I was thinking about the things that I'm thankful for and I considered listing all of the presents I received for Christmas or all of the fun I had with my family, but...I feel like I should be grateful for less superficial things. I'm blessed with so much! Here's my top five list:
5. My new apartment, also known as "the palace." It's so beautiful, so big, and so much more than I need or deserve. It's been convenient to have a guest bedroom over the holidays, but I really don't need one year-round. And my neighborhood is amazing! I swear, if any of you ever move to the Twin Cities, this is the coolest part of town- it has the best stores, best restaurants, and it's right next to the lakes. Honestly though, I'm so lucky just to have shelter, a warm place to live, because there are still people standing alongside the highway off-ramps even in this frigid weather.
4. My social capital. Not to revert to Ed. Psych 101 terminology, but I have so many resources at my disposal which will help me to succeed in our society. I speak English, I have had a great education, I understand societal norms and protocol, and I have a network of family and friends who can rescue me if I ever get into trouble (loan debt springs to mind :>). If nothing else, my graduate school education has taught me that having connections in American society is invaluable.
3. Freedom. This is tied to social capital, but also to living in the United States. We have so many liberties, the greatest of which might be the freedom from harm. As much as I don't very much like our President, he is keeping us safe (which all Presidents have tried to do). Here I don't have to worry about guerrilla warfare, famine, or epidemics of disease. We have been taught how best to survive natural disasters...hopefully wel'll help other countries to learn those techniques too. We are also blessed in the fact that there is enough money and intelligence that people are constantly working to keep us safer and healthier. Say what you will about big pharmaceutical companies, my dad is doing amazing work which will hopefully save lives around the world. I'm grateful for all the freedoms in this country.
2. My health. I'm blessed just to be alive, nevermind healthy! For all the time Americans spend obsessing about weight, there is something to be said for having such an abundance of food and medicine. In respect for the millions of starving around the world, I sometimes feel like our culture should just stop eating so gluttonously. I'm also very lucky to have a healthy family.
1. Love...obviously! I'm so grateful for the love of my family and friends!! In our highly neurotic society, it's amazing that I still love my parents and don't resent (very much) that I'm becoming my mother. I'm so lucky to have a network of people supporting me, as well. My new friends in the Twin Cities are so much fun (although they have a bizarre love of karaoke!) Most of my old friends are still in touch with me, too...that will be so helpful when I face the sureality that will be my five-year high school reunion. Finally, I have somehow managed to keep a continuous faith shining through my entire life so far. One could say that it's easy to have that relationship with religion when I've been so blessed, but it seems like it would be just as easy to give up when I have nothing more that I need.
Wowza, that's a long list. Sorry :). So, John and I are going to the amusement park inside the Mall of America for New Year's Eve. It's going to be really fun- they turn the lights on all of the rides and it's beautiful! Happy New Year, everyone! May the blessings of the season be upon you and your family.
Friday, December 31, 2004
Monday, December 20, 2004
Today I accidentally said the "worst" swear word in front of my mom. In my defense, I was quoting the title of a book that I saw, but it nonetheless shocked her to the core. "I've NEVER said that word, Nicole!" Well, I'm sorry. I'm around future teachers all day and that crowd is just like sailors. I see her point, though...I should probably work that out of my daily speech before I start teaching kindergarters, huh? And more important, I've never said what I think is a worst word and I almost walked out of the Vagina Monologues because it was used so often. So I'm not completely corrupted yet ;>
PS- please add more modern Christmas songs to my list below! Does anyone know who sings the punk rock little drummer boy? Hmm...
PPS- It's really funny to watch the British House of Commons on CSPAN! Their president actually has to defend his actions AND apologize when he's wrong...that's so, um, democratic! We must avoid that at all costs.
PS- please add more modern Christmas songs to my list below! Does anyone know who sings the punk rock little drummer boy? Hmm...
PPS- It's really funny to watch the British House of Commons on CSPAN! Their president actually has to defend his actions AND apologize when he's wrong...that's so, um, democratic! We must avoid that at all costs.
