Hello cyber space,
Well it is about that time again, to start blogging. My last blog was now over a year ago. Not much has happened for me to write and I doubt, if any, there are those on the edge of your seat waiting for this update into my life. But nonetheless, here it is.
Last year, February 2010, I moved to Panama City Beach, Florida for about 8 months. I found a job that I sorta liked and made some money. I was working at a high volume restaurant on the beach and was in charge of the salad and dessert station. For you of those who care, the station is called garde manger. Anyway, I worked and did the same thing everyday for about 8 months. There wasn’t a lot of room to grow and develop my skills in pastry, which is what I really want to do. So I was thinking about leaving. Then the oil spill happened. The decision was sort of made for me. Our business and everyone’s business on the beach suffered. We were still busy, doing about 5 hundred on the weekends, but nothing close to what they were accustomed to from the previous years. I figured once we entered the winter season of October, we wouldn’t be as busy and I would be the first one let go - so I would not make my 40 hours I needed.
It was during this time that my best friend since forever was debating about moving to Asheville North Carolina. I decided it was time for another move myself. I mean I had been at the beach for a good 6 months now. (If you haven’t figured out, I like to move around and experience new adventures. I believe I am too young to settle down in just one place - there is still so much to see and do.) So my friend and I decided to move to Asheville at the end of September and live with her sister who was finishing her teaching degree. We would be one big happy family! Very exciting.
Roll around to september and I moved up to Asheville. We were able to rent this amazing house on a mountain. It was four bedrooms (one room was the study but was converted to a bedroom) and three and a half bathrooms. Our house was amazing with this stunning view of the surrounding mountains and downtown Asheville! Then it was time to go in search for a job - no such luck. Asheville was entering the winter season too, so most restaurants were entering winter hours and not hiring until April. So I had to wait. Meanwhile I decided to investigate other venues - catering, teaching, nanny anything that was a job and not retail! I struck luck!
Mid december I was officially offered a job as an adjunct teacher at the local community college. This college has a really great reputation for it’s culinary program. I wanted to be apart of that. For me, my college taught me a lot of what I know today. My chef instructor there guided me and taught me things she knew. I want to do that for someone. I thought I had enough experience and schooling that I could teach beginners something of my knowledge - and the school thought so too!
First day of school was January 10th; it was a great first day! We had no school! Asheville and the greater part of the southeast got a freak snow storm and everything was closed for like three days. It was crazy! So my monday and tuesday classes were cancelled. Oh well, next week. But that didn’t work out so well either. Monday the 17th was Martin Luther King Jr Day, so no classes. BUT that tuesday, the 18th, was my first day of teaching!
Monday class is my baking 101. It is a lecture for 50 minutes, then a lab for about 4 hours. I oversee it all. I talk, I teach, I grade, I walk around and observe. I do everything! My tuesday class is my equipment class. This is a two hours course and I teach the students about equipment identification. I have to relearn all the correct names for items. This should be interesting!
My first day, well it went ok. It wasn’t the best, we had a few problems. My internet did not work so I was not able to go over some key points on the syllabus. My lesson plan I had planned out last night did not go so smoothly. Oh well it happens. I pulled it off and taught what I could. We got the basics out of the way - I was joining two classes together, since we missed last week and I had to cover that one with this week’s. When I found out the internet did not work, I know I turned beet red. I could feel it in my cheeks. Oh the joys of teaching. But I got through the first day! Almost smoothly.
I think I am going to really like teaching. I am patient and I like people knowing what they are doing. It is important and a safety point! Look at me, I sound like a teacher! I just hope that the students don’t find me too boring and give me a good review! I think I could do this - as long as I get a part time job so I can expand my learning as well. I don’t ever want to stop learning - my grandmother, Ginna, taught me that.
The cool thing about teaching - I am still learning. I learning how to be a better teacher - planning in advance and becoming a better speaker. I think I could get adapt to this part time adjunct thing. Maybe I have found a place to stay for more than 8 months! wish me luck!
Chef Samford
