Seeing as I hadn't seen Jared since December 10, we spent some time catching up - we discussed the National Geographic DVDs on the Universe I had lent him, and he told me what had interested him most. Being the season, we also discussed the winter solstice (December 21) and what that implies for the northern and southern hemispheres, and conversely how the summer solstice (June 21) affects the hemispheres. We also discussed the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn (at +23 and -23 degrees latitude respectively) and how that is the extent on the globe at which you will find the Sun directly overhead on the summer and winter solstices respectively. Perihelion (Earth's closest approach to the Sun) also occurs at this time of the year, around January 3 or 4, and we talked about why this happens (the Earth's orbit is not perfectly circular around the Sun). It was a great pleasure to find Jared as attentive and curious as when I left over a month ago - a real joy to teach!