Well, the first day outta quarantine and I feel like a parolee just hoping not to land back in the joint.  I'm not afraid of catching SARS; I'm afraid of catching another quarantine and never getting home this summer.  Wearing these tissue-paper thin masks doesn't instill a whole lot of confidence...especially today running the yearbook signing gauntlet in the lobby today.  I guess the paranoia has gotten to me a bit.  I couldn't help but think the lobby was a SARS Factory with yearbooks as delivery devices.  Oh, well, probably not that dangerous...however I do think we are all dodging bullets until we get out of the country. 

I know the administration is trying to quell the desire for a renegade prom.  It's a really sad situation as I completely understand the need for this rite of passage, however, it is yet another chance to play Russian Roulette with SARS.  Life will go on with or without a prom.

Well, the first day outta quarantine and I feel like a parolee just hoping not to land back in the joint.  I'm not afraid of catching SARS; I'm afraid of catching another quarantine and never getting home this summer.  Wearing these tissue-paper thin masks doesn't instill a whole lot of confidence...especially today running the yearbook signing gauntlet in the lobby today.  I guess the paranoia has gotten to me a bit.  I couldn't help but think the lobby was a SARS Factory with yearbooks as delivery devices.  Oh, well, probably not that dangerous...however I do think we are all dodging bullets until we get out of the country. 

I know the administration is trying to quell the desire for a renegade prom.  It's a really sad situation as I completely understand the need for this rite of passage, however, it is yet another chance to play Russian Roulette with SARS.  Life will go on with or without a prom

The best news of all came tonight in the 47th email of the day...we're going to be sprung on Thursday!!!!  I always used to think "being under house arrest" wouldn't be so bad.  I mean I'm no Aung San Suu Kyi, but I thought I could hack it.  I accept my limitations now.  I couldn't hack 11 days in quarantine let alone 11 years!!!

Anyway, I do regret so many things.  I find it wonderfully ironic that all of my students who complain about how BOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRIIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGGGG school is are emailing me constantly saying they don't know what to do with themselves and how they wish we still had school.  I know, I know it's a cheap switch trick to blame them for their seeming contradictions.  Nobody wants classes, everyone wants closure.  Perhaps the lesson learned is carpe diem.  You don't know what you've got until it's gone.  Here today; gone tomorrow.  ...okay, I'll cease the cliches.  While it might be a valuable lesson for everyone to learn, I find it particularly harsh for those leaving this year: seniors, other students, departing faculty, etc.  Closure almost seems a human need.  People talk about "chapters" in their lives and if TAS and Taipei represent a chapter, however big or small, it needs a conclusion.  I'm glad they're having graduation, however oddly augmented it may be.  As for me, I hope to see departing students and faculty friends one last time before we all fly off.  But I always take comfort in knowing that someday, somewhere, when you least expect it, someone will come up to you and say...