From the Sunday New York Times:
For at least a decade, students who intend to major in education have had among the lowest SAT scores of all college-bound seniors - in 2004, they ranked 19th of 22 intended majors, two points in combined verbal and math scores below those who planned to major in agriculture. Even "undecided" ranked higher. And according to the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, those who leave the profession during their first few years have higher scores than those who stay. An institute report also shows that the weaker the undergraduate college, the more likely its students will end up teaching as a career.
That's so depressing! There are so many interesting articles about teaching this week, though.

So why doesn't education attract the brightest and best? Maybe because there's so little respect because there are often articles like this about why teachers are dumber than everyone else. Or maybe because people assume that anyone who will work for "minor ducets in a thanksless job" and spend all day with children is mindless. My parents were so mad when I declared my major. Essentially, I worked so hard during high school and then they spent $35,000+ per year for Wash U...I chose a profession which is deemed intellectually inferior and which will earn me less than that tuition. I've questioned my decision sometimes too.

I always return to faith in my decision for three reasons. First, I think that with all of the complaining and failure in U.S. public education, going into teaching is a challenge; can I overcome stardardization, administration hierarchy, and low expectations to properly education my students? Secondly, I know that I can always improve and continue to develop my pedagogical practices. As an ESL teacher, there will always be new cultures to learn about, new languages to learn, and new methodology to experiment with. Finally, I think that (as obnoxiously teacher-ish as it is) teaching children is one of the most important jobs in the world. For normal development to take place, every child needs a supportive and accepting adult in their lives- for many, his or her teacher may be the only person to fill that role.

Sometimes I feel like my decision to major in Educational Studies was a mistake. I should have squeezed in a business minor or gone on to law/medical school. One of my old friends from high school said "a job is just a way to make money to find happiness outside of work." Well, isn't that a bit more depressing?

What do you think? Why is teaching such an undervalued profession (and why does it continue to progress in that direction?) Why didn't you go, or consider going into education?

It's the weekend! And I'm done with school!

Just because of that, here's some Polish for all of you...

Dobrey wieczór! (doh-brih)(vyeh-chur) Good Evening!
Nazywam siç Nicole. (Nah-zih-vahm)(sheh) Nicole:) My name is Nicole.
Chce zamówic piwo. (Htseh)(zam-moo-veech)(pee-voh) I want to order beer.
Na zdrowie! (Nah)(zdroh-vyeh) Cheers!

That's my plan for tonight!:) Have a good Friday!

I NEED A JOB IN MINNESOTA!!!!

I'm a little stressed out, as you see:) I'm just running out of time before the school year starts...every day without a job is one less day I have to plan for my future students. And while I was so excited about the Maryland job when I was first offered it in March, the prospect of moving across the country by myself and starting a job in a month is so scary. I don't see how I could do it without completely breaking down. I must admit, I'm not super girl: I don't have the organizational skills of my mom or the study til you drop ability of my dad. And I can't go with the flow anywhere like my brother. So when they tell me it's going to work and it makes me worry even more.

I'm not even done with classes yet.

OMG...I love this quiz!

You're France!

Most people think you're snobby, but it's really just that
you're better than everyone else.  At least you're more loyal to the real
language, the fine arts, and the fine wines than anyone else.  You aren't
worth beans in a fight, unless you're really short, but you're so good at other
things that it usually doesn't matter.  Some of your finest works were
intended to be short-term projects.
Take the Country Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid

You're Taiwan!

Despite enormous setbacks, including the fact that most people refuse to
recognize who you are or even that you exist at all, you've built yourself into quite a
productive person.  You've got a little trouble maintaining a sense of personal order,
but through the mess, you're still very industrious and have a small but pivotal impact on
almost everyone you know, and even people you don't.  You make a whole lot of stuff.

Take
the Country Quiz at the href="http://bluepyramid.org">Blue Pyramid

You're
Liechtenstein!

Most folks don't take you that seriously, but you really make
a big deal out of being independent.  You don't do a whole lot for other
people, but you make the best of the resources available to you.  You really
like snow.  And mountains.  And being independent.  And you're
probably pretty small.
Take
the Country Quiz at the href="http://bluepyramid.org">Blue Pyramid

Which one is the real me?

Happiness is...

Reading the new Harry Potter whilst eating avocado-wrapped salmon sushi.

...and listening to Keane.

