All The Single People

At the beginning of this school year, my social studies department had a department meeting. Our department chair (leader) told us to introduce ourselves and tell the others about your interests, hobbies, personal life, and so on. Most people sounded something like this: 'Well, I'm so-and-so. I'm married, I have two dogs, I like traveling...' Sounds pretty predictable, right? Then a teacher spoke when it was his turn and he said, "I'm Tom. I've been happily single for 34 years." I don't remember what he said after that because I was struck by this comment. How great is it that he can say that in a society that looks down on you (it feels that way, at least) for being single? He's a great person: smart, funny, kind, and a great teacher that the students love and respect. I would even say that he's a decent-looking guy, and yet, he's "happily single" in his 30s. Why is such a phrase unusual to hear? Why in our modern world are we surprised when someone is "still single"? I believe there are several reasons as to why this is, and I believe there are several reasons why being single seems to be more common in our society. In writing this post, I'd like to emphasize that being single is not bad in any way; it's a choice. I'm also not criticizing relationships. 

Why Are We Surprised When Someone Is Still Single?

For reasons that are becoming less clear, our society still places single people in a lower social category. Here are some reasons I believe this still happens:

Prevailing Culture of Relationships 

It seems to me that there's a strange, unspoken expectation that we MUST be with someone else. Maybe our family expects us to get married and give them grandchildren, or the media we are unavoidably surrounded by undetectably implants message after message that we should be in a relationship. The institution of marriage remains a very prominent and strong American ideal (despite increasing divorce rates), and I think most people strive for it whether it's something they truly want or not. Even before marriage, though, there's the standard relationship. What are most songs' lyrics about? What are most movies about? This isn't a bad thing, but it's just a reality. Even going back in history a bit, the great art form of opera is mostly centered around love. Theatre, poetry, and literature from now back to Ancient Greece (Homer's The Iliad, for example) and even before that, all have great, timeless works about love. Love is certainly a very human emotion – one that we all strive for. Even in my show, Spartacus, one of the major plot lines is the love amongst the characters. This is arguably what the show is truly about (along with the concept of freedom and one person making a difference, of course) even amid brutal, ugly things like gladiatorial games and all-out warfare against Roman legions. In fact, the creator of the show even calls it a "grand opera." Without a doubt, in these art forms as well as in real life, love is a beautiful thing that all people want.

This also is not a bad thing, but this quest for love is what leaves so many people unhappy. I find this interesting, because love and happiness are different things. I'd argue that love can increase happiness (even greatly increase it) but not create or guarantee it. The status quo for an American person is to have an education, a decent job, a decent home, and a partner. This notion is what we're all raised believing: 'I'm not doing everything right unless I have this, this, this, and this. I won't be accepted unless I have all of that.' Why though? How does having some or most but not all of those reflect on who I truly am? Who is the judge of my success or completeness as a person? Also, have you ever heard the phrase, "You'll meet the right person someday"? While spoken with sincere intentions I'm sure, someone uttering this phrase to make you feel better is actually unknowingly saying, 'Well, you don't have everything yet, but one day you'll find somebody and then you'll be complete.' What if I don't want somebody? What if being single is my choice, not my failure? All of this leads to the next section regarding the media.

The Media's Influence 

The media in the United States (the entire industrialized world, really) is inescapable. And since the invention of the Internet, social media, and phones that are basically small computers in our hands, this fact is all the more true. We see the "value" of material possessions. We see people who are attractive and smiling. We see our friends on Facebook getting engaged and married and having kids. We see people with partners. Even jerks like Kanye West have partners. While Kim Kardashian probably shouldn't be famous, she is beautiful, and that's unfortunately all she needs. Guys see people like Kanye and think they aren't good enough, and girls see Kim and think the same thing. We then compare everything we see to our own lives. Why do we let that happen to us? As I mentioned above, most movies, songs, and stories we see, hear, and read center around some kind of love story. I think this is to be expected, but we should be aware that this can all lead us to have expectations – expectations that might not be met and thus lead to disappointment. Like I always say, though, we shouldn't focus on fitting into some kind of mold or trying to do what we think we should do or trying to impress no one in particular. Rather, we should only do what impresses ourselves. Trying to begin a relationship just for the sake of being in one probably isn't the best thing to do, although you are free to make that choice, of course. Even still, I think most of us can agree that mass media plays a significant role in our desire for relationships, thereby making being single seem odd or incomplete.

Why Being Single Is Becoming More Common

Okay, so, single is not the ideal relationship status, but are there reasons why so many people are?

An Increase In Self-Isolating Activities

Over the past few decades, technology has advanced greatly. I grew up with Beta players, Laser Discs, and VHS tapes. Today as I type this on an Apple MacBook Pro, I sit near an LED TV, a Blu-ray Disc player, a PlayStation 3, a PlayStation 4, an iPhone, an older iPod, a new iPod Touch, and an iPad (that I'm only borrowing, just so you know). Not to mention the number of movies, CDs, and books that are also in my house. I could spend months (seriously) just trying to get through the books and magazines I'm planning on or have started reading. Here's the point though: I'm perfectly happy doing just that. Or watching Netflix. Or working on my Spanish on Rosetta Stone. Or browsing the Internet just as an excuse to listen to music.

Here's the other point: Most of us are pretty satisfied with these activities. These activities that require no one else. Actually, we kind of prefer to do most of these alone, don't we?   

Because of technology and how easily we can access it, we have grown accustomed to doing things alone, at least some of the time. Interpersonal interaction is still fun and necessary, but almost all of us can find ways to be entertained by ourselves. So, naturally, when it comes to "going out" and "meeting people," lots of people kind of start thinking, 'You know, I think staying in and watching Netflix sounds more fun. And less expensive.' These self-isolating activities are making people more solitary, and thus creating more single people. I'm one of them, and I know plenty more. 

A Privileged Upbringing

Most of you have probably heard about China's One-Child policy before. Enacted to slow the rapid population growth in what was already the most-populated country on earth, China's government encouraged and even glorified having just one child, and punished those who broke this rule. I've taught this policy in my Geography classes before when we were learning about population and globalization. Something very interesting and unexpected has happened in China as a result of the One-Child policy: a generation of entitled young people who got everything they wanted growing up and are now finding it very difficult to accept a partner. This is happening here too, and not just among the younger generations. As you can tell from the previous section, I'm doing fine in terms of material possessions. I have everything I need and more, and I have no reason to complain. Well, if you're reading this, you're probably in a very similar boat. We have been raised in such a privileged way that we're used to having what we want, when we want them, and how we want them. This includes our time, our space, and our freedom. As an example, I can use a colleague of mine at school with whom I plan Civics and Economics. She is 39, single, and likes it that way. She does date, but according to her she thinks it would be difficult to allow someone into her life more permanently at this point. In other words, she is very comfortable with her routines and structures, and she wouldn't want someone changing them; she's used to being single. Like most single people, though, she admits she'd like a relationship at some point, as long as it was with the right person.

