Perception is Reality

In class we have formed groups to work towards the final big project. It is a monster but no less so than assignments we are working already. Leave this stuff alone for a couple of days and when I come back to it I have to reteach myself everything I thought I knew.
One of my biggest problems in class is that somethng vital will be demonstrated once, in a step by step demonstration. I"ll understand and follow along nicely. Then when we go hands on I may or may not be able to execute the directions I just witnessed. However, I can almost assure you that the next time I sit down to complete an assignment using the technique demonstrated it will seem as if I am a newborn at the controls of the space shuttle trying to bring it in for an emergency landing. There I am curled jelly boned fingers flipping switches,twisting knobs but when I look out the window I see only the deepest recesses of the eternal universe. Where are the step by step directions I used to make my Novell Apollo rocket model? Boy, I really need them.
Back to the group. Jon and Ivan-- last night we discovered the art of Frida Kahlo and agreed to give our project an hispanic angle. My anglo take on it was my familiarity with Pablo Neruda and I the fact that I have seen the Julie Traymor film "Frida". The guys have deeper and more tangible connections to the concept but it should be cool.