Last day

My final year students had their going away party last night in the cafe at the basement of the optometry school. A simple buffet and small speech from the head of department was the extent of the festivities. (Their formal graduation ceremony is not actually until May 2009.) We all walked over to a nearby bar afterward for a few more hours the Mustang Saloon (the same bar where I watched the televised Obama debates and election results).

It's funny to be at the end of things. I'm not graduating, but Ursula and I are both finished today along with all the students. I feel like I should have a deep realisation coming, or a firework finish to mark the end of things. But it's simply the end and the beginning for all of us, really.

This class taught me so much- mostly about life. I learned about teaching and optometry too. But more about people- the struggles that students go through to finish their degree - how caring most are underneath it all (despite my previous post).

Everyone's dispersing now. Many I won't ever see again, but I don't dwell on that. I always think you really never know. Goodbyes aren't meant to be sad.

I like big butts and I cannot lie!

Just seeing if you're paying attention!

Actually that's what's coming out of the ipod right now. Can't complain about that. Who doesn't love a song about real women? I'm couch-dancing at the moment. Just keep that vision of me in your mind as you read along.

Last night was the optometry ball, themed "Golden Globes". The tickets sold out and we were left empty-handed mostly due to our pathetic planning and poor communication. So I conned Ursula into going late with me. I said, "We can be the wedding crashers!" Only it wasn't a wedding and I'd remembered that in that movie Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn crashed weddings for free drinks and food. Then Ursula said, "Weren't they doing it to get laid?" I guess I forgot that part. (See how naive I am? It's a wonder I've gotten this far.)

So Ursula came over to my place and we jumped into the red rocket and took off for downtown. Since I wear heels about once a year, it was an escapade just driving the car and walking to the Hilton. How the heck was I going to dance in those damn shoes?

We finally found the Hilton and the correct entrance where there was even a red carpet and a doorman. Unfortunately, he was a little tough and we barely got in... (even though the organizers said it was ok for us to arrive late). After being rescued by one of my third year students, we landed upstairs where the dancing took place.

Shrek, Audrey Hepburn, Happy Gilmore and his caddy, Bjork in her swan dress, the dark night and more were scattered among the rest in fancy dress. Since I mostly see them in clinic clothes with white student lab coats, I was quite blown away by their collective beauty. We danced until the last song. The shoes came off. I think I'll work on starting a new trend: orthopedic clogs are sexy!

Welcoming immigrants, enjoying life.

I found a lovely editorial in the Herald this morning on accepting immigrants into New Zealand:
Brian Rudman: Message to the race bigots - we're all New Zealanders
I think we all could take something positive from this article.

In other news:
It's still summer here. I've heard we're having the best weather in years! No complaints from me. The easy, peaceful life of New Zealand is starting to settle into my bones. I've heard the longer you are in Auckland, the more you like it. I suppose that's true of most places, but I am really enjoying life right now.

I'm still reading piles of books, working on my world understanding and figuring out the meaning of life. I'll let you all know when I discover it. I've been trying to remain calm even when things are not on the outside. It's not always easy.

Students are quite fun (and improving every day). I can't complain, except when I am trying to get them to finish an exam up before the clinic closes. With the front desk staff breathing down their necks, they seem to be on freeze-frame. I wonder if there is a slow-motion button that needs to be un-depressed.

"Joy does not come from what you do,

it flows into what you do,

and thus into this world from deep within you."

p.298 "A New Earth"

The end of the work week; thoughts on students.

Working with students is an adventure in itself. There is a huge range of abilities and I never know who I will encounter on any given day. They are here to become optometrists, ranging in age from 21 to 35. I am supposedly imparting my wisdom on them, since I have seen at least 20,000 more patients than they have.

What I hope I'm teaching them is confidence in themselves, listening skills, responsibility and clinical thinking. I hope to be one of those to whom they can ask any question, no matter how stupid it seems. And I hope never to be the one to beat them down or treat them poorly. God knows most of us can point out our own flaws.

Last night after work, I realised my shoulders were not tight. In fact, I was not sore anywhere. I was relaxed. And it was nearing the end of the week. I used to carry so much stress that my fingers would go numb sometimes, or my shoulder would barely move.

The internal relaxation is something I have been feeling more and more of since I've arrived in New Zealand. There are things about this job that might seem to be negatives. Maybe they are just differences again.