Wednesday, July 9, 2008

The Readers

Kids dressed in togas for last night's Captain's Dinner and were promptly escorted back to their rooms to change.  Such rebels we have.  It was not sanctioned by the chaperones, so we just shrugged, smiled and ate our lamb rack and linguini fruiti de mare, pretending not to be associated with them.  They made it back for The Baked Alaskan, at least. Siobhan Steel took it the hardest.  "It took me 90 minutes to wrap mine!" she declared.  The Captain did not care. But Siobhan has had a great trip, and we would take one like her every year.  A while back I mentioned that two kids elevated their trip with hang-gliding heroics in the Alps.  I left out their names in case their parents did not approve. Siobhan, it turns out, wanted to be named. She likes to see her name in print.  In large letters, I assume.  So here it is.  SIOBHAN.  Can't remember if that's how you spell it.  I am the English teacher who can't spell.  (I even use contractions and write in fragments--because the best writing follows its own rules, no?) Anyway, Michael Aston was the Icarus, but when he fell he landed on his feet.  He could care less if he sees his name in print. I doubt he's reading this blog.

Speaking of reading, not many kids brought books this year.  (It's Ipod city, and I'm sure next year will be Iphone alone.)   This group likes to do, not be.  Their thinking is done.  We have men and women of action.  Still, the bus rides used to be ideal periods for either light summer reading or deep philosophical musings.  But unless they are listing to a book-on-ipod, they have left a little grey matter in the classroom.  Last bus trip I passed around a sheet of paper with the question "What are you reading?"  Here are the responses.

Hall--"A Confederacy of Duncies: by John Kennedy Toole
Hoeger-- "The Brief Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz (best book I've ever read, but be forewarned: lots of swearing and carnal knowledge)

Aston--"Hearts for Dummies"
Cummins--The Bible, the abridged version
Dunbar--"Nothing" by Nobody
Goldberg--"The Enormous Room" by e.e. cummings
Kinney--"I'm Illiterate" by Drew Heller
Kurt--"Iron Angel" by Alan Campbell
Overstreet--"Survivor" by Chuck P. and ""American Psycho by B.E. Ellis
Rees--"When You are Engulfed in Flames" by David Sedaris
Springer--"The Wolf of Wall Street" by Jordan Belford

So the actual tally for the boys--6 readers out of 19

Borzi--"Possible Side Effects" by Augusten Burroughs
Dadashi--"Dress Your Family in Cordoroy & Denim" by Sedaris
Davidson--"Every Gul's Got One" by Meg Cabot
Deakers--"A Brief History of the Smile" by Angus somebody
Guttman--"A Room with a View" by E.M. Forester
Hsu--"The Know it All" by A.J. Jacobs
LaMonte--"I Don't Read, I Figure" by Sudoku
Moine--"House of Leaves" by Mark Danielewski
Nishimoto--"The Time Travelors's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger
Resnick--"None for Now" by The Party Queen
STEEL--"The Summer of Lese" ??? (Can't read her handwriting)
Uruguchi --"Naked Swim Parties" by Jessica Any Blau (I think Katie is on the wrong trip:))
Yazdi--"Me Talk Pretty One Day" by Sedaris
Young--"Roots" by Alex Haley

Girls --12 readers, they win

The boys beat the girls in Hearts, however.  In the finals, to the surprise of only LV and Hall, are Aston, Kurt, Skophammer and Springer.   Helen and Devon were the last girls standing. 
The finals are tonight.  Should be a big crowd.  

I'm blogging from Crete. Old white-haired men with Greek fisherman's caps are fingering yellow beaded necklaces at the Bembos Fountain Cafe. A headless and armless statue looms over me. Most kids, if not all, have slept in after a night a wild toga dancing--so I was told.  This afternoon we land at Santorini, then back to Athens and then home.

This is my last blog.  You will notice a change in you child. Redoubtable maturity, more sophistication, new friends.  This group really came together--especially on the dancefloor. Nice moves, Matt Overstreet! The flight number is DL 951 from Atlanta, due to arrive at 8:30 p.m.

Sincerely,
LV

Congratulations to 12 year old Jake Hoeger, who, in playing in his first 14-and-under tennis tournament--The South End Junior Open--defeated the number one seed yesterday in the quarter-finals 7-5, 6-1.  Good luck today Jake. 


     

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Dear LV,
You have allowed my family to share Emily's experiences on this trip. For that, we are truly grateful. Your words have painted pictures in our minds and have kept us abreast of activities our kids were enjoying and we were unaware of because they were having too much fun to write or call us! Thank You the time and effort it is greatly appreciated.
-Mark Resnick