I guess that means it's back to the grind, even if it's a task I thoroughly enjoy. Thanks to all the parents, friends, students and colleagues who read this and made this worth my time.
-Ben Gorman
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Retrospective
First off, sorry it took me a week to post the info and pictures from our final day. That day was wonderful and I wanted to share it, but the day after we returned... let's just say that was a difficult day for a lot of us. I found that I had to apologize to some of my students because, even though I wasn't angry with them, I was so tired that I came across as bored, dismissive, and snotty. By Tuesday I was civil, and by Wednesday I was feeling like myself again. By Friday I was really starting to be a decent teacher, just as my students were checking out for the week, intellectually and emotionally, because the sun was shining and Prom was the next day (today). Now I'm finally back in my groove, and all shall be well next week. Oh, and good news for my creative writing classes: Thanks to your input in class on Friday, last night I wrote fifteen pages that I think are pretty decent, and I'm going to try for another ten or eleven tonight. I won't quite catch up to where I wanted to be in the book you're editing for me, but if I can write two chapters per weekend for the rest of the year we might just get to the end of the story. So, wish me luck!
I guess that means it's back to the grind, even if it's a task I thoroughly enjoy. Thanks to all the parents, friends, students and colleagues who read this and made this worth my time.
-Ben Gorman
I guess that means it's back to the grind, even if it's a task I thoroughly enjoy. Thanks to all the parents, friends, students and colleagues who read this and made this worth my time.
-Ben Gorman
Day 5, April 22nd
Today we came slept in about an hour later than normal. Kids were good about being packed and ready to go on time. When Mr.Witt came down (he and Mrs. Warren were the last two on the bus), we, the students and chaperons, gave him the poster from Chicago, autographed by the cast, as a thank you for the crazy amount of work, both prep work and managing this group in the city. Then we thanked our great guide and super-cool bus driver, Ash.
When we came into the city, we came directly to one of my favorite places in the entire world, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
I took a ton of pictures, which I won't post all of here. There were some great special exhibits going. I wasn't particularly interested in the Europeans on the Islamic World (a new, more accurate and culturally sensitive name or an art fad called Orientalism), and I didn't want to spend much time in the permanent Egypt exhibit, which some folks thoroughly enjoyed. I liked the European gallery, the special Barcelona exhibit, the impressionist exhibit, the hall of Rodin sculpture, and even the American gallery ("Washington crossing the Deleware" is undeniably impressive, much bigger than I remembered).
But the best part was the new Roman and Greek exhibit, which is a part of the permanent collection which, according to a neat lady in the bookshop, has benn in storage for over 50 years. Her theory: the old curator, a curmudgeonly medeivalist, was offended by nudity. There was a bit of that, but far more importantly, there was an immense collection of fabulous works spanning about a thousand years. I found myself staring at helmets worn by soldiars some 2700 years ago, thinking that these were human beings, men not that different from myself, with parents, wives, children, dreams, regrets, and loyalties to nations that may or may not have been as faithful to them as they sent them off to die in those helmets.
It's amazing to think how much has changed on the surface of human civilization, and how little has changed only a bit under the surface.
After the museum the choir members sang on the steps of the Met.
The New Yorkers on the steps were disappointed that the choir only sang a single song, but we were running short on time. As they say, "always leave them wanting more."
Took Queensboro bridge ( the 59th st bridge ) to the airport instead of the tunnel. As you can see, I couldn't get a decent picture from inside the bus:
No major problems at Laguardia or Denver. Home!
Great quote from Jessie Gerdes: "Denver is farther away-er than Chicago."
When we came into the city, we came directly to one of my favorite places in the entire world, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
I took a ton of pictures, which I won't post all of here. There were some great special exhibits going. I wasn't particularly interested in the Europeans on the Islamic World (a new, more accurate and culturally sensitive name or an art fad called Orientalism), and I didn't want to spend much time in the permanent Egypt exhibit, which some folks thoroughly enjoyed. I liked the European gallery, the special Barcelona exhibit, the impressionist exhibit, the hall of Rodin sculpture, and even the American gallery ("Washington crossing the Deleware" is undeniably impressive, much bigger than I remembered).
