Raizes

I just wanted to share a few things. First of all its been a long couple of weeks, dealing with this job transition and such, but I'm making it through. One of the things that Is really helping me is my capoeira class that i started a little over a month ago. Its this amazing Brazilian Martial art that is more of a dance then a fight. Each of the moves are responses and music plays an integral part in it. It is a physical and mental challenge, but it really takes my mind off other things.

I thought I would post some videos of it. It is originally a dance that slaves developed and practiced in brazil. It has roots in African and Portugese music and dance. This first video is from my school during the last presentation they had:



This second video is of a famous instructor mestre bimba. It has some really cool footage:



oh yeah, one other fun thing I found recently. Totally unrelated: Tom Waits interviewing himself. How postmodern

Humbled through headphones

I was riding my bike home today, and I was very nearly pushed off the road by a truck who was turning left without a signal. I, of course, could rant about those drivers who don't feel the need to use turn signals, but I wont go off on some diatribe.

In my usual non-confrontational defensive fashion, I gave the driver the evil eye. I think he must have been quaking in his boots, so he opened his window and yelled at me. I couldn't hear what he was saying because I had my headphones in, but I was sure it was something obnoxious. So I took out a headphone and started telling him that he needed to use turn signals or bikers cant see him. I was slightly furious. And when I finished he looked at me strangely and repeated himself, "I said, I'm sorry" he yelled through the window. My anger turned into humility, "thanks man." I had nothing more to say.

I guess its not fair to think that all SUV drivers are jerks. I kinda felt like a jerk for yelling at him.

So I learned a lesson, but I still hope people learn to better use their turn signals. There have been far too many bike deaths in Santa Cruz this year.

It's Official

Last week was somewhat absurd, but it is now official. I will be taking a new job on next year.

I was hired by a school that has a similar population to mine, but seems to be a bit more organized. The interview went great and the principal called me at 7:30 am the day after to offer me the job. It is a continuation school, not a charter, and it exists for students who either don't pass classes in mainstream high schools, get kicked out, or are raising children while trying to attend school.

It has some really interesting programs, one of being its nursery. There is an on-site childcare setup so that young parents can finish high school. They also serve a sit-down meal to all of the students and their parents one night every other month.

The best thing is that the principal runs a tight ship and really seems to support his teachers in any way that he can. All of the rooms have lots of technology, the teachers attend and present at at least one conference every year, and the school is a "model school."The kids were extremely respectful, and if they don't abide by school rules they are booted.

I don't want to mention the name of it, because I don't know who reads this blog, but I have to say i think the next few weeks may be difficult at my school. I really don't want to burn bridges with them, because they've provided me with so much--but I know they aren't happy with me. I also want to let the kids know, but not create chaos, as a few other teachers are also leaving.

I think a lot of wonderful and exciting things will be happening in my near future, but I will also have to deal with the transition and change of one position to another.

Oh yeah, then there's the commute. I currently ride my bike every day to school. That will definitely change next year as this school is a little over 25 miles away. Ugh-- gas prices don't seem to be going down either. but overall, I think it will be a welcome change.


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Now playing: Spokane - American Television
via FoxyTunes

More Politics your way-- si se puede cambiar

I just ran across these two videos about my man. I thought I would share them. I find them inspiring in their diversity. I realize that songs are somewhat unfair forms of sharing political opinion, but I also think that there is nobetter way then to use art to make a difference. I have a feeling this won't be the last Obama post.





Peace.

A poet's lament

In listening to Adam Duritz and the Counting Crows new release, Saturday nights and Sunday mornings, I have to admit that I wasn't initially impressed; even though I have a deep-seeded love for the crows, I have come to resent their commercial success-their seeming lack of humility to produce a Coca-cola commercial or a Shrek soundtrack. Although in deeper listening, I am reminded of Adam's incredible ability to write lyrics of euphoric beauty or ironic metaphor and insightful emptiness:

And I believe she loves you

Cause you never make her feel like anything

If his lyrics are as autobiographical as they seem, then Adam must have been in and out of hundreds of relationships, but at least they have created musings for depth in his music. His songs often connect to a continuing story or character or even a muse (Elizabeth, girl on a wire) and for me the truest and deepest connection comes from my personal past. I remember the snippets of beauty and how they exhaled through me as a young adult in middle and high school. I feel as if I have grown up with the crows and for that reason I cant let them go.

And so as an ardent crows fan, my opinion wont really be unbiased, but whose opinion is? The crows have a depth and self-absorbed beauty that not many other modern bands will ever be able to touch through lyrics. I think their new album Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings, sings of truth and melodic beauty, and its probably the strongest album they have released in years.

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Now playing: Counting Crows - Come Around
via FoxyTunes

Select Cycle

The Laundromat is a strangely beautiful place on a rainy evening.

The strange non-verbal interactions that take place between customers and the groaning silence of the few working machines create a strange feeling of warmth and safety.

flickering off-white lights drone through this ambiance. Cars speed madly from place to place, without pondering the simple beauty of this place.

I will sit and breathe in the strange elegance of a rainy night in the laundromat.

Quite a Day

I just got finished with my conference-style day and I just thought I would share some of the experiences that I had:

There was one of my favorite student's mother who came in, unable to concentrate on what I was saying because she was waiting on a call from his doctor to find out if the body in his head was a tumor or just a clump of fat. I couldn't imagine going through that.

Her son is the sweetest boy. He plays mandolin and guitar (how can I not like that). He had brain surgery last year to get a cancerous body out of his head. He now forgets things and has to wear an eye patch to see correctly, but he is an incredible writer--like professional level description and character depth, its amazing. I was almost moved to tears when I found out that I'm his favorite teacher and he tells me things that he never tells his mom, like how afraid he is of the MRI that he had yesterday.

Then there was the mother who screamed at her son through the speaker of my cell phone. She couldn't make it, but wanted to be included. He isn't doing well, but she's a bit harsh. I must've had a look that was somewhere between, "yeah you better shape up" and "I'm so sorry dude."

And my favorite, one of my favorite students and her two moms, who are really great. She's been slacking lately but will graduate eventually. I asked her what she wants to do with her life and she said, " I want to be an English teacher Daren, like you." almost in tears, I wanted to say, "Then why the hell don't you do any of the work in my class!:)"

I think she'll make a great English teacher--one day.

Then there's another one of my favorites who played a guard in the recent production of Dead Man Walking. He is an amazing boy, who lost his brother to gang violence and lives in the craziest household I've ever heard of. Mom, Dad, Mom's boyfriend, adopted son and his coke addicted girlfriend. Even his dad told me, "home is not a safe place."

It breaks my heart but I don't know if he'll ever graduate because of the states new no child left behind requirements. He still struggles with reading the newspaper.

Thats my day in a nutshell


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Now playing: Bon Iver - The Wolves (Act I and II)
via FoxyTunes