Sexy, Innocent Child-Woman

Like a headless chicken

Good Lord. My last two days in Chicago just went by so fast because I had so much to do. I was all over the place, running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Here are some of the things I had to take care of before I left.

Monday, December 12th

• I put in a couple of hours at the women's archives of my school (one of my part-time jobs)
• I took care of some paperwork with my department and the office for international students, so I could teach off-campus next semester. A community college offered me an adjunct position (for two classes), and this offer was only finalized on December 9th. It was too good to pass up on, so I had to contact the powers that be immediately.
• I talked to one of my nun-friends, who I didn't get to see prior to my trip. She will be attending a formators' course in Tagaytay for a year, but I'm going back to the States the day she is scheduled to arrive here. Kainis, sobrang frustrated kami pareho dahil di pa kami mag-aabot dito.
• I pulled an all-nighter to prepare my students' final exam, which was scheduled the following morning. I wanted to make sure the questions were challenging enough, and that they weren't redundant or about the same topics. Hehe, strikta ako.

Tuesday, December 13th

• I had to coordinate with a special needs student as to when he would take the exam (he has to take the exam at a quiet location, and he needs extra time).
• I had to figure out a plan of action after another student e-mailed me at 4:00 AM to inform me that she couldn't take the exam till later this week because she was out of town to visit her father, who is ill. I started to panic because I didn't want to reschedule my trip. Good thing my friend and co-teacher Rita agreed to proctor the exam for me and scan my student's test paper and e-mail it to me afterward. Thank God for technology!
• I administered the final exam. I skipped breakfast and I hadn't slept a wink, so it's a wonder I didn't pass out in the classroom.
• I met with the department chair of the community college to turn in extra paperwork, sign my contract, get the textbooks, and go over teaching-related concerns.
• I had to go back to my school to proctor the exam for my other student.
• I graded extra-credit reaction papers and revised research papers, as well as papers that were submitted late. I don't even remember how many papers I graded.
• I had to go back to downtown Chicago (south of the community college) to return books to the library.
• I bought pasalubong for my dad and brother.
• I waited for my auntie to come over so she could drop off the many things she wanted to send to my parents and relatives.

Wednesday, December 14th

The morning of my trip

• I packed my things (Buti na lang mabilis akong mag-empake).
• I did my laundry and cleaned my apartment.
• I graded my students' group exercises and the rest of the papers that were submitted late.
• I left the rent check and spare keys with my roommate. She had also agreed to run some errands for me, so I gave her last-minute instructions.
• I sent a quick e-mail to my students about where they could pick up their papers.
• I dropped off the rest of the papers at the department.

During the flight

• I graded my students' final exams the whole time, with the intention of submitting their grades as soon as I got home.

Well, I sure got a lot of work done. I haven't gone out yet ever since I got here. Aside from the fact that I needed to recuperate after my loooong flight, I had to grade the final exam of the student who took it late, as well as the final paper of another student who submitted it very, very late (pasaway!). And I had to turn in the students' final grades by Friday morning, at the latest.

As of now, that's all taken care of. So now I can go ahead and enjoy my vacation.

found herself @ 9:10 AM