Florence, and I don't mean South Carolina

The Italian tour guide was quick to correct my pronunciation: It's MICK-A-LAN-GE-LO, (equal stress on all syllables) not MIKE-a-LAN-ge-lo. One of the most impressive parts of the day trip to Florence was seeing his statue of David, 17 feet high from base to apex, with every vein, muscle, gland, and hair carved so perfectly out of marble, when MICK-alangelo was only in his twenties. The town of Florence feels as though it has been frozen in the Renaissance, with tourists and cell phones the only anomalies. Florence is a beautiful place filled with Medieval Churches, museums, plazas, statues, and flowing fountains.

And now for some local color

The first stop of the day was Fontana di Trevor, a multi-level fountain cascading down from classical statues. Then we walked to a large marketplace, where I took this video. Liberto says that if we had come in summer, we'd be surrounded mostly by tourists; at this time of year, it's mostly Italians.

Colosseum and surrounding ruins

We took the subway to the Colosseum this morning at 10 a.m. It took all day to see it and the surrounding ruins. The weather was cool, but a pleasant cool, not like Paris' cutting cold. The sun was even shining!

I'm behind in my postings. I haven't talked about our trip to the Louvre in Paris yet. We saw the Mona Lisa and a thousand other famous and beautiful paintings. But I'll save that for another post.

Eiffel Tower

We went to the Eiffel tower twice. The first time, it was raining and cold, and the elevators to the top were closed. The second time, the next day, it was snowing and cold. But snow was more favorable for picture-taking and video-making. The elevator to the top was closed, but the one going to the second floor level was operating, so we went up. OMG, it was cold. Fortunately, there was a mini-mall up there, with restaurants and stores, so we ate lunch and warmed up. I was well-prepared for cold weather, with long underwear, socks, boots, turtleneck, sweater over that, heavy jacket, scarf, hat, and gloves, but the wind was piercing. Liberto said that seeing the tower was a lifelong dream of his, so I'm glad we were able to fulfill it!

Notre Dame Cathedral

When I was 13, in eighth grade, I read the Hunchback of Notre Dame and wept at the end. On December 22, we visited Notre Dame Cathedral. Inside, the stained glass windows, statues, and detailed architecture were unbelievable. The photos don't do it justice.

Paul in Paris

Christmas Eve

What a long day of travel! We're now settled in at the hotel in Rome, but hours later than we'd planned. The flight to Rome was scheduled to depart Paris at 7:05 a.m. We got a wake-up call for 4 a.m. and a van scheduled for a 4:30 pick-up. For the past three days, it has snowed and rained in Paris, causing havoc for the airlines, and the ripple effect was apparent this morning. The airport was packed. We stood for an hour to check in, and during that time, learned that the flight de3parture time was pushed back to 10:50, which was okay with me---time for some coffee! The crew was late, so we didn't board until 11:30. By 12:15, we were sitting in the Air Italia on the tarmac having the wings de-iced. Finally, after hours of delay, it roared down the runway and practically straight up into the sky to shoot past the cloud cover. By 2:05, we were sitting on the tarmac in Rome...waiting. Twenty minutes later, a bus arrived to convey us to the airport building. We waited in the crowds at baggage claim for the one bag we had checked. It never arrived, not surprisingly, with the chaos at the Paris airport. But this meant having to stand in line for another hour to file a claim. Possibly the bag will arrive here at the hotel before we leave. Next, we walked to the train station, which is attached to the airport, and took a train, not a subway, into the main terminal in Rome. Liberto had studied the maps carefully before we left, and had figured out how we would get to the hotel from the airport. From the terminal, the hotel was a few blocks' walk. Although it was "only" 6 p.m., it was pitch black and pouring rain. We were overjoyed to finally reach the hotel and settle in. As I was writing this, Carlos called on skype, which meant I had to abort the process so Liberto could talk to him. Therefore, I started this on Christmas Eve and am finishing on Christmas morning. I fell asleep at 9 p.m. and slept straight through until 8 a.m. I wish I could add pictures, but somehow, but every time I try, it cuts me off from the blog. I have so much more to say about the time in Paris, but we're on the run all the time, and exhausted by evening, so writing opportunities are limited.

Versailles

No wonder the peasants revolted. The sun king's palace is beyond description. The grounds must have required thousands of servants for upkeep.

