My Baha'i Student Mohammed, Quinoa Guilt & Other Quick Takes

1. It is always exciting to have a diverse ESL class, and this means getting a few students of non-Mexican origin. In one of my classes, I have an older student named Mohammed. He shared that he has a wife and three daughters who remain in Iran. The other students started to ask him about Islam, and he responded that he is Baha'i and has been imprisoned three times. His daughters are not permitted to attend university, and he is in the United States as a refugee. 

My first teaching experience was in Austria with a classroom filled with college-graduates from sixteen different countries. To make the teaching experience even more rewarding, the students all had American roommates, so they learned English very quickly. I have now been teaching in the United States for over a decade, and I miss the educated 'captive audience' I once had. The typical ESL student at a community college has had six years of formal education. It is a challenge working with adults who do not know how to be a student.

2. I started the new semester, teaching at the local college. I haven't ordered books yet for my students because I have no idea what level they are. So, I'll be formulating my own curriculum for another week. Then, they have the choice to buy the book or make copies from the library. Did you know- there is a box I can check on my roster, forcing each student to buy a copy of the book or they will not receive credit for the class. The average ESL book (soft-cover, 250 pages) is 45 dollars. I refuse to check that box. 

3. I was stumped as to what to give to my children for lunch. I took quinoa and boiled it in chicken broth and then threw in pieces of spinach and arugula. I felt good for giving them a healthy lunch that everyone ate. And then I clicked on this article from the guardian, telling all us Western hipster types that we are what is wrong with the world and that the people who farm quinoa can no longer afford it because of international demand....

4. These quick takes are getting serious! Here's Sting singing 'The Cherry Tree Carol'- from his album If On a Winter's Night- rest for the weary....but the entire album is rather serious, befitting its title.

5. What should I do with our Christmas tree? I'd like to be rid of it before Lent begins (Monday February 11th for us new calendar Byzantine Catholics!) Yes- St Valentine's Day is after Lent begins...so let's plan ahead and have our filet mignon the Sunday before (or after) ! (I can't find the source of the image below...so I probably shouldn't have used it....but it is so cute)

6. I continued my save-a-step cooking strategy with yesterday's dinner. I used leftover broccoli and ham and made three quiches with sauteed scallions and crumbled feta. The photo below is before the egg and cheese mixture was added.

 7. My older sister has 8 children between 16 and 1, all boys except the second and third to the last being lovely girls with curls. It has been a long tradition of theirs to have 'movie night' on Saturdays. Can you suggest any media that could work for all those age groups? I am completely out of ideas! 
She sometimes reads this blog, so please comment below- no account or code needed!

go to Jen's Conversion Diary for more!