http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/06/nyregion/books-and-compassion-from-birth.html?ref=education
Great article that talks about the idea of doing more government funded public outreach to inform people of the importance of reading, thinking, and vocabulary development from an early age. 3 and 4 years old is too late.
Also, I've seriously been considering making a more serious book blog. I have it mapped out in my head, but it would take quite a while for me to learn how to set it up and make it look "legit." Perhaps it will be a summer project :-)
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Monday, December 2, 2013
No Place for Humanities
NY Times article that basically sums up my life. Here are some highlights that speak to me:
"The point of work should not be just to provide the material goods we need to survive. Since work typically takes the largest part of our time, it should also be an important part of what gives our life meaning. Our economic system works well for those who find meaning in economic competition and the material rewards it brings. To a lesser but still significant extent, our system provides meaningful work in service professions (like health and social work) for those fulfilled by helping people in great need. But for those with humanistic and artistic life interests, our economic system has almost nothing to offer."
"Teaching should be an obvious solution for many humanities majors...As for non-college teaching, the sad state of so many of our K-12 schools — with their unprepared and undisciplined students, overcrowding, lack of funding and obtuse, test-obsessed bureaucracies — make teaching there a path to frustration and burnout."
full article: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/30/the-real-humanities-crisis/?src=me&ref=general
"The point of work should not be just to provide the material goods we need to survive. Since work typically takes the largest part of our time, it should also be an important part of what gives our life meaning. Our economic system works well for those who find meaning in economic competition and the material rewards it brings. To a lesser but still significant extent, our system provides meaningful work in service professions (like health and social work) for those fulfilled by helping people in great need. But for those with humanistic and artistic life interests, our economic system has almost nothing to offer."
"Teaching should be an obvious solution for many humanities majors...As for non-college teaching, the sad state of so many of our K-12 schools — with their unprepared and undisciplined students, overcrowding, lack of funding and obtuse, test-obsessed bureaucracies — make teaching there a path to frustration and burnout."
full article: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/30/the-real-humanities-crisis/?src=me&ref=general
Monday, October 21, 2013
...And another...
A friend posted this on facebook a few days ago (I forget who), but I just read it and YES! this is what I believe, this is what I have been talking about, and this is what I will continue to shout from rooftops and impress upon my students (and everyone else I meet).
Why reading, libraries, fiction, and imagination MATTER.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/15/neil-gaiman-future-libraries-reading-daydreaming/print
Why reading, libraries, fiction, and imagination MATTER.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/oct/15/neil-gaiman-future-libraries-reading-daydreaming/print
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
I feel like I just wrote about this...
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/03/i-know-how-youre-feeling-i-read-chekhov/?ref=books&_r=0
This is a link to a really interesting NY Times article. The short version is that LITERATURE MATTERS. Reading literary fiction (as opposed to popular fiction or non-fiction) increases empathy, social perception, and emotional intelligence. The article basically supports what I was saying in my previous post. I feel vindicated :-)
Now get out there and read some literary fiction!
This is a link to a really interesting NY Times article. The short version is that LITERATURE MATTERS. Reading literary fiction (as opposed to popular fiction or non-fiction) increases empathy, social perception, and emotional intelligence. The article basically supports what I was saying in my previous post. I feel vindicated :-)
Now get out there and read some literary fiction!
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Why I Read
The world can be a dark and depressing place. I can't watch the news because it scares, irritates, and depresses me. For the past two years I have been working with high school students who regularly disappoint and frustrate me (not all of them, I'm generalizing, but lying, cheating, and laziness really wear on me).
Last year, during my first year of full-time teaching, I had very little time to read for fun. I usually average about 12-13 books a year, but this past year I think my number was three by June. I definitely made up for the deficiency during summer break. I read about a book a week. Since the beginning of June, I think I have read about 25 books.
I read for many reasons. Obviously there is the aspect of escapism that comes with reading. I get to travel to different times and places and "experience" new things. I have learned a lot about different cultures, and even snippets of different languages - just from reading.
But another, and perhaps more important, reason I love to read is that it maintains my faith in humanity. People are always inspired by the strength, spirit, and heroism we see in ordinary people during extraordinary times. Remember that feeling of unity and goodwill that the nation felt post- 9/11? Remember the regret that people feel about how it takes a natural disaster or national tragedy for us to stop squabbling and just love each other? Well, I get to feel that goodwill every time I read.
