#5 million, things I wish I had known:
Online banking and even the bank itself never have up-to-date information about bank account balances. It's always a day behind, apparently. I did not know that and I lost $200 in overdraft charges. Don't let it happen to you:)

Being a teacher is not exactly what I thought it would be. First, the most important characteristic of any teacher is organization. I can't emphasize that enough: do not go into teaching if you aren't willing to put in hours and hours just organizing random information!!! For example, I went through so many hard-copy versions of my teaching schedule today that I started dating the editions with the time I printed them as well, so I could keep the different drafts in order. Honestly- there is soooo much to organize. Second, I have 8 classes to plan for each day. Yikes! Is it really affective to teach a child English in 25 minutes a day? And I'm co-teaching with two mainstream teachers during two of those periods, neither of who has any plan or suggestions for what I can do to assist.

I've made a decision not to complain with colleagues. It's debilitating and griping tends to grow and build more problems. I wish more teachers would address problems on their own and adjust their own teaching before laying blame. Teachers have a bad image as complainers who aren't willing to work very hard (we even get our summers off). It's not true, for the most part. Maybe my job involves a little bit more organization than other -since I work with 6 teachers and about 40 students every day- but I see everyone putting forth so much effort.

Oh, another thing I wasn't expecting is so many meetings that are not completely productive. I have one hour meetings outside of school hours at least twice a week. Fourth, I am constantly surprised about how much teachers fight to be paid for every additional hour. Like being paid to attend evening school events. Honestly! Aren't there some aspects of this job that are just assumed? Like we should care about our students and want to help them any way we can (to a normal extent)? I've been at school until 5pm every day this week. It's a long day, since I have to leave home at 7:20am. But I got my first paycheck yesterday! Of course, my bank's outrageous overdraft charges that make me want to hit them with pies took some of it. I'm going to start saving for my summer starting with my next paycheck:) My plan is to teach at an English summer camp in Spain and visit my parents in Austria when they're there and my Dad in Oxford during his conference. Maybe I can ask my district to pay me for the Spanish I will learn in Spain?;)

The whirlwind that is my life!
Wednesday: I got a job in an elementary school nearby. It's is one of the best school districts in Minnesota and everyone at my school is really nice. They even had an enormous hoopla (there's no other word to describe it) to welcome all the teachers back for the new school year- there was a marching band, with flags and batons twirlers, in the auditorium! I found out my salary, too :) I'm so excited to finally have money that I won't eventually have to pay back! The first day of school is this Thursday, but we do testing for placement for the first week and a half. So it's pretty much learning how to give tests, setting up my desk, and meeting the students. I'm really not that nervous, yet. I know it's going to be a lot of work, but I've decided to stay until 7pm Mon-Thursday for a while, until I feel completely prepared. It will be just like the good old days, back at the WU!! Minus all of the coffee costs.

In other huge news, I signed a lease for a new apartment yesterday. It's three blocks away from where I live now, but $295 less per month...I'm planning a "sweet" trip for next summer with all the money I'm saving! However, this weekend and the following week are going to be a blur of moving and new job stuff. I've got a scary record of pulling everything together at the last minute: I don't necessarily want to press my luck any more! Oh, the apartment is cute, too. It's a one-bedroom, but everything is new and I get to stay in my urban-chic:) neighborhood.

I went to the best party last night! I have a new group of friends who are very into music and the U of M radio station. In other words, they're quite indie-yuppie, um, gen z-ish? I really don't know, but they're really funny. They watch the O.C. for the "music." Like I haven't heard that one before!

Have a good labor-day week!

Yay! I got a job!! :)

Right now I'm lying in bed wide awake at 2:19am. I'm so nervous about my first day tomorrow (actually today). I'm afraid they'll take one look at me and say "Oh my gosh. You look like you're 16 and obviously are WAY too immature to be a real teacher. Take your scented markers with you on your way out." I just can't believe I got an actual teaching job after all that hard work this summer. I wish I had a second to relax and enjoy it! Humbug to starting work the day after you're hired.

