Feeling Cheesy

It has been a long time since I stepped into a classroom. I'm used to being in front of the class, prepared with the daily lesson plans, hoping that I can hold the interest of my students for at least 50 minutes and wanting nothing more than them leaving the class a little inspired.
Yesterday I sat in a 3 1/2 hour photography course and felt so excited to be there. I could have been taking Math 101 and still be excited! I love school. The feeling of walking in to an unknown class room, fresh, blank pages of a notebook, and the new faces make me so happy. I am such a nerd!!
I have to admit that I was a little nervous taking this course. I don't want people to think that I'm a wanna be anything. Not learning anything was also making me a bit nervous. We have to admit that some things are not for everybody. I decided to take the class because Jose and I bought a really nice camera hoping that we could take pictures like our good friend Panos. But people, it doesn't work that way. You just can't buy a camera and wait for good results. Like everything, you have to work at it. The camera is your tool, your instrument. You have to learn how to use it. But the Nikon had a gazillion buttons, an extensive menu and a couple of dials to turn. We were so lost. So I Googled "photography lessons in Singapore" or something and had dozens of choices! I did my research, found a great photographer who had a detailed website, her prices were reasonable and she was a woman (no offense to the men out there).
We started with basics and I won't bore you with those details but after shooting and discussing...guess what? I left the class feeling a different kind of inspiration and it had little to do with photography. I left with an introduction to 7 different human stories. I was inspired by the woman from India, who is in Singapore visiting her sister for 3 months and decided to do something different while on vacation. I was inspired by the retired Singaporean gentleman (and my partner for the day) who has never left Singapore and rather than retiring in front of the television screen, he decided to "take up a hobby". I met another mom. A quiet, South African mother of 3 boys and I couldn't wait to start talking to her.
We had a fantastic time. We modeled for each other, helped each other with the cameras and talked. Everyone (including big, nosey Betty) wants to know, "What brings you to Asia?" You then start to chat it up and voila! New acquaintances! If nothing else, these next 5 weeks will be pleasurable even as I struggle to get those damn macro shots.
xoxo,
Betty