Saturday, December 18, 2004
The New York Times had an editorial today that said that there are no Christmas songs for this generation (or any generation after the 1940's). Excuse me? There are so many that I love!! Here's a list of my favorite Christmas songs (post-Greatest Generation):
"Maybe this Christmas" by Ron Sexsmith
"Happy Christmas (War is Over)" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono
"Christmas Don't be Late" the Chipmunks
"Step into Christmas" by Elton John
"Do they know it's Christmastime?" by Band-aid
"Feliz Navidad" by Jose Feliciano
"Last Christmas" by Wham, rerecorded by Jimmy Eat World (which I like better)
"Donde esta Santa Claus" by Guster
"Just like Christmas" by Low
Add your favorite song to my list below, please, and I will recommend that you not receive coal (I have connections).
Now, my cousin Maria has something to add:
Maria Louise maria mom dad dog (her typing)
(Her message to you):
Dear friends,
I am Nicole's cousin. I am 5. My name is Maria. Merry Christmas!
"Maybe this Christmas" by Ron Sexsmith
"Happy Christmas (War is Over)" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono
"Christmas Don't be Late" the Chipmunks
"Step into Christmas" by Elton John
"Do they know it's Christmastime?" by Band-aid
"Feliz Navidad" by Jose Feliciano
"Last Christmas" by Wham, rerecorded by Jimmy Eat World (which I like better)
"Donde esta Santa Claus" by Guster
"Just like Christmas" by Low
Add your favorite song to my list below, please, and I will recommend that you not receive coal (I have connections).
Now, my cousin Maria has something to add:
Maria Louise maria mom dad dog (her typing)
(Her message to you):
Dear friends,
I am Nicole's cousin. I am 5. My name is Maria. Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
I just read the card that my class gave me today, on my last day as their student-teacher.
Oh the front:
To Misis Nicole
Inside:
Will we miss you!
As most of you know, I don't cry about important things, or things that actually make me sad in a great sense; only about little things that in their smallness speak volumes. So I was looking at the names written inside the card, because each student signed it. And right at the bottom, there are 3 little r's and a bunch of half-moon squiggles. To anyone else, they probably look like kindergarten doodles. But that's how the kids at the special ed table (who are really just developmentally delayed) sign their names. Anyone who didn't know these kids wouldn't know that Johnny only seems to write r's for his name and that Shara isn't able to draw diagonal lines yet, so can only make half-moons. I know that because every morning when we all do activity sheets, I go to their table and write their names on their papers with highlighter so that they can copy it. They both work so hard, trying to do it. Sarah's parents might not even understand her disability yet, which is serious and will impact her entire life, because they only speak Cambodian. Johnny's parents, though, came to parent-teacher night and talked about how hard they work with him, to try to get him to speak. He will be perfectly normal eventually, but now he is delayed by the chaos of his life. But he is such a sweet little boy. Whenever he sees something he likes or understands well, he stands up during calendar time and points, with a big cheesy smile on his face. Last week he pointed at chicken, because there are chickens in his family's apartment. And yes, he can never stand still in line, or sit criss-cross applesauce, but I can tell that none of his misbehavior is deviant: he's just too happy to keep still.
So anyway, thinking through all of that helped me to realize why I only cried about my barking dog when I left Washington University. It was suddenly clear, in that moment, that everything that I cared about in St. Louis (which were so many unrelated things) made sense to me in the idea that I had wanted to give my remote-controlled dog to Schroedter because he had loved it so much but I had forgotten and by then it was too late. I felt that way about everything. That's wistful, but it's true.
So I'm really excited to go back to the school on Friday, for the holiday party. We're supposedly making crafts and singing songs... It's always a little bit funny (and I mean this in a nice way) to watch a bunch of non-English-speaking kids try to sing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. They have absolutely no idea what they're saying! I'll get to say goodbye to all of them again and meet their parents (I'm crossing my fingers that they'll all come). Stephanie cried today when I left, because she did understand that it was my last day, but I couldn't remember how to say "I'm going to see you on Friday" in Spanish, so I don't know if she knew that. The best part of the whole thing will be that I'm bringing my grandparents too! My "funny"-grandparents and a bunch of people who don't speak English. It's going to be pretty hilarious, if I do say so myself.