More Focus on Education and Career

We are lucky to live in a time when the majority of high school graduates are able to go to college. Moreover, many more people are going for their Master's degrees or other advanced degrees as well. Then there's the other societal push to "be successful," roughly translated to "make lots of money." More and more people in their 20s are focused on establishing good careers, which delays things like marriage and having children. Of course many people go through their Bachelor's, Master's, and the beginning of a career while in relationships, but for others, the demands of school and work are too time-consuming. For me personally, finding time for others is challenging right now because I work at least 50 hours a week. 

Conclusion

I hope it's obvious enough that these are just my thoughts based on my interest in reading about psychology and my life experiences. I think this is a complicated topic with several intertwining and interdependent explanations. I do wish to emphasize that being single can be and is a very informative and productive time of life. It should not be seen as a temporary rut that one must strive to get out of. We need to reach the point where we don't see single people as people who are searching for more, or assuming they're lonely or sad or depressed. As for me, I've been very focused on establishing my teaching career for the past three years, and I've worked hard. I've learned so much in these three years about perseverance, dedication, self-improvement, and hard work. I've also learned about having a positive attitude, believing in myself, not accepting mediocrity, and learning to accept and love myself. If there's a young woman out there for me, then maybe I'll meet her and maybe I won't – it doesn't change who I am. 

What I've Learned About Attitude

One morning I woke up early and sent my mom a text that said, "A positive attitude gives you power over your circumstances instead of your circumstances having power over you." She was starting a new job and was quite nervous. Later that day she told me this quote got her through the day. This quote gets my through every day. Lately I've been focusing a lot on having a positive attitude, continuous improvement, and conquering obstacles. 

Attitude

I'm writing this after the first six weeks of school has passed. I taught last year full-time from October to June, but this is the first time I've started a school year on my own. It's gone really well, and I'm lucky and thankful to have the position I do in the school I'm at. Though it's been a good start to the year, it is of course not been without challenges. The sheer number of tasks a teacher must plan for, think through, get help with, and do before the year starts and during the first few weeks can be overwhelming. For example, because our school was low on student enrollment, we had to let two teachers go. My department was one of two that had to reinterview for our jobs. Thankfully I made it and was able to keep my job. Just in the first six weeks I've seen many teachers struggle, especially the younger ones. The older ones I've noticed are either completely fine or they complain about everything. This leads to my first point: what does complaining accomplish?

As this quote from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies states, it's not life's problems themselves that distress us (with some exceptions, of course, like natural disasters or deaths), but our attitude about these inevitable problems. It's how we think and over-think and worry and complain and find excuses that distresses us. I've always found it ironic when someone complains about never having enough time to get everything done, yet he/she spends much of his/her time complaining instead of getting things done. These people have the wrong attitude. Will complaining fix the problem? Or will taking action fix it?

Teaching is a unique mix of feeling accomplished and validated and feeling inadequate, stressed, pressured, scrutinized, and under-appreciated. Indeed such a description may describe many if not most professions. I believe there is but one thing that can get us through these challenges that we all face at one time or another, and that is attitude. It takes years of being focused on this goal and pushing yourself to think in a way that actually benefits you, but it pays off in a major way. I've found no better way to put it: A positive attitude gives you power over your circumstances instead of your circumstances having power over you. 

Continuous Improvement

I always think back to my time as a serious and dedicated music student and assess how my experiences can help me. It turns out that my time studying music helps me every day. Music teaches you -- if you're serious about it -- that there are no limits, that you can never be good enough. Depending on how you look at this, it can completely drain you or light a fire inside. Knowing that you can never be good enough can serve as a constant reminder that you need to keep growing and keep moving forward. Have a positive attitude about this reality, and it can drive you to be your best. Music also taught me that perfection doesn't exist, but being really, really great does. As a teacher, all I want to do is get better and learn and go beyond plateaus that I reach. I had the same attitude when I studied music, but now I've found something that I feel even more passionate about. Even if it means going into higher levels of education one day, this drive, this desire to be greater, will push me. Something I've seen too much of and something I am committed to never becoming is a person who stops growing and learning. I will not become complacent.  

Conquering Obstacles

"A man of ambition is capable of anything." - Quintus Lentulus Batiatus

Something else that I've been faced with lately is several new tasks at my job that all teachers have been asked to complete in addition to our normal workload. There are also some things that are directly related to how I'm teaching that I'm currently learning. One of these tasks, when I first learned about it, stressed me out a great deal because I thought it would be way too time-consuming and would lead to me having even less free time and thus being less satisfied with my job. But all of those thoughts and worries were just a negative attitude creeping up on me. I had to take time to process it all, decide how I felt about it, make a plan, work together with people who could help me, and then find a way to get it done. Through this process, I just decided that I will conquer these kinds of things. I will own them and make them small, because my attitude will give me power over them. 

We have the power to control how we feel about things in life, and how we go about living our life. We can take control, and have power over our circumstances, all the while becoming better versions of ourselves. 

"Step from the road to the sea to the sky." - Anthony Kiedis

Brilliant Spartacus Summary by Maureen Ryan

Maureen Ryan's Huffington Post Article: 'Spartacus' Series Finale: Creator Steven DeKnight Talks Rebel War, Deaths and 'Victory' (April 2013)

Something I've always had trouble with in life is when people don't like the same things as I do. As I got older I realized that was a bit ridiculous, especially after friends of mine shared the same quality and it annoyed me. I remember conversations in college more or less like this:

'Dude, you don't like that movie? What's wrong with you?'
'No, I don't think it was very good.'
'Of course it was.'
'So, we're just declaring that our opinions are facts now?'

Essentially, it took me a while to understand that we all have opinions, and that opinions aren't facts. It also took some time to accept that it doesn't affect me if someone likes something I don't like (larger societal message here, hint, hint). For instance, think of food: Does it in any way affect you if someone near you is eating mustard, which you may hate? Should you go tell that person, "Hey, I don't like mustard, and I don't want you to have it"? Okay, back to the point...

