The Continuing

Tuesday, February 13, 2007
11:46:13 PM

After having oatmeal crisp and coffee for breakfast, Rogelio and I drove in to the University of Arizona Campus where we are going to be based out of for the next week. The campus is amazing to say the least. There are palm trees, gardens, and brick buildings everywhere. About 37,000 students attend this university. We had our morning meeting in a huge ball room that was already set up for us when we arrived. We had many special guest speakers through out the day. These included the ÒProvostÓ (senior administrator) of the University of Arizona and Jim Kolbe, a long serving state senator with close ties to UWP. Tucson used to be the staging grounds for UPW casts for many many years so there are many alumni and the program is well know for the most part. Our show will definitely sell out all 5000 seats on Saturday. During 20 minutes of free time in the morning we dispersed around the campus going on a flyer raid, just handing our pamphlets about our show and program. Some people were very interested, others not so much. Its a good thing I take rejection well.

One interesting thing about this university is that it has a special partnership with UWP in that you can gain over 9 course credits for participating in the program .

Lunch was held in a smaller ball type room. It was probably the best catered meal weÕve seen so far on the trip. It was a do it yourself sandwich buffet with plenty of options. The tables were set with real glasses with cloth napkins folded decoratively inside them and we had real metal silverware. Over lunch I sat with Jim Kolbe and we as a table discussed world issues and issues concerning the US. He talked about things such as the upcoming election that is going to cost about 3 billion dollars. The top running Republican candidate is Senator John Mcain and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. The election is going to be so interesting because its the first time since 1952 that there is no one currently in the WHite House who is in the running. Its still very much anyones bet. Some of the hot issues in the election include the war in Iraq, the crumbling underfunded education system, and the fact that over 60% of the US budget (which is currently putting them further into debt) goes to support programs for seniors (medicare type things and such). Other hot topics inclure abortion, stem cell research, and gay marriage.
Also during lunch I took a few minutes outside to take in a Chinese dragon dance to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

After Lunch we had another special guest, Professor Kathy Short. She invited as a part of our CI prep for tomorrow. Tomorrow we are reading childrens books to classes at a few elementary schools around Tucson. We were instructed on how to be better readers and be more engaging to the children as well as the importance of childhood mental stimulation before age 3. Its been show as well that the best indicator that someone is going to be a high school dropout is that they are unable to read with any proficiency at grade 3. We then went to the library to pick out books to read. I picked one about a Cat named Caramba who unlike the other cats, couldnÕt fly. In the end he learns to swim so its all good.

Later in the afternoon we had fitness classes where among other things we learned African gumboot dances.

Nearing the end of the day we had home team meetings and we sampled some canned oysters.

For supper back with my host family, we had home made everything tortillas. The salsa was home made, and really good. Into it we also put beans and new york sirloin steak.
Its all Good