Don and I started our journey on Tuesday morning with both of our cars packed completely down with all of my stuff! No matter the length of time that I'm staying in any given place, I like to nest, so I wanted all of my essentials in my dorm room here in Mississippi.
My drive from home in Thompson's Station is a little under five hours, so I have it really good compared to the people who drove here from Oregon and Maine! It's also a tad shorter than my drive to Mercer was, but it felt really long for me. After leaving Memphis, the entire rest of the trip is on a two-lane highway with very little "civilization" until you actually reach Delta State, here in Cleveland.
I am actually really enjoying Cleveland, which reminds me a little bit of Columbia for my family back home. Dad and I agreed that it could probably only get better after living in Macon for four years, and that was such an accurate assessment. There were things I really loved about Macon (like readily available Indian, Thai, and Vietnamese food, which is not a thing here) but I definitely feel very safe and very at-home in Cleveland. I think I am more used to the size of this town, and it feels much more welcoming.
I had one moment in Tunica when Don and I stopped for lunch in a gas station Subway where I freaked out a little bit and told him I wasn't sure that I could live here, Thankfully, that feeling disappeared as soon as I settled in, got my cell phone back into 3G instead of 1X (LTE is not a thing), and started meeting my fellow TFA corps members.
People who know me know that I am kind of picky when it comes to who I can get along with well. I tend to be fairly judgmental of other people (something I'm working on), and it takes a long time for me to like someone. That's why I was so surprised that I am surrounded by people that I really LIKE here at TFA. Seriously. I have never in my life been in a situation where I'm around so many people I just really love to chat with and get to know. I think this is part of all working towards a common goal together, and hearing passion for the issues I care most about in other people's voices. The other corps members are incredible, and many, like me, have overcome a lot of challenges to be here. Everyone is also seriously brilliant- they aren't kidding when they say that TFA only accepts the best of the best, and the conversations with people have been great. It's also been kind of funny to watch non-Southerners experience the South for the first time, in all its mosquito, fire ant, humid, Bible banging, fried food glory. I have to really hand it to them. This transition was hard enough for me when I am basically staying in my cultural comfort zone, so I can't imagine dealing with all of the regular feelings on top of dealing with this massive culture shock.
This week has been busy. Induction is designed to get corps members familiar with the unique issues in their region and begin introducing us to topics that we will expand on throughout summer institute (which starts Monday), such as culturally responsive teaching, and topics specific to our content areas. My day usually starts between 7 and 8, and ends sometime between 3:30 and 5:30. Dress is business casual every day, which I secretly love because I am obsessed with cute dress and cardigan combinations.
I have realized over the course of the week that my teaching philosophy and TFA's generalized teaching philosophy are a match made in heaven. I have said for years that I think teachers are ultimately activists and forces for change, and that's exactly what TFA believes, too. They seek to create classrooms where students from all different backgrounds can feel valued and affirmed, and where they are given the tools they need to implement real change in their lives and communities. Every day has gotten me so EXCITED about this work I am doing. Seriously, I didn't know I could get more excited than I already was about being a teacher, but I am. I feel energized every day, and instead of dragging through the day like I did in college and other jobs, I look forward to the day and what I will be doing and learning. Don says that I'm a pessimist, and I say that I'm a realist, but either way, I can't remember the last time I felt so positive about doing something. It feels really, really good.
Don has been so great about helping me with this whole move and staying here to support me through this week of induction. There have been so many highs and lows of emotions. The problems that we face here in Mississippi, especially in the Delta, are staggering. Add the emotional weight that I am always carrying with me due to the responsibility I feel to my students, to the fact that I am an introvert and begin to get really overwhelmed after spending all day in large groups, and I am usually coming home every day and getting into bed for about an hour to detox from the day and get ready to take my teacher/corps member hat off for the evening. I'm hoping I get better about maintaining my energy as the summer goes on, but Don has been so good about spending the whole day doing his own thing and then letting me nap when I get back in the evening even though I know he'd rather talk or go out on a date. He's a champion!
Thankfully, we have gotten to do some fun things. We have been checking out the vegetarian food here since we're both vegetarians, and the options have been surprising. It's not nearly as dismal as I expected. Hey Joe's has two veggie sandwiches with Portobello mushroom bases, Mosquito Burrito can do veggie burritos and has the most amazing fresh salsa verde, and The Lost Pizza Co. has this great vegetarian pizza called The Happy Hippie. I also have a free meal plan to the cafeteria, but it's nice to have options to go out, and all of the restaurants are really cute and unique. Since it's a college town, Cleveland has a much cooler vibe than I was expecting.
We also visited Dockery Farms and the crossroads where Robert Johnson sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for becoming a great Blues musician last night. It was really cool to experience that part of Mississippi's history. Since I am my daddy's daughter, I love blues music and there is always a band playing live somewhere here on the weekends.
On Sunday, I find out where my summer placement will be! Please pray that I get a secondary English placement- they can technically place you outside of your content area for the summer if they need to due to logistics, and I'm totally terrified that I will be asked to teach math or chemistry or something. Honestly, I need prayers that I can generally be effective in this work as well, because the problems in education here are going to make it really difficult for any first year teacher to keep her wits. The people from other regions who will be joining us at our institute are also moving in tomorrow I believe, so things are about to get even crazier around here! Overall, I'm just so happy, and so thankful for all of you back home who are thinking about me and hoping everything goes well for me. Love and miss ya'll!
-Love, Linds
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