to just walk out of the class. Then another student (a girl) decided to follow. When they returned, they were loud and disruptive. The boy would not stop banging on the desk. The girl wandered the room causing other students to be disruptive. One, for walking out of the room without permission, two for not doing the work (that I had assigned), and three for being disruptive; I decided that the disruptive students would eat lunch last. I stayed in the lunch room to make sure that the students ate last. The students did not like that so they argued with me and were incredibly disrespectful; one girl was more disrespectful than the other two students. Curious about what a 6th grade students might say to the teacher in a lunch room filled with kids, school aids, and parent volunteers?

“Get out of my face.”
“You’re ugly. I can’t stand looking at your face.”
“You can’t tell me what to do.”
“Who do you think you are?”
This is just a sample coming from a 11 (or 12) year old girl. I was determined to not back down. And in the end, the two girls did eat last. The boy decided that since I was keeping him from eating when he wanted to, he was not going to eat at all. I ended up giving up my lunch period, but I thought that it was necessary. As a general rule, classes don’t usually treat the substitute with respect, but the level of disrespect was a surprise to me. For me, it was important to not have the students believing that they control the classroom.

So what was the result? Today, I had a very good day in the 6th grade class…relatively speaking! I just reminded the class that they could either have me for 45 minutes, or they could have me again in the lunch room. Sending the message that I mean business helped me win the battle, but not the war. I don’t believe for a minute that the class will be well behaved from now on. The only thing I accomplished was increasing my level of respect in the eyes on the students in that class.

Today was a long day, but a relatively nice day. Since I was in a relatively good mood, I accepted an after-school substitute assignment. I was tired, but I said okay. After the assignment, I went to Staples office supply store to make some copies for tomorrow. Today the only photocopy machine at the school was out of order.

Well, I’ll end this entry now. Ja mata…

Highlights and updates. Yes, it has been a long time since my last entry. First, I have returned to “teaching” in NY public schools. It took me a few days to readjust to “teaching" in public schools here in New York. Also, I started falling behind with my entries, but not wanting to leave anything out, I have been compiling a notebook of each entry that I would write about in the future. However, the more notes that I wrote, the more I procrastinated about writing. I could continue with the excuses, but instead I will just go right into the highlights from the past couple of weeks.

Highlights:

October 21st
After trying (unsuccessfully) several times to get a live person on the phone (from the Board of Education) to help me with my application process, I decided to go down in person. First, a little background information.

When I returned to New York I thought that I would have no problem getting back into the system, unfortunately, I was incorrect. While I was away in Japan, my (provisional) teaching license expired. I was told that it would take about 4 months to complete the application process (not including the new test and the workshop on school violence that I would have to take). I was told that I could apply for a substitute teaching certificate (which would allow me to start working much sooner).

On September 12, 2005 I delivered my application for a substitute teaching certificate at the BOE headquarters. I was told that it would take about 10 to 20 days to be processed. After 20 business days passed, I returned to the HQ to find out what happened. I had not received any notice or certificate. I went to the 4th floor, which was where I submitted my application. I was told that the certificate was mailed on the 16th of September (and that I was approved on the 16th of September). The secretary suggested that I go to the 8th floor (records dept.) ask to look in my file, make a photocopy of the certificate, and use that copy until the BOE sends me another one. Without some kind of certificate, I can’t set foot inside a school. In the record room, I looked in my file to find that a copy was not in it. I was told that I should wait another week, and maybe it would be placed into my file. I mentioned that I could not wait, so it was suggested that I go to the 3rd floor (sorry, as I am typing this, I forgot what dept. was on the 3rd floor). On the 3rd floor, I was told that there was nothing there for me, but that I should go to the 8th floor. And on the 8th floor, I received the same information. Basically, I was getting the runaround. Finally (after pleading poverty), I was told to go around the corner and ask to speak to Mary. Around the corner, I asked to speak to Mary, but I was told that there were 3 Marys. However, the secretary there was helpful enough to give me a printout of her screen that showed I did have approval to do substitute teaching. With that photocopy, I was able to return to my old school for sub. teaching assignments. Since I was in a good mood, I decided to walk to the Brooklyn Bridge (from the BOE HQ), but I ended up walking to Canal Street (about an hour walk). About a week later, I returned to the BOE (for a BOE photo ID), this time, I walked home from the BOE HQ in Brooklyn. The walk took about 4 hours. I did take some photos; I hope to have the photos up on my other web site (hopefully, some time next week).