While I now fully admit that people should like what makes them happy and it doesn't have to be what I like, I still have a hard time fathoming how people I know and share common interests with don't watch the Starz series Spartacus. The reason I can't believe they don't like it or watch it is simply because of how much I love it (and it's fine that they don't watch it, I guess... but I will say that Spartacus is not normal television -- it is something much, much bigger). Well, I found a really great article that is actually a bit old now (from April when the series ended), but I feel that the author really nailed it and I want to share it with those who are interested and also have it for myself to re-read.

I'll put the link here and simply copy the text below for convenience. Click on the link if you're interested in exploring the other links she provides. I really loved the eloquence with which she wrote. Enjoy! And go watch Spartacus!!! 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/12/spartacus-finale-steven-deknight_n_3071995.html?utm_hp_ref=tw


Text from the article by Maureen Ryan:

When I try to convey to people who don't watch "Spartacus" why I love the Starz show so much, it comes down to trying to communicate this idea: it makes me feel taken care of.

During every episode, whether all the elements fully work or not, I feel that those making the show are trying their best to entertain me, to move me, to make me care and to even make me think a little. No matter how many bare asses we see, nothing about this show feels half-assed.

I watch a lot of TV, and not much of it is as carefully thought out and painstakingly crafted as this show. And yet, "Spartacus" is cathartic, entertainingly melodramatic and funny as well. For three years now, it's consistently delivered a mixture of escapism, adventure and dramatic ambition that more lauded (and expensive) shows only rarely supply. And through it all, "Spartacus" didn't take itself too seriously, although it has become more measured in this final season, which is only right, given the magnitude of the threat Spartacus faces and how much we have come to care for those leading the rag-tag rebel army.

You know what there wasn't a lot of in the final season? Sex. I respected and enjoyed the show's embrace of sensuality, but I didn't mind the relative lack of sex in this final batch of episodes. "Spartacus" has always been about so much more than that, and the emotional threads that run through the show have always been what kept me coming back for more.

"There's definitely a deeper meaning in all the spectacle that we strive for, and for me, I think it's obvious -- the emotional levels of the show" are the most important things about it, creator Steven DeKnight said in a post-finale interview (which can be found below and here).

Though perceptions of the show have changed over time, a distressing number of people still can't or won't make the mental leap that would allow them to enjoy what this show offers. Too many people still think a show about half-naked slaves encrusted with dirt and mud must be sloppy, lazy, dumb and derivative. There are some who can't wrap their minds around what we "Spartacus" fans have understood for some time. We know that this lusty drama is also tender. We know this violent drama is deeply humane and compassionate. We know that the ornate, profane language is also poetic. We know the violence and the sex are there for specific purposes, and the characters are often smart as hell. We are well aware that this saga of sex, swords and conquest actually has something important to say about freedom, oppression and equality.

We know that, like a gladiator on the sacred sands, "Spartacus" has demonstrated a killer combination of humility (like a true warrior, the show has always aspired to improve itself) and perseverance (the show stuck to its guns, creatively speaking, and it always possessed a fervent, even lunatic desire to get the job done).

In its series finale, "Spartacus" did not leave its job unfinished. It ended the rebels' story in an episode packed with excitement, mourning, dignity and heart-stopping deaths. We could ask for no more than the glorious ending we got Friday night.

To the people who not only didn't get it, but have no desire to try to see beyond their preconceptions, I have several choice words that would make even Batiatus blush. But ultimately, those people are to be pitied. To those who've long known how hard this show has worked to keep us glued to the TV on Friday nights, I only ask: Were you not entertained?

I fucking was.

More than three years ago, I sat on a couch with my husband as we watched the first two episodes of the show. I've recommended "Spartacus" to many people, but I've never told potential fans that they'll enjoy the show's pilot, because it's not very good. I still recall looking over at my husband after the second episode was finished, and we raised our eyebrows at each other. "Should we go on?" we wondered. I wish I could say exactly what made us decide to do so (it probably had to do with how much fun John Hannah and Lucy Lawless were having with their roles as Batiatus and Lucretia). I'm a little vague on what made us keep going, but we did, thank the gods.

Fans who latched on early saw something in this show, but who could have guessed "Spartacus" would grow into the addictive, subversive treat it has been these last three years? The unexpected rigor and intelligence of this show, the soapy enjoyment I've gotten from it -- it all constitutes one of the best and most unexpected surprises I've come across in my career as a critic.

"Spartacus" has taken chances few other shows have taken, and it's something of a surprise it even made it this far. The heartbreak of Andy Whitfield's death is something fans will always remember (and seeing his face in Friday's episode was a very welcome tribute to his unforgettable portrayal of the Thracian warrior). As if in tribute to Whitfield's fighting spirit, the drama came back with "Gods of the Arena," which introduced the fan favorite Gannicus, and against all odds, it found another Spartacus, Liam McIntyre, who was able to fill out the title role in a memorable way. This is a show that had to fight for its place in the world, and it was all the stronger for it.

Did the show go over the top a few times too many? Well, sure, but that was to be expected, especially from a show that was still finding its way in its early seasons. Every year, though, the good stuff outweighed iffy elements, and the drama kept ramping up its ambitions as it went. This season, Sybil didn't really work for me as a character, I wanted more time with Crassus, Caesar, Kore and Tiberius, and Naevia's turn to the dark side early in the season could have been set up better, in my humble opinion.

But those things are essentially quibbles. And what are quibbles compared to the sensational performance Liam McIntyre turned in this season, especially in the last couple of episodes? His battle with Crassus was unbelievable (kudos to both McIntyre and Simon Merrells, who was a great addition to the cast as the obsessive Roman). Spartacus had to be tender, commanding, bloodthirsty and melancholy this season, and McIntyre nailed all of it, and on top of that, Spartacus' death scene was a revelation. McIntyre seemed tentative when he joined the show in "Vengeance," but, like the rest of the cast, he brought his A-game and then some to show's end. Like Whitfield before him, he was Spartacus.

Similarly, Manu Bennett (Crixus), Dustin Clare (Gannicus) and Dan Feuerriegel (Agron) showed tremendous growth from that first season until now. Crixus' send-off in Episode 8 was absolutely heartbreaking and thrilling, as was the speech he gave to the rebels ("We have challenged the idea that a slave must always know his place!"). I'm very glad that Manu Bennett will be a series regular on "Arrow" next season. He's been an excellent addition to that show (and if you're not watching it, give it a shot -- it's the only new show from last fall that I've stuck with).

