Kindness extended

Wow, this posting is a long time coming ... too long, in fact. I've had these photos on my camera for a few months, so it's time I delete them. I have to post them first before I hit the delete button. I have several students and friends who read my blog, so I want to make sure they see how much I appreciate their kindness.

Starting from the top photo ... this is a housewarming gift from my friend, Linda. She gave this to me at the end of December and I am just now posting it!!! Sorry for waiting so long, Linda ... my appreciation for your effort in creating such a wonderful basket is immense. Linda is a true friend who cooks as well as she is kind - which is ENORMOUS - so I definitely loved everything she included in the basket.

2nd photo - the bottle of Jameson Irish Whiskey ... was given to me by a student named Jonathan (I will not include his last name to protect the innocent - which means I don't think he's 21 yet!). He hails from Ireland and will graduate this May. He played on the TU soccer team for 4 years, and I had the pleasure of teaching him last summer (20th Century America and Middle East History). I haven't cracked open the bottle yet as I have promised him we would take a shot together to celebrate his graduation ;-)

3rd photo - the Ghiradelli chocolate basket ... was given to me by another student, but this student is from Serbia. His name is Nikola (I will not include his last name for privacy) and he brought this to me to thank me for my help with his graduate admissions. He was applying to 3 different graduate schools (UGA, Georgia Tech, and one in New York ... can't remember the name) and had to write the requisite personal statements and answer posed questions. His english writing skills are, in my mind, excellent for having only spent 5 years in our country. He, like Jonathan, played soccer for 4 years but he graduated last year with his degree in Business Administration. He was applying to MBA programs and wanted to make sure he answered all of his questions correctly, and that his personal statements reflected his marketable assets. I gladly assisted Nikola anytime he needed my help, which was probably around 25 hours all together. He is an eloquent writer ... especially when writing about his love for his family, especially his father. It was truly a pleasure for me to help him, but he wanted to indulge my other pleasure (no, not that one, Will) - CHOCOLATE. I mean, what woman doesn't like chocolate? This kid is going places ... he's a great thinker! Oh, and guess what ... he was accepted to the University of Georgia's MBA program AND he was offered a well-paid assistantship!!! He's a wonderful kid and I look forward to seeing him on the cover of Business Weekly one day ...

Last photo ... was another gift from a student. This student, Janne (pronounced "yawn"), is from Norway, but his family has since moved to Sweden. He went home over the Christmas holidays and returned to college with this bowl for me. It was, as all the others, completely unexpected and unnecessary, but it is a lovely handblown bowl. When he gave it to me I said, "Oh Janne ... you didn't need to buy this for me!" He said, "No, it's no problem, Mrs. Lindquist. I told my mom all about you so SHE bought it for you. She went to one of those stores that was going out-of-business so she bought it for real cheap!" Clearly Janne is becoming more and more Americanized ...

;-)