I've also realized that I have extreme-relationship-overanalyzation syndrome. I had a crush and just recently realized that he doesn't really like me as much as he seems to always need people around. Why oh why do I work myself up about everything? I went to a Twin's game tonight instead of mentally prepping myself, which I now think I should have done instead.

I feel like God was watching over me in this job searching nightmere. Somehow I kept hoping that I would eventually find a position and now I have one that is perfect, safe, well-paid. I hope I can meet the needs of my students and fufill my duties in the school, to take advantage of this amazing opportunity.

Quick cute story: my cousin Weezie (5 years old) asked today what she should call me now that I'm a teacher. I had to pause and look away so I wouldn't laugh, before telling her that she can still call me Nicole.

Hope, revisited
I'm crossing my fingers again. Today I applied for two new "actual" jobs, teaching ESL in elementary schools. If I get either of the jobs this week, I will move into an apartment when my parents arrive on the 30th. If I don't, I will be a substitute and live with my Aunts and cousins. I really want a job! As much as I love them, it's craziness to live with two-year-old twins. I worked my butt off to impress one school this morning; applying for jobs is a full time job. In any case, the next two weeks will be insane...especially with my mom and dad here!

I went to see Skeletons & the Girl-faced Boys last night. They are like an electronika jam-band, I think. That's all I have to say about that.

My favorite show this summer is Rock Star: InXS. Mostly because I was in love with InXS in high school and saw them live three months before Michael Hutchence died. I was so sad when that happened. Anyway, the show is so good- I can't believe anyone could like American Idol better because every singer is amazing! My favorite is J.D. ;)

This week has been like a roller-coaster!
On Friday, I was so excited: I had met with a principal on Thursday, he was enthusiastic to meet with me again, and he told me that he would be hiring in the next few days! I spent all morning filling out my final licensure application materials at the Ed. Dept. office, then turned it in at the Department of Education, then turned in my St. Paul applications. Each hour I called the principal, but he was never in his office. I finally got in touch with him at 4pm and he told me that he had to hire someone with experience.


That meant that "the plan" started. Since I couldn't find a job, after a summer of applications, interviews, and continuous phone calls, I will be moving in with my aunts and substituting so that I can pay back my loans. I need to pack up everything and put most of my books and furniture in storage. Sigh.


So Friday night I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown because I was so mad about my lack of job, prospects, apartment, and impending subbing. But I went to see a movie with my aunt and grandparents. On the way, I saw a guy I was supposed to be set up with on a date. After the movie, when we got back to my car, the keys were on my seat. Honestly! It was a bad luck marathon! When we got back to my Aunts' house, the dog had escaped from the backyard, so we had to run around the neighborhood yelling.

After all of that, I couldn't stop laughing- there was nothing else left to do:) I know that everything will get better soon!

i am not a happy camper.

These days I alternate between two states of mind:

1. Scared and stressed out because I don't have a job, a place to live, I haven't finished packing, and I don't know where I'm going in September.
2. Excited and a little bit euphoric with the feeling of not making a decision and being sort of free for a short period of time, not tied down in any way and with many possibilities in front of me. I've rarely ever had that feeling.

So depending on when I talk to you, I could be either a worried nutcase or a laidpack, carefree girl. Be forewarned.

I never put my full-name or photo on the internet, but here are pictures of people with the same exact name who are not me:


A dog-groomer


An Author of Online Children's Stories


An Occupational Therapist


A Wyoming Reporter (in an old time photo?)


And a Remax Agent in South Africa.

Those are just the ones who are on the internet! This all explains why a debt recovery agency left an urgent and terrifying message on my answering machine which was for a different me. There seem to be a lot of us.

When I was doing my tutorial on Charles Dickens at Oxford, I finally realized that the reason that I liked his novels- and eventually got sick of them- is that they present an idealistic and unrealistic view of professional success. Every single protagonist is good-natured and kind, and for those reasons alone they are rewarded with love and money. They never have to struggle! Until I saw that commonality in his books, I never thought the good fortune of the main characters to be out of place. Why shouldn't Pip receive an anonymous inheritance? And obviously Tiny Tim deserves the turkey and new grandfather-figure. I honestly believed in the karma of kindness.

