Jumanji and jungle laws

The spring semester has been utterly exhausting so far. I found out a little too late that the department scheduled the two sections of my "Intro to Film" class back to back, which means that I have to teach 8 hours straight for two days a week till the end of June. With course preparation, writing and grading assignments, and working on my upcoming conference presentation, I have no time left for myself. Meanwhile the spring has come but my only contact with it (being locked up inside my apartment the whole time) is through the wild ivy that has covered most parts of my windows and the entire building in no time. The apartment is beginning to look like Jumanji, really. Yesterday, I noticed that a small branch managed to make its way into the bathroom from beneath the tightly shut window and started growing upwards in an incredible paste. I probably should cut it off but am rather impressed with its Nietzschean "will to power" so might let it take over for a few days.

By the way, read a funny story on the news today. Apparently, the alumni of my high school in Adana had a gathering, in which the wooden staff ("kizilcik sopasi") that the now retired director of the school used to beat and intimidate students with was sold in an auction. The money has been used to buy and donate computers for the school lab. How creative is that? I remember that staff too (and that jungle laws applied in my rather obscure school) but never thought it would make national news one day.