I loved the physicality of Gannicus' "arena" fight in Episode 9, and the bittersweet intensity of that character's crucifixion in the finale won't leave my mind soon (who didn't tear up a little when he saw Oenomaus in his final moments?). If Dustin Clare does not land a major TV or film role soon, then the Hollywood gods are blind. His portrayal of the wounded bad boy with the heart of gold has been essential to the show's success and one of the best parts of these last few seasons.

The roster of names that were shouted in Episode 9, the surprise in "Pompey's" tent, the reveal of the ditch full of spikes, the epic final battle in which Gannicus rode to the rescue on horseback -- there were just too many wonderful moments to name in the last few episodes (for more detailed episode breakdowns, I recommend the reviews that my podcast partner and fellow Sparty fanatic Ryan McGee has posted at the AV Club. Here's his take on the finale).

I have many more thoughts about the show and the finale, but most can be found in the "Spartacus" podcast here and below. In the first 75 minutes of the podcast, I spoke to DeKnight about his vision for the final season and the finale, about interacting with fans and about the show's history. We spoke in depth about "Spartacus'" evolution, its aesthetics and its core message.

The final episode "was really mostly about the characters… and what this whole rebellion meant," DeKnight said. And in typical "Spartacus" fashion, the episode's title, "Victory," could be interpreted in several ways. After all, in the finale, Spartacus and Gannicus die, but a contingent of slaves get away. And Crassus lives, but he must crucify his lover and his son is dead.

"How do you claim victory when you've been defeated? And how do you lose when you've won? That's really the two sides of the coin," DeKnight said. "I think Crassus feels very much in those final moments, there is no final victory. There's absolutely no victory for anyone in this."

Yet DeKnight wanted there to be some hope in the finale, and he accomplished that in part by letting some slaves escape. Among those heading to the mountains (presumably to establish a goat farm): the fan-favorite couple Agron and Nasir.

DeKnight said the show has "always been a grand sweeping love story, it's about Spartacus' love for his wife and many other peoples' love. And it's a tragedy, it's an absolute heartbreaker."

I don't think fans would want it any other way.

If you don't have time to listen to the entire podcast (which, at the end, has a 20-minute discussion of the finale between myself and McGee, whose separate interview with DeKnight goes up here soon), here are some of the highlights:

· Speaking of battles, DeKnight had many with Rick Jacobson, who directed the finale. There were "some contentious discussions about that final battle," DeKnight recalled. "It was perhaps the darkest moment on the show, but out of that came fantastic compromises and ideas, and I wouldn't have it any other way. ... [Rick] had so many great ideas, and half of them I absolutely hated [at first]. I finally came around and now I think they're brilliant." One example: Jacobson wanted a scene of Crassus practicing with his men before the battle, DeKnight didn't think it was necessary at first, but he came around. Jacobson also suggested the tent scene between Gannicus and Spartacus, which wasn't in the original script.

· The ideas of Laeta being pregnant at the end of the show, or Naevia living and perhaps being revealed as pregnant, were never really considered. "I did not want to go down that path -- to me that felt like a very [cliched] television thing," DeKnight said. "It just didn't feel like the show to me."

· We talked quite a bit about the epic journey of Gannicus, and I asked him if he'd always envisioned the heroic path the character eventually embarked on. "When we were doing 'Gods of the Arena,' it was definitely there -- the broad strokes of the grand plan," DeKnight said. "Was it our plan to have him end up like that [i.e. crucified]? No. During the final season, there were many discussions about who was going to end up on the cross," and ultimately they decided to make it "a man who had resisted for so long being part of this movement." Gannicus is a man who "deep down hates himself, and even though he [knows] Oenomaus forgave him, he has to forgive himself."

· DeKnight said one of the hardest aspects of every season was thinking up those big twists and shocking moments. That kind of thing was a challenge, but one of the things he enjoyed most was structurally tying the final season to the first. Fans probably have noticed the huge number of callbacks to show's early days in the final seasons, and DeKnight talked about a number of those references in the podcast. "I'm a huge fan of the kind of stories that reference back to themselves and [where] everything ties together and folds in on" itself, he said. "That kind of intricate storytelling is what really excites me the most."

· The original plan for Episode 9 had been for Spartacus and his crew to force the Romans to fight each other (as allegedly happened in history). But DeKnight realized it wouldn't be enjoyable for the audience to watch their favorite characters sit on the sidelines for half the episode, so they changed it to gladiators fighting the Romans, and thus recalling the glories of the arena days.

· On the passions of fans: "I love the fans dearly, I interact with them all the time but I would never make a creative decision based on fans liking somebody or not liking somebody," DeKnight said. "I think that is such a slippery slope. You have to just tell a good story. If I was listening to the fans, I never would have killed Varro" in Season 1, but we discussed how that moment was a pivotal turning point for the show and for Spartacus as a character.

· DeKnight pointed out something that I hadn't thought about: Both Crixus and Spartacus were stabbed in the back by Romans. The similarities of their deaths was intentional, and the idea was that "Rome is a neverending ocean that will eventually get you. They might not be able to take you head on," and the only way they could beat the rebels is by stabbing them in the back, DeKnight said.

· I agreed with DeKnight that another whole season of senators taking on Spartacus would have probably become too repetitive. He and the writers condensed many of the historical events involving those Roman foes into the final season, and though DeKnight said he's a "fan" of 10-episode season, I think a couple more episodes, which could have been used to flesh out the Roman side a bit more, might have been advantageous. While it sounded as though he wouldn't have minded a 12-episode season, "you do what you can with what you've got," he said, and added that "it's not a bad thing at all leaving fans wanting just a little bit more."

· There's a veiled reference in Episode 9 to the blacklisting of Dalton Trumbo, who wrote the 1960 Kirk Douglas film "Spartacus." The blacklist era was marked by the kind of "naming of names" that could ruin lives -- so DeKnight made the naming of the fallen in "The Dead and the Dying" "a positive naming of names."

· He hears this much less now, but in the first couple of seasons, "I was inundated with mostly guys saying, 'I love the show, but can you cut it out with the gay shit?'" DeKnight said. "And my reply was always 'No. If you don't like it, stop watching the show.'" DeKnight talked at length about how he and executive producer Rob Tapert felt strongly about depicting gay characters who were no different from any other characters. "The same-sex characters on our show were just as much manly men as anyone else," DeKnight said. "The only difference is they love someone who's not the opposite sex."