I just finished reading The Rebakah Cooper trilogy by Tamora Pierce. In this series, a young girl who grew up poor in a rough part of town rose above her circumstances (with the help of a rich patron) and went into police work. She could have moved to any district she wanted, but chose to work in the rough district where she grew up. She wanted to protect the people like her (the poorest of the poor) and give a voice to the voiceless, and this personal mission was often achieved at great risk to herself.
I am currently reading The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. I'm only a few chapters in, but I'm already in love. Tan is a beautiful writer. These stories focus on the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, and the struggles they face to understand each other. She also talks about the strength and courage these women needed to leave behind the lives they knew in China in order to pursue the promise of an uncertain future in America. It is inspiring to see them overcome tragedies, and continue having faith and working hard to achieve their dreams. I tear up during their moments of victory, when they are allowed to swell up with "humble Chinese pride."
I think reading these stories has helped and hindered me throughout my life. Perhaps I have unreasonably high expectations for humanity, my students, and especially for the people around me. I am often disappointed (and perhaps irrationally angered) by a general lack of empathy and integrity (especially academic integrity). My sister is always reminding me that life is not like books and movies. But as I mentioned previously, we see moments of human greatness, which proves that we are capable of being better. Each of us is capable of honor, courage, integrity, faith, and kindness.
So as the world continues to fall apart around us, I will bury my nose in a book where I can read about every day human achievement and maintain my faith in the potential each of us has to do great things.
Last year, during my first year of full-time teaching, I had very little time to read for fun. I usually average about 12-13 books a year, but this past year I think my number was three by June. I definitely made up for the deficiency during summer break. I read about a book a week. Since the beginning of June, I think I have read about 25 books.
I read for many reasons. Obviously there is the aspect of escapism that comes with reading. I get to travel to different times and places and "experience" new things. I have learned a lot about different cultures, and even snippets of different languages - just from reading.
But another, and perhaps more important, reason I love to read is that it maintains my faith in humanity. People are always inspired by the strength, spirit, and heroism we see in ordinary people during extraordinary times. Remember that feeling of unity and goodwill that the nation felt post- 9/11? Remember the regret that people feel about how it takes a natural disaster or national tragedy for us to stop squabbling and just love each other? Well, I get to feel that goodwill every time I read.
I just finished reading The Rebakah Cooper trilogy by Tamora Pierce. In this series, a young girl who grew up poor in a rough part of town rose above her circumstances (with the help of a rich patron) and went into police work. She could have moved to any district she wanted, but chose to work in the rough district where she grew up. She wanted to protect the people like her (the poorest of the poor) and give a voice to the voiceless, and this personal mission was often achieved at great risk to herself.
I am currently reading The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. I'm only a few chapters in, but I'm already in love. Tan is a beautiful writer. These stories focus on the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, and the struggles they face to understand each other. She also talks about the strength and courage these women needed to leave behind the lives they knew in China in order to pursue the promise of an uncertain future in America. It is inspiring to see them overcome tragedies, and continue having faith and working hard to achieve their dreams. I tear up during their moments of victory, when they are allowed to swell up with "humble Chinese pride."
I think reading these stories has helped and hindered me throughout my life. Perhaps I have unreasonably high expectations for humanity, my students, and especially for the people around me. I am often disappointed (and perhaps irrationally angered) by a general lack of empathy and integrity (especially academic integrity). My sister is always reminding me that life is not like books and movies. But as I mentioned previously, we see moments of human greatness, which proves that we are capable of being better. Each of us is capable of honor, courage, integrity, faith, and kindness.
So as the world continues to fall apart around us, I will bury my nose in a book where I can read about every day human achievement and maintain my faith in the potential each of us has to do great things.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Recap of a Year of Blessings
I've been writing this post in my head now for several months, but I have been procrastinating actually writing it. It's been nearly a year since I last wrote, so today I decided I would get out of the house and write this for real. It's going to be long (which is why I've avoided it for so long), but it covers a whole year so it needs to be.
