A lucky Friday

Hello spring and happy Friday 13th!

A rather ominous date, but in the Spanish- speaking world, Friday 13 isn't the unlucky day but TUESDAY the 13th. I reminded my students of that fact as they prepared for their AP Exam - the very last one of the year. For most of the students, it was the very last AP exam of their illustrious high school career. It's a long year and a bit of a slog at the end, but the students whom I saw after the exam felt confident about the experience which is always a good sign.

This marks the end of the class, and yesterday was the last day of senior classes, so I am officially down a class for the next two weeks. No complaints on my end! It is bittersweet to see the seniors go and to end the year with them, especially with these kids, but right now, I confess, I am enjoying a bit more peace and free time.

The end of senior classes and the blissfully spring-like weather serve as auspicious signs of summer, and I am more than ready to enjoy the laid-back summer months.

In anticipation, a package arrived in the mail, and I now have my new favorite 'gear':

No, not the dog - although Milo was looking pretty cute! No, my awesome wetsuit! Ocean and lake swims - here I come!

Spanish Score(s) Plus Spoiled and Sponsored

All of THAT just about sums about the past few weeks of my summer, but for the lay person, I may need to decipher. First of all, this could be two or even three separate posts since the topics vary, but I couldn't resist the alliteration impulse!

To begin with - MAJOR DRUM ROLL, please!

"Spanish Score" - That would be a reference to the World Cup. I dutifully trudged to the gym yesterday to see the Germany-Spain semi-final match. Why go to the gym? Oh, we have internet cable and we have a lovely TV, but we do not have cable for our TV. So, most of entertainment takes the form of Netflix movies and shows, which is usually fine by me. Not the case these days with the World Cup! So, we've been spending a crazy amount of time at the gym to see some of the matches. Mind you, if Spain would score before the 73rd or 83rd minute and even scored AGAIN, then we wouldn't be such gym rats. Anyway, I totally thought that Germany had the game all wrapped up, seeing that they'd just dominated and crushed England and Argentina, and Spain has struggled against so many teams. Imagine my surprise and absolute pleasure when I saw the game yesterday - Spain played so well as a team, and they finally put the ball in! It was a great goal too. GOOOOOOOOLLLLL! And they are in the finals!

Spanish ScoreS (plural!) - Those are my students' AP exam scores which came in this week. They all passed and most passed with VERY marks! While I did expect them to perform well, I cannot say that I wasn't worried at all. There are always little inklings of doubts and concern. I pushed them hard last year, and I will admit that I probably focused a bit too much on the product (the AP exam), but it would have been worse if, despite all of my pushing, they hadn't performed as well as they could have and as well as they did. Hopefully I can relax a bit more this year, armed with knowledge that I definitely provide the students with the tools they need in order to pass a stupid exam.

(Did I just say 'stupid exam'? Oh, yes indeed!)

Spoiled - I have felt completely spoiled lately! Yes, I am teaching 2 hours a day, but it is ideal because the class is zero pressure, I can prepare for it the hour before it starts and an hour or so the night before. Once I finish with the class, I then have time to PLAY! So far, I've enjoyed several brunches/lunches out, I love eating lunch en casa, reading books in the afternoon before and after a nap, going for walks, getting a pedicure, going out for margaritas and mexican food (last night - major celebration when I heard about the AP scores).

Sponsored - This is hand-and-hand with "spoiled" but slightly different... It has to do with my summer wardrobe expansion. Yes, I have indulged in some rampant consumerism, so I will go flagellate myself for a few hours, days or weeks. My favorite form of "sponsorship" is Patagonia, which I prefer to call "Patagucci". I did happen to walk into the local Patagonia this past weekend with Michael, looking for a present for a friend. How did it happen that we left with no present but a really cute dress for me?! See, Michael totally spoils me. He also found it very entertaining when the salesclerk said to me, "You're a teacher, aren't you", validating his opinion that I spend far too much time in the local Patagonia place.

I also discovered a new obsession/brand: Ibex! I tried on some of their pants (or trousers, but they aren't really 'trousers', but I know that some people have an aversion to the word 'pants'. I, personally, hate the word "slacks") when we were in Colorado, and at Michael's urging - I swear! - I ended up with a new pair of pants and have been stalking their products on-line ever since. I do like to think that at least SOME of the companies that I sponsor (despite joking that THEY sponsor ME, a concept I've borrowed from a friend of mine) are somewhat environmentally- and socially-friendly. Does that assuage my guilt? Just the tiniest bit.

By the way, does it strike anyone else as funny that assuage = sausage?!

Tomorrow: Game Day

Being on an academic calendar, I have certain dates well memorized by the time school even begins. You know, we receive our calendar well ahead of the start date, so I know on what day certain events fall. Some of these are small events, like Columbus Day, which we get off, others are slightly more important, like when Christmas Break begins. This year, the two days that have etched their numbers, 14 and 13, well into my brain are rapidly approaching. The number 13 is not unlucky, not this year, not in June, because it marks graduation. Hallelujah!

The 14th approaches even more rapidly, we are just a few hours shy of it. And it's not the clock striking midnight, but the clock striking 8:00 am that will mark, to me, in my own petty little way, a milestone.

At 8:00 am, my small handful of senior students will sit down to take a test that I certainly wasn't capable of taking in high school: the AP Spanish Literature Exam. 9 months and 57 works later (give or take a few here and/or there), they will sit for their exam, we will all exhale, students and teacher alike, and then I will await on pins and needles for the next few months before I know the results. Tomorrow morning, later, after the exam, will provide me with somewhat of a relief when I see the students and see the essay questions. But final results? Nothing until July, or maybe August for me, since I will be traipsing across 'the Continent' at the end of July (oh Joy!).

I am cognizant of the fact that these students are tired. Probably bone-tired and also emotionally done by the end of their senior year. That, combined with the fact that PROM is tomorrow night, might make for some iffy results.

Which is totally understandable. It really is. I will not hold it against these students if they all fail, except I might, just a small bit, hold it against myself, because I know that these are whip-smart students. Seriously. They could kick my ass on the IQ factor any day, it's just that I have a broader range of experience and in theory I have a stronger grasp on Hispanic literature, ranging from the 14th to the 20th centuries.

So, I have hopes and expectations of and for them. Maybe that's unfair, but like any children (these are not my biological offspring, but I've now taught them for 2 years, so this is as much 'mothering' as I will ever know, except for our dogs), I see them as a reflection of myself in a way. Additionally, do others judge me on these scores? Yes, without a doubt.

But all of this nonsense will be over, more or less, tomorrow, somewhere in the 11:00 o'clock hour.

To celebrate my students' achievements and the end of a demanding year with them, I will chaperone Prom. Yes, that is right, Prom. I can't wait.

(Please note: Sarcasm at the end. I really don't like prom at all.)