Personal Assessment Day

Every summer I taught in Lancaster, PA I would start the class with a clip from The 13^th Warrior.  I love that movie.  After Antonio Banderas, the Arab and titular character, joined the other men on their quest to destroy these crazy bear-men monsters, he marched along with them.  In a weird montage the Nordic men are speaking Latin and then mixing it up with English.  There is a tight shot on the Arab’s eyes and then the Nordic men’s lips and teeth.  A few seconds later, the camera focuses on the Arab’s mouth as he mouths the previously spoken dialogue.  Then in another language, made-up and unintelligible those men say something about the Arab’s mother.  The audience only knows this because in very slow and measured English, the Arab says basically, “Don’t talk about my mother”.  The one guy (and they all kind of look alike) gets up in a huff and asks how did he learn their language.  Brave and confident, Antonio Banderas says, “I learned by listening! I listened!” The Scene

Dramatically, I turn the t.v. off and tell my students that they too can learn if for these 3 weeks they listen (to me is implied).  I used to love that.  I laugh and cry a bit at my naivety now.  Today I was watching intently the mouth, lips of my Russian teacher. I was willing myself to understand so fiercely, I grew a headache. I almost fainted. I didn’t realize I was holding my breath.  It didn’t work. I knew Borianka was talking about why she loved the season of summer. It is sunny. Every day is very long.  But then there was something about fruits and she started describing the tastes: tart, sweet, sour, juicy.  There was talk of mountains. And then she said some numbers and I was busy adding by time she got to me.  I like season autumn. I like leaves, it has colors. Oh sweaters! Soup is good. Please in English. I confusing it, the entirety.

I bring this up because I completed my 30hrs. And now I have to do a personal assessment. Do I really want to continue? Do I want to with Borianka? Should I change books etc.  I think I‘m done with the conversational bit of my lessons.  We can’t go through how rainy days make me feel sad.  A big amount of pepper is good for me. Frogs are delightful!  I’m bringing in articles and we’re going through them.  Unless the ancient Greeks and Scythians were sharing their very rudimentary thoughts on weather, likes and dislikes, and the colors of their shirts, I will be lost for my dissertation research on Tanais, maybe Berezan too. 

On a little side note, we were going over the days of the week and I told my instructor about the poem “Monday’s Child” She had never heard of it and so I recited it.  She is fair of face and was quite pleased. I have far to go. I explained to her that this is not the same as “you will go far” or even “man, you’re going places!”  It means get ready for a long, arduous and often ridiculous journey.  It doesn’t even promise a great destination, just the traveling.  Borianka thought it was fitting nonetheless. Well, at least I’m not Wednesday’s child. That kid’s totally messed up.