Oh the front:
To Misis Nicole
Inside:
Will we miss you!
As most of you know, I don't cry about important things, or things that actually make me sad in a great sense; only about little things that in their smallness speak volumes. So I was looking at the names written inside the card, because each student signed it. And right at the bottom, there are 3 little r's and a bunch of half-moon squiggles. To anyone else, they probably look like kindergarten doodles. But that's how the kids at the special ed table (who are really just developmentally delayed) sign their names. Anyone who didn't know these kids wouldn't know that Johnny only seems to write r's for his name and that Shara isn't able to draw diagonal lines yet, so can only make half-moons. I know that because every morning when we all do activity sheets, I go to their table and write their names on their papers with highlighter so that they can copy it. They both work so hard, trying to do it. Sarah's parents might not even understand her disability yet, which is serious and will impact her entire life, because they only speak Cambodian. Johnny's parents, though, came to parent-teacher night and talked about how hard they work with him, to try to get him to speak. He will be perfectly normal eventually, but now he is delayed by the chaos of his life. But he is such a sweet little boy. Whenever he sees something he likes or understands well, he stands up during calendar time and points, with a big cheesy smile on his face. Last week he pointed at chicken, because there are chickens in his family's apartment. And yes, he can never stand still in line, or sit criss-cross applesauce, but I can tell that none of his misbehavior is deviant: he's just too happy to keep still.
So anyway, thinking through all of that helped me to realize why I only cried about my barking dog when I left Washington University. It was suddenly clear, in that moment, that everything that I cared about in St. Louis (which were so many unrelated things) made sense to me in the idea that I had wanted to give my remote-controlled dog to Schroedter because he had loved it so much but I had forgotten and by then it was too late. I felt that way about everything. That's wistful, but it's true.
So I'm really excited to go back to the school on Friday, for the holiday party. We're supposedly making crafts and singing songs... It's always a little bit funny (and I mean this in a nice way) to watch a bunch of non-English-speaking kids try to sing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. They have absolutely no idea what they're saying! I'll get to say goodbye to all of them again and meet their parents (I'm crossing my fingers that they'll all come). Stephanie cried today when I left, because she did understand that it was my last day, but I couldn't remember how to say "I'm going to see you on Friday" in Spanish, so I don't know if she knew that. The best part of the whole thing will be that I'm bringing my grandparents too! My "funny"-grandparents and a bunch of people who don't speak English. It's going to be pretty hilarious, if I do say so myself.
End of Year Survey
1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
Got my own apartment. Paid my own bills. Ooh, and got my own Christmas tree. It's real too, although it looks somewhat like Charlie Brown's pathetic Christmas tree.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I wanted to lose weight and be nicer. I'm pretty much the same weight and I honestly don't think I did anything mean.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My great grandma. She was 95.
5. What countries did you visit?
Hmm, not even Canada!
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
A job! I need to get one for next fall. I would also like a man. ;)
7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day I found out that my great-grandma died. I hadn't been told that she was sick and that made me act pretty irrationally, but I'm glad that I got to go to her funeral. It's kind of strange, but I thought that graduation was pretty anticlimactic. And way too hot.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I got into graduate school at the University of Minnesota.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Well, some people could look at this as a failure: I realized that it's better for me to stay away from people who express negative perspectives on life and/or are generally pessimistic because it rubs off on me to a greater extent. So I failed in being friends with people like that, but by avoiding them made myself much happier.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No injuries, besides multiple bruises caused by constant kneeling in kindergarten. I had a super-bad cold twice; once in the summer and once this fall. It starts with sinus pain, becomes a runny nose, progresses through multiple sounds of cough, then ends in a combination of the above.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I really like my Old Navy pants. And I got a semi-sphere chair at Urban Outfitters that I love love love.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My cooperating teacher at my student teaching placement has been really nice and so helpful in my learning. I was lot luckier than most of my friends, who's teachers were psycho control-freaks who worked their fingers to the bone. Also, I celebrated on the inside when Johnny, a boy in my class who has developmental delays, wrote his name for the first time! He's been through so much (refugee camp in Thailand, death of brother, not speaking), but he's always so sweet.