October 22nd
I received an application letter stating that I was approved for substitute teaching and that I would receive my certificate and BOE photo ID application in a few days. I suspect that I only received the notice because I went downtown to the HQ. I bought a cheap prepaid cell phone (with calling card).

The process for substitute teaching is that I would have to go to each school (that I wanted to substitute teach at), and the school would call me if they needed a substitute teacher. With the cell phone, I wanted the schools to not call for me on my foster father’s house phone; they could reach me directly through the cell phone. I still don’t like cell phones, but in this case, a cell phone is a necessity.

October 25th
My first day substitute teaching at my old school, I was assigned to cover the Math Cluster (prep) teacher. My classes for the day were 2 pre-K classes and 3 third grade classes. The pre-K classes (before kindergarten) were nice, I was basically just assisting the assistant teacher. The 3rd grades were another story. The first two were basically how I remembered teaching in public school was before I left. Each class became progressively worst. The last class, at the last period was the worst. I could barely control the class.

Since this is just the highlights I have to leave out details, including the comparisons between the public schools here and in Japan. I know there are a couple of my pen pals (teachers from Japan) who were looking forward to reading details about my teaching experiences here in New York. However, in order to get back on track with this blog, I have to skip the details for the moment. Sorry.

October 26th
Today I was assigned to takeover another 3rd grade class, from a teacher who was in the building but she was busy doing some kind of head teacher program. There were also visitors watching a part of her reading lesson. During the morning, I was so impressed with the teacher’s style and control of her class. The students were so well behaved that I couldn’t wait to take over the class. And then, I got my wish…

In English, there is an expression, “be very careful what you wish for, because your wish just might come true”.

As soon as the teacher left the room (about 5 or 10 minutes) the class went wild. They argued with each other, threw things across the room, and would not stay in their seats. I was shocked, confused, and angry. I did not understand what had happened. It was like I was stepping in front of a classroom for the first time. Nothing…Nothing I did or said had any impact. The class was wild and out of control from the moment I stepped in front of the room, until their teacher returned at 3pm the end of the day. I wanted to keep them in after school, but the teacher needed the room for after-school tutoring. She (the teacher) suggested that I go to the principal to ask if it was okay to keep the students in after school in another room. Knowing full well, what the answer would have been, I did not bother. Again, I used to teach at that school, and after 3 years, I had had enough. At that school, the principal does not allow teachers to keep students after school (unless a request is made in advance [and I think with parent’s approval]). The kids know that they can’t be kept after school (and they act accordingly).

By the end of the day, I was so disgusted (and angry) that I was planning to not set foot in that school again. The principal (and the assist principal) both spent about an hour trying to convince me that I should not take the students behavior personal. Although they (both) made very good arguments, I was still stuck on my one point. I could not control the class. From my point of view (never mind not being able to teach anything), if I could not control the class I was useless. I really, really did not want to be put in that situation again.

After about an hour, I agreed that I would return to the school (the principal said that he would give me an easier assignment). I’d agreed to return to school, because I was planning to return anyway but for a different reason. The class was so out of control, the only threat I had was to take away their recess time. My plan was to come to the school just to take away the class’ recess time, and then I would leave the school to go to the BOE for my photo ID. It would mean losing a day’s salary, but I did not care. When the principal heard my plan, that is when he suggested that I shouldn’t give up a day’s pay over one class, he said that I should return the next day, and he would give me an easier assignment; he also said that we should talk more at the end of the day. Rather than argue, I agreed.

October 27th
I arrived at school around 10:30 (twenty minutes before 3rd graders went to lunch). The class was out of the room (out of class prep [music or science]. When they returned, I explained why I was there. I told them that if I had to lose a day’s pay to deal with them, then I would. I think my presence really shook the class. I really don’t think they expected me to have kept my word. Remember, I used to teach at this school. 1. you have to mean what you say. 2. you have to put things in a way that the kids understand. Returning to the school (just to do a lunch time detention), even though I did not have to, got their attention. The class was 100% (uh….85% better behaved). I told the class that if they acted up during the lunch period (or did not listen to me), then I would stay to dismiss the class, and return again tomorrow to do it all over again. Since they did not want me there again, for the most part, the class listened to me. Unfortunately, I over-stayed my visit.

