Mosque

I keep meaning to post about this, and just not doing it.

This past week, I took one of my students to visit the Islamic Society of Vermont's offices and mosque. My student and I have been learning about Islam, and doing some work with 9/11, terrorism, and Al-Qaeda and how it all fits together, and I was thinking that meeting someone who was Muslim and having a chance to see where they worshiped would be a good experience for him.

The mosque was a small building, and you could tell it served many purposes -- community gathering place, school of sorts, as well as having prayer space. But the gentleman who guided us ad gave us information was just phenomenal -- very down to earth and normal, which was a good experience for my student, to see that Muslims are very much like everyone else. We asked our guide about Ramandan, and about what it means to be Islam, and how he feels about Al-Qaeda and the war in Iraq (which is "I can't judge whether they are Muslim or not, but I can say that they are doing very bad actions" and "I don't really know -- that's a bunch of political stuff."). It was a really great visit.

On the way home, I was talking to my student, and he was telling me about what he thought. "You know," he said, "Before this class, I really thought that the war was us against the Muslims. But now I know that it isn't, really. They're just normal, and Al-Qaeda is just a small group of people who have extreme beliefs." In my head I was pumping my fist into the air and saying, "Yesssssssssss," while aloud I was responding, "You're right. And that's what he was talking about when he mentioned the media blowing things out of proportion and Al-Qaeda giving Muslims a bad name..." All in all, it was a really awesome experience.

Another student and I went out into the Winooski River this week. I put her in a pair of waders, which were about 10 sizes too big for her, but the look on her face when she realized she could walk freely through the water without getting wet, and when she caught a crayfish for our terrarium...priceless.

I cannot get over how much awesomer my job is than my last teaching experience. I hope that we can either stay here in Burlington for a few more years so I can milk as much out of this as possible, or that there are (please Lord) other schools and other places where teaching is not a torturous task. Because really, it shouldn't be...

Miscellaneous

I've been thinking a lot about the phrase "Life is good," and how lucky I am that I can say that almost all of the time. When I think about the lives that some of my students have, in school and out, it makes me grateful that that is true for me, because I know for some of them, it's not true, because of family situations, or their own issues they deal with. Just something I've been pondering.

On happier notes, work continues to go really well. I really like my job, which is a relief. Until this job, I was thinking that perhaps I didn't actually want to be a teacher, that I had just been sucked into a field and now there was no way out unless I started something over from scratch (which sucks). Now...huge sigh of relief.

And on the wedding front...things are moving forward! I have invitations in hand (my good old pal Jason is awesome), we met with our pianist/organist this week and nailed down music for the ceremony (which includes some awesome non-traditional selections that I'm thrilled about!), and having these little pieces put together really makes things move along. I've talked to some friends who have started booking plane tickets and hotel reservations, etc, and it's all coming together! I'm so excited to see everyone in January.

And now, sleep like a coma.