Gone Surfin'

Two other teachers and I took about 15 of our students for a surfing lesson last Saturday. These were self-selected kids who did fundraising to pay for the $45 lesson and $5 for pizza afterwards. They sold sandwiches, Jack-in-The-Box, candy, chores and donated their own money. Everyone who said they were going to go showed up at 6:00 a.m. waaay before light and was happy to do it.

We all had a blast and every single kid got at least a few good rides on the waves. This was remarkable because there was a big swell that created really powerful, high waves that made it a challenge to get up on your feet before your butt hit the beach. It was also remarkable because we were pretty much surfing on top of each other; it's a miracle no one got hurt.

There were also a few adult tourists from Colorado in our lesson and they often remarked on how terrific our kids were. It's true. Not a single one of them showed any attitude, no one said anything remotely snarky or negative and they were all very supportive and considerate of each other and the adults. The people who ran the Surf School gave us a $20 discount off the price of the lesson for each person, in part because our kids are so cooperative and attentive. The kids all hugged the stuffing out of the Surf Instructors at the end of the lesson and actually said "Thank you" to all of us teachers as we got in the cars to drive home.

The high point of the day for me was when one of my former students almost ran over me on his first ride. I had just ridden a wave and was pushing my board back out to get beyond the break (so I could rest!). HA, a very bright, polite and cheerful football player, just stood up on his first wave and had this glowing look of absolute delight on his face....for a split second....then he sees his former Biology teacher about 3 feet in front of his surfboard...about to get run over...and his face turns to sheer panic and terror! Fortunately, I knew enough to just dive under the wave, letting my board follow on its leash...and a collision was averted. He tried to apologize profusely several times, but I let him know that there was no harm, no foul, he did exactly the right thing and so did I. I let him know that I probably felt just as bad for him....having his first ride turn to panic...as he did for me. One of the other teachers caught the moment in a photo, which I'll post here as soon as he sends it to me.

I was especially glad to hear that all of the kids were as sore as I was on Sunday. Who knew surfing could actually be work? Having lived for the past 6 years in a beach town where most surfers mostly sat on their boards, and having learned to surf in Hawaii where it was easy (until the waves got big), I was surprised to find myself actually working out there.

I really enjoy these opportunities to do fun, outdoor activities with our students. I'm very demanding in the classroom (but funny, warm and goofy too) and it's good for them to get to know me when I'm not demanding anything of them, just enjoying their company and learning right along side them. One of the kids, who I taught for 2 years told me "You're just a kid who's old, right Ms. B; you like to play and have fun!" I told him how perceptive he was and that everyone who really knows me would describe me almost the same way, excepting for the old part. He just laughed and said "You're only as old as you fear." Which, come to think of it, sounds exactly right.