Many kinds of learning

Fran living in this house (apartment, rather) with me and Marisol continues to be a learning experience for all of us, one that will affect many others I imagine, like the ripples flowing out from a drop of water.

I am continually learning about Fran, her ideas, her understanding, her needs, her interests and goals across a complex communication barrier on both sides.  I do not speak fluent Spanish, and though she understands a little, she speaks no English.

But this limitation is more complex than it seems because Fran speaks in a speech pattern common to the villages, I am told by other Oaxacan friends.  It is not the custom to either ask or answer a question directly, using the fewest words possible (especially when the other person does not speak your language fluently).  The point is talked around and at lightening speed, taking many side roads and seemingly random tangents, and is frequently lost on me as I wait for clues about the the answer to my question, or the subject matter at hand.

Sometimes I try and get her to the point, when it is important.  Often I decide to be satisfied with the general idea in the interest of time.  Marisol, who speaks perfectly understandable Spanish, French, and English encounters the same phenomenon with Fran, but because both of them speak Spanish (remember that Fran is not a native speaker of Spanish -- she learned it only a few years ago) she can steer her to the point more easily.

Not surprisingly, though Fran is doing fantastically with numbers, she is not appreciating (and struggling, I think) with classes like Ethics, where she is expected to express thoughts and opinions both in front of the class and on paper.  I suggested to her that the more challenging something is, the more she should dedicate herself to mastering it.  The idea of professors at the school is that it is not enough to to master the technical skills of engineering; the student must be able to communicate effectively with bosses, clients, and co-workers.

This week instead of classes, all the IT engineering students are meeting and hearing lectures from various professionals in their field.  But their teachers are e-mailing homework assignments which they turn in all week.  So far, I really like the way this course of study is going for Fran.

Had an interesting conceptual event with Fran the other day that taught me something about assumptions.  She expressed a concern to me that her eyes may be getting worse from wearing her new glasses, not better.  I should have picked up on something right away, but didn't.  She said when she took her glasses off, her eyes were much worse.  What I learned later was that she somehow had the understanding that wearing glasses would improve her vision, literally.  Her dentist, who has become another mentor, cleared it all up with her.

The other night, Fran and Marisol had a long talk about Fran's fear that her excellent grades will draw negative attention from other students and make them suspect her of cheating.  Marisol talked to her about owning her accomplishment and sharing her secret (constant study, and attending night classes at the Learning Center) so that they will understand how she has achieved her grades.  Marisol talked a lot about being proud of her own accomplishments as they accumulate, partly because when she becomes a professional she can't expect to hear much praise from bosses or co-workers.  How to be proud without being arrogant.  These lessons are just as important as anything she is learning in school, of course!!

Once or twice a week Fran receives counsel from Marisol about things that have come up -- sometimes points on how to conduct research (academic advice) and other times situations with her teachers or other students.  Marisol is very busy with her own professional life, and she has been very generous and helpful to Fran.

This is just a taste of the rich garden of learning that we are all harvesting from in this house.  Thanks yet again to those of you whose contributions are making this environment for Fran possible.

October progress report

Hi friends,
I have been somewhat negligent writing the blog recently -- changing my artistic focus, building up new inventory, market research, and tying up loose ends has taken up time I don't even have!  But I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

But enough excuses!

Here is one of my biggest heroines, Fran, in her new winter jacket and new glasses. Every day she comments on how they make her life easier! Fran is studying to be a computer engineer, and she is taking pretty much wall-to-wall math classes -- Calculus, Discrete Math, and Fundamentals of Programming, along w/business ethics and Banda Guerra (she plays the drum while marching), a required extra curricular class which was the only one left after the juniors and seniors had their pick!

Just for the record, Fran is near or at the top of her class. She has accomplished this by constant study and wise use of resources, including a study group, tutors, and hours and hours in her room.

This is the crucial year.  She must pass all of her classes in order to continue, and she is making sure that she does much more than that!

As some of you may know, here in the south of Mexico we have been caught between hurricanes on both coasts, and the constant rain is just beginning to flee the glorious months of October, November, December and January.  Fran checks with her parents by phone and to date I have heard nothing about mudslides or the road being washed out.  One or two of her fellow students made the mistake of trying to visit their village during the worst of the storms and were trapped there, unable to attend classes.  They may have had to drop out.  Her teachers do not accept any excuses, no matter how dire, for not attending class and completing all the work.

I still pinch myself that things are going so well.  We have enough money to complete this school year, but I am beginning to anticipate next year.  I will be in touch soon about that.  So far, among our few donors, we have those who have given once, those who have given twice, and those who have committed to automatic monthly contributions of between $25 and $50.  For those who have given once or twice, we hope that you will not forget us next year.  For those of you who give monthly, we can't thank you enough for the feeling of stability that gives us!

Fran just returned from her study group and went back to her room to study.  But she has a smile on her face!  Thank you.