Teachable Moment

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Clarissa

February 18, 2012

N and I decided to have lunch at a local restaurant today. It turned out that half of the waiters at that place are my students. This made it impossible for me to have an enjoyable meal because I felt that I needed to set a good example with everything I did.

I was going to have a hamburger but, instead, chose a salad.

I did not even consider having a glass of wine.

I kept my elbows off the table.

And I paid the check even though it was N.’s turn because that was an important feminist lesson.

I also had to answer the question that haunts me in nightmares: “So how do you say. . . in Spanish?”

As much as I love eating out, a quiet meal at home where I can eat all I want, drop food all over myself and avoid translating everything into Spanish seems quite attractive.

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16 responses to “Teachable Moment”

E (The Third Glance)

February 18, 2012

One could also have gone the other way – show your students you’re just as human as they are. 🙂

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1. bloggerclarissa
  
  February 18, 2012
  
  Nah, being human is overrated. 🙂
  
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Evelina Anville

February 18, 2012

Ha!!!!!!! I would do the exact same thing–which is why enforced bonding would be so uncomfortable to me. On another note: you have “taught” me well. I am starting my Seinfeld chain today!!!!! Thanks for the idea/inspriation. I hope it works. 🙂

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1. bloggerclarissa
  
  February 18, 2012
  
  Yay!!! Remember, even a short Seinfeld chain is better than none. Not that I think you can’t do a long one, of course.
  
  Good luck!!!!
  
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Culture Club

February 18, 2012

I missed why you need to fake being someone else when your students are around. Do you think they are under the impression that when you go out for dinner you don’t have wine, or, gasp, eat hamburger?

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1. bloggerclarissa
  
  February 18, 2012
  
  I was kind of hoping they don’t think of me when I’m not there. 🙂
  
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V

February 19, 2012

I once went paintballing and carting with my students. The chance to shoot one’s professor or to ram his car(t) was very much appreciated. 🙂 🙂
Another time I went to a cheese shop at the market, to discover a student working there. The student, of Middle-Eastern descent, attempted to give me my cheese for free… Since then I did not go to this shop, just in case. Fortunately it was not my favorite cheese shop…

But in general I advocate for being human, not a role model. )

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1. bloggerclarissa
  
  February 19, 2012
  
  This is a very small town. I desperately want to avoid shortening the distance between myself and the students.
  
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Private Miss

February 19, 2012

Well, I can certainly understand where you are coming from. I love going out too, but you really just don’t have the type of privacy one can enjoy being home. I grew up in California, which afforded one many opportunities to dine al fresco. This isn’t the case where I live now. There are places, but they just are not as appealing as the dining experiences I had where I grew up.

So I found a good deal on an outdoor table and chairs and have attempted to make my own outdoor dining bistro. It would be nice ocassionally if someone else made the food and served it, but I’m fairly happy with the set-up and I love the privacy. There’s a lot to be said for enjoying good eats, where you feel free to eat whatever you damn well please, while in the privacy on of one’s home.

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1. bloggerclarissa
  
  February 19, 2012
  
  “So I found a good deal on an outdoor table and chairs and have attempted to make my own outdoor dining bistro. It would be nice ocassionally if someone else made the food and served it, but I’m fairly happy with the set-up and I love the privacy. ”
  
  – What a brilliant idea!!!! I’m so doing it in the summer. And then I can publish my daily specials here on the blog.
  
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tteclod

February 19, 2012

I was about to comment on your bible quote post, but realized I ought to save my effort for a questions related to paying the dinner bill.

If you were at a business meeting with a man who was a business partner or close business associate and it was his turn to pay the bill, wouldn’t you have let him pay it? How was this different?

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1. bloggerclarissa
  
  February 19, 2012
  
  “If you were at a business meeting with a man who was a business partner or close business associate and it was his turn to pay the bill, wouldn’t you have let him pay it? How was this different?”
  
  – A woman paying for a business partner is not unusual in this Bible Belt town. But a woman paying for a romantic partner still is. I wanted a teachable moment here. 🙂
  
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  1. tteclod
    
    February 20, 2012
    
    A contrary opinion… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpA7pfR0FIc
    
    Men like to pay; let us. We feel better when we do.
    
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    1. bloggerclarissa
      
      February 20, 2012
      
      Yes, he’s an idiot. But there are tons of normal men around, so who needs this kind of fool, you know?
      
      I have no doubt that he is pretty useless in bed, too, based on the things he says.
      
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      1. tteclod
        
        February 20, 2012
        
        Your response is coarse, unfounded, and ignorant. Way to go.
        
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bloggerclarissa

February 20, 2012

tteclod :

Your response is coarse, unfounded, and ignorant. Way to go.

I’m a feminist and the place I’m going to is a place where people’s physiology matters nothing in terms of how they live their lives.

As for men who “feel better” because they pay for women, I highly recommend asking a doctor about the little blue pill. I hear it makes folks feel really better. 🙂

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