It was snowing in the town of Versailles this morning. It's always slightly colder there than in Paris. The van driver told us that the thick woods outside of Paris, named Versailles woods, was used for royal hunting centuries ago. Because it was a five-hour horse and buggy drive each way for a day's hunt, Louis XIV had a "hunting lodge" built in the woods. You should see the size and splendor of the original lodge, before the castle was built to sprawl around it. The king decided to move the seat of government over to Versailles so he could micro-manage it more strictly and keep members of the court under his royal thumb. Versailles evolved from a hunting grounds to a glorious castle with beautiful grounds.

Ma-DAHM enjoys Paris

From the moment we boarded Air France, I became Ma-DAHM to everyone who addressed me. Bonjour, Madame. Would Madame like something to drink? Beef or pasta for dinner? The flight was luxurious, like a spa at 35,000 feet. The level of attention and courtesy was just what this beaten-down teacher needed. The flight left Atlanta at 8:30 p.m. Monday. Overnight flights have a dream-like quality in which time is muddled. I didn't sleep, but may have dozed here and there for 10 minutes. Then the sky lightened and the sun crept over the horizon. It was 3:30 my time, the cloud cover was splashed with pink rays, and they were serving breakfast and coffee.

We took the subway from the airport, checked into the hotel, took a quickie nap, and then went back to the subway to go to Hard Rock Cafe to pick up our Paris Passes which we had pre-purchased before leaving. We now have entry into all the museums, buses and rails for two days. It was already 5:30 and dark when we reached Hard Rock Cafe, so we stayed for coffee and snacks, and of course bought our Hard Rock cafe T-shirts. We decided to wait until tomorrow to use the Paris Passes so we could get a full day out of them. For our evening entertainment, we took the subway to the world famous Champs de Elysees, which is videod above.

I am ready for bed now. Even though this acer notebook says that it's only 2:39 p.m. my time, the clock here says 8:45. But I only slept about an hour and a half total since Sunday night, and we walked all over and climbed up and down endless stairways in the subway, so I can justify an early (mid-afternoon) bedtime.

Tomorrow, we'll go to the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathdral and other attractions that we can fit in. Thursday, we have a prescheduled tour at Versailles.

Hey, I'll take whatever I can get!

Idiotic use of sources

I'm rushing through the 11th grade research papers. One student used a secondary source article from a site called idiotica.com. Wouldn't you think that this web address might have tipped him off that the source wasn't exactly the most credible?

http://www.idiotica.com/cranium/encyclopedia/content/civilwar.htm

This article about the Civil War contains absurd and comical lies, blended cleverly with some historical facts. For example, "President Lincoln flew to Camp David where General Lee and General Grant were both waiting inside a modest tent to sign the Treaty of Ghent.

902 million soldiers died in the Civil War, the worst in our nation's six century history.

And he used this article as one of his sources, quoting from it in his research paper! Only 18 more papers to go!

First stirrings of serious excitement

I've been griping about the 4th block students. They, and other school-related tasks, take up so much space in my psyche that I've had little room for anything else, even anticipation of our forthcoming travels. This evening, however, Princess, Carl, Aaron, Olivia, etc. dissolved like a bad dream from my mind, as Liberto and I made on-line reservations for some exciting activities in Rome, including a tour of the Sistene Chapel, an audience with the Pope (I'm sure we'll be three people among thousands, but that's okay) and a side trip to Florence. We also reserved a tour of Versailles and two-day passes to do all the museums in Paris. Those are just the scheduled activities; we'll also go to other sites spontaneously, as we feel like it. But I won't be able to surrender entirely to my excitement for another week, until all the research papers are graded, the final exams made up and given, and the final grades submitted.

Taking the first step

I did it. I just met with the Department Chair and registered for the first course in Communication Disorders for next semester. It is Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanisms. Conveniently, it meets from 4:30 to 7:30 once per week, starting in January. At least I'll spend a little bit of my time feeling good about myself.

Four more teaching days of that 4th block class of Basic Readers. Today, for the first time ever, I actually pressed the buzzer on the wall and summoned an administrator to remove two students from the class. I'd written up one of them at least six times over the past few weeks, and nothing happened; no ISS or consequence of any kind; therefore, she has felt increasingly bold about disrupting the class any way that she pleases. The other girl has been written up a couple of times; no ISS. Later, I received an email that made my day: "Princess (what an ironic name) has 3 days ISS, beginning Dec. 9." The administration is probably collecting evidence of my incompetence viz a viz the number of write-ups I send and will use it against me later. They're right; I'm just not a terrifying enough person to make some of these rougher kids quake. On the other hand, I would think that it is the administration's job, not mine, to enforce good behavior in the school system by giving them stronger consequences for their often appalling actions. Why are so many of these students still allowed to be in school? They obviously don't want to be there for academic reasons.

