Rob's Blog

Refugees

Rob — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:00:16 +0000

Three refugees from the east, students from my first class of APELCers at CDO, surprised me with a visit yesterday afternoon at school. Brendan, Michael, and Addie are getting ready to leave Tucson and return to their studies at Swarthmore, Boston, Middlebury, respectively. I didn’t plan it, but the poster in the center of the frame above them reads “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education”, said by Martin Luther King, Jr., and which these three children exemplify. They’re among the best and brightest students I’ve had the pleasure to work with, and I look forward to great things they’ll accomplish in the future.

Gyros Cafe

Rob — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:00:57 +0000

My Mom looked after the kids while Rebecca and I took in a movie and dinner. The movie, Inception, was terrible, but dinner, at the Gyros Cafe in Oro Valley, was delicious. I had the Kurdish Plow: red and yellow rice wrapped in filo stuffed with beef, chicken, raisins, almonds, peas, and served with cucumber and tomato salad, tzadziki sauce, and melon. Oh man.

Rebecca had the Kurdish Pizza, equally tasty, with gyro meat, peppers, onions, and olives. We’ll be going back.

Last Day of Sports

Rob — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 14:00:44 +0000

The other night was the last of the kids’ summer-long sports and activity classes through Tucson Parks and Rec. The picture below is from the week before, Debabu practicing his shot.

Thanks Whitney for working with Debabu and Zufan and keeping it fun while maintaining order among all the kids that participated.

Mike and Mary

Rob — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:30:13 +0000

Before we left for home, we found a small Ethiopian market, Vision Cafe deep in San Diego. We met and made friends with Mike, the owner, and his daughter Mary and shared coffee and tea. All of the Ethiopian partons at the market were very curious and very welcoming.

San Diego

Rob — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 14:00:00 +0000

After SeaWorld, we spent almost two full days enjoying San Diego, Seaport Village and Balboa Park in particular.

My beautiful bride, Rebecca.

SeaWorld

Rob — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:00:07 +0000

We decided to get away from the heat of Tucson for a couple of days before the summer ended for me and teachers had to report back for the looming school year. So we went to southern California and spent our first day at SeaWorld San Diego.

Mommy and Debabu after the Shipwreck Rapids Ride.

Waiting for the new Blue Horizons dolphin show to begin.

Zufaney with some of the dolphin show performers.

Zufaney still wasn’t big enough even to go on the Wild Arctic ride, so she and I watched the beluga whales, polar bears, and walruses, while Debabu and Rebecca rode the attraction.

At Pacific Point, the sea lion exhibit.

Petting the bat rays at the Forbidden Reef.

Nearing the end of a very long day.

She slept through the entire Shamu show that evening.

Assessment

Rob — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:30:07 +0000

Zufan’s language and cognition were assessed since she’ll be starting pre-school this fall with her brother. She performed pretty well.

Last Day of Camp

Rob — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Debabu enjoyed day camp at his pre-school this summer where he got to work and play with Krista, a former student of one of my CDO colleagues logging practicum hours working with children to complete her university coursework. He had a great time over six weeks.

Underwater

Rob — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 14:00:04 +0000

Some shots of the kids swimming at Grandma’s pool with our new very cool waterproof, replacement camera. Debabu has just started paddling on his own with encouragement, but here and his sister are practicing moving underwater along the steps.

My children are excellent.

My Grampas

Rob — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:00:38 +0000

Shortly after we moved to Tucson in 1977, my grandparents came from Canada to visit us in our new home on the east side of town. My Mom recently came across this photo of me with my grandfathers and namesakes from their time here: Mike, my Mom’s father, on the left, and Robert, my Dad’s father, on the right.

Mike with his wife, my grandmother, Elise, and Robert with his wife, my grandmother, Mary.