Les Enfants

I am, currently, in the last week of teaching my last photo class for the children’s college. With only two more days left to go, I can finally relax and enjoy the rest of my summer vacation with a huge sigh of relief that I survived these hectic two months. During all this “lesson planning,” I managed to jot down a few anecdotes in my journal that were worthy of mention. The following statements are excerpts from my journal.

(My students are from the ages 6-8)

Monday, July 20, 2009

Today was painless. I walked into a class full of timid and well mannered kids. They are the cutest things in the world and I have to frequently supress the urge to pinch their cheeks. Those diversity/sensitivity/sexual harassment classes seminars paid off. The first discussion amongst the little “sprouts” was about death by plane or car crash and which one was less painful. Why are they so morbid? Why are they talking about death? They’re only six-years-old. What are their parents letting them watch?

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Chris, a hyperactive six-year-old, discussed his fascination for Star Wars with me today. We talked about the Death Star and the androids. He has all the Lego versions. I wonder how much that set his parents back? I can’t judge, I had millions of Barbies and vintage furniture for them. I now recognize him as the “scribble-scrabbler.” I’d like to think that he’s just very reminiscent of Jackson Pollock at an early age. Maybe not. He wrote on the tables and it’s not coming off. FAIL kid, FAIL. Gavin, my blonde haired seven-year-old, stuck his index finger up to my face today to show me his “bump.” He said that the doctors had recently “stuck a big neeeeeedle in it and yellow stuffs came out.” “Wow,” I said. “You must be a super hero because only super heroes are that brave!” “I am,” he replied. Another incident where I had to resist the urge to pinch his cute little cheeks.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

We made 3-D pictures in class today. These kids were less hyperactive yesterday. What happened overnight? What do their parents feed them? Seena, the raven-haired boy with curly locks, has been labeled the “tattle tale” and no one will sit by him. He also says very violent things like “I will print this picture in negative filter to scare my brother and punch him til he bleeds.” Shocking, I know. I registered his mother and remember strongly disliking her. She’s abrasive and rude. I cringe at the sound of her voice. I fear for what her kid will become. Clearly there are issues at home. Who’s raising who here? Actually, who’s NOT being raised? That’s more like the profound question of the day.

It’s a sweet and sour experience but I still love this last class. Summer don’t leave!!!!

Hope your summer is as equally “interesting.”

Love, Peace, and Photographs!

-Ari

Fashion has “gone green”

Warm greetings, my fellow dreamers!

It has been a while since my last entry. Summer is zooming by like a bitter-sweet dream. I’ve been busy basking under the sultry summer sky while trying to survive heat exhaustion on other days when it’s too hot to breathe. Work has been busy, which makes me sad that my visions of a vacation are dwindling from  “possibly” to “not likely.” Mini-vacation maybe?

I’ve been spending alot of time with my family, which is nice because I don’t usually see them once class is in session.  Still, I miss my extended family and am homesick for my “second home.” I miss boat rides with Ludy and subway trekking with Carla. I miss the pastel colors of the houses and viewing the lights in the city from the mountains at night.

Changing the subject to avoid tears

I like how the current economic status has redefined the fashion world. It has caused people to recycle clothing in “going green” and encourages more people to fashion their own style. More and more people are starting to make their own clothes instead of picking up  mass produced replicas. Some designers, in their innovation, started using eco and fair trade clothing, sticking to recycled and organic fabric in efforts to be “environmentally friendly.”  People are reinventing and discovering their personal style, which is music to my designer ears.

London Fashion Week

Speaking of “going green,” there’s a place in Australia that has recently banned the use and production of bottled water. Now, citizens have to fill up or refill their water canteens from fountains. I don’t know about this. It’s great for the economy and environment, but it also opens the door for terrorist capabilities, meaning terrorists can target the water source if they wanted (my conspiracy theory for the day).  Then again, they could have done so before with the bottled water, so let’s see how this plays out.

I’m really enjoying my friends and will be sad once school starts up again. I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep normally until after grad school. Aside from my insomnia, other interests have kept me daydreaming, but that’s another story for another day.

Enjoy the week, friends and stay hydrated.

Peace, Love, and Photographs!

-Ari