Celeste and I have both been taken back at the sad state of things in Henderson, North Carolina. Poverty is common place, the economy is weaker than a newborn's biceps, drugs of every form are rampant, and gang-related violence is an every day occurrence. As we got to teaching in our schools, we were discouraged by the low level of achievement of our students. All in all, Henderson needs help, and Oxford, the town we live in 10 minutes down the road, is in a similar situation, although not as bad.
What's even more surprising is the fact that we live 25 minutes from Durham, and 45 minutes from Chapel Hill (home to Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill, respectively) and every time we've gone down that way we're taken back at how those communities are thriving right next door to us. Durham's got a few slums, but a booming economy and one of the finest universities in the country to keep it alive and thriving. As for Chapel Hill, Celeste and I went there this week for a UNC football game. The city and community is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. We fell in love with it. Even though UNC lost the game. The downtown is quaint and attractive, the university campus is gorgeous, and we left that night with two impressions:
1) "We want to go to there" (-Liz Lemon, 30 Rock) and
2) How can Henderson be simultaneously so close and so bad?
Our good friends Matt and Kaye, fellow TFA'ers. They joined us for the game. UNC pulled a Utah State and let a 23-point lead slip through their fingers.Things are still going well. We're getting better at teaching while our students are getting to like us a little better (some of them). Most of all we're just grateful to have work in these times. It's not easy and it's not glamourous, but it's rewarding. The kids are a challenge, but every once in a while, you just want to hold 'em close and take 'em home. And with the Aggies winning every once in a while, we're real happy!
Until next week, farewell.
My boys at a pep rally for our Homecoming Game (which we tragically lost by a large margin).