· He wanted one couple to survive and walk off into the sunset together, and because no other couples made sense, given the demands of various characters' stories, in a "de facto" way, the surviving pair ended up being Agron and Nasir. "It was important to me -- we had to have a ray of hope at the end of this very sad story," DeKnight said. He is pretty sure "Nagron" fans will be happy that they lived, given that he has been "pelted" with fans who wanted the couple to end up happy and living on a goat farm somewhere. "I think people will be happy to know, they will get their goat farm," DeKnight said.

· He has not heard anything about a spinoff for Caesar, and his work schedule would not permit him to be part of such a show, should one come to pass (and to be clear, Starz hasn't said anything about a spinoff). "I'd watch the hell out of that" if it happened, DeKnight said. "I say, 'Godspeed.' I would love to see this world continue. I think it's a fantastic world Rob and I were able to build. and I personally would regret if there wasn't something [more] told in that world."

· To learn more about DeKnight's new show, the military drama "Incursion," check out this recent story.

· "Spartacus"-speak is hard to write -- each script took him twice as long as non-Sparty scripts he's written. DeKnight said he was glad Starz had the "intestinal fortitude" to stick with the show's "language experiment," which he thinks paid off. "I think the payoff is, I've never been quoted so much," DeKnight said. "I've even seen people with tattoos of lines from my scripts. There's nothing that's a better validation that we did the right thing than to see somebody with your words tattooed on their body."

· The question he was asked most by fans: What is Spartacus' real name? "I always respond, what name would make a difference?" DeKnight said. "The great thing about the story is that nobody knows his name. In that way, he becomes everyone. He stands for every man who stands against oppression."

· The idea to feature Andy Whitfield saying "I am Spartacus" at the end of the finale came from Tapert. "I thought it was brilliant. ... We definitely wanted to acknowledge Andy's contribution to the show, and his absence is felt every day we worked on the show." That image, by the way, came from a scene in the seventh episode of Season 1.

· Tapert also came up with the closing montage of "Spartacus" characters from every season.

· My colleague Laura Prudom has been posting exclusive video interviews with "Spartacus" cast members every week. Don't miss this week's final installment, featuring Liam McIntyre. The other videos can be found with the rest of HuffPost TV's "Spartacus" coverage.

· The entire podcast interview with DeKnight can be found here, on iTunes and below.

· One last thing -- here's a short list of things I'll miss about "Spartacus:" Crazy eyes; Sparty-speak; slow-mo blood; incisive critiques of multiple forms of oppression; gay love; people jumping down from or up to things (often with crazy eyes); committed performances; badass feminism; entertaining profanity; the Undefeated Gaul; oiled torsos; crazy surprises and twists; rousing speeches; Syrians; so much hot damned manflesh; the tender romance of it all; epic deaths; lunatic Germans; inventive violence; and of course, "Jupiter's cock!"

Spartacus Soundtrack: Love Theme

The Spartacus Love Theme

Spartacus and Sura

Crixus and Naevia

Gannicus and Melitta

In the midst of my semi-serious very serious and unrelenting obsession with the Starz series Spartacus, I've also become completely infatuated with the soundtracks of each of the four seasons. Composer Joseph LoDuca has created some of the most passionate, powerful, nuanced, and expressive orchestral music I've heard in quite a while. Also, his implementation of Middle-Eastern instruments and vocalists gives the scores a sense of the time and location of the historical legend that is the story of Spartacus and his army of rebels. 

While watching the series, I'm sure many fans noticed the beautiful musical theme that represents Sura, the wife of Spartacus. We hear it when Spartacus and Sura are together, when Spartacus thinks of her, and when she is returned to the ludus injured and dying. LoDuca also uses this elegant theme in other love scenes/scenarios: those of Crixus and Naevia, and of Gannicus and Melitta. We hear it for the last time in War of the Damned when Spartacus is ready for Crassus to take his life as he imagines being reunited with Sura. Here are some tracks in which the theme is heard. The only purpose of this post is to appreciate and enjoy the music. Cheers!

No Life Without You - Blood and Sand

Leaving Sura - Blood and Sand

The Greatest Cause of All - Vengeance

Spartacus V. Crassus/Agron Rescue - War of the Damned

Spartacus Soundtrack: Gannicus Themes

Gannicus

In the midst of my semi-serious very serious and unrelenting obsession with the Starz series Spartacus, I've also become completely infatuated with the soundtracks of each of the four seasons. Composer Joseph LoDuca has created some of the most passionate, powerful, nuanced, and expressive orchestral music I've heard. Also, his implementation of Middle Eastern instruments and vocalists gives the scores a sense of the time and location of the historical legend that is the story of Spartacus and his army of rebels. 

While listening to these soundtracks I've noticed in the War of the Damned soundtrack that LoDuca has given the former champion gladiator/rebel general Gannicus his own theme. I'm inspired to write this post simply because of how beautiful this theme is. I will also include the track from the Gods of the Arena soundtrack, which is entitled "Gannicus." It is heard when the character is introduced in that prequel season (and also in Vengeance when Gannicus is introduced at the arena before Spartacus burns it down). I've only noticed the War of the Damned "Gannicus Theme" in four tracks, each one a different intensity. The only purpose of this post is to appreciate and enjoy the music. Enjoy!

Gannicus - Gods of the Arena

These are the four tracks with the "Gannicus Theme" from War of the Damned. Such an incredible, albeit short, piece of musical gloriousness.

1. Getaway - War of the Damned

This music is heard when Gannicus is escaping the city of Sinuessa with Sibyl and Laeta. He volunteered to stay to provide distraction while Spartacus, Crixus, Agron, and the others escaped after Crassus' army invaded. No one thought he'd make it out alive, but, as you'll see, he did.

2. Spartans in Flight - War of the Damned

[Scene description coming soon... I have to re-watch!]

3. Returns a Hero - War of the Damned

This track is heard when Gannicus comes riding in on horseback to the site of the rebel army with Sibyl and Laeta—a sight many did not expect to see—followed by heartfelt greetings of a friend thought lost.

This is a more accurate image. The video's image isn't correct.

4. Final Glory - War of the Damned

This music is played after Gannicus is crucified in the series finale. While accepting his fate on the cross, he has a vision of his old friend, Oenomeaus, and a final, triumphant flashback of the place where he feels most alive: the arena. He then lets out a loud roar as his final, glorious moment on screen, which is the penultimate scene of the series.

Final Glory (video's image isn't correct).

I Have Done a Terrible Thing (Missio end titles music — sadly not on the official soundtrack)

Lesser-Known Musical Artists

Dax Riggs: one of many artists you may not know about.

