North Carolina State University - Agromeck Yearbook (Raleigh, NC)

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FER ' VIEWS married life They are all asleep. How I long to be nestled down under the thick blankets, drifting in a kind of nowhere land. But not today- this paper has to be done. By 7 I feel as if the day is half over. My paper lies on the table waiting for final proofing, but noises are beginning to seep from the bedrooms. The breakfast- school rush has begun. I desperately rush from room to room, finding lost socks, buttoning sweaters, scrambUng eggs, and trying to keep the toast from burn- ing. After the children are dressed and fed and the older ones are off to school, I settle back for a quick break before I have to get to class myself. Gab, my husband, is already in his study, working on his book. I think to myself how lucky I am that he shares in the responsibility of raising the children. Twice a week he works on his research and keeps the baby for me to attend classes. A warm feeling flows through my body as I sip the rest of my coffee and put the finishing touches on my paper. School at last. My first class is an elective and is held in a very large auditorium. I look at the faces as I enter the room. Those who are fresh and ready to go are sit- ting in the front - eyes diverted towards the podium. In the back, heads are prop- ped on arms, some tottering a bit as if they ' d not had enough sleep. It reminds me of how tired I am. I take a seat in the middle, hoping to just blend in with the crowd. The bell rings and I ' m off again - this time back home to feed the baby, grab some lun ch for myself, and put the baby down for her nap. It seems as if I ' m always on the go, no sooner is this done than it ' s time to get back for my afternoon class. Buenas tardas. Class begins in a confusion of voices, all speaking Spanish with different accents. A senior seminar — my last Spanish class before gradua- tion. Though it ' s not quite what I expected, I find myself babbling away, en- thusiastic about the subject as well as the people. I look for- ward to this class. It ' s small and the people share a kind of intimate exchange of knowledge. After brief good-byes and doubtful chatter about the grading of our papers, I hurry to my car, in hopes that I ' ll be home before the children get back from school. The children are already home when I arrive. Gab has put sliced apples and cheese on the table, and they are all gathered around the treats, stuffing first one and then the other in their mouths. Interviews 27

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three It was Thursday, Yp.m. Where had the day gone? I flopped down on the couch and kicked my shoes off to relax a few minutes before finishing the dinner dishes. Gabriela, my youngest, takes a flying leap and lands on my lap, eyes smiling and ready for her traditional story hour. What a day this has been, typically hectic. All last night I had been dreading the Spanish paper that was due this morning. You know how it is. You dream about it un- til you ' re so tired that when morning arrives you feel as if you hadn ' t slept a wink. 4:30 a.m. I make my way, bleary-eyed to the kitchen. Yes, coffee is what I need. I put the pot on and can hear the water begin to spew as I spread my books and papers out on the table. Everything is so quiet. No demands for milk or snacks - just peaceful quiet. I think to myself how lucky I am that he shares in the responsibility of raising the children. Twice a week he works on his research and keeps the baby for me to attend classes.

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three Gabriela runs to greet me, gripping me around the knees so I can barely walk. I sit at the table and join in their conversation, listening eager- ly to all the details of their school day. They are anxious to share their work with me, and I scan several graded papers and creative drawings as I munch on the last bit of apple. Supper time already. You ' d think I was one of the great chefs of Europe with all the clanging and banging of pans that ' s going on. Actually only half of the noise can be at- tributed to me. Gabriela is pretending to be like Mommy and has the rest of the pans I ' ve been working for this for a long time, but what seems even more important at this point is that somebody considers my worth beyond that of being a wife and mother. 28 Interviews