COFFEE WITH HALLELUJAH: Newly Defined 15 Minutes of Drawing Every Day--An Ongoing Dialogue with My SOUL

Hallelujah Pilgrims and the progression of a DAILY PRACTICE of drawing! After completing the major project of illustrating "The Misadventures of Maria the Hutia" this past summer, I discovered that I had depleted some undefinable resource in my inner vision as a creator of daily drawn images. It was time to redefine my PRACTICE of 15 minutes of creativity every day--the essence of Coffee With Hallelujah.

DAILY DRAWN IMAGE. The Great Mystery is an image I draw almost daily. During this new phase of drawing, SHE has taken the center stage of my focus. Here you see an exciting new direction--using decorative paper. I have opened myself up to collaging in my DAILY PRACTICE! (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

I launched this blog with the mission to have coffee with my inner self (Hallelujah) every morning. While I drank my hot beverage, I would draw with the ambition of 15 minutes or longer, whatever I wanted. During the days I was working on images for the book about a Bahamian hutia, I led my creative energy to explore her and the Bahamian animals she journeys with. 

HOME AT LAST. Here is one of the final images in The Misadventures of Maria the Hutia. Maria is the small rodent like creature on Myrtle, the sea turtle's back. She is seated next to Launa, the iguana. She has happily just returned home to her undeveloped island, where her family and friends live. (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

After the publishing of The Misadventures of Maria the Hutia was celebrated, and I had done a book signing, I began working on activity book to support the study of endangered Bahamian animals and the need to protect and conserve the resources of our wonderful EARTH. This activity book is still a work in progress. 

However, as I journeyed forward as a public artist, what I needed was to go back to the origin of my desire to create visual images--to dialogue with my SOUL. Therefore, I set forth on a new goal for Coffee with Hallelujah! Here it is:

I will create a new image every day for the next three months. At the same time, I will be working on all images simultaneously. No one image will be considered completed until the end of my 3-month goal period. Then I will find an exciting way to present all pieces of drawn images to my fellow pilgrims. 

YES! I have been back on my INNER JOURNEY and re-established the connection with my SOUL. The dialogue continues! I have posted one of these images from my Coffee with Hallelujah. And here is another one that I worked on over the Thanksgiving weekend!

COFFEE WITH HALLELUJAH. As a daily practice of creativity, I include the present events of the day into my JOURNEY as a PILGRIM. Here you see the Thanksgiving Turkey held by the Great Mystery. I am the character above the turkey looking at the world with fresh eyes. The words below the turkey are "NOW." I am here NOW doing my work. Are you? (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

THANKSGIVING 2012: BEING THANKFUL FOR BLOGGING STUDENTS

HALLELUJAH'S TURKEY.  For me, Thanksgiving begins with feasting on a gorgeous sumptuous turkey. I am thankful to the TURKEY that feeds me on this great celebration! (art by Hallelujah Truth)

Dear FELLOW SOJOURNERS in LIFE'S FANTASTIC MYSTERIES!  I have been contemplating the BLESSINGS in my JOURNEY for the past week. What stays present in my mind right now is the new BLOGGING CLASS I have been teaching this session at the Georgia Tech Language Institute.

BLOGGING CLASS 2012. A class of 16 students willing to "jump in" and "take risks" exploring their missions in life and expressing those ideas in words and images on their newly minted blogs. (photo by unknown Language Institute student)

As a seasoned teacher, I have taught many writing classes in the last 30 years of my teaching career. This blogging class, however, has been the first time that I have seen so many of my students emerge quickly from the COCOON of SELF. It is as if each and every one of them has been waiting for this moment to metamorphosize. 