Just for fun, I'd like to compile a varied selection of music I enjoy by artists who are not quite mainstream (yet). The goal of this post is simply to spread their great music for more people to enjoy. Some of these artists are better-known than others, but for the most part these are musicians/bands that seem to not be widely known (almost no one I know listens to them, anyway). I encourage you to explore these musicians further! Note: the videos may not show up on mobile devices.

Artist: Dot Hacker  

Track: Quotes

Dot Hacker is the band of Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist Josh Klinghoffer. Their music is unique and eclectic, calming yet powerful. Their album is titled Inhibition. 

Artist: Gogol Bordello

Track: 60 Revolutions

As this album is titled, gypsy punk describes their music perfectly. So much rhythm and energy and passion and Eastern-European flavor. Listen to them!

Artist: Arctic Monkeys
Track: Brianstorm

The British rock group Arctic Monkeys is a band you should know about. I saw them live recently, and it absolutely blew me away. I recommend these tracks to get you started: Cornerstone, Piledriver Waltz, Old Yellow Bricks, When The Sun Goes Down, My Propeller, and R U Mine?

Artist: Beirut

Track: Postcards From Italy

This particular track is actually quite different from the majority of the album pictured above, Gulag Orkestar. The album's feel is an amazingly haunting blend of Russian-inspired musical ideas. It's tough to describe but easy to listen to.

Artist: Dax Riggs

Track: Didn't Know Yet What I'd Know When I Was Bleedin'

Based on what I've read, Dax Riggs chooses to say underground. That is, he has quite a huge following, and his shows at small, intimate venues around the country are usually packed with fans. He's an amazing musician, and was the frontman in other projects worth seeking out and listening to: Acid Bath, Agents of Oblivion, and  Deadboy & the Elephantmen. My favorite song by Dax is Song With No Name.

Artist: Skip, Hop & Wobble

Track: From Ankara to Izmir

Jerry Douglas, Russ Barenberg, and Edgar Meyer playing music together is a wonderful thing. A fellow classical bassist and Edgar Meyer fan introduced this group to me. Also look up their track entitled The Hymn of Ordinary Motion.

Artist: One Day As A Lion

Track: Wild International

Rage Against the Machine frontman Zach de la Rocha and former drummer of The Mars Volta, Jon Theodore, formed One Day As A Lion in 2008. They play with power.

Artist: Buena Vista Social Club

Track: Candela

I recommend researching the Cuban group Buena Vista Social Club and looking for a documentary made about them. The musicians are older now, but from what I saw most recently, still playing and singing with passion. Incredible music.

Artist: Beenie Man
Track: Bossman feat. Sean Paul & Lady Saw

The self-proclaimed "King of the Dancehall" puts out some really good tracks. If your head doesn't bob up and down to his music, you might be going deaf. Awesome Jamaican artist.

Artist: Sean Paul
Track: Touch The Sky feat. DJ Ammo

You've most likely heard of Sean Paul, but I don't know anyone else who listens to him! I get completely obsessed with each album he puts out. I'm not exaggerating: I go months listening almost exclusively to Sean Paul. He's a beast! Notice also that he's featured in the track above by Beenie Man.

Artist: Ratatat
Track: Sunblocks

Incredible instrumental music by the New York City-based duo. It always puts me in a good mood. Check them out!

Artist: Audioslave
Track: I Am The Highway

When Rage Against the Machine split in 2000, it was only a year later when the three instrumentalists hooked up with former frontman of Soundgarden, Chris Cornell, to form the rock supergroup (as some people call it) Audioslave. They rocked hard from 2001 to 2007. This band is truly something special, and they wrote some formidable rock tunes during their time together. This song above is tied for my favorite song of all time with Soul To Squeeze, which is by my beloved Red Hot Chili Peppers. Also listen to: Show Me How To Live, Like A Stone, Your Time Has Come, Revelations, and Moth (DEFINITELY listen to Moth).

Artist: Joseph LoDuca
Track: No Life Without You from Spartacus: Blood and Sand soundtrack

I'd just like to say, in general, when you hear beautiful, inspiring, powerful music in television shows and movies, go listen to the soundtrack. Joe LoDuca did a fantastic, outstanding, marvelous, incredible, and breathtakingly good job writing the music for the Starz series Spartacus. Here's a quote from one of the show's producers, Rob Tapert: "Joe LoDuca's music is the unseen thread that ties all the episodes together. His invaluable contributions to the show exemplify how a good composer can make all the various parts become a whole." Spartacus the series consists of three seasons and one prequel season. Throughout this journey, the music is simply transcendent... truly exceptional. This track's title comes from the character Spartacus himself, as he tells his wife that there is no life without her.

Why I Chose To Teach: Part II

I've been told that my posts on this blog are sometimes "intense" and a bit "cynical," and I don't disagree. But I guess I just don't really do "small talk" – I like to talk about real issues, even if they're a little heavy. Who knows, maybe I should work on being a little more light-hearted sometimes. I know that my previous post, Why I Chose To Teach, fits the adjectives I mentioned above, and that it was negative at times. I will say that I do stand behind that post and the reasoning discussed therein, but I wanted to write this short one to highlight the more cheerful reasons I teach. Most of that can be summarized in the note from one of my students I placed above instead of my words.

I didn't fully realize the influence or effect my words and actions could have on young people until this year of teaching. Like the note says, I always tried to help this girl feel empowered and valued. She was shy and sometimes sad – she is African American and didn't feel that she fit in with the prevailing culture of her fellow students, especially other African-American students. I simply encouraged her to be a leader and not a follower, and to work hard because she could achieve the life she wanted if she did. These are not groundbreaking pieces of advice, but powerful nonetheless. She eventually became more confident and proud of herself, even if she was sitting alone in the front of class. She always did her work, asked for help when she needed it, and generally ignored the chaos that sometimes took place in the room (that 6th period she was in was a handful). She was one of the few to earn an A in that class. 

I received many notes from students at the end of the year, which was very touching. Some told me I was a great teacher, or his or her favorite teacher (to which I thought, "Really?"). I'm confident that I was an effective teacher for these students, and that they learned, but it was always reaffirming to hear that I was their favorite or that I did an exceptional job in their minds. One of my students said she liked my class because I was the nicest teacher and the least strict with cell phone use, which, by the way, was not allowed! (It was kind of a losing battle though... oh well). Others, however, did say they liked the challenge my class provided and they appreciated the fact that I wanted to teach them and didn't leave like several teachers before me did. 

