As I embark on my adventures in New York City, I seem to keep saying... when school starts... when payday comes.... when I make friends... this really worries me. I have been saying when... statements all my life. When high school is over... when I go to college... when I go to NYC...
I seem to keep living in the future. I did this through out college and look where it got me.... not so many friends throughout most of college....... So many questions about how my life would have been different in college if I had actually gone out my freshman year and all the other times that I could have done things different.
The reason I bring this up is because of the new chapter that I am starting in my life. NYC is kinda a big place and I want to make the right impression, but at the same time I am not sure how to go about it. I called the girl I met last week and she hasn't called back.. why... I am not sure. We shall see.. it also seems that all of the 'new' teachers at my school are new to the school and the profession but not really right out of college.. aka not my age. It should be interesting.
In talking to my principal today (well... depends on what you call talking. she was talking to the other person in the room) it seems that I will be more of a technology coach rather that a technology teacher. That excites me. I am so excited to be able to show people technology and how it can enhance their classrooms. Although I would say that I am not jealous of others setting up their classrooms, but we shall see.
Ahhh.. the ramblings of a blogger.. laters y'all
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Time to update!
Sorry to all of you out there that are actually reading my blog! I have been a horrible person who has not update in a while. Life in New York is going well. The past three days I have been in city wide orientation with teachers from all over the city of NY. Its definitely an eye opener to walk into a room with 3000 other teachers and realize that we are all new, when districts in Oregon are likely to not even have that many teachers all together. But I guess the biggest fact that they said yesterday is the 1.1 million students that will be in the NYC public schools this year. 1.1 million... holy crap!
As for the apartment, its coming along very slowly. Mom sent some of my boxes from home today, so hopefully I will have some more to decorate with. My apartment is still very empty... my first piece of ordered stuff came today. Ironically it was the bookshelf I ordered on Tuesday, rather than the stuff I ordered over a week ago. I have done NOTHING today because I have been waiting for UPS to show up with my TV and my rug. I will be SO happy to finally get a tv... I have the cable guy scheduled for tomorrow morning so my stuff better come today... with it being 6:50 pm I am getting a littttle worried! We shall see. See... I still have only an air mattress in the apartment so I cannot wait for something else to sit on!
The best thing in the world from home comes tomorrow (besides Eric of course) SUZIE!!! Suzie will be arriving tomorrow morning at 730 am... which means I will be up and out of my apartment by 530... but I am SO happy to finally get her. I miss her so much and am SO excited to get her. I kept trying to tell Eric I would give him the cash if he flew her out, but it didn't fly with his not having a job, without having money, and not having parents that will help him with moving expenses when the time comes. Sad but I shall have to live. I will jsut be excited to have the kitty here with me. Someone to cuddle up with at night, as long as she doesn't pop the air mattress!!!!
That's how life is here. I hope that ya'll are enjoying the end of the summer. Don't forget to email me updates, incase some of you out there (who talked to me before I left) have went and got new jobs and all..... laters
As for the apartment, its coming along very slowly. Mom sent some of my boxes from home today, so hopefully I will have some more to decorate with. My apartment is still very empty... my first piece of ordered stuff came today. Ironically it was the bookshelf I ordered on Tuesday, rather than the stuff I ordered over a week ago. I have done NOTHING today because I have been waiting for UPS to show up with my TV and my rug. I will be SO happy to finally get a tv... I have the cable guy scheduled for tomorrow morning so my stuff better come today... with it being 6:50 pm I am getting a littttle worried! We shall see. See... I still have only an air mattress in the apartment so I cannot wait for something else to sit on!
The best thing in the world from home comes tomorrow (besides Eric of course) SUZIE!!! Suzie will be arriving tomorrow morning at 730 am... which means I will be up and out of my apartment by 530... but I am SO happy to finally get her. I miss her so much and am SO excited to get her. I kept trying to tell Eric I would give him the cash if he flew her out, but it didn't fly with his not having a job, without having money, and not having parents that will help him with moving expenses when the time comes. Sad but I shall have to live. I will jsut be excited to have the kitty here with me. Someone to cuddle up with at night, as long as she doesn't pop the air mattress!!!!