DEFINING VOICE.  In one class exercise, I have students color an image, listen to music, smell the scent of a candle, and contemplate themselves. We then look at visual representations of different "voices" coming out of people's mouths. I ask my blogging students to contemplate their own "voices." What makes your VOICE UNIQUE? What does it look like? Draw it! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

This metamorphosis has occurred in the form of establishing a theme-based blog that is driven by their purpose in life. Although they have cooperated spectacularly in writing teacher directed blog posts intended to teach them certain blogging skills and approaches to sustainable writing, they have also been self-directed. 

I am DEEPLY THANKFUL for the BEAUTY of these students' SOULS as expressed in their work for me, or more importantly--THE WORK THEY ARE DOING FOR THEMSELVES. I have seen distinctive "voices" flow from them in the abundance of their blog posts! I have never been so DELIGHTED with my writing students! I am truly GRATEFUL.

Hallelujah for CREATIVITY. Hallelujah for having a purpose or mission in LIFE. I proclaim that BLOGGING is BECOMING!

What are you thankful for today? How is your CREATIVITY emerging? What is your purpose in life and how do you express it?

GETTING READY FOR THE THANKSGIVING BLOG POST. Blogging is Becoming, and there are many ways to be ready to blog frequently and meaningfully. Writing begins in the HEART and SOUL of the BLOGGER. Listening to music, making art, dancing, playing, and blogstorming are ways to mention only a few. I have found that I stimulate my students by adding the dimensionality of art to their writing. Blogging is a visual medium and using images well is just as important as using words expertly! Here I brought in my turkey making project that I have used in recent years with different populations. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

ADDITIONAL THANKS: I am so thankful for the supportive people in my life--you know who you are. I am thankful to all of those I am connected with and who LOVE THE MYSTERY. 

EIGHT WINDOWS INTO HALLELUJAH TRUTH: A Result of a Class Blogging Assignment

Hallelujah for the blogging community! Hallelujah for the amazing students I teach in "Blogging for a World Audience" at the Language Institute at Georgia Tech! As an assignment to deepen their skills for taking photographs and writing inventive but informative photo captions, I asked them to choose 8 topics that everyone of us would take a photograph of and then post on our blogs in the same order.

"Consider this a top secret assignment," I requested. "Don't show your photos or captions to any classmate until we all post our results at the same time!" My rationale? SURPRISE and AWE!

That is, I BELIEVE in the BEAUTY of INDIVIDUAL SOULS. I BELIEVE that given the opportunity, each person/blogger can SPEAK their own language of TRUTH. Therefore, this blogging assignment was given to demonstrate the UNIQUE VOICE of each class blogger. I have participated in this assignment so I can throw in my distinctive VOICE and be part of the give and take of writing blog comments!

I invite you now to the OUTCOME OF MY RESPONSE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT:
Windows into the Life of Hallelujah Truth!

A PORTABLE FEAST. As an artist who earns her living teaching English as a second language, my midday meal is often consumed in front of a computer in office 111, next to the kitchen. I find it good to eat lightly as we enter the holiday season. Underneath my portable canned lunch is the decorative paper I brought to blogging class for those students who wanted to make fun paper turkeys for their Thanksgiving day blog entries! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

ARTIST SPACE AT THE DINING ROOM TABLE. In-town living, six miles from Georgia Tech down Ponce de Leon, leaves teachers with small but practical living spaces. My husband and I use every room of our dwelling space every day! Our antique oak pub table from England serves dual purposes: elegant dining and my desk! Here you see me engaged in making the cover for the children's book, The Misadventures of Maria the Hutia, published in July 2012. (photo by Chiboogamoo, aka Tony Martin)

THE MOST FANTASTIC JACKET EVER! What makes a piece of clothing your favorite? And how long does it stay your favorite? For me, I like clothes that are practical, comfortable, and durable. That is why this particular jacket is so AWESOME. During fall break when my Chiboogamoo and I visited Helen, Georgia, he bought this jacket as a gift for me because it was SO IMPRACTICAL! He told me it looked like something Hallelujah should have! HOORAY for HUSBANDS who give so generously and suitably! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

