What are your caterpillars and butterflies?

"Il faut bien que je supporte deux ou trois chenilles si je veux connaître les papillons."  says the Flower in the Petit Prince.

Or, translated, "I had better be able to deal with two or three caterpillars if I want to experience butterflies."

So I asked my six seniors to explain to me what their caterpillars and butterflies are.  Here are their responses. 

"I must face all people in order to find the good.  The majority of people that I meet are not worth my time, but others along the way have revealed themselves to be worth it."

"In order to attend my cheerleading competitions, I have to endure many basketball games.  I love the sport of cheerleading, but the basketball games are very long and take time away from homework and practice."

"I really want to have a car, but I am saving my money so I can pay for textbooks in college.  I have to try to gou without a car in order to buy things that important for me later."

"When I broke my toe, I saw how much I missed out.  I love to play basketball and I had to stay and watch all the games and practices.  I was dependent on others and I hate that.  But now that I'm back, I will never take basketball for granted."

"The caterpillars in my life are the English language.  It's not important to learn the language perfectly when I'm learning a new computer programming language." 
--I'm not exactly sure what his papillons are...

Back at it

In two weeks I begin teaching three new classes of French I, French II, and French III Honors. 

My goal for French III Honors is to survey French history from Louis XIV up to Napoleon, and then focus on  WWII. 

Seeing as how I have no formal training on the French Revolution, I've been doing research.

Last weekend was the first weekend after grad school when I really felt like I have my pizzazz back. 

I've missed my pizzazz. 

What's an improv jazz artist with no pizzazz? 

No good, that's what.

Ballad to my students

Dear students.

I love you dearly.

So please don't eat Doritos in my classroom.  They smell terrible.

I love you dearly.

But if you start out another sentence with "Hey Mlle, you know what you should do?!....", I may just give you extra homework.

I love you dearly.

Especially when you are being your hilarious, goofy selves.

Thanks for being you.