So…

I’m sitting here next to Ted (another EECS blogger), who by the way is crazy.  Now mind you, not scary, Silence of the Lambs crazy, but more like a friendly, Mork from Mork and Mindy crazy.

Anyways, we’re sitting here in Jerusalem and it is hot.  The reason that we are in Jerusalem is, I guess, the point of this post.  Ted and I are here in Jerusalem to teach Israeli and Palestinian high school students Java, teamwork, leadership, entrepreneurship, and other good things.  This is a MIT-based program called MEET.

I taught for MEET in 2006 and Ted did in 2007.  We are both back this year.  I am back this summer as the Head Instructor.  This basically means that I do not get to actually teach any students directly.  I am also the Head of Curriculum, so I am here to evaluate the curriculum and make sure that the students are learning everything that we want them to.  But, the real thing that I do - the reason why I am here - is that I get to make the schedule for each day and print it on little pieces of paper with clever witticisms on the top (wittiness is actually infrequent and debatable) and give them to all the instructors.

I feel fortunate that I have an advisor that is OK with me going away for the summer.  Not even that, but he was excited and said that it was a good opportunity and was supportive of me going!  It totally threw me off… I was expecting a battle and threats of not-graduating… but there were none.  So here I am.

Which brings me back to my original point.  It is hot.  My favorite time of day is when I get home and get to take my shoes off.  That and I enjoy interacting with the students and doing all those other things that are the actual reasons why I am here.

I actually miss Boston and my research.  But, I am sure that it is there waiting for me to come back, and that is comforting to know.