My teaching is done for the semester. It ended fittingly: a twelve hour day on three hours of sleep. Administered the final exam to both classes, so I've still got a couple days of grading ahead of me, but the early rising and the commute are over for the time being and I should be able to relax a bit. Funny though--the crazy schedule and lack of free time is tough over the long haul but it makes me better able to appreciate little things and to take refuge in the moment. It'll be nice to get caught up on sleep though; started tonight actually.
Two different students gave me "gifts" of religious materials after they took the final. I'm pretty sure there were others who would've liked to do the same but didn't feel comfortable enough. My final haul:
the book of mormon
a latter day saints video
a generic book about "the creator"
Now I have been proselytized to in most every way imaginable; I've got years of education about all things religious, have lived in an Islamic culture, and taught students of many different religious persuasions, so they didn't realize that they were trying to crack a tough old nut. But nonetheless on some level I appreciated their concern. It's nice to think that someone might have a little concern for my soul. I know the students at the snooty institution I started at would cast a teacher into the pits of hell itself if it meant getting an A. Otherwise they're indifferent. So this is a refreshing change. That's how I'm going to look at it anyway. And actually I've never read the Book of Mormon. Maybe it'll be interesting. Or at least strange.
I have a lot of planning to do for next semester.
