Another tutor day ahead. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I only tute. The other weekdays are some combo of testing and tutoring.
One of my students is a mid-30s single mom. She's got a toddler and has been breaking free of the baby dad for the last few months. She moved to a new place last week, changed her phone plan, life is good.
So she was telling me how she's taking a chemistry class online. This is allowed probably as a by-product of covid. Because chemistry classes include a lab component, she's able to do her labs at home. The equipment - whatever it is - is sent through the mail.
She'd signed up for the class while still living with baby dad, now she's got a new address. She told me how she called the lab gear suppliers, told them the situation, and explained, "When it arrives at my previous address, that f*cker will likely just throw it away..."
No worries. Happens more often than you'd think. Sadly.
Another late 30s tutee is returning to college after many years out of school. She's sort of this zenny, (that a word?) spiritual type. She told me she teaches yoga and is into numerology. She's very jangly when she arrives - as in she wears various jewelry that jangles. Bauble-laden earrings and bracelets. She does have a rather calming presence about her. Makes me wonder what Steffie the Good Witch of Best Buy would say about her aura.
Anyway, we were working on her math homework when I informed that "ten to the zero is equal to one". She stared at me
I went on to say, "any number raised to the zeroth power is one". The staring continued, so I did too.
"100 to the zero is one, ten bazillion gajillion to the zero is one, pi to the zero is one..."
At this point she burst out laughing. She thought that was the most hilarious and wonderful thing. When the concept came up again, she burst out laughing again. I'd never realized how joyous that little math tidbit could be.
Or maybe she was a bit high?
Speaking of which... our Colorado recreational marijuana smoking room screen house is pretty much done. Outdoor lights and required outlets have been installed, the city will come for the final inspection probably today.
It's already so much nicer back there - no longer the surface of Venus in full sun. I won't miss shoveling the snow off of it either, I bet.
10 comments:
I bet you do see a variety of stories and different things when you tutor. It can be the simple things that bring so much joy! lol
And I like your new room!
So now we know the truth about the screened-in porch! Cool!
If "zenny" wasn't a word, it is now.
Chatty, there's a nice variety of tutees, for sure.
John, I'm just saying that it's a popular use of screen houses around here. Just sayin'...
I wondered how you could do chemistry online! I do like a bit of a jangle with bangles but I never remember to wear them.
Wow, AI is so weird. Curious, I googled "adjective of Zen" and the AI that comes on screen first said< "The adjective form of the word "Zen" is "Zenic".
---BUT according to Merriam+_Webster, that's not a word,
and the adj. of Zen is Zen--"that's very Zen".
("Zenny" isn't in the dictionary either, but it's a fun one, and you are not answering google query claiming it is.)
I too find it delightful that "any number raised to the zeroth power is one"--which I didn't know! I had to look it up:
3^0 = 3/3 = 1
Liz, I wonder about online chemistry labs too. But maybe they're not doing anything too crazy.
Fresca, I rather like "Zenic", but plain old "Zen" seem to be the preferred adjective. Zenesque?
Isn't math fun!
I wonder how much A.I. will start to influence language – – since it’s the first thing that popped up when I Googled, my first instinct was to think it was true that “Zenic” is the adjective. Perhaps it will become so!
Math is NOT my natural language but it is so so cool!!!
Some very interesting students, must keep you on your toes.. I only taught Junior level and mostly eleven year olds and some were tough!
Chris, they're a fun bunch. Community college doesn't exactly attract the "cool" kids.
I prefer older teens and up. Middle schoolers are scary.
Love your back porch!
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