Winding down

It's hard to believe, but we are in the "home stretch" with just 2 weeks of classes until the end of the semester. The students are getting anxious and a bit demanding, wanting to know what grades they are getting so far. Probably nothing different than students all over the world. The difference is that my students have a teacher that is new to this game. While I can remember (barely) what it is was like being a student, seeing things from the other side is very different. So, my co-teacher and I have spent hours and hours finalizing plans for the semester, reviewing portfolios, determining interim grades, giving feedback to final project drafts, offering solace to the nervous and anxious student, planning for a press conference ....... and the final party! Now, I can really get into ordering cupcakes, so I am busy doing "research" on the best cupcakes in Doha. I have not yet chosen a vendor who will get the order, but the competition is stiff. At the final party we will be the awarding certificates ---- a prize the students here really value. Who would have known?? We (Mary Pat and I) have decided we also want a certificate ------ perhaps for the most unorthodox, random, off -the -street teachers these students have ever seen! We definitely get an "A" for effort. I'm just not sure if effort counts!!! We have had some "moments" --- like the time in class this week when one of the students confronted me during class and said she just did not want to give a presentation since she had other classes to worry about and she saw no purpose in this presentation. After giving her a disbelieving look, I launched into the purpose of the presentation and the skills we hoped to encourage by requiring students to give presentations in class. And, of course, a comment about the fact that this assignment was given out 7 weeks ago and I was sorry she had chosen to wait until the last minute when other pressures from other classes were upon her. I went into defense mode ----- only the defendant was ME! Not a pretty sight. But, I can't help but love them all. Seriously, the students here are wonderful. And, I did get an apology the next class! We've been busy drafting part of a law to criminalize domestic violence. It's been a learning experience for sure. What an interesting lesson in cultural differences. Like dating. Domestic violence often occurs during dating in the US. Here, there is no dating ---- hence it makes no "sense" to include dating in the coverage of the law ---- except for non-Muslims..... like me. And, I haven't thought about dating for about 40 years. "Living together" before marriage is illegal so there is no reason to include such circumstances in the law. "Magic" is part of the culture here so emotional abuse definitely must include some reference to this type of harm. And the preamble----- what I would call the heart and soul of the law.... it's purpose. What interesting preambles have been written for this new law. Well, anyway, the press conference will be held on May 28 to not only announce the draft provisions, but also announce the ideas the students have developed to deal with domestic violence in this country. When this all happens and how it happens ----- will be news in itself. Stay tuned. It is truly with a bit of real sadness that I think of ending the semester here. I finally know all the students by name. I have tried to call a spade, a spade ----- so I have confronted those that have failed to put the effort in an assignment that it deserves ---- or failed to cooperate in a group project allowing others to do the work and still take the credit. I value honesty. That has not changed. Well, I best get back to work.