I finished two summer courses yesterday! It's so exciting that I'm almost done with my Masters. Well, I need to teach for a year and then come back and take a few more credit hours, but I'm done with my requirements and I'll get my teaching license in August (hopefully!) I can't believe I've only been here for a little more than a year...it feels like forever, much longer than college. I might treat myself to a random vacation next month. Hmm...where can one go with no money? Probably anywhere my parents are willing to go:)

I've started listening to some world music, which I've always hated. But this isn't technically world music in my mind because it's in Spanish and it's very bossa nova/techno and tango-ish. That's a strange combination, but it's so good!
Here are my favorites:
"Postales"
"Ante Tus Ojos"
"Esta Noche"
"Contigo"
by Federico Aubele

"Santa Maria"
"Queremos Paz"
"Una Música Brutal"
"Vuelvo al Sur"
by Gotan Project

I love it! So summertime.

My big plans for tonight are to go see a movie (maybe) and make multi-colored/sprinkled cupcakes. I'm going to experiment with mini-muffins too.

I promise, to anyone who reads this and wonders what my plans are, that I will tell everyone as soon as I get a job! My mom calls everyday and asks about it in a different way, to mix things up while simultaneouly driving me crazy. I have no motivation to keep my future a secret;) Honestly.

yay. it's friday.

I just finished my last assigment due this week (at 10:50pm). My days are quite longish. I can't believe it's July- I completely missed the 4th of July! Oh well.

I only have one more week of my morning class...then I can sleep in and start running again! I'm super excited. I really need some endorphines.

Today is my last day of housesitting, too. I'll miss Jessie black dog so much- she's the sweetest old dog in the world. I'll also really miss comedy central and E!, but it's probably better that I don't have them:)

Tomorrow, I'm going to go run around and visit all the local yard sales. If I see something I like, I'm going to buy it and come back later! I'm really enthusiastic about this plan, as you see.

In other non-news, I don't have a job. And I'm supposed to move out of my apartment at the end of July. I'm really trying not to dwell on those thoughts, because I could go crazy.

I'm so sad and sorry for the British people. They stood up to terrorism with so much dignity before, even though the global networks hadn't yet targeted them (although the IRA had, but that must invoke different emotions). I'm praying that the G-8 will have the strength to still address the previous issues of discussion with the same goals- that is one way of succeeding over the terrorists.

I wonder, though, what would happen if it was discovered that the attacks had nothing to do with Al Qaeda or islamic radicals? I think sometimes we want to create an enemy instead of owning up to societal injustice which perpetuates acts of hatred. If we really wanted to make a comprehensive enemy to fight, we could just start a war against "bad things." That would be equally vague and difficult to contain. And then I could feel justified in hating bugs :)

I miss summer! I haven't had time to have lazy summer days for three years. Like today- it's gorgeous outside, but I haven't two papers due tomorrow that I should definitely start writing. Why did I do them before? Well, because I had two huge projects due this week too. There's no time at all for planning ahead. And I still don't have a job! I do have a new friend who is the music director to the University of Minnesota radio station, though, so he can recommend music I can listen to while studying/stressing out:)

Your Pisces Drinking Style

If you're a Pisces, you've probably already heard that you share a sign -- and an addictive personality -- with Liz Taylor, Liza Minelli and Kurt Cobain. Not only do Pisces like to lose themselves in the dreamy, out-there feeling that only hooch can give, but you build up a mighty tolerance fast. You're an expensive date! On the other hand, you're a fabulously enchanting partner, whether in conversation or in crime. With the right person, you can start out sharing a pitcher of margaritas and wind up in bed together for days. The phrase "addictive personality" can be read two ways, you know.

Your Signature Cocktails

Pisces rules fresh mint, and you do love a mojito or three -- though a julep will do just as well. You also like punches, like sangria or the oh-so-aptly named fish house punch. (Pretty much anything will satisfy a Pisces in a pinch, though -- "drinking like a fish" is an idiom pulled out of the zodiac, not the deep blue sea.) You're a total chocoholic, and you love creme de cacao (and spiked cocoa).

Your Celebrity Drinking Buddies

Drew Barrymore, Chelsea Clinton, Queen Latifah, Bruce Willis, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ted Kennedy, Jon Bon Jovi, Fabio

What's Your Alcohoroscope?

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm the cheapest date ever! One glass of wine and I start laughing and tripping:) And I hate mojitos...but I do LOVE sangria! However, I'm never going to let myself get addicted. At least I hope. I never drink alone, which is a good start.