RETREAT FROM DAILY CHORES. Do you know what these shoes are? Well, first of all, they represent an hour of relaxation taken from the work day! These soft pink confections were slipped over my newly painted toenails after a pedicure and foot massage at Miss Nail Salon! My feet are ready for sandals at Jekyll Island for the Thanksgiving holiday! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

THE BIPED AND QUADRUPED.  In my household , I cherish the interspecies relationships between my husband and our cats. Here Dr. Martin (aka Chiboogamoo) and Dr. Tao collaborate on Sunday morning relaxation. The other feline, Sapelo was present at the taking of this photo. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

THE PILGRIM BOAT. I draw every day, no matter what. In the same way I ask my students to write every day, no matter what. We do our "work" in order to make discoveries. Judgements are to be suspended. Instead we proclaim: NOT GOOD. NOT BAD. JUST IS.

Recently I have taken to drawing "The Pilgrim Boat" as I am ready for a new adventure. I believe my blogging students are providing me with new ideas. Some students are blogging about math. One particular student has named his blog, The Beauty of Math. Those of you who like to follow Hallelujah's Pilgrimage, stay tuned for some math inspired images! Thanks BLOGGING STUDENTS! (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

ANCIENT TREE IN PRESENT TIMES.  Hallelujah for the color yellow and how it makes me happy right now! Hallelujah for the Ginkgo trees' yellow leaves in fall as they transform our environment into a colorful artist's palette! Can you believe it that the Ginkgo is a  “living fossil”?  It has been on Earth for about 270 million years. In addition to its brilliant yellow leaves each fall, for centuries its fruit and leaves have been used in cooking and to enhance memory.  My brilliant husband, Chiboogamoo drinks a cup of Ginkgo tea every day to reinforce his considerable cognitive powers!  I absolutely LOVE the ancient Ginkgo tree with its celebratory fall yellow leaves! Enjoy this vision of beauty now for on one day, a Ginkgo tree is known to drop all of its leaves! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT IN LIFE'S RELATIONSHIPS. This "abstract" word (RECIPROCITY) fell out of my notebook this afternoon, and I laughed! It was left over from an assignment that I have my blogging students do in order to make the intangible more tangible! I ask them to write a three-lined poem doing the following: LINE 1) Give the abstract word an action. LINE 2) Dress it in something. LINE 3) Summarize the action. So the poem might look something like this:

Reciprocity sings and dances all day.

She is dressed in multilayered silks of blue, pink, yellow and white.

When she twirls in her daily celebratory dance she repeats the words, "The feeling is mutual!"

I have learned late in life that our relationships with one another should be reciprocal, that we shouldn't expect friendships to last if there isn't a strong sense of mutuality. When we love someone, when we are friends with someone, we should want to celebrate the flow of give-and-take! (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! SOUL BLOG with me and tell which photo here you are interested in and the questions that come up when read what I have written beneath it. Are you curious about me?

REMEMBERING MY FATHER ON THE NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH

WALKING INTO ETERNITY. It is difficult to let one's parent go, even when that parent has left you in death. When my father died, I didn't know how to "hold" onto him. Then I got an opportunity the summer after he died, to attend an "ex-voto" painting workshop at the Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico, USA. I decided to commemorate my father by painting him leaving the material world of his accomplishments and going into the vastness of the landscape there in New Mexico. (art by Hallelujah Truth)

Hallelujah to my father, Edward R. Schowalter, who died on November 21, 2003. I was at his side when he breathed his last breath. That experience is so FINITE. 

However, now it is nine years later, and TIME has progressed. I married my Chiboogamoo a year after my father died and have celebrated LIFE and been joyful in my father's absence because that is the responsibility of the LIVING.

I often feel amazed that I didn't get married until I was in my mid-forties. Then I remember the attachment I had to my father, and realized he had filled my life until his death. Dad was a man whose personality was expansive, and he thought in unique ways which were intriguing and not always easy to get along with. I LOVED him greatly.