The note above, however, was the simplest but the most perfect. I didn't know that my words prevented her from giving up. She had six other teachers who were all kind and supportive I'm sure, but my words were the ones that stuck with her. I'm glad I could make such a difference in her life. So I suppose the point of this post is to say that one of the main reasons I teach is because it's the job that really does make a difference in people's lives. Being a strong, responsible, and trustworthy adult figure in students' lives is extremely important to them, and it's something they crave (sometimes unknowingly). I'm not perfect and I have things I need to work on, so I don't fully see myself as someone who is qualified to give life advice or to guide young people. However, at the same time, I am qualified for such responsibilities, and I know that I can help students in many ways. I know what hard work is, and I know how to push myself to meet challenges, so I can play at least a small part in helping others achieve as well. They help me too. Sometimes the simple advice from a teenager can be really illuminating and a nice break from my over-active mind. 

The other thing that's great about teaching: you never stop learning. You learn a great deal about people, emotions, human psychology, empathy, cultures, and of course, the content you teach. We don't get paid enough, but money isn't what matters. 

Why I Chose To Teach

I don't love kids. I don't love teenagers. I don't want to spend all my time around them, but I do want them to be able to think. Let me clarify: I don't hate kids. Sometimes they're more entertaining than adults, which brings me to my next point: I really don't like adults. Some of my students have asked me, "Mister, why do you want to teach?" I respond, "Because I hate adults." This isn't a complete answer, and I always explain to any student that asks me that question that I don't actually hate all adults, but I am not fond of the average adult. The average, uneducated, simple, materialistic, non-thinking adult that constitutes the majority of our population.

The average adult in America and probably in most developed countries around the world does not think. The average adult doesn't see a need to think. The average adult lives his/her life according to what society tells him/her to do. Now I don't necessarily mean to be above average you have to be a conspiracy theorist or an anti-government, anti-establishment nut, I simply mean I believe that people should not be so ignorant to the world around them and at least try to continue their learning after school ends. They should question what they hear and do their own research. Fox "News" recently said global warming is officially over (the very existence of which they spent years denying). Millions will believe that even as meteorologists inform us that we have yet again set a heat record. (Yes, I know, meteorologists aren't always the most reliable people, but the thermometer doesn't lie). 

This will all make me sound pretentious and holier-than-thou, but that is of no concern at this point. In our modern world of information, you have to actually try to be ignorant. It has been said that the highest form of ignorance is disregarding something you knew nothing about. I see this all the time. Example:

'Wal-Mart is an evil company.'
 'But you can get things so cheap there.'
'Yes, but there are some pretty nasty reasons and realities as to why that is.'
 'Hmm, well other companies are probably bad too. What can you do?'
'No, other companies aren't as bad. There is tons of information about the things Wal-Mart has done. You should look it up, or I'll help you find some.'
'Eh, but it's so convenient, I don't want to find another place to go.'
[and so on...]

The average person is so dumb that he doesn't realize how dumb he is, which in turn makes him think he's smart. In other words, he knows so little he doesn't realize how little he knows. Have you ever noticed how dumb people are always the most confident? Terrifying.

Perhaps this way of thinking started in college when I refused to watch TV so it wouldn't interfere with my music, but to this day I can't really watch TV. I hate commercials, I hate almost every dumb show on TV, and most of all I hate how most people are fine with it all. The Voice? American Idol? The Bachelor? Are you kidding me? How sad are your lives that you have nothing better to do than marinate on your couch for hours on end watching other people's fake/scripted lives? Also, we live in a society where people are obsessed with something that doesn't actually matter: sports. I mean, sports are entertaining to a degree, but the extent to which they are followed and glorified is sickening. 85,000 people go see the Broncos every Sunday, meanwhile the Colorado Symphony can barely fill their concert hall. I could go on...

Back to why I teach: I teach because I realize that we live in an incredibly privileged society where each successive generation has to work less hard than its predecessor. My generation and the ones after are raised with incredibly easy lives, and it's hurting our society, country, and earth. Trust me, I teach kids who refuse to walk across the room to grab a book because "it's too far away." We live in a country where astronomical amounts of money are wasted each day on meaningless things, or on health care costs for preventable ailments, such as obesity. A virtually endless supply of money is available for war, and yet there is never enough for education.

I teach because maybe at least a few of my students will one day be smart enough to research the food they're eating to see if it's good for them, or maybe they'll learn from the mistakes of history (even their family's history) and not repeat them. Or perhaps they'll learn to think enough to realize that they don't need to impress no one in particular by blowing through their paychecks. (By "no one in particular" I'm referring to the act of people consciously trying to impress others for no real reason).

Okay, I know all of that was pretty negative. It is, however, reality. There are more positive reasons why I teach. I believe in intellectualism. I believe in using your brain since it's there anyways. I believe that education almost invariably leads to more tolerance, acceptance, and ultimately, peace. One day some of these kids will think back to their teachers who told them that they can't fill out a job application the same way they text their friends. Or some of them will realize that going to college will probably lead them down a better path than joining a gang. I believe in lots of these noble-sounding reasons, but primarily I think the way societies are as a whole ultimately stems from education. Not to demonize the poor, but think of their average education levels compared to middle or upper class citizens. In some cases poverty is not a person's fault, but it could be the fault of that person's parents, grandparents, or great grandparents. Of course, in some areas of the world class structures still exist, and for the most part people stay in the class they're born into. So, again, low-income people as a group are not at fault. In developed nations, however, people have more control over their choices, so individuals can change the course their life may be headed based on their family situation, their past, their previous choices, etc. Consider this example, based on what I see as a teacher:

Young girl gets pregnant during high school, drops out, gets low-paying job, has baby on her own, works many hours at low-paying job to earn enough money to support baby, baby/child grows up without a steady home life, child influenced by negative influences, child lacks support from family, child doesn't value opportunity for education because the child knows nothing of its benefits, child acts out in school, child finds comfort in male that may be filling in the gap left by her absent father, child gets pregnant...

This is the cycle, caused and perpetuated by a lack of education. Again, I realize this post is a bit negative, but it is reality! I will close by saying that for me, education has always been a driving force in my life, and I would be a completely different (and possibly worse) person had it not been for the educational opportunities I've had. Yes, I know, I'm a college-educated know-it-all. And yet I might be the first one to admit I don't know it all.

My Journey To Becoming a Teacher

The funny thing about a teacher writing a blog post is that the only time to really do it is after the school year has ended. It's the only time you can step back and think and fully reflect on your practice. Self-reflection is a very important aspect of teaching, and indeed it is something I was taught in my education program to do each day. But to fully examine my thoughts on the profession and my role in it requires some distance from it, for me at least. Since I'm forced to be at school today, with nothing more to do to close out the year besides packing a few of my personal belongings, I might as well clear my head. In several semi-brief posts, I'll discuss my journey to becoming a teacher, why I chose to teach, realities of the job, and more.

