I no longer feel so bad...

Back in the fall semester, I talked to my students about winter in New York City. I mainly was concerned about my students from Taiwan and Shanghai; the students from Beijing and Harbin would be fine, I knew. In class, we talked about how cold it can get and the need for good weather gear: gloves, scarves, boots, etc. I mentioned the beautiful snow and the biting wind that could come on different days. I tried to highlight the importance of being prepared. Then winter never came.

A couple of students complained about the day after Thanksgiving, it was wet and a little windy, but not bad weather like a real winter day. I never even pulled out my scarf from my drawer to wear. It just was not that cold. It seemed winter was not coming. I felt bad that I had told my students to buy stuff, to spend their money, on stuff that it didn't look like they needed. However, I no longer feel bad about this. It is cold now, and it is supposed to be bitterly cold on Friday. I know everyone will need every piece off winter gear they have this weekend. If they didn't listen to me, they might regret it on Friday. I know I plan on staying at home where it is nice and cozy--I don't teach on Fridays!

two months?

Has it really been two months since I wrote a blog? What have I been doing in this time? Being really lazy, it appears. It looks like I did what my students usually do: The semester was over and so was my effort.

Spring classes have started. This is a very good thing. I only have one class at St. John's, a writing class. That's OK, I like writing my writing class. I was originally slated to teach the writing class that starts at 7pm. Glad I don't have to do that; that classs finishes at 9p and then I would not get home until 10:30. Not so enjoyable when I have to get up the next day at 6 or so.

Getting home that late doesn't give me much time to wind down. I hate walking in the door and going straight to bed. Maybe it is a thing of luxury that I do not have to do that. I know some people work hard and late and when they get home, bed is the first thing they think of. Even after going out at night, going straight to bed is a hard thing for me.