Entropy: August 2012

I spent this week preparing for the start of school through long but helpful orientation meetings. Meanwhile, the kids attended a super fun summer camp at the Encino Presbyterian Children’s Center. They made lots of crafts—water bottle holders, cup coasters, magnets, bookmarks, and boomerangs. On Wednesday they went on a field trip to Disneyland, which gave Kirk and me the very rare opportunity to go on a date without having to worry about the kids. We saw a film that other French attendees at AP by the Sea had highly recommended, “La fille du puisatier” (The Well-Digger’s Daughter). Based on a movie by the French film icon Marcel Pagnol, this remaking perfected both the story and the art form.

After so many visits to Kazakhstan, Kirk welcomed an envoy of Kazakh colleagues to Los Angeles this week. He returned from a business dinner Thursday night with a camel skin vest and slippers! Although we are glad to have him working in a more domestic role, Kirk still appreciates the many friendships he made through his travels across the world.

On Friday we drove to Las Vegas. We joined other relatives and friends for my mom’s vocal concert, which was filled with beautiful and touching solo work. Of course it was a pleasure for Kirk and me to hear the gorgeous arrangements, but I was especially pleased that my kids got to attend as well; I hope that they will always have rich memories of my mom’s many talents.

This coming week signifies my first official week employed as a “teacher of record:” classes begin on Thursday. Fasten your seat belts!

This week, the kids stayed with our friends Jared and Eva while Kirk and I traveled. The kids adored being big siblings to Baby Drew. They also spent a lot of time swimming, and Carlos now reports that he is “ready to win the kid Olympics.”

Mohawk buddies

Kirk was working in Indiana while I attended the “AP by the Sea” conference in San Diego. It took place at the breathtaking USD campus, which is not far from Sea World.

all of the buildings reflect this style

USD cathedral

I represented my school as its AP French teacher and became friends (or in business language, “networked”) with other French teachers from California. I got a lot of excellent ideas from the conference, which proved to be both intense and well organized. For me, the most important take-home message was the advice to begin grooming students for AP French on day 1 of French 1; the themes and strategies for AP students should be the same for students in French 1, 2, and 3. The message seems obvious, but I know that my high school French classes did not reflect that kind of cohesive “vertical” planning—and I doubt that my experience was rare. I feel incredibly grateful to my principal and department chair for facilitating this unique learning experience, and I hope to measure up to their expectations.

the "frenchies," in our Medieval-themed classroom

On Friday I drove the kids to the San Francisco area where we met Kirk (fresh from Indiana). Saturday was a heart-wrenching experience, as we mourned the sudden death of Kirk’s cousin Matt Lyon. Despite the many beautiful comments at his funeral, many of us could not shake the feeling that “this is not supposed to happen” (as one speaker repeated).

Matt, on the left; dad Mike and brother Nick; daughter Sierra (Easter 2012)

Since Matt died a bishop, hundreds of parishioners joined the family for his funeral service; it was amazing to see his impact on so many people. His young widow Eleanor was gracious and stalwart throughout the day, setting an example of faith for all of us.

Of Kirk’s abundant relatives, Matt and Eleanor proved a perfect match for Kirk and me. Rarely have we found a couple that we relate to so perfectly and enjoy so thoroughly; finding such a unique friendship in cousins made the connection even more meaningful. Their friendship has blessed us greatly throughout our years in California, and—along with our grief for Eleanor and her kids—we shed many selfish tears as we considered the ramifications of Matt’s loss.
https://plus.google.com/photos/113547050139096971693/albums/5773422161274787969?authkey=COje-92bgvuzBA

we miss you :-(

Today proved my claim that my life is an exercise in futility: we spent 9 hours driving a 6-hour route back home, and we had purposely selected that route to bypass the construction on the I-5 that slowed us down on Friday’s drive north.

Still, it is good to return home. I begin new teacher orientation this week, and the kids are ecstatic about the summer camp they’ll start tomorrow. All these changes are sure to hamper out quest for that elusive notion of “normalcy,” but we are excited to see where this new normal takes us.