“Unfeathered”
We start in the wrong wings:
all feathers carry
desperation
into torn out limbs
and walk out of blistering.
“Unfeathered”
We start in the wrong wings:
all feathers carry
desperation
into torn out limbs
and walk out of blistering.
As a college student, being a nanny over the summer is both enjoyable and challenging. Underneath the seemingly perfect trips to the pool or countless hours spent playing Monopoly are the obstacles that only nannies will understand. Trading in your valuable summer vacation in return for three months spent with a few children less than half your age may seem unappealing, but so many moments make it rewarding. For my fellow summer nannies out there, I know you can relate.
If the kids get a pool pass, so do you. It's not exactly a leisurely swim when you have to keep an eye on the kids, but it's a good opportunity to work on your tan and get out of the house. Plus, a day at the pool tires out the kids.
You may just be the nanny, but that doesn't stop the other moms from wanting to include you in their gossip sessions or carpool rotations.
Dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets, character mac & cheese, you name it.
The only type of bag that can hold a plethora of snacks, sand toys, and extra clothes for the kids to change into after they swim.
You've been given the extra booster seat for running errands with the kids during the week. Next thing you know, it's Saturday night and your friends are laughing over the crammed backseat, car seat and all.
If you can somehow manage to get all the kids napping at the same time, major props to you. Now you can enjoy a few hours to yourself (or maybe even take a nap of your own!).
When they can't agree on a meal or when you don't make it exactly like their mom does...
When you ask them to clean their room and they ask "why?!" you can finally reply with "because I said so," just like your mom would say to you.
Forcing the kids to wear sunscreen while they play outside is such a motherly thing to do, and you love it.
And then you're reminded why you have the best summer job in the world and wouldn't trade it for anything.
There are a lot of really easy, common names in the U.S. and while many of those simple names have different spellings, most of the time, pronunciation is not an issue that those people need to worry about. However, others are not as fortunate and often times give up on corrections after a while. We usually give an A+ for effort. So, as you could probably imagine, there are a few struggles with having a name that isn’t technically English. Here are just a few…
Chances are you are the only one with your name in your class so you know when your name is up next when there’s a sudden pause followed by an uneasy look by the teacher or substitute.
It may be possible for people with more common names but yours might take a bit longer and require a bit more effort.
Great… your name never fails to be a conversation starter… except it’s the same kind of conversation that ensues.
You’re flattered that people like your name so much but it gets a little annoying after repeatedly saying it 500 times.
Sometimes the baristas will ask you how to spell your name while taking your order (meaning your name will at least be spelled right), but sometimes that’s not done and your name is spelled and said completely different. Let’s just say, you have many Starbucks personas.
The nicknames are either actual shortened versions or just words that sound like your name (usually said in a teasing manner), you’re used to it though…
Your first reaction is one of sudden happiness that your name is shared by someone whether real or fictional and you instantly connect.
Typical situation… and most of the time, the other person asking you to repeat yourself can hear just fine so it's not that you're loud enough.
Trust us, we’ve heard it all. We’ve seen our name twisted in the most outrageous ways. We’ve given up trying to instill the correction anymore.
It’s almost like an instant connection to the person especially when you both can say each other’s names correctly in one try.
Like I said, you are probably the only one with your name in the group or groups that you hang out with so rock it!
day·dream (ˈdāˌdrēm/): a series of pleasant thoughts that distract one's attention from the present.
Daydreams, the savior of our life in class. Every type of student in the classroom does it at least once, but most cases it is an everyday event, especially in that boring class -- you know the one. But what are we thinking while we are daydreaming?
1. "Wow, this class is really boring."
Well of course it is, or you wouldn't be daydreaming.
2. "If this wasn't a General Education Requirement, I would've dropped this class already."
Everyone in this room would have dropped the class already.
3. "That kid is sleeping, I wonder if the Professor would notice if I closed my eyes..."
Maybe just for three seconds...
4. "I'm really hungry."
What they are serving in the dining hall...I hope it's mac and cheese.
5. "Can I be excused for the rest of my life?"
OK just kidding, but seriously, can I leave now?
6. "Where are we on the notes?"
Once you are lost on the notes in a lecture class, there is no turning back. Might as well go back to daydreaming about how you are a failure.
7. "Is she/he still talking about this slide?"
Yeah, it's been 10 minutes on one slide of the presentation and yeah, she/he will continue for another three.
8. "What am I going to do this weekend?"
Well I could go to that movie night on campus, or go out to dinner with friends -- anything but doing the homework for this class.
9. "Why do I even need this class?"