DAUGHTER ANGEL.  I painted me in the ex-voto, flying over my father, directing his journey into the afterlife. Expressing one's grief through creative acts is consoling. I was comforted by this image of me being with my father after death, ensuring that he wasn't alone. (art by Hallelujah Truth)

Creative acts console. I recommend that everyone acknowledge his/her own creativity, make use of it, and develop it. The fruits of your creative labors will fill your table of need and loss. The fruits of your creative labors will bring you joy, celebration, and friends.

The ex-voto painting is a traditional Mexican style of painting, done to acknowledge or express gratitude to God or a Saint. I am not Catholic, nor can I say I am Christian; however, I can say that I have a strong and sincere reverence for the SPIRIT in each and every one of us. I BELIEVE in expressing gratitude and asking for assistance from the UNIVERSE. So I gained solace in painting this ex-voto of my father and thanking the great mother of the Mexican Catholic church, Our Lady of Guadalupe, for guiding and directing my father's afterlife.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE. She radiates light and love.(art by Hallelujah Truth)

That's Coffee with Hallelujah. SOUL BLOG with me and tell me what you think of my ex-voto painting. Ask me questions about my father so I can remember him. Share memories with me about your parents! And know that we the LIVING are charged with the responsibility to LIVE our lives. 

EX-VOTO FOR MY FATHER.  I have a story to tell you about my ideas that I expressed in this image. But I will have to tell you another TIME. Perhaps next year. I am now charged with the responsibility of the LIVING and must go out in the day after posting this blog entry. LOVE TO YOU ALL, and know that CREATIVITY consoles! (art by Hallelujah Truth)

BLOGSTORMING IN ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSROOM: CAPTURING FIRST THOUGHTS THROUGH ROUTINE DAILY WRITING

BLOGGING FOR A WORLD AUDIENCE 2012. Introducing you to the Fall 2 Session of "Blogging for a World Audience," brought to you by Hallelujah Truth, aka Instructor Ruth Schowalter at the Georgia Tech Language Institute, located in Atlanta, Georgia. Notice that I insist on low technology writing for getting "first thoughts" down. In my class, we call this free-writing exercise BLOGSTORMING.

Hallelujah for the opportunity to teach BLOGGING in an international classroom to students studying English as a Second Language! Hallelujah that these students are outrageously exceptional in every way! They are bright, diligent, and earnest in their search to find ways to enhance their young busy academic lives with MEANING! What a fantastic combination of qualities for me, their instructor!

One component of the course is BLOGSTORMING. This BLOGSTORMING is the practice of timed free writing on a teacher assigned topic. Students are coached to write continuously without stopping, without crossing out mistakes, and without going back to read. During this timed writing, they are not allowed to edit. Instead they are challenged to follow the ideas that excite and wake them up and to lose control. Organization is abandoned. Judgement is suspended. In the Natalie Goldberg approach of Writing Down the Bones, I repeat to them: NOT GOOD. NOT BAD. JUST IS.

As you can see in the photo above, each student has an old fashioned composition book in which they cultivate the ideas by writing them down by hand. I did my best to ignore the computers for the first six or seven days of class. I wanted their BLOGS to originate from their "first thoughts," of who they are and what is important to them. In order to develop theme-based BLOGS, I had them BLOGSTORM on topics such as their names, their interests, what they might be if they were a color, texture, a scent, or animal. 

They BLOGSTORMED about their mission in life and what their manifesto might be! I will use the words from a song written by an Australian activitist, Kev Carmody--"From small things, large things grow!" Listen to his song below. I find his lyrics inspirational. I really believe that BIG BLOGS can result from handwriting in composition books (BLOGSTORMING)! I hope my students will believe that too! Tell me dear PILGRIMS what you think of this song! Does it inspire you?