If I were the Secretary of Education in Georgia, I would enact a new set of guidelines, allowing each student one ISS referral, and if they didn't learn their lesson from that, then----OUT! Send them to do community service or work in a chicken factory in Claxton. Or make them take on-line courses in an alternative school setting. The reason education is not valued, at least in Georgia, and maybe nationwide, is because students get it free. Therefore, they take it for granted (or "granite") as the students themselves would write. What if public education were rationed out to those who really valued it and earned it (as measured by work ethic more than through grades)? Terry and I once discussed the educational system, and I argued in favor of dissolving the current system and restructing it so that the riff-raff could be phased out by high school and put to work. Then the phased-out would be allowed to re-enter at an older age, say 21, and finish high school in an accelerated program. I think Terry was a little shocked when I told her that I'd like to dissolve the educational system and start a stricter version only for the worthy. She argued in favor of public education for all. However, she hasn't meet Princess or spent time in the classroom with her.

Liberto felt a kidney stone this morning. He'll drink a lot of water, and it will eventually work its way out. I want him to understand that having a horrible class is like having a kidney stone of the soul, a pain that just goes on and on until the semester ends.

Thanksgiving in DC and other things

The flight to DC was gorgeous. The full moon lit up the landscape. As we descended into Dulles, the moon was reflected on the Potomac in a most spectacular way. It was so good to see Derek, Erin, and Nicky. They are such smart, warm, and funny people. It's always refreshing to get into the Teacher Talk with Erin. Although she teaches AP students at her high school, while I teach mentally disturbed and badly behaved idiots (sorry, bad day today in 4th block), she understands. No one can understand except another teacher, especially another high school teacher. Frankly, I think Nicky, at 91/2, is far smarter and a better reader than the 14-year-olds I butt heads with every day. EIGHT MORE DAYS. Next semester, I have 3 11th grade classes. 11th graders are not saints either, but they have usually acquired some wisdom. Liberto is still pressing me to stay one more year after this one, but if I look on the 2011 schedule on the last day of school and see Ninth Grade Anything as my assignment, that will push me over the edge and my letter of resignation will be on the desk that day. That actually happened last spring to a veteran teacher who saw the schedule, could not face a fall semester with ninth graders, and resigned on the spot. Anyway, I'm digressing---as I was saying, it's always so rewarding to talk with Erin and hear about the stories from her school. She's also a wonderful cook, which I admire so much since cooking is not one of my talents.

On the first day, we---Liberto, Paul, Nicky and I---visited Gunther Hall, the estate of Virginia Founding Father George Mason. I love those old homes with the historical tours that go with them. Nicky is a boy after my own heart. He chose Gunther Hall as our activity of the day because he had gone there the day before on a school field trip and wanted to return to see it again. He asked the most questions of anyone on the tour. He is a winner! My kind of guy!

On the second day, Thanksgiving, we took Nicky to see MegaMind while Erin and Derek cooked a lovely feast. The movie, in 3D, was fun. We returned to the house for a delicious meal, and then watched a Netflix movie on the big screen.

On Friday, Derek and Erin got up in the middle of the night to shop the sales, while the rest of us slept in and hung out. Liberto wanted to drive to Philly that day and was even thinking of renting a car, but then the thought of all the traffic for several hours both ways dampened his enthuasism. On Saturday, however, all of us drove into DC, taking two cars, and went to the National Geographic Museum, which had a cool geiko display.

And before we knew it, it was Sunday morning. We had an 8 a.m. flight, so we arose at 5 a.m. to be at the airport at 6 a.m., not knowing if there would be long lines and crowds. All this talk about extreme delays because of excessive TSA screening? Highly exaggerated. Out of Savannah, there was just the usual walk-through machine. Out of Washington, the lines were fast moving and the body scan didn't take 10 seconds. Not a big deal at all.

On Monday, I'm meeting with an advisor at Armstrong to see what course I might start with in January for Communication Disorders. On the phone, she said that since I already have several degrees, I would probably have to take 15 hours of pre-requisites and then go straight into a Masters Degree.