I still haven't had a good night's sleep and still jet lagged but it feels good.. Today was our first day and I facilitated class. For a narrative on American Indian boarding schools I had the class draw out signs of dehumanization and then compared them to how schools can be a dehumanizing experience today. I cannot tell you how good it feels to be around a large group of folks of color wanting to work in education and covering some dense material. It feels safe. To talk about white supremacy while unpacking Gramsci, Althusser, and Stuart Hall with future teachers of color is beautiful. Its definately an environment for growth and a space for springing forth some new ideologies. Tomorrow we are looking at crime and punishment and Foucault, Giroux, Bhattacharjee (?), Arsanjani & Reisman (?). It will be hard to update yall cause the work is really dense and our days are PACKED! But now that I got my internet fixed, I will try, I promise.
Today while beginning on our orientation on the GRE, one of our students fainted outside of the classroom due to a hemmoroids condition. He also had presented today. I rode with him to the hospital. Life is so unexpectant and I think I was brought back down to earth and reminded of the things I often take for granted. Doctor said he'll be fine. Came back drained and took the GRE practice test and scored really bad. Not really trippin', knowing the politics of these tests (also owned by S.A.T.) and the fact that they tell you NOTHING about your qualification for grad school.
Staff has been really fun, supportive, and GREAT resources with varying perspectives. No, I haven't figured out the whole M.A.T. vs Ph.D. situation. Most students here though have no idea what they are going to focus on though. I feel I have a better sense of direction than alot of folx. I think with some staff support and talking to my mentor it'll be an easier decision to make.
Participants are so varied in experiences, and it amazes me how we all are drawn to similar goals. Folx from the midwest, south, both coasts, and even Korea and Trinidad &Tobago. Excited to collaborate with more folks on a personal level, but I've been kickin it with three dope women and already growin attatched. Seminars are lively and I'm finally feeling challenged within a classroom setting. Its about 10:30pm and I need to get started on some readings. Hope I get into the groove of things soon, post here more often, and chat with some of yall (AIM: LaTigera81).. I'll also be dropping by the Radical WOC Think Tank with some contributions.. Wish I had a digi camera so I could share some images right away..
BTW,
If yall wanna send me some love, a postcard, or some good healthy midnight snacks:
Rosa Cabrera
c/o Institute for Recruitment of Teachers
Phillips Academy
180 Main Street
Andover, MA 01810
I'll be here till July 22nd..
Much Luv,
Tigera
P.S. Posted some Black and White Photos. Slideshow commin soon. I'm tryna find the best setup to make it easier for folx to purchase some photography (which I am still sellin while I'm out here!). I'm sad that I didn't have time to scan all my black and whites but I got a few good ones in...
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8 comments:
aww.... i'm so excited for you.
as contradictory as it is to be at phillips academy, being there the other day dropping you off reenergized me. stay up chula, find someone with a digi cam and make them take pictures for you. enjoy the greenery and beautiful people of color.
peace.
alaghom.
Girl you remember the thick ass reader you showed me that you read in a month? They got us reading TWO if those! If I can survive this, graduate school is going to be a breeze...
yayyyyyyyy, it's great to hear the exciting news from your front lines, girl. it's soooo good to hear you're in a very healthy and inspiring environment surrounded by other conscious poc's. and for a whole month! i'm sure that will be very envigorating and energizing.
enjoy the time and make the most of it. i'll be lookin' forward to your sharing of amazing new ideas, and fruitful collaborative exchanges. i love the new photography btw.
see you soon, sister.
Thanks Sky! I'm lookin forward to sharin some things with yall too.. we've talked about identity formation and ideology today. It was a session where some people's personal politics and positions in doing what it takes to build a movement were exposed. For me personally, I'm feelin the need to institute some speed readin skills.. I've always bee nthe one to read things closely, thinking I'll miss somethin..
P.S. I wanna fill my blank walls with some postcards.. send em out yall ;) I'ma seek out someone with a digi camera to help me document some things.. the wall full of postcards from supportive revolutionaries should be one of them ;)
expect one from me soon...
i'm a slow reader too. for the most part i think it's cuz english isn't my first language and i've been in a completely english-speaking environment, like 24/7, for the past fives years only, and therefore it takes longer for words to really sink in, make sense and get digested in my head. and then i sometimes have some concentration problems (probably some undiagnosed ADD or some other shit like that), and i often find myself having to make extra-streneous effort to intellectually devour every word that i'm taking in, or re-read some passages an extra time.
i also wanted to take a speed reading class, but they didn't offer them over the summer here. maybe i should find a private speed readin' tutor or smth cuz in law school, man, i'll be crushed with books!
yeah, take some pix. where the hell is andover? is it a big city? anything interesting there? btw, i'm gonna ask you to share with me what kinda vibe your got from MA and its people... i'm still considering going to a boston school this fall. at least that's my strongest option, unfortunately. we'll see
enjoy your time. ttyl.
Well, one of the irt students got spat at too, in andover though, a small white town 40 min away from boston. Lawrence is only 10 min away and its tight to see an all dominican town after commin out of oakland being only one of two.
I hear you on that readin shit.. I think i got some complexes too man but I'm gonna have to try to make do somehow.. if i find any secrets i'll let you know..
I'll be lookin out for ur postcard.. I think I'ma send some out at the end of the program too ;) I luv snail mail..
hey tigera!
i hate sending snail mail but luv getting it.
wow, lawrence is an all dominican town? really? that must be great to there. do you go there a lot? what's it like?
hey, thanks a bunch for postings tips for slow readers--i'm reading them right now. seriously, i need that.
ciao!
Na, I don;t have time to kick it out there, although we did go out one friday night and got down to some bachata, merengue, and salsa... I know nubian had sent me a post card a long while ago I think but I still haven't gotten it.. I guess that's why they call it snail mail..
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