But the best part was the new Roman and Greek exhibit, which is a part of the permanent collection which, according to a neat lady in the bookshop, has benn in storage for over 50 years. Her theory: the old curator, a curmudgeonly medeivalist, was offended by nudity. There was a bit of that, but far more importantly, there was an immense collection of fabulous works spanning about a thousand years. I found myself staring at helmets worn by soldiars some 2700 years ago, thinking that these were human beings, men not that different from myself, with parents, wives, children, dreams, regrets, and loyalties to nations that may or may not have been as faithful to them as they sent them off to die in those helmets.
It's amazing to think how much has changed on the surface of human civilization, and how little has changed only a bit under the surface.
After the museum the choir members sang on the steps of the Met.
The New Yorkers on the steps were disappointed that the choir only sang a single song, but we were running short on time. As they say, "always leave them wanting more."
Took Queensboro bridge ( the 59th st bridge ) to the airport instead of the tunnel. As you can see, I couldn't get a decent picture from inside the bus:
No major problems at Laguardia or Denver. Home!
Great quote from Jessie Gerdes: "Denver is farther away-er than Chicago."
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Day 4, April 21st
First outing: Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty. I got lots of pics. I hope they turned out.
When we came back on the ferry, we landed near Ground Zero. There was a memorial with an eternal flame.
In the financial district we came upon the famous scultpure of the bull. Here I am, grabbing the bull by the horns. To quote the movie Dodgeball, "That's how I handle my business. It's a metaphor. But that really happened."
I feel sorry for the guy who was standing there when this fell:
We got some free time for lunch. I walked up Broadway, past Wall St., and found a very holy lunch for myself. First off, it was Halal (fitting with Islamic dietary laws). I got a lamb gyro and a knish w/ mustard. I was told Knish is a traditional Jewish food. I think the gyro is probably kosher, too. Then I walked back a block and found a bench in the cemetery of Trinity Church, in the shade of its front steeple. I think most people in the world would agree that God is smiling at me right now. It sure feels that way.
The gyro is one of the best things I've ever eaten. The knish is okay, but it did burn my face with a squirt of very hot mustard. So maybe God is not entirely pleased with me after all.
There are Trinity's bells. So beautiful echoing off the sky scrapers. I'm back in God's good graces.
A religious experience for six bucks. God is good.
We we past the stock exchange. It's an impressive building, but pretty dead on a Saturday. Across the street were the steps of the federal building where George Washington was inaugurated. That was cool.
Then we went to the pier. More shopping. I controlled myself.
We turned around and headed to Grand Central Station. The place is amazing, now. It's been renovated, and they did an fantastic job.
After another mediocre dinner I asked Jeff if I could take some kids to Times Square by subway instead of by bus. Six or seven of us chose that option. We rode the #7 down just two stops to 42nd, between the two theaters our group will be entertained by tonight.
Andrew and I had a bunch more shopping time in Times Square. yea.
Due to a miscommunication Mr. Witt and a group of students ended up waiting for Andrew and I a few blocks from the theater, where we were waiting for them. Luckily, they made it on time and everybody got to see the show... everybody but Mr. Witt. A student (who shall remain nameless) forget his or her ticket on the bus so Jeff, without hesitating, gave him or her his own. I hope he enjoys some time to himself.
Spamalot isn't as good as Chicago, but it's certainly laugh-out-loud funny and probably the silliest thing ever put on Broadway. Sillier even than casting Tony Danza in The Producers (and that's saying something). Is there a Tony for silliest musical?
Our seats were pretty bad ones. We were in the second balcony, way over on one side, with a better view of the orchestra pit than the actors. I was sitting with Chris Crazybull and Chris Earl. The female lead in the show, a woman named Marin Mazzie, not only had incredible talent, but, in the parlance of Spamalot, had "huge tracts of land." Chris and Chris and I got some flack from the women in the group because we were looking down on this woman basically from above. I hardly see how that's our fault, but none of us were complaining, either.