Many classes have me asking this question...I need about 15 minutes to really find the answer to my great question.
10. "Is anyone even paying attention?"
Everyone looks like zombies shaking their heads to look like they are listening, and I know that kid next to me is drooling so he is definitely not paying attention. There goes my chance to catching up on the notes -- back to day dreaming.
Puerto Ricans. They are very proud people and whether they were born on the island or born in the United States by Puerto Rican parent(s). It gets even better when they meet another fellow Puerto Rican or Latino in general. You’ll know quickly if they are Puerto Rican whether the flag is printed somewhere on their person or whether they tell you or whether the famous phrase “wepa!” is said.
As a Puerto Rican born in Ohio who has a very Puerto Rican family, I can tell you that there are also things that you shouldn’t say to us. Here are the most common no-no’s that have been said to Puerto Ricans.
Puerto Rico is not an independent country. It is one of a few United States territories that have their own local government but abide by U.S. law and U.S. leaders. Everyone on that island is a U.S. citizen so no, my family members are not immigrants.
Okay, Puerto Rico is a Caribbean island in, you guessed it, the Caribbean Sea along with a bunch of other islands. Each of those islands has a unique culture and history so why do you always assume all Latin nations/territories are near or associated with Mexico?
Even though Puerto Rico has its own slang, there is no such thing as a language called “Puerto Rican.” Puerto Ricans speak Spanish. Period.
This comment irritates me to no end. Puerto Ricans- and Latinos, for that matter- are extremely diverse. Our descendant range from the Spanish conquistadors to the indigenous groups who lived before colonization to the African slaves who were brought to the region. Not all of us fit the stereotypical mold of appearance.
Again, Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory not a country, therefore, you don’t need a passport to go there.
Since when was it a bad thing to show pride towards one’s heritage? Last time I checked, no one was making fun of patriotic folks who waves the stars and stripes of the U.S. flag.
We are just loud people. If you don’t like it, don’t talk to us.
Puerto Ricans are taught Spanish and English. Both are the official languages. Technically, Spanish is the first language of many Puerto Ricans on the island, but they understand and speak English. In fact, there are schools on the island that teach in English.
This is an annoying stereotype that also plagues much of the Latino community. We can be sassy, but that’s just an individual personality trait that doesn’t apply to everyone.
Let’s see… did I grow up eating food from Mexico? No, because my family is Puerto Rican, not Mexican. Puerto Rico has its own cuisines. I grew up eating Puerto Rican food. Stop merging cultures.
No. Stop. Not every Latino is Mexican. Mexicans are Mexicans, Puerto Ricans are Puerto Rican, and so on. Do not be that person.
Love hard, every day, and never be ashamed.
If it hurts now, it'll hurt again. Not because you're gullible or naive, only because you fall fast, hard, and you do it every time.
We fall each and every time with the complete and utter confidence that someone will be there to catch us. Now that person we SWORE we were never going to fall for has our hearts, and every time we see them our palms start sweating. The butterflies in our stomach start to soar and our hearts are entirely too close to bursting out of our chests.
The downside is however, we're too forgiving. We give second and third chances because we love strongly, we try to fix the broken parts. Even if it would be easier leaving the broken pieces, than picking them up and slicing our hand. Falling too fast means seeing the best in them and hoping for the best. We love like it's the last thing we'll ever do, and sometimes it hurts us in the end, however, I don't think we care.
To the girls who fall too fast, I hope you know it's not your fault it didn't work out, don't put yourself down, don't blame yourself.
You get attached too easily and love too strongly, that's not a bad thing. It means your hearts are a few sizes bigger than the rest. One day someone will be there to catch you when you fall, and you'll love them harder than you've loved any of the others.
To the girls who fall too fast, never say you're sorry for feeling what you feel. Your feelings don't need to be explained. You're allowed to feel. It may be too much for him or her, but it's never unacceptable. You're allowed to love as strongly as you love, never apologize for that.
To the girls who fall too fast, remember to pick yourself up after a heartbreak. Your heart may not mold back together perfectly but it will eventually. If they weren't there to pick up the pieces, then do it yourself. Eat a pint of ice cream and cry, it's OK.
Not everyone you fall for is going to end up being the love of your life (even if you believed that they would be).
To the girls who fall too fast, don't lose hope. When you find someone who will love every part of you, as strongly and sincerely as you love them. It'll be the best feeling in the world. When you hear the words "I love you" and they are spoken in the most sincere way, it'll make your heart soar higher than any crush did before.
To the girls who fall too fast, love hard, every day, and never be ashamed.