As many of you know, my life-long dream was to be a member of the Trojan Marching Band. But only some of you know that once I achieved that dream I sometimes questioned whether or not it was what I really wanted to be doing. As a freshman in the band you have a lot thrown at you: dance routines, music, traditions, practices three times a week, and 6:30am practice on Saturdays, and if you mess up you mess up in front of 90,000 people. It can be quite overwhelming, and naturally a spirited organization like that can be a rather intense environment. Sometimes after a particularly rough week of insanely hot practices in the summer sun I would wonder why I was still doing it. But then Saturday game days would arrive, and when I took the field for the pre-game show the world just kind of got quiet, and as I listened to the crowd roar as we spelled out USC and Trojans I knew in that moment that it was worth every minute of blood, sweat, and tears I spilled during the week.
I tell you this to illustrate that sense of peace, contentment, and sense of purpose. It often seems like those moments are few and far between, which is why we cherish them so much. I write to tell you that I had so many of those moments this year that I've simply lost track. This last year, with all of it's stress and uncertainty has been so full of blessings for me that I've been overwhelmed with the sense that I am where I am supposed to be and I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. They say timing is everything in life and this last year has proved that to me.
Blessing #1
"This last year" really started last March, when I randomly applied to and was accepted by Vive Peru. I spent six weeks last summer in Peru teaching flute, traveling the country, and improving my Spanish. By the time I came back it was August and most schools were already starting. As a result, I was late in the game for job applications and was not able to get a full time teaching position. That was kind of stressful, but I was also thankful that I would have time to recover from six years of college and six weeks of traveling.
Blessing #2
Last summer my Meme (grandma) went through intense surgery for cancer. She was in the hospital for quite a long period of time and needed people to stay with her in the hospital overnight. "Luckily" I did not have a job, nor did I have kids, school, or other responsibilities that required my presence and attention. I am not the only one who stayed overnight with her during this time, but I think I can safely say that I was the one who was able to stay with her (at night) the most (my pepe, aunts and uncles, and mom took turns during the day and some of the nights as well). This was fine with me, I tend to sleep all day and stay up reading all night anyways. It was hard to see my meme like that, she is a very strong and independent lady who likes to care for everyone else around her, but I will always cherish the time I spent with her and the opportunity I had to take care of her for a change. She was able to return home in October (and has since made a near miraculous recovery).
Blessing #3
Around this same time I was hired by a tutoring company down the street from my house, and I was finally able to go through the orientation and training required to start as a substitute teacher in the district I grew up in. These things started picking up just as Meme was able to start doing things more on her own again. I also worked up the nerve to introduce myself to the band director at one of the high schools, who just happens to tailgate next to me and my family at USC football games. He recommended me as a flute teacher to his students and I was able to start giving private flute lessons. I was also still getting catering gigs now and then on the weekends.....that makes 4 jobs.
In November I started worrying more about money and my job(s) situation. Subbing wasn't happening as often as I had planned. I had made it onto a few teachers' preferred sub lists, but waiting for that phone call between 5 and 7am was killing me (you all know how much I love getting up in the morning). Luckily technology saved me. I was able to download an app for my computer that "rang" every time a subbing gig became available. Once I got this app I started subbing every day, and I was able to be selective: I only did jr. high and high school and I only did history and language arts classes. Here is what my day looked like from November until the end of June:
7:15am-2:40pm subbing
3:30-7:00 tutoring
7:15- 7:45pm flute lessons
This schedule changed a little in the spring, but it was still roughly 7am-8pm. I had subbed at every high school in the district except for Eleanor Roosevelt, which is the newest high school in Corona-Norco (it opened after I graduated). I had never been there and really wanted to sub there. I finally got the chance in December. I was subbing in a Spanish classroom when I heard a knock at the door. A young, very pregnant lady said hello and told me she was there to observe me. I was very confused and said, "Oh, are you a student teacher?" (she looked my age or younger)
She said, "No, no, I'm a full-time teacher here."
My confusion grew...."You know I'm just a sub right?" I said.
"Oh yes, I'm looking for a long-term sub to take over my classes when I go on maternity leave," she replied.
Blessing #4
I had just started getting the hang of subbing in a different class every day and then I was presented with the opportunity to take over for the English Language Development teacher for four months. I was very nervous about being in charge of teaching a bunch of kids how to speak and improve their English, but I figured it was a bad idea to turn down an opportunity. In January I started teaching at Eleanor Roosevelt everyday in the same classroom. It was very, VERY challenging, but I learned so much. Some days I swore I would not go back the next day, but sure enough I went back and things were better. They aren't kidding when they say that teaching is a roller coaster. I stayed in this classroom until the end of April. During that time I really fell in love with the school, the staff, the students and my whole experience there. Everyone was so friendly and helpful and none of the teachers ever made me feel like I was "just a sub" or like I was "the new girl". I was sad to leave at the end of April, but also a little relieved - going back to regular subbing would be like a vacation.
