i forgot about this thing

hi everyone... so i totally forgot about the blog (until joe so wonderfully reminded me). i don't have much to say, but wanted to check in and say hello... i'm back in philly right now. i'm actually living with my brother brian and my sister judy in a house in west philadelphia-- it's gorgeous and you should totally come check it out if you are ever in this area. i'm NOT teaching, which saddens me to no end, but i am working in camden, nj at a social justice education and retreat center called the romero center. college and high school kids come in for a week or a weekend, do service in philly or camden during the day, and reflect upon catholic social teaching, liberation theology and other fun things about camden at night. it's a good place (i worked here before i went to HDS) and does good stuff... but it doesn't really provide the kind of relationship-building i'd like... it's also not straight up teaching... so i'll be looking for jobs for january or next year. never know when there'll be a need for a latin teacher, right? all in all, i'm doing well. missing you all, hating the atlanta braves and falcons, and rejoicing that i am in close proximity to wawas. hope to hear how school is treating you all... i've been wondering what my friends have been up to! take care, prse peeps and i wish you well. joseph--good luck with your thesis and your meetings. you're lukcy you're not teaching while you have to write it (my only advice would have been not to do that). just do it, have fun, and enjoy your meetings with diane... it's actually not a bad process and senior sem, if you have the right group, can be a blast. keep me posted on how it's turning out!

Settled into Boston, Saw Diane on Friday

Hey All -

Stina, thanks for the update, you're a bona fide teacher eh? Jocelyn, great to hear from you, I tried to reach you through your friend's number you gave me several times this summer, but no luck, we were there but we missed one another.

Gabriel started kindergarten two weeks ago and is having a fun time with Ms Knight. We're starting to meet other parents with kids his age, and have our first PTA meeting in a week. Aimee is looking for work, but mostly just chilling, she is pregnant! We're expecting in April 2006.

I saw Diane last Friday, had my advising session, taking 3 courses this fall and 1 in the spring to graduate. She was well, wearing a hip lime green carnigan (is that how you spell that?), and happy to see attitude. It is interesting having been here four years now and seeing yet another group of first year PRSE coming through the program. I missed the first dinner, was in Colorado for Young Adult & Campus Ministry work, no surprise eh?

Sorry that I missed the final get together, hopefully we'll do a reunion one of these days. Any idea where Andrew Baker is?

Peace
Joseph

Documentary & Me

Hi everyone,

Glad to see a little activity on this blog. I just returned from spending about a week and a half traveling with the film crew for Divided We Fall (www.dwf-film.com), the documentary film I emailed you all about back in the early summer (June, maybe)? Anyway, I joined them while they were filming in New York and D.C. It was an amazing experience. Be sure to check out Valarie's blog about the production journeys: valariekaur.blogspot.com (Valarie is a fellow div school student).

Also, this evening I had an encounter in Porter Square that really brought all this into real life for me. Check out the latest entry on my blog to read about it: tjammas.blogspot.com

For any of you who are going to be teaching American history or American lit, you might be interested in a short film by Sharat Raju, the director of "Divided We Fall." His thesis film at the American Film Institute (AFI) in 2003 was called "American Made" and is about a Sikh family whose car breaks down in the desert and how no one will stop to help them--the son tells the father it's because he "looks like a terrorist" with his turban on. In just 25 minutes, the film explores issues of racism, immigration, identity and assimilation in a really poignant way... but with dashes of humor as well. It's really excellent... but you don't have to take my word for it; the film won 17 international awards over the past 2 years. It's going to be featured on PBS's "Independent Lens" program this fall (not sure of the date yet; it hasn't been posted). Or, you can buy it for a mere $15 from the website: americanmadethemovie.com. Ok, end shameless plug for my new friend.... (I met Sharat last week while traveling with the film crew for Divided We Fall.)

Hope everyone is doing well! Those of you who are teaching, please do keep us posted on your adventures!