My new friends in the Twin Cities are so much fun. Jenny, Jake, Erin, Julie- we need to hit the Independent! Button-down shirts are much needed. Also, my friends in St. Louis were amazingly supportive. I've never met a nicer bunch than the ECMers and I probably never will.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Well, I didn't get along with a roommate (see above about pessimism). My family has a history of depression, so that's something I just can't tolerate.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Did I ever have money? I have a bad habit of buying dvds with my student loan money, but otherwise, it almost all goes to rent. My apartment is much nicer than I deserve (or can clean).
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Teaching kindergarten. I love it so much! I'm excited to go to school every morning because it's the most fulfilling thing -for me- in the whole world. I pretty darn excited for Christmas too.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
The entire Keane cd, Hopes and Fears. No one has heard of them, I know, but they're big in England. I just love the song "Somewhere only we know" because it reminds me of my jaunt (can I pull that word off?) through the deer park in Magdalen college at Oxford...I actually walked across a river on a fallen tree.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? the same
iii. richer or poorer? Well, that depends. My parents are no longer giving me any money, but they never would have given me as much as I have from my loan. On the other hand, they won't be asking me to pay them back (+interest), so I'll say I'm poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spending time with my cousins. Enjoying college life. Relaxing after graduation (tomorrow I start my first vacation since Spring Break)! Running.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I wish I had spent less time feeling insecure at college based on what some people told me that others were saying about me (which was unfounded, as it turns out).
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
My parents and my brother are staying with me (oh, how much fun will that be? ;>) But we're spending Christmas day at my Aunt and Uncle's house.
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
The O.C. Oh my gosh, it's so good. Also, the Apprentice, even though the Donald has been so wrong many times this season. And finally, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, because it always makes me cry.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't really hate anyone...but there are some people I distance myself from.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. It's so moving and fun to read- I recommend it to everyone.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Keane. And Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah.
28. What did you want and get?
I got into graduate school, I got a beautiful apartment, and I got a pretty fish.
29. What did you want and not get?
I wanted to get a Cairn terrier, but I'm so glad I didn't. I mean, if I can't find time to do laundry for a month, a poor little dog wouldn't stand a chance.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I really can't remember. I'm looking forward to The Phantom of the Opera.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I can't remember what I did. Is that bad? I'm so old that I'm losing my memory.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I'm pretty happy.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Well, I was typical college student until October, when Kindergarten teacher fashion began. Though, I have been able to avoid the gaudy holiday buttons and tapered-leg pants look.
34. What kept you sane?
Friends, family, music.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Clive Owen. I think he should have been cast in the Da Vince Code (instead of Tom Hanks). Oh, and did anyone see Closer? Huge hands ;>
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election stirred up so much. I angry about Iraq, especially, and the rift in social beliefs in our country.
37. Who did you miss?
ECM, my parents.
38. Who was the best new person you met? Jenny
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
Love what you do and you will be good at it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Oh simple thing, where have you gone? I'm getting old and I need something to rely on. So tell when, you're going to let me in. I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin. (That doesn't really make any sense, but I like the song ;>)
1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
Got my own apartment. Paid my own bills. Ooh, and got my own Christmas tree. It's real too, although it looks somewhat like Charlie Brown's pathetic Christmas tree.
2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I wanted to lose weight and be nicer. I'm pretty much the same weight and I honestly don't think I did anything mean.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My great grandma. She was 95.
5. What countries did you visit?
Hmm, not even Canada!