At this time I was offered a promotion to manager at the tutoring place I worked for. This meant more hours, but since I wouldn't be subbing long-term I figured it wouldn't be unbearable in my already busy schedule.
The next Monday I subbed at one school and Tuesday I subbed at another. While at lunch that Tuesday I received a call from the district saying that I was requested back at Roosevelt to cover for another teacher on maternity leave, and this placement would last through the end of the year. I was excited. One week away and then I was back at Roosevelt covering freshman and junior language arts classes.
Blessing #5
As the end of May approached I started stressing about job applications and where I would be the next fall. The band director had asked me to work with the marching band, but I wasn't able to give him a definite answer because I had no idea where I would be living or working. The uncertainty was killing me. Then one Friday after a really great flute lesson I got a phone call from the assistant principal I had been working with all year. He asked if I wanted to teach summer school and of course I jumped at the opportunity. I spent all of June teaching the second semester of sophomore language arts. My morning session started with 65 kids and the afternoon session started with 55. It was killer. Some of the kids (fortunately and unfortunately) slowly dropped out of the class and the numbers became more manageable. This was my first group of students that were truly mine. I didn't share them with a master teacher, and I didn't take over for another teacher, they were mine from day one and I ended up having a lot of fun.
Blessing #6
The second day of summer school I got a call from the district asking to schedule a screening interview for a permanent teaching position I had applied for. I told them I was interested but that I was teaching summer school and I wanted to know how that would work in terms of scheduling. They said they would call back. Two weeks later I still hadn't scheduled an interview time. Summer school was close to ending and I was starting to stress about what my next move would be. The district finally called back and I went in for an 8am interview during the last week of summer school. I felt really good going into the interview, and even better when I saw that I would be interviewed by Roosevelt's principal ( I had already spoken with him on several occasions). My uncle (an elementary school principal) had helped me prepare with sample interview questions and I felt comfortable the whole time. However, when I left all the adrenaline left me and I felt nauseous and nervous. I didn't think I could possibly get the position, and I had heard that at least 150 people had applied. I went back to my class planning on applying for more jobs as soon as summer school ended.
That afternoon I went to tutoring as usual. I sat down and started focusing on the work there when I got a phone call from the district. The voice on the other end said she wanted to offer me the Language Arts teaching position at Roosevelt. I was shocked, all I could think was, "Don't scream." I thanked her and asked her what I needed to do next as my eyes started tearing up. The next day I went in to sign my contract.
So that's it, my year in (a very large) nutshell :-p It looks like I will be teaching freshman language arts, and I will also be working with the flute section during band camp and throughout the fall marching season (in addition to private lessons). I am so excited (and nervous).
Timing is everything and this year proved it. Just when I started to stress about one thing ending and what I would do next, I was presented with a new opportunity. I had to keep telling myself this year to just concentrate on one thing at a time and trust that I was where I needed to be and doing what I needed to be doing. Timing and Divine providence.
I want to end this very long post with some thank you's. I want to thank everyone for their support and encouragement this year. When I started telling people that I got a full time position I was overwhelmed by how excited people were for me. At times it has felt like other people are more excited for me than I am (which is not a bad thing). Teaching is a huge responsibility and can be overwhelming, but it helps to know that so many people I admire and look up to are sure that I can take on this responsibility. I'm weary of thanking specific people because I'm sure I will leave people out but these people deserve special thanks.
My friends for basically allowing me to ignore you and be M.I.A. for the last six months of craziness.
I specifically want to thank my parents for not harassing me about living at home and for not constantly asking me what my plan was.
Thanks to my Aunt Monique and Uncle Robert for their insight and advice about all things concerning teaching and being a professional.
Thanks to Michael Fleischmann for allowing me to work with the flute section and supporting me throughout the application process, he is a great example of the Trojan Family in action.
I also want to give a special thanks to my mentors, my own teachers, for their advice and support and for allowing me to teach in their classrooms this year: Michelle Choi, Becky Dell, Michael Pavek, Ioana Ciuperca, thank you.