I'm so tired. I'm mentally and physically exhausted. My whole life is up in the air, nothing is certain, and I'm feeling so detached from my life and reality. The professor of my afternoon class announced a group project today that's due next Tuesday that involves reading 3 chapters about adolescent developement and same sex schools, finding 8 additional sources, having an online ongoing reflection with group members, and preparing a comprehensive powerpoint presentation! And it's due the day after the fourth of July. I honestly felt smoke coming out of my ears and I almost started to cry. I know I can do this; Wash U prepared me for project planning. But I can't stand having to do pointless work like this. We could have a test or write a paper, but I don't have time to do another project this week! I have an essay midterm exam on Wednesday and a huge project also due next Tuesday. And none of them are serving a purpose other than to add complexity to the assessment in each class. While I'm doing all of this (I finished my classwork last week at 11pm on Friday night), I have no idea where I'm going to be living in a month, if I'll have a job, how I'll move, and how I'll get my license with all the confusion. It's soooooo frustrating to be in graduate school and still have professors who don't know how to teach! A part of me wishes I could fly home this weekend with my brother, but I just can't because of all the work. There's also a guy who I think is just messing with my mind, which definitely doesn't put me in a better mood. I've been so mean lately- to my friends, my brother, and my cousins. Well, not that mean, but not as nice as I should be. I need a hug.

I'm in such a place of stagnation! I must get a job. Something needs to happen soon or I may end up at starbucks (which means I would be caffeinated at all time). Say a little prayer for me...to get a job:)

I really don't like the David Letterman show. I just realized that almost all the humor is based on force-feeding the audience with simple people and simple stories- there's only so long that pretending that borning things are funny can be funny. Then it's just boring! I love the Leno show;) Did anyone see Sinbad tonight? I love the movie House Guest. It's hilarious.

I love red bull. Drinking a sugar free red bull is just like getting a fat free vanilla latte, but much cheaper. I feel like a young starlet drinking it anyway- like it's somehow dangerous. Even though it really isn't.

Something that amazes me is that one of my education professors is such an unstuctured teacher. Honestly.

I'm reading "The Perfectionist" by Rudolph Chelminski, about the rise and fall of Bernard Loiseau, the French chef who took his own life due to the pressure of the career. It's interesting, but really goes into detail about French cooking: when they fry an egg, it should never touch a pan directly over a flame- they cook it in a double boiler, like fondue. There's also info. about the many varieties of fois gras.

If anyone knows more about Scientology, please tell me. I might go take a test just to find out. I'm completely skeptical (and I'm not about to abandon my Epicopalianism:)), but I like to listen to people talking about things I don't believe;) It's like a psychology experiment in differing levels of cynicism and naivete. I went to a self-help seminar once and it was like nails on a chalkboard, but facisnating at the same time! I kept looking around and trying to guess what kind of fulfillment each person was looking for.

Omg, it's so late...Dobranoc! (That's a little bit of Polish for my grandparents).

With all of the talk about Scientology in the news these days (mostly from Tom Cruise), I did some research...online, of course. There are so many anti- sites online! I finally found Scientology.org (which probably should have been my first choice), and there's only a little bit of information. One of the main tenets seems to be misdirection. When someone is upset, you're supposed to suggest that they divert their attention to something else. If they're afraid, they should think about something harmless. And if you're really worked up, you should go for a walk:) It kind of sounds like the power of positive thinking.

woo hoo...my first week of summer classes is over. I had tiramisu tonight to celebrate:)

I haven't heard about the job yet, but I've learned not to tell my family about job prospects anyone...SO MANY people called to give me advice!

I'm excited about the new Batman movie.

That's all. I'm sleepy.

I had my first ever job interview today. It was not fun. I'm over it (but my fingers are still crossed!)

It's completely true that annoying things I have to do expand to fill all my time! Actually, it's probably my fault...I'm getting a little bit lazy.
What I did today:
*work up at 8:30 and immediately thought about how early that was
*babysat for my adorable cousins- we went to Caribou Coffee and checked out cute barrista. Going there with two babies is probably not the best way to pick up a guy;) oh well
*Came home, ate lunch, did laundry
*Filled out online applications for my credential file (I hate bureaucracy!), a job in Maryland, and summer classes
*Drove to campus and spent $222 on 6 books. Only one is hard cover and the one that cost $55 is less than an inch thick
*Rented Barcelona at Hollywood Video- I really like the movie "Metropolitan" by Whit Stillman, but it's so cerebral that it's really not that interesting after a while. Then I stopped at Chipotle (my favorite fast food) for dinner.
*More laundry (my life is so boring & I have so many houseguests)
*Hours applying for jobs online. I worked halfway through an application for jobs in the Round Rock, TX school district, until I realized that I don't really want to live there! (No offense to anyone who might) It's just that it's in the middle-of-nowhere Texas. When I'm so focused on something, I tend to either overcompensate or act impulsively. I may end up someplace really bizarre!