2012 VETERANS DAY: THANKS DAD AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO HAS SERVED OUR COUNTRY!

HALLELUJAH FOR VETERANS, thank you for serving our country! Not a Veteran's Day can go by without my revering my father and the courage he exhibited while he served in the United States Army.

MEDAL OF HONOR HOLDER. I took this photo of my father at a parade some time in the 1980s. He was retired and living in Auburn, Alabama, with my mother. I was in graduate school at Auburn University working on a master's in literature and dating a soldier at Ft. Benning, Georgia. When he had finished the Ranger training course, there was a parade in acknowledgment of his accomplishment. My father accompanied me for the celebration. I loved it that he could put on that beautiful Congressional Medal of Honor. We were always so proud of him! This is not an easy medal to earn and few soldiers have been awarded it. Read here the description of my father's brave actions that resulted in his being honored with this prestigious and rare award.

ANOTHER PARADE FIELD BEFORE DAD LEFT FOR VIETNAM. Here we are in 1967 with my father some time before he departed for Vietnam. This photo was taken at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, where we lived for two years. I am dressed up in my sailor dress. My older sister took this picture of us post parade. Dad often had a hoarse voice after these occasions from shouting commands at his soldiers. 

WITH MY VETERAN. Taken with Daddy in 1963 at Ft. Benning, Georiga. I grew up on military bases. But my childhood was like most kids. We spent many afternoons outside fixing boats, washing the dog, taking care of the lawn, and playing various games. I was definitely a Daddy's girl as you can see in this photo, and my Dad was a soldier who participated in 3 wars: World War II  when he was 17; Korean Conflict when he was in his early 20's; and the Vietnam War when he was well into his 30's.

WOUNDED IN VIETNAM. This is a photo of my dad in 1968 after he had been wounded (He is sitting on the stairs behind the children on the right). Recently my siblings and I recounted what the moment was like when we had a jeep appear in front of our house in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where we had moved from Fort Bragg, while Dad served a tour of duty in Vietnam. No one wanted a jeep with a soldier and a pastor to come knockin' at their door! Some of us remember it as raining or night time. Was it really afternoon? I can't tell you for sure. But it was awful to get the news that he had been wounded although we certainly rejoiced that he had not been killed. I was in fourth grade! After he came home and recovered, we moved to Virginia, so he could serve at the Pentagon! 

Life is such an incredible journey! As I remember my father along with other veterans in the month of November, I also bump into the anniversary of his death. It is hard to believe that he has been gone nine years now. He passed away on November 21, 2003. I will always treasure him and the life that he gave me as an ARMY BRAT. Thank you Dad! With much love, your daughter, Ruth (aka Hallelujah Truth).

MECHANIC VETERAN FATHER.  My father never quit, never gave up, never stopped until the object of his attention was fixed. The fixing may not have attained perfection or expectation (of the daughter), but he found solutions to whatever he was working on even if it took days, numerous ruminations, and many failed attempts. My father was a passionate man. The photo you see here was taken by me, the daughter. He managed to keep my cars running whether it was the 1969 Volkswagen Bug or this 1979 Toyota Celica. Look at him peering at me the daughter! Yes, he would make this car run for me! When my father died, I lost my fiercest advocate. We bucked heads on many issues, but this brave and passionate man was always going to take care of me, no matter what!

If you would like to learn more about my father, his memory was honored recently in the town he retired to after his military career. Auburn, Alabama, presented this short video on its 14th Annual Mayor's Memorial Day Breakfast in 2012.