As many of you know, my life-long dream was to be a member of the Trojan Marching Band. But only some of you know that once I achieved that dream I sometimes questioned whether or not it was what I really wanted to be doing. As a freshman in the band you have a lot thrown at you: dance routines, music, traditions, practices three times a week, and 6:30am practice on Saturdays, and if you mess up you mess up in front of 90,000 people. It can be quite overwhelming, and naturally a spirited organization like that can be a rather intense environment. Sometimes after a particularly rough week of insanely hot practices in the summer sun I would wonder why I was still doing it. But then Saturday game days would arrive, and when I took the field for the pre-game show the world just kind of got quiet, and as I listened to the crowd roar as we spelled out USC and Trojans I knew in that moment that it was worth every minute of blood, sweat, and tears I spilled during the week.
I tell you this to illustrate that sense of peace, contentment, and sense of purpose. It often seems like those moments are few and far between, which is why we cherish them so much. I write to tell you that I had so many of those moments this year that I've simply lost track. This last year, with all of it's stress and uncertainty has been so full of blessings for me that I've been overwhelmed with the sense that I am where I am supposed to be and I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. They say timing is everything in life and this last year has proved that to me.
Blessing #1
"This last year" really started last March, when I randomly applied to and was accepted by Vive Peru. I spent six weeks last summer in Peru teaching flute, traveling the country, and improving my Spanish. By the time I came back it was August and most schools were already starting. As a result, I was late in the game for job applications and was not able to get a full time teaching position. That was kind of stressful, but I was also thankful that I would have time to recover from six years of college and six weeks of traveling.
Blessing #2
Last summer my Meme (grandma) went through intense surgery for cancer. She was in the hospital for quite a long period of time and needed people to stay with her in the hospital overnight. "Luckily" I did not have a job, nor did I have kids, school, or other responsibilities that required my presence and attention. I am not the only one who stayed overnight with her during this time, but I think I can safely say that I was the one who was able to stay with her (at night) the most (my pepe, aunts and uncles, and mom took turns during the day and some of the nights as well). This was fine with me, I tend to sleep all day and stay up reading all night anyways. It was hard to see my meme like that, she is a very strong and independent lady who likes to care for everyone else around her, but I will always cherish the time I spent with her and the opportunity I had to take care of her for a change. She was able to return home in October (and has since made a near miraculous recovery).
Blessing #3
Around this same time I was hired by a tutoring company down the street from my house, and I was finally able to go through the orientation and training required to start as a substitute teacher in the district I grew up in. These things started picking up just as Meme was able to start doing things more on her own again. I also worked up the nerve to introduce myself to the band director at one of the high schools, who just happens to tailgate next to me and my family at USC football games. He recommended me as a flute teacher to his students and I was able to start giving private flute lessons. I was also still getting catering gigs now and then on the weekends.....that makes 4 jobs.
In November I started worrying more about money and my job(s) situation. Subbing wasn't happening as often as I had planned. I had made it onto a few teachers' preferred sub lists, but waiting for that phone call between 5 and 7am was killing me (you all know how much I love getting up in the morning). Luckily technology saved me. I was able to download an app for my computer that "rang" every time a subbing gig became available. Once I got this app I started subbing every day, and I was able to be selective: I only did jr. high and high school and I only did history and language arts classes. Here is what my day looked like from November until the end of June:
7:15am-2:40pm subbing
3:30-7:00 tutoring
7:15- 7:45pm flute lessons
This schedule changed a little in the spring, but it was still roughly 7am-8pm. I had subbed at every high school in the district except for Eleanor Roosevelt, which is the newest high school in Corona-Norco (it opened after I graduated). I had never been there and really wanted to sub there. I finally got the chance in December. I was subbing in a Spanish classroom when I heard a knock at the door. A young, very pregnant lady said hello and told me she was there to observe me. I was very confused and said, "Oh, are you a student teacher?" (she looked my age or younger)
She said, "No, no, I'm a full-time teacher here."
My confusion grew...."You know I'm just a sub right?" I said.
"Oh yes, I'm looking for a long-term sub to take over my classes when I go on maternity leave," she replied.