6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
A job! I need to get one for next fall. I would also like a man. ;)
7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day I found out that my great-grandma died. I hadn't been told that she was sick and that made me act pretty irrationally, but I'm glad that I got to go to her funeral. It's kind of strange, but I thought that graduation was pretty anticlimactic. And way too hot.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I got into graduate school at the University of Minnesota.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Well, some people could look at this as a failure: I realized that it's better for me to stay away from people who express negative perspectives on life and/or are generally pessimistic because it rubs off on me to a greater extent. So I failed in being friends with people like that, but by avoiding them made myself much happier.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No injuries, besides multiple bruises caused by constant kneeling in kindergarten. I had a super-bad cold twice; once in the summer and once this fall. It starts with sinus pain, becomes a runny nose, progresses through multiple sounds of cough, then ends in a combination of the above.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I really like my Old Navy pants. And I got a semi-sphere chair at Urban Outfitters that I love love love.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My cooperating teacher at my student teaching placement has been really nice and so helpful in my learning. I was lot luckier than most of my friends, who's teachers were psycho control-freaks who worked their fingers to the bone. Also, I celebrated on the inside when Johnny, a boy in my class who has developmental delays, wrote his name for the first time! He's been through so much (refugee camp in Thailand, death of brother, not speaking), but he's always so sweet.
My new friends in the Twin Cities are so much fun. Jenny, Jake, Erin, Julie- we need to hit the Independent! Button-down shirts are much needed. Also, my friends in St. Louis were amazingly supportive. I've never met a nicer bunch than the ECMers and I probably never will.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Well, I didn't get along with a roommate (see above about pessimism). My family has a history of depression, so that's something I just can't tolerate.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Did I ever have money? I have a bad habit of buying dvds with my student loan money, but otherwise, it almost all goes to rent. My apartment is much nicer than I deserve (or can clean).
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Teaching kindergarten. I love it so much! I'm excited to go to school every morning because it's the most fulfilling thing -for me- in the whole world. I pretty darn excited for Christmas too.
16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
The entire Keane cd, Hopes and Fears. No one has heard of them, I know, but they're big in England. I just love the song "Somewhere only we know" because it reminds me of my jaunt (can I pull that word off?) through the deer park in Magdalen college at Oxford...I actually walked across a river on a fallen tree.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? happier
ii. thinner or fatter? the same
iii. richer or poorer? Well, that depends. My parents are no longer giving me any money, but they never would have given me as much as I have from my loan. On the other hand, they won't be asking me to pay them back (+interest), so I'll say I'm poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spending time with my cousins. Enjoying college life. Relaxing after graduation (tomorrow I start my first vacation since Spring Break)! Running.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I wish I had spent less time feeling insecure at college based on what some people told me that others were saying about me (which was unfounded, as it turns out).
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
My parents and my brother are staying with me (oh, how much fun will that be? ;>) But we're spending Christmas day at my Aunt and Uncle's house.
22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
None.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
The O.C. Oh my gosh, it's so good. Also, the Apprentice, even though the Donald has been so wrong many times this season. And finally, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, because it always makes me cry.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't really hate anyone...but there are some people I distance myself from.
26. What was the best book you read?
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman. It's so moving and fun to read- I recommend it to everyone.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Keane. And Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah.
28. What did you want and get?
I got into graduate school, I got a beautiful apartment, and I got a pretty fish.
29. What did you want and not get?
I wanted to get a Cairn terrier, but I'm so glad I didn't. I mean, if I can't find time to do laundry for a month, a poor little dog wouldn't stand a chance.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I really can't remember. I'm looking forward to The Phantom of the Opera.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I can't remember what I did. Is that bad? I'm so old that I'm losing my memory.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I'm pretty happy.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Well, I was typical college student until October, when Kindergarten teacher fashion began. Though, I have been able to avoid the gaudy holiday buttons and tapered-leg pants look.
