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Week 19 - Frustration sets in for Graeme but writing this blog helps him to vent

 Edited BY


G P Kennedy

Graeme - Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas


 This week is one of those where I try to pause before committing to start typing. You see, I feel immensely frustrated and simply want to vent. Then you check yourself – First World Problems. But hey, this is my life and my opportunity to share it so here goes.

 

 Our son is stuck in England. He is 21. He has been trying to get back here since he turned 19 years old. He completed high school in Texas then went back to England temporarily. Through a series of bad turns of luck and willful politicizing of the immigration system is the US he is stuck. Fair to say that the pandemic and resultant global shutdown has a role to play, also. US Embassies around the world closed for months and no visas were being processed as a result. The Embassy is open again and we are waiting to be asked to pay visa fees – if you can believe that we have to wait (7 weeks and counting) for the government to ask for money from us – so that we can move into the home stretch of this marathon immigration process. Thanks 'Rona/Trump…lol…not lol.

 

 I am gearing up for the back to school, as I teach at our local community college. The conventional wisdom is that college registrations spike when there is higher unemployment. However, our numbers are way down on a typical Fall Semester registration. I am guessing that people are multiply discouraged from taking classes between now and the middle of December: unemployment, the unclear situation with schools that impacts parents looking to study; changing or terminating employment situations.

 

 Let’s be honest, online learning is a negative for a lot of our students. Many students attend college for the superb on-campus facilities and the academic and pastoral support they receive. Additionally, there is the social aspect for students of all ages. Online learning is the safe and, therefore, right choice for this semester but students are forgoing a lot if they choose to take classes this Fall.

 

 As a professional instructor my take is that students also lose out a hell of a lot on the between the lines learning – those serendipitous conversations that break out in class; the aside from the instructor who imparts their wisdom and life experience, adding depth and color to the leaning environment. All gone, for now.

 

 As an instructor there is little to get excited about in teaching online, in all honesty. The phrase that best describes my attitude to the coming semester is 'making the best out of a bad situation'. And that is what I will do. I will work my ass off to ensure that the gaps are filled for the students. 


 To keep it honest, it behooves me to say that I need that, too. Educational professionals are subject experts but we are also deft and adept personal communicators. The students benefit from these skills and we thrive on sharing them. All gone, for now.

 

 Between the college thing and the immigration stuff this week is a frustrating one. First World Problems, for sure. It’s the world I inhabit. So, I dive headlong into the weekend planning beer, time in the pool as temperatures will reach 107f, and a socially distanced hang out with a friend who will be going back to in-person teaching next week. As a result, we are unlikely to see each other for a while.

 

 I will also continue to bug the ass off of my local Congresswoman who has, to date, be great in supporting us and pushing the immigration folks to get our son’s very straightforward visa application moving in the right direction.

 

 Wherever you are in the world stay as safe and well as possible. Hey! If this old world is getting you down, vent. It just worked for me.

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