The road of life is rarely smooth. It twists and curves and comes out in unexpected locations. The final goal can always be seen, but we often have to take smaller steps than we would prefer. Our journey toward mortality is an uphill struggle with very few places to catch your breath.
In short, life is rather like Lombard Street.
As I gazed upon the least linear street in the world, I was struck by the behavior of the tourists. They would dart into the street, heedless of cars and personal safety—too busy posing for pictures to adequately notice their surroundings. In many ways, we have acted the same as the Lombard tourists on this trip. We dashed into our placements, with little idea of what lay ahead. We braved profanity, fights, and buses that broke down blocks from our stop, yet I can’t help but feel that I have been too busy acting as a teacher to truly soak up my school environment. How many schools in America have a sun-drenched faculty courtyard and garden? Or exquisite murals sprawled across its colorful walls? Or palm trees flanking the encircling streets? Or a nearby park with a monument erected in honor of the Father of Mexican independence? I doubt whether I will truly grasp the uniqueness of my learning environment until I start student teaching in Mt. Spokane.
I will always cherish my time in San Francisco, thanks largely to all of you. As the final blog entry, the task of saying goodbye rests on me. I wish you all the best of luck and opportunity as you continue down the path of life. My final piece of advice comes from a rather infamous Chinese saying: 如果你已經有了它標榜.
If you’ve got it, flaunt it.
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