Where In The World Is Sum1?

Another Virtual Class, US Embassy, Lagos, Nigeria

Locale: At Home Still


         This week finds me in still at home, teaching another class online.  This one was a bit special, and in many ways, I really wish I could have done this one in person.  My class was for the US Embassy in Lagos Nigeria.  Well, it was supposed to be, but my students were together in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.  I would love to have gone there, but the Department of State lists Nigeria as a pretty dangerous place to travel to, so there's no way my manager would let me go.


         Luckily, English is the main language spoken in Nigeria, though there are numerous local dialects spoken also.  I only had three students in class, but that was fine.  The three of them had decent backgrounds in Radio Communications, and all three were CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Administrators).  After our first session on Monday, they told me they had more to learn than they thought.  That's the reason you have a class though, is to learn!  I smiled at that statement, knowing they probably underestimated what their system would contain, and what it would take to be really comfortable working on it.

         This was the first class I delivered where I was able to use my 'new whiteboard'!  Using this in my classes is important to me.  Not because I invested a whopping $50 to get it, but because trying to draw in Adobe Connect (the application we use for our online deliveries) is tough to almost impossible.  Like most instructors, I almost have to draw when trying to discuss a subject in detail, so using the whiteboard is almost mandatory.  How have I managed to deliver classes so far without using it??? 

         Work remains busy for all of us, and I'm really glad I scheduled 2 weeks of Vacation the first part of October.  Right now, other than those two weeks, and the holiday weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year, I am booked solid every week between now and the end of March!  I do have this coming week free too, but that's because yours truly has been selected for jury duty next week.  I may not be called in at all, but I have to be available, and call in each night to see if I'm needed the following day.  So, I will work on curriculum revisions on the days I'm not there, and also review upcoming courses I will deliver soon.  One of them I haven't taught since April of last year!  I thank God every day for this job.  At least I'm still employed and working at a job I love in these trying times.

In Closing

         I will spend next week home as I mentioned, then head to Sacramento on 9/13.  After that I have a class with the TSA (Transportation Security Administration), then will head to Sarpy County Nebraska for a class.  If anyone is in those locations, let's meet for a cup of coffee!  Til next time, be good to yourselves and those you love, and WRITE!



Jim Dorrell