Blessing #4
I had just started getting the hang of subbing in a different class every day and then I was presented with the opportunity to take over for the English Language Development teacher for four months. I was very nervous about being in charge of teaching a bunch of kids how to speak and improve their English, but I figured it was a bad idea to turn down an opportunity. In January I started teaching at Eleanor Roosevelt everyday in the same classroom. It was very, VERY challenging, but I learned so much. Some days I swore I would not go back the next day, but sure enough I went back and things were better. They aren't kidding when they say that teaching is a roller coaster. I stayed in this classroom until the end of April. During that time I really fell in love with the school, the staff, the students and my whole experience there. Everyone was so friendly and helpful and none of the teachers ever made me feel like I was "just a sub" or like I was "the new girl". I was sad to leave at the end of April, but also a little relieved - going back to regular subbing would be like a vacation.
At this time I was offered a promotion to manager at the tutoring place I worked for. This meant more hours, but since I wouldn't be subbing long-term I figured it wouldn't be unbearable in my already busy schedule.
The next Monday I subbed at one school and Tuesday I subbed at another. While at lunch that Tuesday I received a call from the district saying that I was requested back at Roosevelt to cover for another teacher on maternity leave, and this placement would last through the end of the year. I was excited. One week away and then I was back at Roosevelt covering freshman and junior language arts classes.
Blessing #5
As the end of May approached I started stressing about job applications and where I would be the next fall. The band director had asked me to work with the marching band, but I wasn't able to give him a definite answer because I had no idea where I would be living or working. The uncertainty was killing me. Then one Friday after a really great flute lesson I got a phone call from the assistant principal I had been working with all year. He asked if I wanted to teach summer school and of course I jumped at the opportunity. I spent all of June teaching the second semester of sophomore language arts. My morning session started with 65 kids and the afternoon session started with 55. It was killer. Some of the kids (fortunately and unfortunately) slowly dropped out of the class and the numbers became more manageable. This was my first group of students that were truly mine. I didn't share them with a master teacher, and I didn't take over for another teacher, they were mine from day one and I ended up having a lot of fun.
Blessing #6
The second day of summer school I got a call from the district asking to schedule a screening interview for a permanent teaching position I had applied for. I told them I was interested but that I was teaching summer school and I wanted to know how that would work in terms of scheduling. They said they would call back. Two weeks later I still hadn't scheduled an interview time. Summer school was close to ending and I was starting to stress about what my next move would be. The district finally called back and I went in for an 8am interview during the last week of summer school. I felt really good going into the interview, and even better when I saw that I would be interviewed by Roosevelt's principal ( I had already spoken with him on several occasions). My uncle (an elementary school principal) had helped me prepare with sample interview questions and I felt comfortable the whole time. However, when I left all the adrenaline left me and I felt nauseous and nervous. I didn't think I could possibly get the position, and I had heard that at least 150 people had applied. I went back to my class planning on applying for more jobs as soon as summer school ended.
That afternoon I went to tutoring as usual. I sat down and started focusing on the work there when I got a phone call from the district. The voice on the other end said she wanted to offer me the Language Arts teaching position at Roosevelt. I was shocked, all I could think was, "Don't scream." I thanked her and asked her what I needed to do next as my eyes started tearing up. The next day I went in to sign my contract.
So that's it, my year in (a very large) nutshell :-p It looks like I will be teaching freshman language arts, and I will also be working with the flute section during band camp and throughout the fall marching season (in addition to private lessons). I am so excited (and nervous).
Timing is everything and this year proved it. Just when I started to stress about one thing ending and what I would do next, I was presented with a new opportunity. I had to keep telling myself this year to just concentrate on one thing at a time and trust that I was where I needed to be and doing what I needed to be doing. Timing and Divine providence.
I want to end this very long post with some thank you's. I want to thank everyone for their support and encouragement this year. When I started telling people that I got a full time position I was overwhelmed by how excited people were for me. At times it has felt like other people are more excited for me than I am (which is not a bad thing). Teaching is a huge responsibility and can be overwhelming, but it helps to know that so many people I admire and look up to are sure that I can take on this responsibility. I'm weary of thanking specific people because I'm sure I will leave people out but these people deserve special thanks.
My friends for basically allowing me to ignore you and be M.I.A. for the last six months of craziness.
I specifically want to thank my parents for not harassing me about living at home and for not constantly asking me what my plan was.
Thanks to my Aunt Monique and Uncle Robert for their insight and advice about all things concerning teaching and being a professional.