34. What kept you sane?
Friends, family, music.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Clive Owen. I think he should have been cast in the Da Vince Code (instead of Tom Hanks). Oh, and did anyone see Closer? Huge hands ;>
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election stirred up so much. I angry about Iraq, especially, and the rift in social beliefs in our country.
37. Who did you miss?
ECM, my parents.
38. Who was the best new person you met? Jenny
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
Love what you do and you will be good at it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Oh simple thing, where have you gone? I'm getting old and I need something to rely on. So tell when, you're going to let me in. I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin. (That doesn't really make any sense, but I like the song ;>)
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Further proof that I am a "cheap date"...
I had one cosmopolitan tonight- only 1!- and I had to firmly grip the rail when I climbed up the stairs to my apartment. Honestly! The only time I have this much confidence, albeit induced and unnatural, is when I'm a little tipsy. And obviously, this is the worst time for me to be looking for a guy. I know that, but I'm still mad that my friends wanted to leave the bar early. Grr. My head feels kind of heavy though. LOL. And my tongue is slightly swollen-like. lalala.
I had one cosmopolitan tonight- only 1!- and I had to firmly grip the rail when I climbed up the stairs to my apartment. Honestly! The only time I have this much confidence, albeit induced and unnatural, is when I'm a little tipsy. And obviously, this is the worst time for me to be looking for a guy. I know that, but I'm still mad that my friends wanted to leave the bar early. Grr. My head feels kind of heavy though. LOL. And my tongue is slightly swollen-like. lalala.
Friday, December 03, 2004
I feel like such a sucker.
I was perusing the perfume counter at Bloomingdales while chatting with my grandma on the phone, when a v. handsome scentier (is that the word?) completely charmed me into spending $65 on lotion Lotion! I should have seen it coming. By this age I know my limits, and cute guy rubbing lotion on my wrist leads to huge spending every time ;>
I was perusing the perfume counter at Bloomingdales while chatting with my grandma on the phone, when a v. handsome scentier (is that the word?) completely charmed me into spending $65 on lotion Lotion! I should have seen it coming. By this age I know my limits, and cute guy rubbing lotion on my wrist leads to huge spending every time ;>
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
My life is craziness!
Last Tuesday, I went home for the first time since June. I use the term "home" lightly, since I've only spent 7 nights there so far and I live in a corner of the attic ;> And also because my parents' new house looks more like a hotel then a normal house. Just add a chandelier and a few magazines to the living room and it could be a hotel lobby. It's kind of off-putting how schwanky it is! I mean, my mom still shops at Talbots and she lives in a 6-story townhouse- I hope they don't start lunching or caring about society stuff. I don't think that will happen. Anyway, it's in such a fun location: right on mainstreet in downtown Ann Arbor. We walked everywhere all week. On Wednesday we went to an Irish pub, on Friday a tapas bar, and Saturday, a sushi restaurant. I did mucho Christmas shopping on Friday and spent 4 hours on Saturday studying at the gorgeous U of M law library. And we all spent Thanksgiving day at my Aunt Frances' house.
Student teaching is amazingly wonderfully fun (and a tiny bit stressful). If anyone has read about the cultural clash between the Hmong immigrants and the, um, white people living in Minneapolis/St. Paul, I deal with many Hmong children and families on a daily basis and I've never seen it. The media is definitely trying to drudge up ignorant xenophobia for news' sake. If you're interested in the Hmong people, their history, and the immigrant/native clash, read the book "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" by Anne Fadiman. It's a tragic and true story about a Hmong girl with epilepsy and the miscommunications between her parents and the US health care system. The children in my class are adorable, and their parents are extremely involved and appreciative of teachers (i.e. perfect parents to a teacher).
Today I taught calendar time, a math lesson, and a wriitng lesson, and I was observed my my advisor. Why are the kids always animals when she comes? I felt like a lion tamer while reading The Hungry Caterpillar. After school, I had to give a presentation in my night grammar class (4:30-7:30pm). I had made a 22-slide powerpoint presentation, but due to the chaos of the room, and the fact that I had to present four times, I only had 6 minutes. So I sped read! However, Focus and Emphasis (phonological, lexical and nonphonological, and syntactical) are indeciferable at that speed. I mean, did you know that the stress of an affirmative declarative sentence falls on the accented syllable of the last content word? And that that is also where the intonation pivots from rising to falling? Did you ever think anything could be that boring? No, me neither.
