lynnbix

So, news flash: Living in a larger city means you interact with a lot of people you don't know. Not that I was in a complete bubble in Minnesota. I spoke to strangers. But there tended to be a spectrum of rituals when you approached a stranger. In rural Minnesota, you would make eye contact as you were passing them on the street, smile and nod, and if you needed to ask them a question, you'd do a small wave before you started talking. In the Twin Cities, you would make brief eye contact, look away (as if deciding whether they are the person to ask), and then do the small wave or an "Excuse me." In Boston, there is no rhyme or reason. This partially seems to be because homelessness is a serious issue--no surprise, ... read more

As Ben and I prepare to enter Boston tomorrow, I feel a great sense of relief as well as a great sense of foreboding. I am ready to be done with this transient lifestyle, but the pressures of what's to come--of staying afloat as individuals and as a couple--are daunting. This past week, during a particularly hard day of backpacking (more on that later), Ben had to be by my side every step of the way even though I was being slow and ornery. After the worst was over and I began to smile again, Ben looking at me and said, "The way I helped you today, that's what I need you to do for me in Boston." It's going to be a lot of adjustment for us, but I'm so grateful to have someone to ... read more

I'm utterly shocked to realize that it's been nearly two years since I started my first blog. The eleventh graders I taught have now graduated, and the twelfth graders I worked with are well on their way through college. India has stayed close to my heart and mind, although I'm sometimes afraid that I might forget what I learned from the students there. I think of them all often, and am so grateful that I kept this blog so I can remember some of the details--those that I felt most important to me while I was at Shanti Bhavan. I've been pretty busy the last couple of years. When I returned from India, I picked up three part-time jobs and went into full bride-mode (NOT bridezilla...I hope). Things settled down after the wedding, though. I became ... read more

I have always been terrible at saying goodbye. I envy the people who know just what to say, and just when people will neither be too happy nor too sad to see you go. My special breed of social anxiety has always led me to err on the side of caution and bow out too early (don't want to overstay my welcome) and wordlessly (don't want to bother everyone or steal attention). But there is no hiding this time. It helps in some ways to have a set time of departure, so everyone can be prepared for it. On the other hand, though, I often get this sense from the students that I am abandoning them. I feel that some are already beginning the process of pushing me away. (They've been through this many times before, ... read more

I have to admit, I have been in India for over two months, and I still feel like I am floundering at times when it comes to "common" courtesy. I mean, obviously there are certain rules of politeness that apply to all peoples, but I have often found myself reacting negatively to something which is completely acceptable in India, or doing something that we would find acceptable in America but is absolutely wrong in India. Of course I knew that there would be differences in polite proximity, and differences in how queues are handled (I cannot count how many people have budged me in line because I left two feet of space between myself and the person ahead of me). But there were also things that I did not expect: being followed by the hotel owners ... read more