Small updates and too much thought

So things are progressing slower than I might have liked out of the gate but it’s probably to be expected. Current plans for post-IST projects are still in the planning stages and we’ll see how things progress. But in general school news, I’m not teaching the Advanced Math portion of the PCM (Physics Chemistry Math) combination. While a little bummed, I think this is a very good thing. I have a bad habit of biting off way more than I can chew to balance out my laziness at times and I think diving into 4 different syllabuses in 5 different classes would have been a bit much. So now, I instead have 3 syllabuses in 4 classes which looks to be plenty large a load, especially if I’m successful in getting outside projects off the ground. Which projects will be successful? We will see. I’m currently putting my focus on getting off to a strong start with teaching in the classroom and improving the library as a resource. I think that after these two, projects involving a garden and perhaps HIV and AIDS education could be in the works. I’m learning that I am not going to be told what to do beyond teach these classes and if any of these projects are going to happen, I need to be assertive. And since assertiveness is something I’ve always lacked, this will be a good exercise!

Not much other news on the home front. My kittens are starting to look outside of their sleeping space. They level of cuteness is nearing its maximum as they begin to act like cats but still have that baby waddle and fall on occasion. While it’s all very fun to watch, I’m constantly nervous about when they start looking for more food beyond mom’s milk. I could see that being a very expensive situation once they start to grow and have to eat to maintain that growth. Hopefully I’ll have found suitable families for homes by then.

In other news, I just finished reading a book called The New Great Game about oil and its impacts on the Central Asian region. While intended to be first a snapshot of the situation in the area and how oil access dictates it, it certainly paints a dark picture about American intentions in the region. I suppose everyone has their own opinion about why the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are ongoing but I’m feeling less optimistic about our motivations entering them. Regardless, that’s not really my point. The fact is that almost every major player in the region is inevitably tied to oil as it seems to be the only source of money. Often, that money finds its way into the pockets of the country’s elite and not to the public coffers, empowering a ruling class that frequently does not have the well being of their constituents in mind. Those facts made our deals with the governments, allowing bases or other concessions for the war in Afghanistan, worse as we legitimized very undemocratic and oppressive governments. But in addition to that, the book highlighted just how much of our foreign policy, much of it big brotherish in nature, was focused on ensuring a supply of cheap oil. It also highlighted how foreign public opinion of Bush Administration America was decidedly negative as a result. This all got me to thinking about my responsibilities as an ambassador of the US. As much as I’d like to not think so, I am the most powerful image of the US to my students and fellow teachers. The media can say what it wants, and if that’s the primary source of information they’ll probably believe it. But if I contradict the message, my one-on-one relationship is going to have significantly more power. The perception is often that Americans are arrogant and self-centered and sadly, that can easily be proven. Making an effort to balance between giving help and humility can be a challenge at times, especially when you feel like you know the right answer. Americans used to be perceived as the forefathers of democracy and freedom, the shining light in darkness, etc. but now, many see that freedom as something deteriorated to a greedy monster which will only help you if it’s in its best interests. Regardless of our motivations for our actions, I feel like our ability to do good in the world is entirely dependent on the belief that we stand for a free way of life. Without others looking up to us, we can’t carry out our foreign policy, good or bad. Therefore, I see the value of organizations like Peace Corps beyond simply educating some 150 students. But the nation also has to consider sacrificing some amenities like $1.50 a gallon gas in order to maintain the respect and positive feeling from the rest of the world.

I’m getting tired so I can’t say too much more, but I do want to mention something to all my Sedgwick County Readers. I saw on the Wichita Business Journal website the other day that the Intrust Bank Arena ranked in the 45th in the world for ticket sales in the quarter. Now I know it helps that it’s a new venue etc. but let’s remember that it’s generally considered about 5000 seats too small for a major arena. I acknowledge that I haven’t been in town, but from what I see in the news, parking has not been the ridiculous disaster it was supposed to be. And if I remember right, the project was on budget with the tax ending when it said it would, and the opening was only slightly behind the original schedule. So, done right and well is the moral of the story. Perhaps I’m missing things, I’m sure someone would have a list for me if I asked, but that seems like success story based on increasing taxes slightly for a very specific purpose. So instead of using the name of an event that occurred because of a lack of representation not a lack of your own ideas having the majority of representation, let’s sit at a table, talk through things and get stuff done. I’m tired of American politics, or what the media wants to show me. I really hope this is a byproduct of the recession and everyone is just being more vocal about fixing the problem and people can actually have an open debate with reason, understanding, and compromise once things improve. I really really hope.