That's how life is here. I hope that ya'll are enjoying the end of the summer. Don't forget to email me updates, incase some of you out there (who talked to me before I left) have went and got new jobs and all..... laters
Friday, August 10, 2007
Pictures
Pictures of the Apartment.
In front of the apartment. (eveyone say mcdonalds)
Looking out the bedroom.
Looking out of the kitchen towards the eating area/ entry way
bathroom
kitchen
In front of the apartment. (eveyone say mcdonalds)
Looking out the bedroom.
Looking out of the kitchen towards the eating area/ entry way
bathroom
kitchen
Thursday, August 09, 2007
new york new york
I made it! I am in the big apple and not leaving. The last two days have consisted of many hours on the subway from Manhatten up to the Bronx. Three apartments later I put down a deposit on an apartment today.
The first apartment we saw was a studio for 850 a month. It was small but it would have worked for just me. It was plenty close to school but mom and I did not want to take the first place we saw. Which makes total sense. The next place we looked at was a one bedroom apartment for 1100 which is not bad. It is actually a little bigger than my Eugene apartment jsut because of a different layout. After not wanting to take the second one we looked at we headed home (to the hotel). I looked again on craigs list last night, found a few more and called this morning. AFter etting a hold of only one of them we went to find it... still close to school but it was a two bedroom for 1450, which with just me as this point, was too much.
After that I decided, with mom's help, that having a landloard who was less concerned with credit than with a 'quiet' tenet I would take the one bedroom. It is a little farther from school, a quick bus ride every day but it is nice.
So I called the landloard and told him that I would take it. We frantically went to find an atm that would give me enough money then money orders to go with that, then headed back up to sign the papers. Sadly the landlaord did not have the lease papers for me to sign so I didnt do that and mom didnt want me to give him the total first months rent and deposit until I sign the papers. I gave him a 200 dollar deposit instead and we have to go back AGAIN tomorrow.
On a side note, I miss Eugene and Oregon, in general, landloards who do not stick their noses into your business. I was explaining that I probably wouldnt put stuff into the aparment until the end of the weekend because we had the hotel and he went off about how there is no need to stay in the hotel if we have the apartment.... minus the lack of sleeping equiptment in the apartment and the other fact that mom doesnt get a refund from the hotel... O well.
For those of you that are wondering... my new address is....
Annie Erickson
666 Mace Avenue #2R
Bronx, NY 10467-7624
So there it is. I am a New Yorker now. OMG! Look for more updates and I get closer to the school year.
The first apartment we saw was a studio for 850 a month. It was small but it would have worked for just me. It was plenty close to school but mom and I did not want to take the first place we saw. Which makes total sense. The next place we looked at was a one bedroom apartment for 1100 which is not bad. It is actually a little bigger than my Eugene apartment jsut because of a different layout. After not wanting to take the second one we looked at we headed home (to the hotel). I looked again on craigs list last night, found a few more and called this morning. AFter etting a hold of only one of them we went to find it... still close to school but it was a two bedroom for 1450, which with just me as this point, was too much.
After that I decided, with mom's help, that having a landloard who was less concerned with credit than with a 'quiet' tenet I would take the one bedroom. It is a little farther from school, a quick bus ride every day but it is nice.
So I called the landloard and told him that I would take it. We frantically went to find an atm that would give me enough money then money orders to go with that, then headed back up to sign the papers. Sadly the landlaord did not have the lease papers for me to sign so I didnt do that and mom didnt want me to give him the total first months rent and deposit until I sign the papers. I gave him a 200 dollar deposit instead and we have to go back AGAIN tomorrow.
On a side note, I miss Eugene and Oregon, in general, landloards who do not stick their noses into your business. I was explaining that I probably wouldnt put stuff into the aparment until the end of the weekend because we had the hotel and he went off about how there is no need to stay in the hotel if we have the apartment.... minus the lack of sleeping equiptment in the apartment and the other fact that mom doesnt get a refund from the hotel... O well.
For those of you that are wondering... my new address is....
Annie Erickson
666 Mace Avenue #2R
Bronx, NY 10467-7624
So there it is. I am a New Yorker now. OMG! Look for more updates and I get closer to the school year.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Looking at the name of this blog
I just realized that the name of this blog is kind of outdated now...hmm.. I might have to change the name (not the site address)....
anyway...