One the way home, during a really enjoyable conversation with Peyton Cole (what a wonderful person!) it started to dawn on me that we are going home tomorrow. I will take pictures tomorrow, but I doubt I'll be posting anything here tomorrow night. I have mixed feelings as our trip comes to a close. I could wander around New York for days, weeks, years, but doing so with a group this large is impractical and leads to people grating on one another's nerves. The kids have been wonderful (ZERO behavior problems, parents. Knock on wood.) but they're staring to get a bit snappish with one another, and they're not the only ones. I also miss my wife and son terribly. Don't worry, Noah. Daddy's coming home. I'm sure you're excited to see me.
My over-all impression impression of the trip:
When we came back on the ferry, we landed near Ground Zero. There was a memorial with an eternal flame.
In the financial district we came upon the famous scultpure of the bull. Here I am, grabbing the bull by the horns. To quote the movie Dodgeball, "That's how I handle my business. It's a metaphor. But that really happened."
I feel sorry for the guy who was standing there when this fell:
We got some free time for lunch. I walked up Broadway, past Wall St., and found a very holy lunch for myself. First off, it was Halal (fitting with Islamic dietary laws). I got a lamb gyro and a knish w/ mustard. I was told Knish is a traditional Jewish food. I think the gyro is probably kosher, too. Then I walked back a block and found a bench in the cemetery of Trinity Church, in the shade of its front steeple. I think most people in the world would agree that God is smiling at me right now. It sure feels that way.
The gyro is one of the best things I've ever eaten. The knish is okay, but it did burn my face with a squirt of very hot mustard. So maybe God is not entirely pleased with me after all.
There are Trinity's bells. So beautiful echoing off the sky scrapers. I'm back in God's good graces.
A religious experience for six bucks. God is good.
We we past the stock exchange. It's an impressive building, but pretty dead on a Saturday. Across the street were the steps of the federal building where George Washington was inaugurated. That was cool.
Then we went to the pier. More shopping. I controlled myself.
We turned around and headed to Grand Central Station. The place is amazing, now. It's been renovated, and they did an fantastic job.
After another mediocre dinner I asked Jeff if I could take some kids to Times Square by subway instead of by bus. Six or seven of us chose that option. We rode the #7 down just two stops to 42nd, between the two theaters our group will be entertained by tonight.
Andrew and I had a bunch more shopping time in Times Square. yea.
Due to a miscommunication Mr. Witt and a group of students ended up waiting for Andrew and I a few blocks from the theater, where we were waiting for them. Luckily, they made it on time and everybody got to see the show... everybody but Mr. Witt. A student (who shall remain nameless) forget his or her ticket on the bus so Jeff, without hesitating, gave him or her his own. I hope he enjoys some time to himself.
Spamalot isn't as good as Chicago, but it's certainly laugh-out-loud funny and probably the silliest thing ever put on Broadway. Sillier even than casting Tony Danza in The Producers (and that's saying something). Is there a Tony for silliest musical?
Our seats were pretty bad ones. We were in the second balcony, way over on one side, with a better view of the orchestra pit than the actors. I was sitting with Chris Crazybull and Chris Earl. The female lead in the show, a woman named Marin Mazzie, not only had incredible talent, but, in the parlance of Spamalot, had "huge tracts of land." Chris and Chris and I got some flack from the women in the group because we were looking down on this woman basically from above. I hardly see how that's our fault, but none of us were complaining, either.
One the way home, during a really enjoyable conversation with Peyton Cole (what a wonderful person!) it started to dawn on me that we are going home tomorrow. I will take pictures tomorrow, but I doubt I'll be posting anything here tomorrow night. I have mixed feelings as our trip comes to a close. I could wander around New York for days, weeks, years, but doing so with a group this large is impractical and leads to people grating on one another's nerves. The kids have been wonderful (ZERO behavior problems, parents. Knock on wood.) but they're staring to get a bit snappish with one another, and they're not the only ones. I also miss my wife and son terribly. Don't worry, Noah. Daddy's coming home. I'm sure you're excited to see me.
My over-all impression impression of the trip:
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