My life is awkward. I sometimes wonder--even marvel--at the awkwardness of it all. I'm only going to tell one story (out of many from just this week) for today....
Saturday afternoon the Young Single Adults here in Blanding had an activity to go to Moab (about 80 miles north) to have dinner and go bowling. The activity was actually very fun. We went to a Mexican restaurant with great food and servers who primarily spoke Spanish (I wanted to cry when one of them told me I spoke Spanish well, it made me that happy). After dinner, we got to the bowling alley. I'll be honest, I hadn't been bowling in at least 5 years (to my memory) and was doing much better than I expected.
Then suddenly in comes one of my students (a junior girl--one of my all time favorites) on a "date" with one of the single adults. Awkward. She and her date (note: she is 17, he is 22... awkward in and of itself) take the lane right next to us. Since I know her pretty well, I make an effort to chat and cheer when she does well. But mostly I try to leave them alone, because, well, she is on a date and I'm her English teacher. I felt pretty bad for her having to be on a date with her teacher. Come to find out Monday, her date planned on joining the YSA group all along (since he is one) and didn't tell her. So they walk in and there we all are and she had no idea. And I was trying to ignore her on her date when she was supposed to be with us. Is it just me, or is all that a little bit awkward?
Anyhow, I have thought a lot about the fact that my life is filled with perpetually unusual, uncomfortable, or just plain awkward situations. I wonder, is the problem in my perception rather than the actual situation? Is it only awkward because I see it that way? I don't know. Maybe I am just an awkward person and can't help but find myself in random situations-- it is inevitable. The truth is, I am getting used to it. I am not surprised by most situations any more; although, there is the occasional one that throws me off my guard. Sometimes I just don't know what to do with myself!
7 comments:
You are too funny Carly. I feel more sorry for the girl, probably very awkward for her not knowing she was going to a single adult activity. Sounds like you played it cool.
Definitely awkward! Especially for you as her teacher. I have to keep reminding myself though, that I'm the adult. She probably sees you as much older than you see yourself. That helps me overcome some of my awkwardness (sometimes). It happens all the time when I'm with the youth. I feel like I'm their age, but I have to step back sometimes and remember that I'm not and use that to my advantage.
And that was pretty lame of the guy not to tell her exactly what the plan was for the evening: red flag.
Oh Carly Jane what awkward things SERIOUSLY happen to you!! At least it can keep the rest of us laughing (and you once you get through them!) And you have great stories to tell. I sure hope you are writing some of the other ones down at least somewhere. You really have to be able to remember them some day. You have such great ones :)
Eek. I would totally feel weird about that too. Mainly since you're her teacher and she's so young and he's a little old for her. Sounds like a fun time otherwise. I LOVE LOVE LOVE bowling.
Oh I am the worst in awkward moments! That would have been horrible for me! Joe tells me I find awkwardness in normal situations sometimes, but I just really hate being embarrassed, so I feel awkward when I think someone should be embarrassed. And most the time they're not embarrassed, but I still feel awkward! Did that make any sense at all? Man!
My masters is in information studies, which is basically library science. And it's quite awesome. :) If you're interested, I'll send you the YA book list this fall when I get it.
I don't think that's awkward on your part. A 22 year old guy going out with a teenager is what's awkward. In fact thats just weird to me. I probably would have done the same thing you did!
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