Past students ...

Her

So, if you are wondering about the girl I had the date with ... oh, you have to understand I didn't know it was a date until the end of the evening when she said she was glad she got to date me! During class the next day I didn't see her, only her friend that told me the girl I had gone out with decided not to come to class so she was in the hotel hot tub. You know I couldn't concentrate on my teaching, and I ended up taking a long break to go check her out in the hot tub. She was ... wow. Not a sexy swim suit, but she looked adorable (to use her friend's description). I ended up driving her back to Oakland, about an hour away just because I enjoy talking to her. I still didn't get her phone number or email address, so I won't see her again.

On the drive with her I got a call from an student that was in my class 3 years ago. He has lived and taught in Vietnam since then and I have periodically heard from him. He called because he needs a favor, he and a friend are starting a University and need me to keep an eye out for teachers for him. Yeah, you read that right, starting a University. For the past couple of years he has been telling me his dream of opening a school that teaches nursing, and English so they can start exporting nurses to the USA like the Philippines does. So they need very good teachers for their ESL classes. He is supposed to meet me the day after tomorrow for lunch, and I expect him to ask me to develop their curriculum. I don't know what I will tell him. He is the same guy that owns a couple of clothing factories in Vietnam and told me that China is stating to subcontract to Vietnam because the labor is cheaper and better educated. Many things that say Made in China are in fact made in Vietnam.

Danielle in Uganda

Heather in Kenya

I think I have mentioned Danielle who is working in Uganda, but today I got an email from Heather who is in Kenya ... literally living in the "bush" without electricity or running water. I also have a student in Rwanda as well as the normal places of Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, France, Spain, and Germany. They are all teaching English, but their reasons are very different. Some of my past students are trying to make some money while living in other countries. Some want to make a difference in the world and aren't so interested in making money. Some just want to go places there are pretty girls so they can ... well, you got the idea. I just care that they are safe and present a good image of America.