My life=craziness. I teach every day this week. Plus, tomorrow night I'm going to a Hmong teaching panel, Friday I'm going to an English as a Second Language Carnival, and Saturday I'm going to a trivia party. I have two lesson plans to write this weekend (which need to include Standards- National, ELL, State, Writing, and Math) and I need to do all the applications in the grammar book.
What keeps me going:
The kids- cuteness personified.
The approach of Christmas- I'm hosting my whole immediate family for two weeks, plus organizing caroling and hot chocolate partying.
My friends- What's up Leaning Tower of Pizza?
My future job- where should I go? Hint: it can be anywhere in the world!! They pay really well in China. But I really want to go to Mexico. Or maybe England. Hmm...
Last Tuesday, I went home for the first time since June. I use the term "home" lightly, since I've only spent 7 nights there so far and I live in a corner of the attic ;> And also because my parents' new house looks more like a hotel then a normal house. Just add a chandelier and a few magazines to the living room and it could be a hotel lobby. It's kind of off-putting how schwanky it is! I mean, my mom still shops at Talbots and she lives in a 6-story townhouse- I hope they don't start lunching or caring about society stuff. I don't think that will happen. Anyway, it's in such a fun location: right on mainstreet in downtown Ann Arbor. We walked everywhere all week. On Wednesday we went to an Irish pub, on Friday a tapas bar, and Saturday, a sushi restaurant. I did mucho Christmas shopping on Friday and spent 4 hours on Saturday studying at the gorgeous U of M law library. And we all spent Thanksgiving day at my Aunt Frances' house.
Student teaching is amazingly wonderfully fun (and a tiny bit stressful). If anyone has read about the cultural clash between the Hmong immigrants and the, um, white people living in Minneapolis/St. Paul, I deal with many Hmong children and families on a daily basis and I've never seen it. The media is definitely trying to drudge up ignorant xenophobia for news' sake. If you're interested in the Hmong people, their history, and the immigrant/native clash, read the book "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" by Anne Fadiman. It's a tragic and true story about a Hmong girl with epilepsy and the miscommunications between her parents and the US health care system. The children in my class are adorable, and their parents are extremely involved and appreciative of teachers (i.e. perfect parents to a teacher).
Today I taught calendar time, a math lesson, and a wriitng lesson, and I was observed my my advisor. Why are the kids always animals when she comes? I felt like a lion tamer while reading The Hungry Caterpillar. After school, I had to give a presentation in my night grammar class (4:30-7:30pm). I had made a 22-slide powerpoint presentation, but due to the chaos of the room, and the fact that I had to present four times, I only had 6 minutes. So I sped read! However, Focus and Emphasis (phonological, lexical and nonphonological, and syntactical) are indeciferable at that speed. I mean, did you know that the stress of an affirmative declarative sentence falls on the accented syllable of the last content word? And that that is also where the intonation pivots from rising to falling? Did you ever think anything could be that boring? No, me neither.
My life=craziness. I teach every day this week. Plus, tomorrow night I'm going to a Hmong teaching panel, Friday I'm going to an English as a Second Language Carnival, and Saturday I'm going to a trivia party. I have two lesson plans to write this weekend (which need to include Standards- National, ELL, State, Writing, and Math) and I need to do all the applications in the grammar book.
What keeps me going:
The kids- cuteness personified.
The approach of Christmas- I'm hosting my whole immediate family for two weeks, plus organizing caroling and hot chocolate partying.
My friends- What's up Leaning Tower of Pizza?
My future job- where should I go? Hint: it can be anywhere in the world!! They pay really well in China. But I really want to go to Mexico. Or maybe England. Hmm...
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