Classes begin... sort of...

The week really took it's time coming to end, unfortunately sliding into an even slower, more mundane weekend. After fending of illness, I was excited to begin classes. I looked forward to meeting my new students. Even the classroom changes had me walking with an extra bounce in my step. But alas, while classes have indeed started, the students have not.

It was a long week, then. I would visit my empty classrooms and walk around a bit before walking out the door and back to my office or my flat. I tried to make myself busy by doing taxes, running, hoping from cafe to cafe, or trying to count the dust particles on my shoes. I read online today that Gene Hackman played the voice of Nuclear Man in the 1987 film, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. I also learned that too much incense can cause cancer of the respiratory tract, similarly to too much of anything. I tore through a fair amount of a book I've been reading, and wanted to go exploring Bilecik a bit more, but my legs were drained from the morning run. And left to my own devices, my mind creeps, and slips and slides around, lingering on the bad spots. When I'm bored, I'm bothered, melancholy, and all-together anxious.

So I'm going on a day-trip tomorrow. I'm going to Eskisehir to walk along the canal, relax at Khave Dunyasi, hopefully find a park to look at. Next weekend? Istanbul. I always have things to look forward too, and I'm fortunate for that.

I could be suffering from vacation withdrawal - a very real possibility considering the stimulation, excitement, and insanity of what I've confronted and witnessed this past month. Home was beautiful to see. It was beautiful to see my parents, my beloved dog Otis, and those closest to me. And of course, Cairo.

Or, maybe, it's the empathy I'm feeling for those confronting difficult times and events in their lives. It hasn't been one instance this week of something gone wrong, it's been several, and my heart devotedly extends to the people in my life in tough times. We all go through 'em, that's for certain.

Now it's time for my students to get over whatever's ailing them and show up next week. If you're a student of mine, and you're reading this, come to class. Come to class because I love teaching and I need something to do.

Finally, I've been saving the latest episode of 'MadMen' for tonight. I'm suped. What a show!!

Goodnight all! Stay in touch and keep it real.

As I write this, CNN and all of the major networks are announcing Mubarak's resignation. And despite having been relieved to get out safe and sound, part of me wishes I was back there where the electricity and the promise of change buzzed, sparked, and cracked. Egypt is free!