Holy Carp! Is It Thursday Already?

What a week...

Published on February 17, 2005 By chiprj In Blogging

Been a fast week so far. And the funny thing is, I've done almost nothing all week. On Monday, I completely threw my back out. Worse than I've done in a few years. I had some serious trouble just moving from standing to sitting and back all day Monday. Even today, I'm still standing with a noticeable slant/curve in my spine. Just can't seem to straighten up all the way. I'm lucky that I work in a place where they trust me to self-care and not abuse the system. I've been able to cover my morning classes and then go home in the afternoons to use the heating pad and relax. So, today, while I'm still experiencing some discomfort, I am feeling a lot better than I did just 72 hours ago.

As I wrote last week, I'll be starting funeral detail next month. I talked with our overall NCOIC and this will be his first rotation on the duty. I suggested that we get started early and attend some of the practices with the group that will be coming off the duty before the end of the month. He liked that idea, so starting next week, we'll probably start attending. That way, he, and the others first timers, will be able to see what's going on before they are in the thick of it.

My class is progressing very well. They will be taking their first military topic unit test for third semester next week. I think they will do well, but I still worry. They aren't that far off from graduating, so I know the stress is starting to add up for them. I still have moments when they frustrate me with some of their complaints. I often remind them that they are in week 54 (or whatever week) and that when I was a student, when I hit week 54, I had already graduated (and exceeded the DLPT expectations/standards) and was halfway through the next school. I don't tell them that out of any malicious feelings or "it sucked for me, so it WILL suck for you" type sentiment. Every single one of them goes into a test worried about how they will do/did. Yet, if you ask them, they will tell you that the first thing they would drop from the course would be homework and the night time enhancement hours (we give two hours of tailored instruction in the evening two to three times a week to struggling students and third semester students). "Teach me in class, but don't expect me to do anything on my own time!" The Korean School learned that that program didn't work when I was a student over 10 years ago (well, it did work for me, but I was an exception that usually wrecked the curve for my buddies). Oh, well, it's equally (if not more) silly for me to complain about complaining students as it is for them to complain in the first place... Soldiers (or Service Members in a joint environment) will complain, no matter what the situation is. It's just something we do. HAHA!

I actually don't want to paint my students in a negative light, really. I've said before that it truly is an honor to be here teaching some of the best and brightest young men and women our country has serving in the Armed Forces. They keep me on my toes and I look forward to seeing them successfully completing this course.

Well, that's enough for now...

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Comments

Estrogen Lass

on Feb 17, 2005

I actually don't want to paint my students in a negative light, really. I've said before that it truly is an honor to be here teaching some of the best and brightest young men and women our country has serving in the Armed Forces. They keep me on my toes and I look forward to seeing them successfully completing this course.

You know, I just started being a part of the class that I am going to be teaching. I am just kind of observing right now, but all I have to say is wow. I am not trying to say anything negative about the Soldiers of tomorrow, but I am just wondering if I was that dumb when I went through AIT.....One of the students in the graduating class didnt even know where India was. Or Syria for that matter.

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