Sorry, I haven't had a chance to update this blog lately. Same content on my schedule, but just that things have intensified due to more homework (reading & writing assignments), more running mileage (up to 6 miles now) + cross-training such as yoga, strength training, running on my own, and stretching (dynamic & static stretches).
On a personal note, I actually missed my YOU KNOW WHAT for a month. I attribute that to the rigorous grad program, not the running. I've done running in Hong Kong before and it never affected my YOU KNOW WHAT.
Last Wednesday, I worked on 2 papers that kept me up til 3am! The awful part was that I started both papers about a week in advance but really struggled with the structure of the paper and encountered a major problem! I had just purchased a new PC and it has the new Windows Vista format, and I have been logging into a temporary microsoft office template (maximum limit is 25X) and I was unaware that the paragraphing button indicated more than just a formatting function. As I was writing on one draft without the paragraphing button 'on', it was automatically saving a 2nd draft, without my knowledge. So, I freely clicked on the paragraphing button whenever I wanted to use it. After I finished the paper, I printed it out, but I discovered that it was printing a draft that was not complete, the first draft! I couldn't print the 'complete and right' draft unless I click the paragraph button, but the printer doesn't print the draft with paragraph button. I was devastated! It was the first time I had thrown a trantrum and cried and it was 3am already! Both papers were due the next day at 12:35pm. I thought I'd just sleep on it and see what I'll do in the morning.
I woke up at 7am the next morning and immediately emailed my professor the problem, and sent him the paper not knowing if the draft that he could print out was the 'complete one.' When I got to class, Prof. Duncan-Andrade told me he received my paper and I asked him to show it to me just so that I am sure it's the right one. It turns out it was NOT the right draft! At that point I really wanted to just walk away from the whole program! Yes, I was thinking what was I doing, shooting myself in the foot. Luckily, my classmate Jill was with me and advised me to just re-write the draft, instead of fixing the computer problem. So, I did and re-sent it to the professor later that afternoon. It was the most stressful day I had at school.
To top it off, the CBOs (Community Based Organizations) that I had contacted never replied. And, I learned my other classmates had the same problem! It was as if the whole list of CBOs on SFSU's website haven't been updated or something. So, the coming week will be a frantic search for another CBO. Luckily, we don't have THURSDAY evening class in the next 2 weeks because Dr. Lee wanted the class to focus on the CBO's, which is still a 20-hour service learning requirement outside of school. A lot of working professionals in the MA program had complained about the CBO requirement on the rationale that we don't have the time to do it, not because we don't want to, but because this should be an undergrad requirement to get familiar with community work with people. At the graduate level, the community experience and exposure have already been part of our teaching training and career. I quite agree with the census on this one, even though I'm not working/teaching this school year, I already feel that a lot of my time is precious because the MA program is rigorous and it states that it is a program geared toward working professionals which is a bit mis-leading. Every day I have to catch up with reading, and every week at least 1 paper is due for any of the classes I have. Maybe we ask for it since nobody told us to go back to school and earn a degree but it just seems as if students do always get 'controlled' by a system that may not always operate with their best interest in mind. I know how that feels on both sides of the fence.
AS for my new computer, I had to purchase a Microsoft Office Standard 2007 software which should arrive in 5-7 days. Apparently I couldn't load my pictures from my camera or my cellular phone because both require the Microsoft software to download and be operational. So, I haven't been able to do that yet but will do that very soon.
Finally, I am attending to my mum who has just received her first dose of chemotherapy. Thank you again for all the thoughts and get well wishes from friends and extended relatives. We appreciate it very much. Mum sat for 5 hours during the first infusion on Thursday, the same day I had experienced the awful problem at school. Mum felt OK that evening, a little tired, a minor headache, but didn't vomit or had any fever. She had a good appetite and was able to rest comfortably. Over the weekend, she had a slight fever, experienced moodiness and felt like vomitting but didn't. She takes medication to help with the side effects of the chemo, and it seems she's doing ok. Her 2nd chemo infusion occurred on the following THUR, but it is a shorter session - 1 hr. This pattern of getting a larger then a shorter dosage will continue for 12 weeks. It is total of 4 chemo treatments within a 12 week period. She just finished her first treatment and will now be on a 2 week rest before the next chemo dosage. During this 2 week break, mum will focus on getting her body rejuvenated and ready for the next chemo dosage. On a daily basis, mum drinks 2 glasses of organic carrot juice, and 1 glass of organic apple juice, plus eating 1/2 cup of strawberries, a cup of broccoli, and a few slices of candied ginger (from Trader Joe's, health food store that is growing quite popular in the States!). And, mum still takes a 15 minute walk up and down our neighborhood, but she missed her walks these days due to the rainy weather. It is important that she doesn't come in contact with anyone who is sick, since chemo treatments weakens the body's immune system temporarily. So, my nieces haven't visited their "Popo' for awhile, but they've written her some very nice and cute notes. Overall, Mum's doing OK, better than expected. She knows exactly what to do and is strong and determined to fight this cancer.
So, March is already here! I can't believe it! My favorite season is Spring so I'm really looking forward to the Spring Break holiday! I have yet to watch Slumdog Millionaire, but I've read some articles about how slumdogs realistically don't ever leave the slums of Mumbai. The movies are still just the movies but it does offer a unique perspective on life. Thanks for Brian, I was able to take a short break from home-working, by watching his DVD of GOOD TIMES, a TV comedy show from the 1970's of an African American family (Evans Family) making ends meet in one of Chicago's most notorious housing projects call Cabrini-Green. The Evans Family really struck my mind when I was a kid watching the show because they represented a good, strong family which is not portrayed often enough in America's TV shows and mass media. There will never be another great show such as GOOD TIMES in this modern age again.
And, I am still debating on whether to do the 12K Emerald Run across the Golden Gate Bridge on March 15th! I probably will, but is just overwhelmed by the course load for school. I do feel stronger physically and my YOU KNOW WHAT came so I feel good. Just 3 more months of this Spring semester, though it's enjoyable to learn theories of education, sometimes getting a lot at the same time can be a bit overwhelming. It's heavy reading, not light. It's serious and daunting stuff that can be depressing when I see the state of education in our world. I do miss teaching and the only thing that keeps me focused and motivated are the students, and what they hold in this world of ours. The rewards of teaching is certainly not the monetary compensation, that's never it. It's the joy of seeing a young person grow to be everything that he/she is meant to be in this world. Education is only the lenses that empowers all of us if we make it powerful. I believe every student is worth the effort, and it's the system that may not always work its way to the hearts and minds of students and teachers, therefore there's a lot of work to be done. I am very passionate about education, because I would be nothing without it. I promise myself that I will make it through this grad program no matter how tough, rigorous and strenuous it can be. We reap what we sow which is the thought that will carry me through....
Happy March everyone and hope you're all doing well!
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