After lunch they got a little bit restless, and decided to test me. Each time I was about to leave a student (or students) would say or do something (like clapping). And each time, I added more time for each disruption. And the longer I stayed, the wilder the class became. At one point (in the room), there were 3 adults (myself, the substitute teacher [usually he is the writing Cluster teacher], and the social studies prep teacher), but the class was just as wild. Finally, I changed tactics. I singled out individual students as the reason why I did not leave, and finally, the class was quiet enough for me to leave. They went wild as soon as I left the room; one student even followed me down the stairs to make sure I was really leaving.

I did not win the war, but I won the battle. I kept my word, and I let them know I am the teacher, and I am the one in charge...relatively speaking.

A couple of teachers in the building mentioned that my time in Japan probably softened me, so that is why I probably had difficulty adjusting. I didn’t want to believe what they were saying (especially considering the some of the nonsense that I went through while I was teaching in Japanese public schools, however, I think they might be correct. Anyway, I felt really good about myself.

Oh by the way, if you are interested (or curious) about what the easier assignment was -- it was teaching in pre-k. So the next day after the lunch detention, I had a pre-k for the day. The pre-k experience is also an entry in itself, but again, if I go back and try to write from the notes that I'd written, then I would continue procrastinating with this blog. I'll have to pass on writing about my pre-k experience. It wasn't a bad experience, but just interesting in terms of kids, and the changing education experience. After the pre-k experience, I was given the 4th grade TAG (Talented And Gifted) class. I'll just sum up my TAG experience with, "you don't want to know what passes as a talented class. Basically, they were TAG in name only. They were closer to the 3rd grade class I mentioned above. However, relatively speaking, the TAG class was a good class...Relatively speaking!!

After the lunch time detention, I went to the BOE to submit my direct deposit application. With the substitute teaching circuit I’m on, if I did not get direct deposit for my salary, then every payday (twice a month), I would have to go to every school I taught at for that month to pick up my salary. Oh by the way, to ensure that I had enough schools calling me for substitute teaching assignments, I sent my resume (with cover letter) and a copy of my per diem (substitute) teacher’s certificate to about 75 schools. Although the policy is to deliver my certificate to each school in person, I really didn’t want to waste a day traveling from school to school introducing myself. I though that I could just e-mail the information, but NYC public schools seemed to be even more behind the times then I imagined Tokyo public schools to be. After searching the internet for about an hour, I could not find a single e-mail address. Since my own computer skills are so low, it is possible that I overlooked something, but I doubt it.

Anyway, I made 75 copies of my resume and certificate, and used Microsoft word label maker to make the labels and sent my information by snail mail(post). At the time of this writing, I’d taught in about 3 different schools. 2 schools seemed (in their own way) to be identical, the third seems to be much nicer (relatively speaking). At first, I was eager to get my own classroom in any school, but now I’m not. Here in New York, you don’t have much choice when it comes to choosing what school you are assigned to. It is the same as business, it is not what you know, it is who you know. In this case, knowing the principal will put you in a good school.

Well, I think I will stop about now. There were other similar situations in other schools, but again, I think you have the general idea. Also, I consider this blog, a catch up entry. Starting now, I can submit current entries. I hope.

Now, that I’ve caught up with my blog entries, I can now catch up with my e-mails. Until next time…

END ========================================================

October 23, 2005 (Post date) October 16, 2005 (Blog date)

Today my wake up call (about 6 in the morning) was an argument between my foster father and his forty-something year old son. What started the fight? My foster father asked his son to use the hallway door to go to the bathroom. Background?!!? The forty-something year old has been sleeping in the living room. The living room has two doors one leads to the kitchen, and the other leads to the hallway. My foster father told his son that if he has to go to the bathroom, he should use the hallway door, especially while there are people sitting at the table eating. This time both were in a very bad mood. It was almost as if they wanted to pick up right where the last fight left off. This time the son was in no mood for me to be peace maker. I believe he realized that his…. “logic” doesn’t work on anyone but his father. He quickly (and angrily) told me not to interfere when he is talking to his father. Neither one was talking, just shouting. The shouting continued until the threats started. Once I realized that a fight would most likely be imminent, I positioned myself between the two. The son seemed to feel that he was entitled to ask the question (over and over again). Does the door rule only apply to him? The son also changed the focus of the argument to not being allowed to wear pajamas in the kitchen.

