Boyle, MS

It's down to the last week here in Cleveland and, I must say, it is almost bittersweet. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled to be going home for a week and to be returning to civilization, but there are certain things about the Delta that I've come to enjoy. Like the people I've met at Institute who aren't in my region. Like the fact that I can go out to The Pickled Okra (yes, you read right. the Pickled Okra) and leave my bag on a table while I hang out/dance/drink and no one will touch it. Like the fact that everywhere we go, local people stop to talk to us about Teach for America and thank us for being here...the sense of community that these people have. Its very refreshing. Still, even considering all these things, I find myself counting the days until I can drive away and head back to North Carolina.
This past week was pretty good, all things considered. The kids took a while to get back into the swing of things after the long weekend. I never would have thought that a three day weekend could have such an effect on their ability to concentrate on Tuesday. It all came to a head on Wednesday when a kid got jumped in the morning and their was a huge fight in the lobby of the school. Two of our guy teachers got sucker punched trying to break it up and pull the kids apart. Apparently it had something to do with a gang related feud from over the weekend. It's kind of starling to think of some of our kids being in gangs. They're mostly 15 and 16 years old! So we've had to change our procedures for the morning, lunch and dismissal as a result. Its crazy to have to change everything this late in the game but it's completely necessary.
On Friday I went, for lack of a better term, on a pub crawl through Cleveland, MS. Mollie and I started at El Cabana where we met Liz and had frozen Margaritas that were comparable to Lauriol Plaza (in DC). We then went to the Warehouse, where my school team was having a happy hour. A ton of TFA people flooded the bar and we all had a good time. But they had last call at 10:00 (really pushing the late night here in the Delta) so everyone moved over to Backdraft. They were slightly more equipped to deal with so many people,  and they stayed open until (gasp!) 11:30! We were all pretty tired at that point anyway. That whole up at 4:30 thing tends to do that to you.

Yesterday I went to Graceland with Mollie and then met Liz at Harrah's in Tunica. MS to go to the Paula Deen restaurant. Graceland was..... an experience. I'm not sure what I expected going in, but I think I forgot that the guy died in 1977 and, therefore, his house would be decorated like something from the 70s. Because that's what it is. Never mind the crazy, insane level of devotion that some people feel towards him. There is an eternal flame at his grave. I'm sorry, when did they move John F. Kennedy to Graceland? I missed that memo.

Tunica was really cool. The casinos are out over water because you can't gamble on land. I always think those are hysterical to see. Liz and I love our casinos and the Paula Deen buffet was amaaaaazing. Seriously, the cornbread casserole and Hoe Cakes were the greatest thing I'd ever eaten. We gambled for a hot second and then made our way back to Cleveland to go out for Mollie's birthday, which is today.

Today I went with Liz to Boyle. MS to take a picture in front of the sign. Not gonna lie, it was pretty freakin sweet. This afternoon my school team had a bbq at a local park by DSU. All I know is I went from saying "no, I don't want to play kickball. I'm just going to watch." to lying flat on my back, with a scraped leg and grass stained shorts, clutching the kickball in my hand thinking "how the hell did I get here?" It was like I was back in high school again for a hot second and everyone on my team thought it was pretty damn amazing that I caught every single ball that was kicked in my general direction, despite how close I was or how high it was kicked. Thats what four years as a starting, varsity goalkeeper will get you. And my parents spent a lot of money making sure I had cat-like reflexes and velcro hands. Needless to say, we won the game.

So now I'm settling in to do work for tomorrow's lesson and planning out the end of my week. Only 5 more days with the kids and then its back to Charlotte and on to New Jersey. God, I miss the glory and wonder that is the Garden State.