SAVOURY SATURDAY: EXPRESSING GRATITUDE

Hallelujah for Kat McNally in Melbourne, Australia, the blogger of "I Saw You Dancing," and her idea that Saturdays are for Savouring! Thanks Kat for this wonderful blogging idea to express the things in your life that you are grateful for. Today, I am grateful for the following:

GRATITUDE #1: MY CHIBOOGAMOO.  I am grateful for the sustaining companionship of my playful but intelligent husband, Tony Martin, who I affectionately call Chiboogamoo. He graces my life with humor, patience, engaging conversation, and such abiding love.  This photo is one of hundreds which represent Chiboogamoo's readiness to support my photographic ambitions with him as my favorite subject. This image was taken in Melbourne, Australia, at the Museum Victoria. To read about his paleontological work in Victoria, see his blog, The Great Cretaceous Walk. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

GRATITUDE #2: SAPELO AND TAO.  How fortunate we are to have been able to bring these two wonderful young kitties into our lives. We just acknowledged that a year has passed since we lost our 17-year old Siamese Misha (see my tribute to this wonderful feline who is no longer with us). Sapelo, the kitty looking at us from the photo, came to us in February. She is a quiet girl who likes to snuggle and sleep under the covers. Tao, who is tucked into the box, joined us in December. He is an adventurous joyous spirit, one that sings in melodic meows and actually smiles all the time. I am so grateful that we have these gentle feline beings in our household. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

GRATITUDE #3: NANCY WILKINSON. Hallelujah for living on Adair Street in Decatur, Georgia, and for all of the creative souls who live along it, especially Nancy Wilkinson. Her front yard Halloween decorations continue to entertain us a week after Halloween. As she takes apart her imaginative display, we have the good fortune to see new expressions of her imagination. Here, the vulture "flamingos" appear to be scavenging one of her cowboy skeletons! I am grateful for the visual magnet she is for me and the laughs her work elicit from me!  (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

GRATITUDE #4: COMPANIONSHIP OF OTHER ARTISTS.  I am grateful for having a supportive arts community in my town of Decatur and the larger Atlanta area. Elise Helfer, who is explaining her work at an art opening at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, is one of the friends I have made as a member of the Artist Conference Network here in Atlanta. I am also a member of the Women's Caucus for Art of Georgia and LOVE the energy of this group. (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

GRATITUDE #5: THE MYSTERY OF MATIMAL.  There are people in our lives who we don't quite understand but embrace because of their kindness, compassion, and humor. I am grateful to Matt, who I have gotten to know better since my creativity coach, Lesly Fredman, gave Matt blogging sessions with me to set up his blog, "Cold News." He and I have extended our "blogging" relationship through a barter system. In exchange for my blogging expertise, Matimal gives me the most amazing stress-relief massages! Hurray! Thank you Matimal!  (photo by Hallelujah Truth)

GRATITUDE #6: FALL IN DECATUR, GEORGIA, USA.  Our small town of Decatur, is a city designed for pedestrians. I am so grateful for that! Thank you city planners! My Chiboogamoo and I did not use our car today. Instead, in the morning we walked to a local coffee shop, Kavarna, in Oakhurst. This jaunt required us to cross Dekalb Avenue and hop over train tracks all giving us a great view of the fall leaves! While walking, we also discovered a sign announcing a neighborhood block party. Later in the day, we moseyed on over to the party by foot. During the four-block journey we enjoyed the golden warmth of the autumn sun and we joined our neighborhood association!  (photos by Hallelujah Truth)

GRATITUDE #7: CREATIVE BLOGGING STUDENTS.  I am so grateful for the class of international students that I am teaching blogging. They have "wowed" me with their creativity and boldness! The fun but meaningful blog titles engage me and keep me going back to their sites for a visit. Thank you blogging students. Take a look below at a few if you would like to see what I am excited about! I will be writing future blogs to explore the process of creating blogs with these smart dedicated students.

STUDENT BLOGS after 3 WEEKS of CLASS
at the GT LANGUAGE INSTITUTE:

Red Tears Dancing in the Sunshine

Fresh Math Breeze

Pink Pancake Vacation

Eating Memory

Kick Away the Yellow Pig!

That's Coffee with Halleluajah! SOUL BLOG with me. I want to know what you are grateful for! 

HURRAY FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES: WE HAVE A LEADER WHO LOVES ALL OF US

HALLELUJAH TRUTH!