Today. Today has been an interesting day. It was a day full of morning academics. Academics = no use for Annie. O well. I sat around most of the morning then we to get Thai food for the senior staff. The Thai food was actually pretty good compaired to last time, though I felt like it almost had no flavor. But it was better than caf (cafiteria) food! Then I took a nap instead of going to actual lunch. That was nice but I think it was too long but I couldnt recover. O well. Then there was the cell phone debockle. The system we have set up for cell phone use is SO stupid. Kids are not allowed to keep their cell phones, so we put them in baggies and put tags in with them. Then for a half hour a day they can use them but they have to return them. If the dont return them... there are no consequences. WE are not even holding them up for dinner anymore. Hwo sad is that? AT least if we hold them up for dinner the teams held them responsible. Not any more...no reason to turn in their cell phones. O well. I cant run the store and do cell phones at the same time... We shall see how it goes.
For all my loyal fans, only 8 days till I head to the city. Look for updates as soon as possible when I get to the city starting Aug 6th!
anyway...
Today. Today has been an interesting day. It was a day full of morning academics. Academics = no use for Annie. O well. I sat around most of the morning then we to get Thai food for the senior staff. The Thai food was actually pretty good compaired to last time, though I felt like it almost had no flavor. But it was better than caf (cafiteria) food! Then I took a nap instead of going to actual lunch. That was nice but I think it was too long but I couldnt recover. O well. Then there was the cell phone debockle. The system we have set up for cell phone use is SO stupid. Kids are not allowed to keep their cell phones, so we put them in baggies and put tags in with them. Then for a half hour a day they can use them but they have to return them. If the dont return them... there are no consequences. WE are not even holding them up for dinner anymore. Hwo sad is that? AT least if we hold them up for dinner the teams held them responsible. Not any more...no reason to turn in their cell phones. O well. I cant run the store and do cell phones at the same time... We shall see how it goes.
For all my loyal fans, only 8 days till I head to the city. Look for updates as soon as possible when I get to the city starting Aug 6th!
Friday, July 27, 2007
Surviving
That's aboout all it is right now. I am surviving. Kathie's mom died yesterday, which hit me pretty hard. The issue was more for Kathie and the family rather than Thelma passing, because I know how much they all loved her and grieving my own gradmother some more. Then yesterday I had to move again here at camp, it's really frustrating to have to move every 1- days. I was hoping to have a summer home here but I have given up on that idea. Moving so much makes unpacking hard so I just left it in the suitcases this time. O well.
Just an update from Ithaca. Ill be in NYC in 10 days. I am super looking forward to something different than beautiful Ithaca.
PS. Ithaca reminds me SO much of Oregon, Eugene in particular. The downtown here had hippy shops and smelled like Eugene.... gotta love it.
Just an update from Ithaca. Ill be in NYC in 10 days. I am super looking forward to something different than beautiful Ithaca.
PS. Ithaca reminds me SO much of Oregon, Eugene in particular. The downtown here had hippy shops and smelled like Eugene.... gotta love it.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Poetry Night
Tonight is poetry night at camp. Poetry always makes me feel like writing. Now instead of writing in a journal, which I never felt comfortable, I write on this. At least with a blog I feel like there is some purpose, others readying my inner thoughts.
I love to write anything and everything down. I feel most comfortable when I have an outlet. Whether or not people read this, I really don't care. I only write what I want others to see. Which is totally fine.
As for poetry, I love to write it but I am not a fan of reading it. As with most literature, I always feel clueless. I try to get the concepts that people point out, and I try to read every word, but it seems there is always a distraction or a lack of confidence in myself that leads me to not understand. I have long wondered if I suffer from dislyxia, which my sister has, because I tend to mix up letters and number as well as have issues sounding out and spelling words. It is hard to be a college graduate and not be able to spell like one. I also feel like my writing should be better than it is and that I lack the skill. I am working slowing on my self confidence and camp really helps in that.
