You crack me up! Now, in my life, PE teachers have despaired of my almost complete lack of coordination for anything more complex than well, walking. In my 20s, I took close to a year of tennis lessons—there was a federally funded program to promote tennis in the inner city of Durham, NC, something along the lines of $10 a month.
It came to an end when the coach called me into his office and said, “You are driving me to drink. I have tried everything I can to explain this game to you. What did you do as a child?”
When i replied that I read books and drew pictures, his reaction was as if I’d said I had traveled to outer space.
And this weekend, at a workshop on eco-friendlier etching (printmaking—still making pictures at age 70), I recalled the very first time I traveled to an art workshop more than 20 years ago. Nervous and excited. My husband dropped me off at Hartsfield Jackson airport with this admonishment: “Go make lots of mistakes.”
I was shocked and horrified at the prospect of doing so in the company of strangers, being taught by a very famous portrait painter, all the way up in East Fishkill, NY.
“How else will you learn?” he said.
I told my classmates this weekend that I thought I’d made every mistake there was in previous workshops on solar plate etching, a related technique. With pride! I learned new ways to screw up this weekend. With gratitude for the opportunity.
I'm a middle school Math teacher who has lived in Taiwan for ten years. I speak about ten words of Mandarin, using the excuse that I'm "not good with languages." I've recently decided to make this my home long-term so here come the language lessons. Thanks for the inspiration!
Well, it sounds like a great trip, but I hope you set a good example in school by not using the same language the kids use. That’s definitely not your fault. Few kids are being “parented” anymore. They end up raising themselves.
Man am I glad I stumbled on this account. As a much older, former teacher, now superintendent I laugh along at your exploits and remind myself of a younger me in Costa Rica, Mexico, Dominican, etc. miss those days but now they are family memories made in those lands together. Anyway, great piece and thanks for sharing! Love this line- “Create a following of people who become fans of what you do. Be so damn good at what you do that people want to give you money so you continue doing it.” I’m intrigued and the world needs more teachers like you!
Wow, wow, wow. Damn do I relate to this in so many ways. Good on you for being honest with yourself and listening to your truth. You are an amazing dude. Seriously. Thank you for sharing.
You crack me up! Now, in my life, PE teachers have despaired of my almost complete lack of coordination for anything more complex than well, walking. In my 20s, I took close to a year of tennis lessons—there was a federally funded program to promote tennis in the inner city of Durham, NC, something along the lines of $10 a month.
It came to an end when the coach called me into his office and said, “You are driving me to drink. I have tried everything I can to explain this game to you. What did you do as a child?”
When i replied that I read books and drew pictures, his reaction was as if I’d said I had traveled to outer space.
And this weekend, at a workshop on eco-friendlier etching (printmaking—still making pictures at age 70), I recalled the very first time I traveled to an art workshop more than 20 years ago. Nervous and excited. My husband dropped me off at Hartsfield Jackson airport with this admonishment: “Go make lots of mistakes.”
I was shocked and horrified at the prospect of doing so in the company of strangers, being taught by a very famous portrait painter, all the way up in East Fishkill, NY.
“How else will you learn?” he said.
I told my classmates this weekend that I thought I’d made every mistake there was in previous workshops on solar plate etching, a related technique. With pride! I learned new ways to screw up this weekend. With gratitude for the opportunity.
"Your driving me to drink." LOL. Love that you had a great learning experience.
Flying to Colombia for a month to learn salsa at a random dance school is one of the most awesome things I have ever heard of.
I'm not gonna lie. It's probably the best idea I've ever had.
I'm a middle school Math teacher who has lived in Taiwan for ten years. I speak about ten words of Mandarin, using the excuse that I'm "not good with languages." I've recently decided to make this my home long-term so here come the language lessons. Thanks for the inspiration!
Love that. Get it!
So happy for you! I knew you were going to enjoy Cali, their people, and their salsa!
Diana, I can't wait to go back.
You weren't a dancer. You were dance.
What a beautiful piece.
Thank you.
Appreciate it. =)
Brilliant! And I have to say, brave too! Just upping and going. Brilliant. Now you have to keep your chops up!
Already looking in the area
Sorry about all the typos!
Simon, I am the goddamn king of typos. Never apologize for fat-thumbing it.
Great read!
HOLY SHIT - You really are brave. Hwæt! I would stand with you in the Shield-Wall.
Also!
“The people at the school loved seeing me get better.”
JUST LIKE A GYM
Communities where people improve together are great places to be.
Great story. Good writing but too many "fucks" for my taste and I use the word myself. Just not when I write.
Probably doesn't reflect brilliantly on me, but I edited many more out.
Well, it sounds like a great trip, but I hope you set a good example in school by not using the same language the kids use. That’s definitely not your fault. Few kids are being “parented” anymore. They end up raising themselves.
Man am I glad I stumbled on this account. As a much older, former teacher, now superintendent I laugh along at your exploits and remind myself of a younger me in Costa Rica, Mexico, Dominican, etc. miss those days but now they are family memories made in those lands together. Anyway, great piece and thanks for sharing! Love this line- “Create a following of people who become fans of what you do. Be so damn good at what you do that people want to give you money so you continue doing it.” I’m intrigued and the world needs more teachers like you!
Haha, honored that a superintendent is reading some of my stuff. Appreciate it! And thank you for your time in the education system.
Wow, wow, wow. Damn do I relate to this in so many ways. Good on you for being honest with yourself and listening to your truth. You are an amazing dude. Seriously. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Jess. Appreciate it!
Lol, the whold dance school had a laugh for a good long time while I was there.