Wow- that's super boring. Sorry if you read it all! I'm beginning to dread the imminent stress of moving. But I can't stay here if I can find a better job elsewhere. The pay scale in Minnesota is horrible and I would have to move out of this apartment anyway. It gives me panic butterflies when I think about my career options, even with all of the training I've had. Hmm...I really should have gotten a business minor, huh? Which isn't to say that financial stability is that important since I love what I'm doing...I'm just worried about money stress and emergencies. I don't even understand all of the tax codes or insurance policies...more fear. I'll be fine, I know- my family is so wonderful at backing me up!

Well, obviously I have tons of time on my hands! My new favorite song is "Fix You" by Coldplay. I wrote an indendiary letter to the editor in response to Jon Pareles' mean article about the band:)

Oooh...I was tagged. Since the people I know who have blogs are in the same group that have already done this, the chain will stop here (at least for me). Thanks for tagging me, Mike!

How Many Books Do You Own?
Well, considering that I keep all of my textbooks, I never use the library, and I'm starting to collect childrens' books...way too many for me to move ever again!

What is the last book you bought? I bought 4:
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain- a very quick read!
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, which everyone has been recommending
The Perfectionist by Rudolph Chelminski- about French cuisine
and Lamb, the Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher Moore- because I'm apparently the last Episcopalian who hasn't read it!

What is the last book you read?
Kitchen Confidential. Before that, Straight Man by Richard Russo, recommended by my mom. I don't think I fit the demographic that likes his themes, though :(

Name 5 Books that mean a lot to you.
Okay, I'm going to put aside all pretentiousness and actually write the cheesy books that I love:

1. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (not of the Golden Girls)
2. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher- I've read it a million times! It's the perfect mix of British reserve and paperback novel romance- with a pinch of Majorca flings!
3. The Old Gringo by Carlos Fuentes- I'm ashamed to say I read it in English, for the most part. It's almost impossible to follow in my native langauge.
4. Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers- A British Lord with a monocle investigating mayhem at Oxford...plus romance.
5. The Nanny Diaries- the only book ever that made me cry laughing. If you've babysat, wanted to yell at someone for how they interact with their children, or been discreetly treated like dirt by an employer, it's the funniest story ever. I hate the ending, but it's what I would have done too.

There are probably more intellectual books, or religious ones, that have important meaning too, but these mean the most. So, the tagging stops here, for me. I've decided that today is going to be torturous/filthy top-to-bottom apartment cleaning day (there should have been more hyphens, oh well). Oh, and my power was out for 12 hours and just came back on, so I'm afraid to open the refrigerator. I'm going to start swiffering to Coldplay in my pjs!

Questions:
Has anyone ever picked up someone while running?
Is there any man out there as amazing as Brad Pitt?

This was a cake and moving weekend! I helped move my uncle into his new house and my brother into his new room. Then I ate cake at a restaurant and at my cousin Rachel's birthday party. I feel tired and very full:) My brother visited last night...he's pretty funny sometimes. When I was in his new room unpacking boxes, it reminded me of the deep fear and anxiety I used to feel when I was dropped off at school. I really haven't been comfortable far away from my family until this year; I think it's because I moved so much and had such a horrible high school situation. Anyway, I am praying that he's not feeling scared or lonely. I know he's so much braver and confident than I was. As much as we fought when we were small, we get along really well now, and laugh so much! He laughed for 5 minutes when I said that my favorite Rush song was "Huckleberry Finn." I thought that was the name of the famous one!

Quickie Update:
*Dyed my hair dark brown again. I have many more grays than I deserve.
*Finally registered for all my summer classes. I'm going to be moving out of my apartment the day after classes end.
*I might take a job in Japan. I've always wanted to live in Tokyo! Even if I'll only be making 250,000 yen a month, I'll be working at the American International Pre-school, which is the cutest name for a school:)
*Love Everyday People (vintage clothing store).

Oh my gosh...the stagnation of job-searching is killing me! That's right: I'm a girl on the edge. Yesterday, for fun, I went to the grocery store. And I ended up spending $150. I've been applying for jobs everywhere, but my professor still hasn't returned my final letter of recommendation! grr. I don't like harrassing people.

Anyway, I've decided that my cat is on probation. If she does anything else she's going back to the humane society. I'm really not a mean, animal-rejecting person. It's honestly like having a toddler to take care of, though- I won't recount her indiscretions, which are numerous, horrible acts of kitty offense. I know that I should feel worse for considering taking her back- but if you ONLY knew.

Here's a cute story about my baby cousin:
We were all at my cousin Maria's birthday party. Eli walked into the kitchen, by himself, and started eating frosting out of the garbage can (which is obviously cute in itself;) My aunt ran after him and said, "No, Eli, that's "yucky." He looked up, wide-eyed, and said "Yummy yucky," to justify eating out of the trash. He's so adorable- he looks like the Little Prince, from the french children's book, with curly blond hair.