Irem

Here's the story behind my email and blog names... I had a student named Irem and she was the epitome of a pistol. She did all sorts of things that were really funny, but we would have to stifle our laughter because they weren't usually things that she should be doing or saying. She's from Turkey and has this amazing accent that makes it sound like she's singing everything. If there is 1 syllable in a word, she somehow makes it have at least 3. For example, one time she tripped a little as she was coming to the front of the classroom and said, "Am I dru-unn-nnnkKK???"

Anyway, when she'd call me, she'd say, "Jennaaaaa, JennnnaaaAAA," then I'd give her the stink eye and say, "IREM," because she knew she wasn't supposed to call a teacher by their first name. After that, she would say "Jennamissboyd." Then I (and any other adults in the room) would turn our heads the other way because we didn't want her to see us laughing.

My favorite story that I heard about her from her mom was that when she was 7 or so, her mom was driving her home from school. Something happened and her mom somehow ended up driving through a fence as she was leaving the parking lot. A police officer came over and asked Tulay (Irem's mom) what had happened and Irem threw up her hands and said, "I didn't do it!" She was used to being the one who gets into trouble.

Finally, that girl knew how to flirt like no one's business. She'd say things like, "Hey there, CutieeeEEE," and give a guy a kiss on the cheek. Whoever was around would have to tell her that was inappropriate. She had crushes on about 10 guys and would always bat her eyelashes and smile whenever she saw them... I should have taken lessons from her on that when I knew her.

In conclusion, she was a character and I miss her!