Well I'm not completely cynical (yet), but I'm beginning to understand that my life is not going to be such smooth sailing as I once anticipated. I'm currently sitting in my apartment waiting for the mail to come because it will hopefully contain a check from my parents which can cover the overdraft charges on my bank account. If I'm lucky, it will also cover my licensure fees ($87) which I need to pay to get my teaching license. Which, in turn, I need to get any sort of teaching job. However, getting a job is unlikely (it seems) because I have no experience. I have met with numerous principals and administrators and so far only one person was impressed by "B.A. from Washington University." I told my dad yesterday "Thank you so much for the $150,000, but it turns out that it really doesn't make a difference." Haha...he thought that was really funny;)

So I'm waiting. I need to move out by August 31st, but currently have no other place to live (and without a job, I can't really afford anything). So the plan is (feel free to pause and laugh at any time):
1. Get a job, this week (today or tomorrow) if possible.
2. Call all 1-bedroom apartments in area and visit. Choose 1.
3. Pack everything in my apartment (OMG).
4. Move somewhere.
5. Start teaching in September (after planning my curriculum, which shouldn't take long;)

No problem, right?:) Unfortunately, none of my prospective employers care that I went to Wash U, U of M, or that I try my best to be nice. I think that I'm drawn to this chaos though: does anyone remember my scramble to get into graduate school? I got my acceptance letter on the day I graduated from college, so there is hope that something good will happen at the last minute.

This game is fun: type in "your name is" in a google search, then choose your favorite 10 sentences.
1. Nicole looks VERY happy and MUCH better than PARIS HILTON.
2. Nicole is on the lookout for love.
3. Nicole is a psychic animal communicator who can help you understand and respond to your pet's telepathic communications.
4. While she plays flute in the EP Wind Ensemble, Nicole is also junior drum major for the marching band.
5. Nicole is Australia's greatest undiscovered and unsigned talent!
6. Nicole is transported from Khatmandu to Narayanghat (5 hour trip) after her 3 days of village training in Godawari.
7. But Nicole is out to prove that there's more to her than the perks that come with a seemingly charmed life -- by writing a novel!
8. Nicole is very social and responds to the facial expressions and voices of those who are significant to her.
9. Nicole is a seventeen-year-old wild child from a wealthy family who drinks, does drugs, skips school and doesn’t give a damn about what society wants from her.
10. Nicole, she's a real gem, she embodies classic movie stardom.

Alright, here's the 411:)

I have a job interview tomorrow morning. And I REALLY want this job. It's at a K-2 school, which is cute in itself, plus perfect for me. It's also part-time with full-time potential, which means I can get my feet wet before being completely overwhelmed. The drive is only 12 minutes (during rush hour) too...perfect. So I need to be composed, professional, and ESL perfection personified tomorrow. Please cross your fingers for me!

I went to see Broken Flowers today. It was good. In the same way that Lost in Translation was: quiet, contemplative, and pseudo-intellectually funny. While some parts were cute, it bothered me a little that it pushed the line in terms of "independent-chicness." The soundtrack was beautiful and somewhat randomly ethnic, there was pointless nudity, and the ending (sorry to spoil it a bit) was completely unresolved. But unresolved in the way that I had no idea what the characters were thinking or what would happen. It definitely didn't work as well as in Lost in Translation.

These past three weeks, I've suddenly joined a new group of friends, through one guy I met in a summer class. But the group is so saturated with in-jokes that I'm never going to permeate and actually become a member. Which makes all experiences with them kind of awkward. Also, I was invited to a surprise party for my friend's girlfriend when she doesn't even know me. What does that mean? Being friends with guys is completely confusing. Do guys with serious girlfriends have coffee with other girls? Do they call them every week? I can't understand the motives. It all boils down to the eternal question posed in When Harry Met Sally. Hmm...

