uncle van’s cabin

How Do I Love Thee, Shwiny?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

Happy 2nd Monthsary, Pangga… Wab Yu!

And so I received a text from Endran that I check my ATM as my salary in the univ arrived already.

I wasn’t thrilled. In fact, it reminded me even more of my present pitiful status as a part-time instructress. How many more months (or years) should I endure before I finally get to become a full-time professor?

Oh yeah, which reminds me that I SHOULD pass this comprehensive exam come Saturday (16th) and Tuesday of next week (19th). If I pass this exam I’ll be a full-fledged Master’s degree holder already. With that I’ll be elevated from my present status of earning a measly Php85/hr salary to semi-measly Php120/hr. So much for being a part of the academe.

The exam doesn’t scare me anymore. So what if I won’t pass it? I still have a 2nd (and a last) time to do it on January next year. Why do we have to take silly exams, anyway? Sometimes I wish we’re still uncivilized people with only animal skins to cover our arses. Life wasn’t so complicated then. No dayjobs, no traffic, and definitely no exams!

I don’t know exactly what’ll come out of that exam. I dread Research the most. The only distinct memory I have of being in my Research class was that we were merged with the Soc Sci majors and that I shared a topic with Patrick. And the professor, too. Ancient Dr. T who seemed to have arthritis she’d buckle any moment.

I’m still trying to get the hang of being in West. The academic freedom is just so liberating! What I like being in West are the students. Where else can you find a set of witty, talented, and polite high school students? My college students are intelligent, too. I still miss my elementary students, though. I miss their innocence and playfulness. College students are playful, too but innocent?! Hah!

I’m not sure if I’d want to teach in West for the rest of my life. I’d want to teach for the rest of my life, yes but to remain in one place (or school) I’m still trying to figure that out. Nevertheless, I’m fine and happy. I’m sure there are many things in store for me.

First things first. Let me check what’s in store for me in that ATM.