Summer vacation invariably sneaks up on me very quickly, and it’s almost always an enjoyable conclusion to the school year. That’s probably an indication of how much I enjoy teaching and am not ready to retire yet. I love all the students who spend time in the math lab (this year it was mostly Alyssa, Ruchi, and Priscilla. although I had regular visits from Foram and Dhara too), as well as all the teachers with whom I am friendly. My classes were all enjoyable this year as well.

The last week is always flattering too as I got farewell gifts and thank-you notes from Matt, Aishwarya (who was a bit special to me from the moment she arrived at PHS during her sophomore year), Miheer, Jessica, Isaac, as well as visits from former students Jennifer, the ever-faithful Rabbit, and Gabriela, my first Target Teach apprentice whom I hope I never lose contact with.

But summer vacation is something I really love because of all the time it will give me to write and read. Last night I bought Italian Made Easy, since I have been studying the history and culture of Italy on-and-off the past few years, and think it is time to step up my efforts in that direction, so how better to begin than by learning more of the Italian language than foods and curses, which is basically all I know currently. I have no idea what I will do with the language when–definitely not IF–I learn it, but isn’t that irrelevant to the joy of learning itself?