Thanks to Michael Fleischmann for allowing me to work with the flute section and supporting me throughout the application process, he is a great example of the Trojan Family in action.
I also want to give a special thanks to my mentors, my own teachers, for their advice and support and for allowing me to teach in their classrooms this year: Michelle Choi, Becky Dell, Michael Pavek, Ioana Ciuperca, thank you.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Mi Vida En Trujillo
Entrance into the Conservatory
Main Courtyard of the Conservatory
Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas...the conservatory was just passed this.
Governor's Palace / Main government building
I loved all of the Spanish colonial wooden balconies
The place I've been living for the last 5 weeks. I lived on the third floor (there were four).
This is what I saw when I walked in the front gate.
First flight of stairs
Second flight of stairs
Three of my roommates had an additional flight to go up, but Elsa took pity on me the first day when she saw my two ginormous bags (most people only brought one).
Bathroom
Shower
Do you see all the electrical cords around the shower head? If you didn't turn on the water and then turn on the water heater switch then you shocked yourself.....
Hallway from the bathroom. My door was the first on the right
Messy room
Messy closet
This is my last post from Trujillo and I am really sad about it.
Tuesday was the medical campaign in El Progreso, one of the roughest areas around Trujillo. I spent the day making string bracelets for the neighborhood kids.
Thursday was a fun, we spent the day at the beach in Huanchaco and the sun was actually out. That night we went dancing at a club called Ama.....only in Peru is there a major dance club AT THE MALL. The music was great, and we had a huge group so it was fun. It was also Peruvian Independence day so the place was packed. After a shower and nearly 48 hours I can still smell the scent of cigarettes in my hair....ew.
Yesterday a few of us went to the mall for some last minute shopping. I bought myself some starbucks, and bought the Spanish version of Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter from the book store. Mario Vargas Llosa is a nobel prize winning Peruvian writer....we'll see how I do with it.
We also went out for our final dinner as a family last night. The five American girls, Elsa, and Douglas. It was a really nice dinner and I definitely teared up several times.
I spent most of today resting and packing. I said goodbye to my roommate Brigette this afternoon and I teared up again. Tonight we get on the bus to Lima. I'll spend the day there tomorrow and then Monday morning I get on a plane to Cusco for my final week in Peru...complete with a visit to Machu Picchu.
I've made a list of things about Trujillo that I'm going to miss:
The smell of fires. People make would burning fires, they also burn their rubbish, I like the smell.
I'm going to miss getting on and off of the crazy micro (bus) wherever I want. They don't have stops like in the U.S., you just flag them down and then tell them when you are ready to get off the bus.
Long road trips with lots of time to think and reflect, I think that is my favorite part of traveling.
Having to speak Spanish because there is no other option. My Spanish still isn't great, but it's better than it was when I got here.
Maybe this is in my head, but when I traveled around Greece all I could think of was how ancient the land looked. Here I feel like the deserts, roads, mountains, etc. all just look wild - like it's still the New World here.
I'm going to miss being fed three solid meals every day. I'm also going to really miss mealtimes with my roommates and host mom Elsa. There were some nights where we would just laugh hysterically about silly things.
This trip has been very different for me. In Greece I loved getting lost and finding things accidentally and just learning how to be independent. Here its the exact opposite, which I think is closer to the Peruvian culture. From what I could see, Peruvians are all about family, community, helping each other, and that's exactly what I've experienced here both with my host family and with my roommates. I had to learn to depend on people when I was sick, for travel plans, to get me around the city, to translate. I've been so lucky to be surrounded by such amazing people.
I'm going to miss Elsa. She is an amazing lady. She welcomed us into her home as daughters, not just tenants. She spoke slowly and acted things out for us. She practiced her English with us and was always ready and willing to try and learn more. She is very quick....and always ready with a joke and even sarcasm. Last night on the way home from dinner we were all pretty giggly. At one point Brigette decided to give Jenny a piggy back ride and run around like a crazy person. Elsa said to us in English, "I don't know you!" Omg it was the funniest thing.
I originally meant to spend a little more time describing some of this weeks activities, but I'm tearing up as I write this and I really can't think about anything other than how sad I am to leave. I feel like I just got used to being here.
My next post will most likely be when I'm back in the States, and I will have Machu Picchu pictures for you all to see!
Much love,
Danielle
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