My Journey To Becoming a Teacher

As my friends and family know, I was a music student before deciding to pursue education. My life was dedicated to music in every way. After I completed my undergraduate degree at CU Boulder and then completing one year of Master's course work, I had a revelation: I felt intellectually stifled being a musician. I knew that there was so much more that I wanted to learn about and explore, so I began to think about what I could do to keep learning in my life as much as possible. If I could just take college history and cultural studies classes and not have to make a living, that's what I would do. But alas, we must make some money in this world of ours, so I thought about teaching high school social studies. Could I handle it? Do I even like teenagers? Is it worth it? Well, we know what decision I made, so here's my journey to today.

Once I returned home from Cincinnati in June 2010, I began exploring my options for education programs while working a terrible job at Whole Foods. I was so poor in Cincinnati that at that point I would take any job I could get. So I worked cutting fruit and vegetables in the freezer for a few months. The job started at 5am and just about gave me carpal tunnel, so it wasn't for me. Plus, since I have slight OCD and am a perfectionist, they said I was too slow. At this time I was also not playing bass because I was still on my break (after deciding to change career paths). Anyways, I made some money but ultimately couldn't do the job anymore. To me it's inhumane slave labor, but I know in reality it's a job for someone that may really need it. Needless to say, the women I worked with were Spanish-speaking Central Americans who truly valued the opportunity and ignored the fact that they were working just to make stuck-up suburbanites' lives slightly easier by cutting their fruit for them. 

During this time I discovered that CU Denver had some good options for education programs, even one that was for people with Bachelor's degrees already. I saw that I needed to pass the Praxis test to get in, which is a national teacher test one must pass to prove adequate content knowledge. So then my task was to study all areas of the social studies (sometimes called social sciences) for a few months to prepare for the test in November. The test included world history, U.S. history, economics, geography, civics, psychology, sociology, and anthropology. I studied library books and took Internet quizzes every day and luckily passed on my first attempt. I was also playing bass again in a local orchestra.

After inquiring more, I learned that I was short on college social studies credits to be accepted into the CU Denver program, so I needed to fulfill those credits before the program started in May 2011. I enrolled at Metro State University of Denver for 12 credits. I took Colorado History, Macroeconomics, Constitutional Law, and History of Ancient Greece. They were challenging, but great classes overall, especially Ancient Greece. During this spring semester, I also got a job at the front desk of a hotel, at which I stayed for over a year. That job made me lose faith in humanity sometimes, but it supported me during school and sharpened my interpersonal skills and increased my patience.

In order to be accepted into the CU Denver education program I was interested in, I had to submit an extensive application packet as well as attend a group interview. Thankfully it all worked out well and I was accepted to start in May. The program was a one-year intensive to earn Master's credits and a Colorado teacher's license. I could write a ton about my time in this program, but I will keep it brief for the three or four people who might read this. The program places students in cohorts of 15 to 20 who take almost every class together throughout the program. My cohort was filled with sophisticated and quirky and smart and ambitious ladies and gentlemen whom I still keep in touch with and who supported me a great deal during the school year. It was a great system because we were able to support each other, learn from each other, vent to each other, and most importantly become great friends. In fact, I got my first teaching job because of one of them. The classes were difficult. There was a lot of work and the work didn't take small amounts of time. After the two summer classes we started our student teaching internships and more classes. So, at this point I had a week filled with student teaching, classes, and orchestra, and both days of the weekend I was working at the hotel. 

During the fall semester of 2011 and first half of spring semester 2012 I had only Fridays completely off. Those Fridays were completely filled with school work. Once March rolled around our internships went from three days a week to five, thus began the dreaded seven-day work week. I went strong from 6am to 10pm every day. My life had become a continuous cycle, but somehow I stayed sane. My role as a student teacher was good overall. I learned a great deal and have noticed and appreciated how well it prepared me for full-time teaching, especially compared to teachers who did not graduate from such an intensive teacher education program. It was slightly sad that I was actually paying to work in a school, but it was necessary experience. The teacher I worked with second semester of the 2011-2012 school year still inspires me each and every day. He is the epitome of an intellectual, which is what I try to be. As a teacher he thinks deeply about everything, considers all sides of an argument, connects the material to students' lives, is fully accepting of other cultures and ideas, and he makes the kids think instead of telling them what to think. He's truly an inspiration and a mentor. Note: my post "Thanks to DCIS" in this blog has more about my student teaching days.

As the school year winded down, my classmates and I were all stressed trying to complete our big final projects: the Teacher Work Sample (TWS). Mine ended up being nearly 40 pages, and luckily I got it done on time. During this time, being very inspired by the many different cultures at the school, particularly some exchange students from Spain, I thought about maybe going abroad to teach English before beginning my teaching career here in the states. I was pretty set on this path, so I researched what it would take. I learned I needed a TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certificate, so I enrolled in yet more school for the summer. This was an online course, but it was still quite time-consuming. Conveniently (?), however, my hotel informed me that corporate was eliminating the part-time front desk position, so I was laid off (at least I never got fired!). Therefore, I had plenty of time to focus on this online course now that my life was becoming more manageable. I did well in the course, and was now certified to teach English anywhere in the world (a task I still feel unprepared for, despite the certification). 

Then it was time to apply for jobs. I applied to jobs in Spain and here in Denver. Ironically, the only ones I heard back from were in Spain. I'm not sure, but maybe I'm just not adventurous enough to go abroad yet (or in general). I decided to just try and teach here for a while to get started. Hopefully one day going abroad will be a real possibility though. Summer was relaxing overall, but I wasn't quite sure what I'd be doing once school started again. Like I said, I only heard from jobs in Spain, so the best I could do here in Denver was substitute teach. I subbed only in August and September before getting a full-time job in October. Subbing sucks. The kids typically don't respect subs, and the whole job in general gives you the feeling of being quite inadequate. One day, however, I was subbing for a good friend from my CU Denver program, and at one point the assistant principal came in the room and asked if I was looking for a job. I said, "I suppose so," so she told me that there would be a long-term sub opening because a teacher was pregnant. It was at a middle school in the Montbello area of Denver (which, if you aren't aware, is one of the roughest areas of town). After weighing my options, I decided it would be a better choice to take the job rather than wait for sub openings every night. And so began my full-time teaching career, which I will write more about in a future post, because this one is getting long. Peace!