Like father like son, when the argument isn’t going your way, change the argument.

When I tried talking to the son, the father would shout over me, and when tried talking to the father…oh, you know.

Basically, I was in the same situation I was in when I broke up fights in my elementary school classroom. I stood in the middle and tried to reason with the participates. Exactly what the teacher’s union recommends that the teacher not do.

Well anyway, the argument continued, and it escalated. It seemed like the son was determined to win the argument at any costs. And it seemed like the father felt like the son was “trying to take over the house”.

Here, I’ll leave out a few details.

As the father began looking for his metal pipe, I focused my reasoning skills (as poor as they are) on the son. The son went on and on about how he does not… will not be disrespected by anyone. He went on about how he has a right to speak and no one can and will tell he what he can and can’t do.

To make a long story short (leaving out a few more details), I managed to prevent history from repeating itself. Apparently, they had a very similar fight while I was in Japan. Sorry, since I was not involved with that fight, I am not going to go into details.

Anyway, I managed to stop the argument. The participates went to their corners. The father worked on his…uh…lottery numbers in his bedroom, and the son ate his oatmeal in the kitchen.

A few minutes later, the son asked to speak to me. He came into my room to lecture me about disrespect. He wasn’t so much angry as he was trying to persuade me to see things his way. He mentioned that I was being disrespectful for interrupting their “conversation”, and I was being disrespectful for not saying “excuse me” before interrupting. When he found that I would not see things his way, he said that he had a headache and didn’t want to hear what I had to say. He walked out of the room, I started to follow him into his room (living room), but he closed the door in my face. Rather than get into a fight (or another argument) I just continued talking through the door. He whined about how he had a headache and he needed to sleep.

A few minutes later, the father asked me to call the older son.

The older son said that he would be over in a few minutes. I expected another loud argument. I expected a continuation. But, what was the encounter like?

↓
↓
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The older son (he is in his mid 50s) arrived, he said “pack your shit, you are going back to your sister’s house” (yes, the one with the big house). That’s it! No argument. No fight. Nothing. The (former) tough-talking (disabled) ex-marine had nothing to say. It took him about 45 minutes to pack one duffle bag. Later (when he is about to leave), he was whistling like nothing happened.

After the 40-something year old son was driven up to his sister’s house, my foster father spent the rest of the day (actually a couple of days) saying, “we got rid of him”. That was very annoying! It wasn’t him, and it wasn’t me. Neither one of us was the one that reined in the wayward son. It was the older brother. After the 40-something was kicked out, I then had to listen to my foster father shouting at his grandson about how he also “better watch out”, or he (my foster father) would kick his grandson out the same way he kicked out his 40-something son.



I was angry and annoyed, so I did what I usually do. I went for a walk. From my home I walked to 125th street and Broadway. I walked down Broadway until 72nd street. There used to be a public toilet near the 72nd street subway station, but unfortunately, it was no longer there. Since I had to go to the bathroom, I decided to return home. I walked across 72nd street to 8th avenue. While walking down 8th avenue I walked past the New York Museum. The NY Museum had a special exhibition about slavery in New York. It is not a topic I am interested in, but it is educational. I told myself several times that I would go, but I kept procrastinating, so I decided to go, even though I was tired, and had to go to the bathroom.

I was amazed that the exhibition was so crowded; I was also surprised that there seemed to me to be more European-Americans than African-Americans there. I thought the exhibition was very interesting, I even forgot (a little) that I had to go to the bathroom). The only down side (if any) was that a lot of the crowd moved like snails, or would stand in front of exhibitions having personal conversation, even though there were lines to see almost all of the different displays. At the exhibition, there was a handwritten draft of the Emancipation Proclamation. After visiting the Slavery exhibition, I still had about 30 minutes before the museum closed, so I went to see some other exhibitions. I was able to take a few photos.

About the photos. Sorry for the delay with posting photos on my other web site. I have about 5 sets that need to be posted.

I will (try to) visit the internet café next weekend to upload the photos. I narrowed the photos to about 64 pictures in total. Although I do have a free internet connection, it is limited (only 20 hours per month at dial-up speed). Once I get my own apartment, I’ll get one of those high-speed DSL connections.

Well, I think that is about it… Until next time….