Saint Lucia – 12-05-2014. The song keeps ringing in my ears — 500 miles away from home. But where is home? Writing makes me sleepy. I have not yet mastered the craft of words. It may be too late now. I forked off that road some twenty-five years ago. Why do i think I can still find it? Why does 500 miles remind me of my writing?
She walks pail and mop in hand in front of me. Her smooth face stretched by the way she’s pursed her lips. She does not look at me though I search the side of her face for any sign of acknowledgment that I exist.
My wife is in the private baths where the sulfur infused water is cleaning her skin. I had to pay extra for the private room because she forgot her swimsuit. She had it in her hands, but somehow did not bring it with her. I did not notice either.
Soufriere, where the sulfur air combines with sea-salt and cleanses you inside out. She is tall, probably six feet. Is she wondering what I am writing? I look up above my glasses and catch her eyes before she disappears into the room where my wife is bathing. I have no idea what to make of it.
The garden is seething with plants. I take pictures
About Yitna Firdyiwek
Yitna Firdyiwek is an Instructional Designer in the Office of Technology Strategies in the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Virginia. Until recently, he was with the University's Information Technology Services where he worked as Instructional Technology Advisor in the Scholarly Technology Group.
Yitna has a PhD in Instructional Technology from the Curry School and two Masters, one in Linguistics (George Mason University) and one in Creative Writing (Brown University).
From 1997-2009 he was actively involved in the University of Virginia's Teaching + Technology Initiative. He also worked with UVaCollab, the University's Learning Management System, where he developed the "interactive syllabus" project. He also focused on integrating external applications into the University's LMS. He is currently involved with learning technology initiatives and works with instructors in the College of Arts and Sciences on the design, development, and implementation of innovative approaches to technology integration in undergraduate courses.
Yitna is interested in the use of ePortfolios for reflective learning and authentic assessment, and has published collaboratively on these topics. He is also interested in practical designs for efficient teaching and learning management systems, as well as improvements of technology enhanced classroom environments.
When he is able to, Yitna keeps one foot in the undergraduate classroom developing and teaching a reading and writing course in the history and philosophy of technology.
Yitna is a naturalized US citizen (native of Ethiopia), and lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.
