Day 5 -- Back after a too short weekend

The weekend came and went too quickly: after an intense first week I was ready for a break and, enjoyable as it has been, really needed to not have to take a bus or walk an hour to school, spend 6 to 7 non-stop hours in class, then repeat the transit back to my apartment. Went out for dim sum with friends Peter & Vincent near their old haunts; took a lengthy walk to Chinatown and back with groceries. Sunday I wandered, mostly, following the Vancouver Sun [newspaper] run -- a pretty casual affair for an "official" running event -- but an annual event enjoyed by Vancouverites in all shapes and sizes. Aside from that, a few errands remain (fewer each week) and more opportunities to explore or just goof off.

Monday 4/19 brought the start of our 2nd week (its a 15 week program). Our class has just 12 students (an 13th starts week 3) and we rotate through partners (i.e. 6 pairs). Each week a new station (they're physically all the same, just a matter of what each pair's responsibilities are for the week) -- and a new working partner.

The first week I was paired up with Vittorio, a really decent guy in his early-20s. I like him a lot -- easy to get along with, friendly and cooperative. As with each succeeding week we're paired with a different student. This time it hasn't gone so swimmingly. The "social dynamics" in the classroom are supremely frustrating at times. With students running the gamut from 20 to 53, different... outlooks are inevitable. This is much more frustrating, challenging -- than I anticipated, and perhaps was prepared for.

My then-partner and I got through the week -- but I don't reckon we'll ever be friends. Cordial... is even a bit difficult. I feel no animus toward this other student, but he/she has some growing to do. Don't we all. I knew everything at that age, too.

The class is about what I expected, albeit far more intense -- but the complete surprise has been how interesting the social environment has been. You've got a dozen people who are interacting constantly for six hours each day. Cooking together, eating together, in this intensive environment. It brings out the best... and worst in people. Add to this the diversity of ages and expectations -- 19 to 50, "want to open a restaurant" to "just personal interest". Makes for quite a soup.

In the course of the week, my new partner was out for a day and I was paired up with Pam. The two of us hit it off really well -- she's a really pleasant person and she misses her husband just as I my wife (more so, I think -- Kathy and I are pretty independent). We're similiar age too, both have telecomm backgrounds. All these point to a budding friendship. Hope so. And... we're paired for the week toward the end of May. Lookin' forward to it.

Trouble in Paradise?
Ok so I could be parents to some of 'em

The weekend came and went too quickly: after an intense first week I was ready for a break and, enjoyable as it has been, really needed to not have to take a bus or walk an hour to school, spend 6 to 7 non-stop hours in class, then repeat the transit back to my apartment. Went out for dim sum with friends Peter & Vincent near their old haunts; took a lengthy walk to Chinatown and back with groceries. Sunday I wandered, mostly, following the Vancouver Sun [newspaper] run -- a pretty casual affair for an "official" running event -- but an annual event enjoyed by Vancouverites in all shapes and sizes. Aside from that, a few errands remain (fewer each week) and more opportunities to explore or just goof off. Monday 4/19 brought the start of our 2nd week (its a 15 week program). Our class has just 12 students (an 13th starts week 3) and we rotate through partners (i.e. 6 pairs). Each week a new station (they're physically all the same, just a matter of what each pair's responsibilities are for the week) -- and a new working partner. The first week I was paired up with Vittorio, a really decent guy in his early-20s. I like him a lot -- easy to get along with, friendly and cooperative. As with each succeeding week we're paired with a different student. This time it hasn't gone so swimmingly. The "social dynamics" in the classroom are supremely frustrating at times. With students running the gamut from 20 to 53, different... outlooks are inevitable. This is much more frustrating, challenging -- than I anticipated, and perhaps was prepared for. My then-partner and I got through the week -- but I don't reckon we'll ever be friends. Cordial... is even a bit difficult. I feel no animus toward this other student, but he/she has some growing to do. Don't we all. I knew everything at that age, too. The class is about what I expected, albeit far more intense -- but the complete surprise has been how interesting the social environment has been. You've got a dozen people who are interacting constantly for six hours each day. Cooking together, eating together, in this intensive environment. It brings out the best... and worst in people. Add to this the diversity of ages and expectations -- 19 to 50, "want to open a restaurant" to "just personal interest". Makes for quite a soup. In the course of the week, my new partner was out for a day and I was paired up with Pam. The two of us hit it off really well -- she's a really pleasant person and she misses her husband just as I my wife (more so, I think -- Kathy and I are pretty independent). We're similiar age too, both have telecomm backgrounds. All these point to a budding friendship. Hope so. And... we're paired for the week toward the end of May. Lookin' forward to it. Next Log Previous Log

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