Today the sun was shining bright in Singapore. I could see it from the windows of my classroom, where I was teaching all day.
My timing, as always, is excellent.
I could also see this beautiful patch of green.
It covered one of the underground garage entrances, and was a welcome break in the glass and cement office park.
You see the stairs leading to the grass? I wondered if people actually used them…perhaps sit in the sun on days that are a little less tropical.
So I asked.
Apparently Singapore always has weather like this. No cooler season that drops the temps below even 80 degrees. That’s when I knew — I could never live in this island paradise.
(My hair told me so.)
The Sticky Egg 
The squirrel whisperer
Students in my college courses can attest to my habit of using unusual examples to illustrate concepts during class. One of my favorites?
Squirrels
It began innocently enough. A student asked a question, and as I was trying to think of a good analogy, I spied a squirrel outside the classroom window.
So I went there.
And I liked where it went. Now future classes have heard me use the squirrel in various analogies ever since. Yes, they give me strange looks at first. But they eventually come around…or, I like to think so.
Not actual robosquirrel used (but wouldn’t it be awesome??)
Which is why I greeted the story of the ‘robosquirrel,’ a biology project at San Diego State University focused on predator/prey interaction, with much affection.
I know it has gained national attention because of its $325,000 price tag, and its funding from the National Science Foundation, and ultimately, taxpayer dollars.
I’m not here to debate all that.
I just want to say, to any of my former students who may be reading this blog…
SEE??? Squirrel stories work.
They really do.
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Posted in Animals, College, Commentary, Education, Humor, Life, Writing
Tagged analogy, animals, biology project, classroom, college, college courses, commentary, communications, concepts, education, examples, Humor, life, National Science Foundation. taxpayer dollars, predator prey interaction, robosquirrel, San Diego State University, squirrels, students, writing