It's been a strange series of months lately full of highs and lows. Thanksgiving break was much needed. The first night I went to Arlington, I met up with some of the guys at Hooters. I hadn't seen some of them in 3-4 years. It was great to just relax and catch up. The next day was Thanksgiving and the Phamily gathered to eat. Luckily, my aunt and uncle who are close to my age were able to come. I hadn't seen them in a while either. Later that night, the kids decided to go out to Dave and Busters. We didn't really play any of the games, just sat around and talked. It was nice to relate family experiences with people who actually get your family. The Vietnamese dynamic is something that few people outside of that world can understand. Anyways, I had an awesome time, and I hope I can meet up with them again soon. The next day, I met up with some other friends at the brewery for some delicious pizzas. Overall, it was one of the more positive homecomings for me. Saturday, I went back to Austin. I needed alone time to catch up on computer games, tv shows, and self-reflection, of course. Nobody was coming back in until the next day anyways.
On Sunday, Mel and LC came back, and we watched Definitely, Maybe. I had already seen it and fell asleep toward the end cuz I'm old.
On Monday, I went back to school, and NOBODY wanted to be there. The morning started off with a staff meeting of course. Luckily, it was an A-day, and none of the students had the energy to act up. That night, the regs and I went to Alamo to watch TMNT and gorge on all-you-can-eat pizza. I had 10 slices...I didn't even want the last 4...The movie was actually very entertaining. Usually, I hate watching childhood movies because they always fall below my expectations as an adult, but this one was refreshingly cheesy and enjoyable.
On Tuesday, I woke up to a busted in side window. Oddly, a couple days before, my sister's boyfriend's side window was busted in on Thanksgiving. These things come in threes! Watch your cars, friends! I called the glass people, but they wouldn't be able to come until the next day, so I just went to work. As my students saw me taping up some trashbags, they would shout out comments like, "Mr. Pham, what happened to your car? You make your baby mama mad?" "Mr. Pham, you know it ain't right to be creepin' round with another man's wife."
Buddy and JJ had a wine party...on a TUESDAY! WHY?! I, of course, can not help myself around wine and proceeded to spout off socialist propaganda(I am not a socialist...but apparently, Drunk Johnny is), divulge to the westerners the underpinnings of the Asian American family, commend Buddy on his succcess as a Master and his not so stereotypically western family, and rant about how my ex-girlfriend stole my car.
Wednesday morning, I woke up to the full realization that I had two meetings to attend, a lesson plan to finish, a guest observer during 3rd period, and a splitting headache. Luckily, I passed all of these things with flying colors. The observer even wrote that I was "competent and confident."
Yesterday was a good day. As stressful as teaching can be with all the extra administrative and parental duties we have, there are simple moments that make it all worthwhile. Two students came after school for tutoring. I hadn't laughed that much since the last time I saw Eshe. In any other profession, I do not believe I'd be able to connect to people on this level. To know that my life will be full of these kinds of moments makes it all worthwhile.
For dinner, Mel invited me over to Mike and Lisa's. Luke has meat boots! Babies and the fact that people have them still boggles my mind. It's all or nothing. You can't just stop being a parent. That is overwhelming to me. I am in no rush.
Things that I am excited for:
1. Sarah's graduation fajitas.
2. Douchepham's Douchetacular Birthdouche next Friday. I got the Need for Creed!
3. Mel and I's first Christmas party(casseroles, libations, and dirty santa gifts).
4. Shopping for our adopted family. I want to buy them everything on their list.
5. 2.5 weeks of winter break.
Meat boots go well with meat hands--but Luke's hand flappers worked well too!
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