Hallelujah for the United States, the country of which I am a proud citizen! Hallelujah for Barack Obama, who has been re-elected for a second term as our US President! Hallelujah for all US citizens and people of the World!

I teach internationals because I love learning about other cultures of the world! And it has been through my work with people from more than 100 different countries over the last 20 years, that I have learned more about being a United Statesian (Yes, I know that is a made up word, but my international students from Central America and South America will tell you that they too are Americans!). 

After conducting numerous classroom discussions, grading 1,000's of essays, and negotiating meaning with my students aged from 17 to 65, I have learned many different perspectives of my own culture. I LOVE my country BEST when it EMBRACES everyone who lives here and around the world, acknowledging the needs and futures of us all. 

Let's BE GLOBAL and reach beyond our communities, cities, states, and nation! I feel JOY when I think of Barack Obama--he is the one to unite us all! Hallelujah!

MOST CONVINCING EVIDENCE OF ALIENS: HALLELUJAH TRUTH TEACHING "BLOGGING FOR A WORLD AUDIENCE"

ALIEN EXPERIENCE. Jumping into the unknown brings many opportunities to learn. (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

Hallelujah Pilgrims for doing the things we LOVE and for the privilege of TEACHING what we know! Currently, I am in the CHAOS of TEACHING the first ever Georgia Tech Language Institute course, "Blogging for a World Audience."  It feels slightly like an ALIEN EXPERIENCE! Let me explain why I am using the word "alien" here!

The phrase, "most convincing evidence of aliens," appeared in the "search phrases" of the statistical information for my blog. It is delightful to see how viewers are brought to my blog! I kind of like the idea that someone was directed to "Coffee with Hallelujah" when in search of evidence for aliens!

MOST CONVINCING EVIDENCE OF ALIENS. (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

HA HA HA! I got a good chuckle out of being the "most convincing" evidence! Now, to get back to my teaching experience feeling ALIEN! I am in new territory. I want to share my passion of blogging with the following student writers (look at the demographics of who I'm teaching)

VITAL STATISTICS OF MY "BLOGGING FOR A WORLD AUDIENCE" COURSE

Enrollment: 16 students
Nationalitty: 14 Chinese, 1 Taiwanese, 1 Japanese
Gender: 13 males, 3 females
Major: 14 mathematics majors, 2 professionals
Average age: 22

One male mathematics blogging student had written me the following email:

Hello Ruth (aka Hallelujah Truth), I'm considering my mission again. I found that I don't have too much to share with others about my life because I don't think my experience is special, and I don't have a deep understanding about life.  Maybe I should blog about math because I have studied about it for many years and I should have something interesting to say about math. My blog title can be "Fresh Math Breeze." My mission can be to tell my audience something interesting about math and how we can use simple math in our life. Is this better than before?

IT IS ALIEN TERRITORY FOR MANY TO GO DEEPER INTO THE SELF. (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

I answered him with this in a handwritten note:

BLOGGING IS BECOMING! You write or blog to discover what you already know. This discovery is your foundation. Then you write or blog some more to integrate what you don't know or are learning with your foundation. Writing/blogging is a building process of constructing knowledge and erecting the structure that is the unique self.  Therefore, write about MATH plus LIFE. You chose a great title, "Fresh Math Breeze." What is your subtitle? Could it be something like this: Math is More Than Math--It is Life?

GROWING THROUGH PARTICIPATING IN THE UNKNOWN. (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! The student decided to jump in and call his blog "Fresh Math Breeze."On another front in my ESL Improvisation class, a student from Indonesia reflected on his experiences in my class in this written statement: 

"Somehow I feel positioned in a strange environment, which is exciting in a way that I can learn completely new things that are alien to me." Somehow as a teacher that makes me feel positioned to teach!

Hallelujah for ALIEN EXPERIENCES! They allow us to grow!