I am Dave Seville

The other day the kids at my school were let loose at the local movie theatre to watch "Alvin and The Chipmunks." While I was sitting there watching the film with about 4 classes of kids, I had a surpristing epiphany: I was, in fact, watching the story of my recent life (albeit with more special effects).

In the film, an unsuspecting, childless, creative-minded man finds his life invaded by small, unusual creatures who sometimes sing, but mostly spend their time terrorizing the man and making his life difficult. Some of the creatures are really intelligent, but mostly they're full of attitude and like eating alot. Over the course of the film, the man comes to warm to these small creatures, and accepts them as a dysfunctional but loving adoptive family.

Six months ago, I was looking for a job in teaching after getting my Bachelor of Education with a specialty in Intermediate/Senior levels - in other words, the complete opposite of the little chipmunks I've spent the past months hanging out with, first at a daycare, then an elementary school. I had no real experience with children before that, and they frequently seem as unusual to me as talking, singing, dancing chipmunks. But, without sounding like too much of a pushover, I have gotten more hugs, hellos, and high-fives in the past 6 months than in about the past 6 years of my life.