Hello, lovely people!
I arrived safe and sound Saturday afternoon...barely. Even though we left State College for Pittsburgh with enough time, it turns out that the highway had been closed. We were sent on this detour that had an insane number of lights and too many reckless drivers that kept cutting us off and making the wait worse. I literally made it to the airport 20 minutes before my flight was supposed to leave; I could even hear my name called on the speakers as I was running to the terminal. But I made it.
I got to sit next to two fantastic old people - a lady that was going to visit her son in Flagstaff and vacation in her timeshare in Sedona (we'll call her Poppy), and a man that was visiting his half Indonesian niece in California (we'll call him Lou). Poppy first started talking to me when I sat down and asked me if I was a natural redhead. After reassuring her that I was, in fact, a natural redhead a number of times, we then started talking about what I was going to do in Phoenix. I explained to her that I had been assigned to a school district that had a very distinct Dual Language program. As soon as she heard that, she immediately went on to say how much she was against it. In a nice way, though. She explained to me how she expected that everyone that came to this country had to learn English, and why she didn't understand why we needed to have directions and automated phone services in Spanish, as well. I chuckled to myself and decided to engage in this friendly debate. I tried to explain to her how, as much as she wanted to keep the U S of A a monolingual country, it just wasn't going to happen. Immigrants keep coming in, and they should definitely do everything they can to learn Engligh. But that's just it. Can they do that? Do they have the necessary resources? I tried not to talk too much about what should happen, but focused more on the reality of the situation. In fact, I tried to leave the economy and politics out of it, too. Weird, I know. Still, I tried to focus on the sociolinguistic and cultural aspect. Families keep coming in with children in search of a better life. The kids are at an age where language immersion is ideal, so they tend to learn English a lot easier. The parents, on the other hand, can't. I'd like to think that it's not because they're reluctant or unwilling. At least not all of them (there are always exceptions, right?). Instead, it's just a lot harder for them to take classes or enroll in school to do so. They came here to work and support their families. Almost every family I've talked to wants to learn. They definitely don't enjoy not being able to go to the groceries store and not knowing how to ask questions or communicate with the cashiers. And I'm positive that they also regret the fact that communication between landlords, employers, and teachers is a lot more difficult, or even nonexistent. But they take it one step at a time. I tried to reassure Poppy that they're not here to take over and steal her dear country. The number of factors and subgroups at play when it comes to this topic are so many, it's just too hard for people to determine a right and wrong in this situation. But does there even need to be a right and wrong? Is it really a big deal that we have directions in English and Spanish? People say that if we start doing that with Spanish, then we have to do it with every language. But has every group of immigrants gotten so big that they all call for that? I'm not even sure. After having talked to Poppy about all of this, she reassured me that she got it. Thinking it was just an excuse on her part to shut me up, I got ready to listen to some mad jazz tunes, but she wanted to keep talking. This time about hooking me up with her son. She said he needed someone to set him straight... ?! Ugh.
Soooo, yea. After an eventful flight, my transition team leader picked me up at the airport and dropped me off at the hotel. I hung out for a bit and met up with my lovely roommate, Jacquelyn, who is a really fantastic feminist, vegetarian, science-loving, Pittsburgh native. We went ahead and signed our lease on Tuesday. Can you believe it?! Gaby signing a lease? Yup. I have a sweet apartment with lots of space for potlucks, Spanish movie nights, and sleepovers.
The past few days have been really crazy. We wake up anywhere around 5 or 6am and head out to workshops, lectures, and interviews until the early afternoon. Then, more lectures and workshops, followed by mandatory dinners that vary in location. To close off the night, a group of us hang out in the hotel pool/jacuzzi and a drink or two before heading to bed. It will be like this until Sunday, and then we move to the ASU dorms until July 19th to begin institute training. This consists of more workshops, student-teaching, lesson-planning, and clinics where we learn a bunch of stuff on classroom management and other fun things about teaching. Very packed schedules, but also really exciting. I start teaching summer school in two weeks!
Tuesday afternoon I interviewed with a principal and found out I will be teaching first grade. It's a dual language immersion program in which I teach a group of kids in Spanish (general ed) for a week, and then switch kids with a teacher that has been doing the same, except in English. So on and so forth for the entire school year. So, basically, the kids receive the entire curriculum alternating between Spanish and English. Now, is that not amazing?!?!?! I seriously believe that this is where I need to be. But I do miss you all like crazy.
Believe me, the last thing I want to do on this thing is get mushy, but I have to get it out once and for all - I miss my friends and family and think about all of you often. I really love it here, and there isn't anything I'd rather be doing. Yet, it doesn't make being away from you all any easier. Just know that we will always keep in touch and that you'll always have a place to stay when you come out to good ol' Arizona. For two years, at least.
Well, I'm going to shower and get ready for the evening events. I leave you all with lots of loving and good vibes. You know, kinda like Ronnie Burrage vibes. Yeaaaaa....
Peace.