THREE NAMES YOU GO BY:
1. Nicole
2. Nic
3. Cole (my baby cousins)
THREE SCREEN NAMES YOU HAVE HAD:
1. rosynic
2.
3.
THREE THINGS YOU LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. my hair- it's quite versatile :)
2. I made a promise to myself that whenever I see someone who needs help and I think "someone will help them eventually," I always make myself do it. It takes a lot of time (especially chasing dogs off highway on-ramps).
3. I can snap out of a bad mood really quickly.
THREE THINGS YOU DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOURSELF:
1. I'm way too shy for my own good. It stops so many things from happening in my life.
2. I'm such a ditz about travel directions, physics, chemistry, math, etc.
3. I'm too sensitive, when it comes to interpretting random comments and animals getting hurt (I walked out of March of the Penguins when the babies starting freezing).
THREE PARTS OF YOUR HERITAGE:
1. Polish
2. Ukranian
3. Western-European Mutt (my mom's side of the family)
THREE THINGS THAT SCARE YOU:
1. Bugs- every single one except ladybugs and fuzzy caterpillars.
2. When anyone I love travels long-distance by car.
3. Public speaking.
THREE OF YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS:
1. My huge purse
2. Internet
3. sugar-free redbull...it's so much easier than coffee (although I'm afraid I'm ingesting many more chemicals than I need)
THREE THINGS YOU ARE WEARING RIGHT NOW:
1. turquoise t-shirt
2. gray skirt
3. curlers :)
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS (or artists) AT THE MOMENT:
1. Keane...and I have no idea why everyone doesn't love them!
2. Federico Aubele
3. Elvis Costello
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE SONGS AT PRESENT:
1. Veronica by Elvis Costello. My dad used to play it when I was little and he brainwashed me! It reminds me of my childhood.
2. Contigo- Federico Aubele
3. Europe and the Pirate Twins- Thomas Dolby. Another song I was brainwashed to like.
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE ACTORS AT THE MOMENT:
1. Clive Owen
2. Orlando Bloom
3. Daniel Bruhl (from Goodbye, Lenin!)
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE ACTRESSES AT THE MOMENT:
1. Reece Witherspoon
2. I can't think of any more
3. ?
THREE NEW THINGS YOU WANT TO TRY IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS:
1. Getting a job...that would be so nice;)
2. Learning Somali
3. Having a social life while having a job
THREE THINGS YOU WANT IN A RELATIONSHIP (love is a given):
1. trust
2. respect
3. communication
TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
1. I might take my cat back because she's so obnoxious
2. My brother's getting married
3. I'm moving this month...I just don't know where to
THREE THINGS YOU JUST CAN'T DO:
1. Finish anything way ahead of schedule
2. Watch Fear Factor or Big Brother. There must be some mental activity for me to watch.
3. Fall for a guy who isn't a) in a very serious relationship or b) such a player that he can't settle down.
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES:
1. Online news sites!
2. Reading
3. Running around the lakes...Minnesota is so beautiful this time of year! It almost makes me forget what a desolate tundra it is most of the time.
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO REALLY BADLY RIGHT NOW:
1. Talk to someone. But he's away today.
2. Go see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
3. Get a phone call telling me that I have a job offer!
THREE CAREERS YOU'RE CONSIDERING:
1. English as a Second Language teacher (I'm past consideration at this point)
2. Educational lobbyist (for the future)
3. Bohemian world traveler and novelist (when I win the lottery)
THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO ON VACATION:
1. Back to Barcelona. Te amo te amo
2. Japan
3. India.
THREE NAMES YOU LIKE FOR YOUR FUTURE KIDS: I actually have a mini-journal where I write these ideas down when they pop in my head- I want to be prepared:)
1. Lucienna
2. Christian or Henry
3. Magdalena
THREE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:
1. Have a family & children.
2. Be very happy with my professional career.
3. Pay my parents back for everything they've given me.

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.