I do have to say, on the camp note, looking over my life in the past four years, since I was first introduced to the 8 keys of excellence, I see myself using them more and more. The eight keys are
~integerty
~failure leads to success
~this is it
~speak with good purpose
~commitment
~ownership
~flexability
~balance
These eight keys were researched by SuperCamp's founder and were the most common atributes to successful people. In looking at these keys, and my life as it is now, I believe the most important key for me is the key THIS IS IT. I see myself living by this key as I tyrpe. I am moving to NYC, I am loving the spot that I am in, and I am taking my relationship one day at a time (ERic and I are GREAT FYI).
Random side note, I told a team leader today about Eric and I and how we are not sure if he will be in NYC and she said "I'd tell him if he was serious that he HAD to move to NYC" but she said I was being very mature and it is amazing how I can want him to be happy more than need to be with him. I want him to be happy, I need him to be happy, other wise I cannot see us working out. I cant live with regret and neither can he. I will not move for him, because I need to be me, and so why should I tell him he needs to move for me?! Makes sense. she said. Gotta love being 22 right!?! (the TL is 22). Gotta love life. Time to head up to the dorms to sell more water and food before bed.
Love yall and I hope you enjoy reading my ramblings.
ps. leave some love so I know someone is reading!
I love to write anything and everything down. I feel most comfortable when I have an outlet. Whether or not people read this, I really don't care. I only write what I want others to see. Which is totally fine.
As for poetry, I love to write it but I am not a fan of reading it. As with most literature, I always feel clueless. I try to get the concepts that people point out, and I try to read every word, but it seems there is always a distraction or a lack of confidence in myself that leads me to not understand. I have long wondered if I suffer from dislyxia, which my sister has, because I tend to mix up letters and number as well as have issues sounding out and spelling words. It is hard to be a college graduate and not be able to spell like one. I also feel like my writing should be better than it is and that I lack the skill. I am working slowing on my self confidence and camp really helps in that.
I do have to say, on the camp note, looking over my life in the past four years, since I was first introduced to the 8 keys of excellence, I see myself using them more and more. The eight keys are
~integerty
~failure leads to success
~this is it
~speak with good purpose
~commitment
~ownership
~flexability
~balance
These eight keys were researched by SuperCamp's founder and were the most common atributes to successful people. In looking at these keys, and my life as it is now, I believe the most important key for me is the key THIS IS IT. I see myself living by this key as I tyrpe. I am moving to NYC, I am loving the spot that I am in, and I am taking my relationship one day at a time (ERic and I are GREAT FYI).
Random side note, I told a team leader today about Eric and I and how we are not sure if he will be in NYC and she said "I'd tell him if he was serious that he HAD to move to NYC" but she said I was being very mature and it is amazing how I can want him to be happy more than need to be with him. I want him to be happy, I need him to be happy, other wise I cannot see us working out. I cant live with regret and neither can he. I will not move for him, because I need to be me, and so why should I tell him he needs to move for me?! Makes sense. she said. Gotta love being 22 right!?! (the TL is 22). Gotta love life. Time to head up to the dorms to sell more water and food before bed.
Love yall and I hope you enjoy reading my ramblings.
ps. leave some love so I know someone is reading!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Parent Talk
Tonight is the parent talk at camp. The parent talk is designed to help students realize what parents are going through and hopefully mend relationships. It is an intersting talk for kids and staff to go through. I know this was an emotional time for me last time I went through this.
I can see the emotions on some kids faces and it is amazing, how SueprCamp can change lives in ten days.
This piece makes me think about my own parents. I have so many issues with them. Although I lvoe them both, I feel like things could have gone way different in my life. I will not go into details because of time constraints, but times like this I think of the ... interesting times at home, and wonder... what it would have been to have parents who liked each other or at least talked.
I wonder what it would be like to have both parents on time to an event, to have all of my family at one event and not have to run interference. It would have been interesting, but it has shaped me into the person that I am today. For this I dont know if I am greatful or sad. But I have learned many lessons.
It will take me a long time to marry, for I dont want it to be the wrong person. It wil take me a long time to have kids, still worrying whether my partner is the right one and if I am going to mess up my kids. So many questions that I wanted answered when I was little that ring in my head. It should be intersting.
Right now I am focusing on NYC and moving. I still dont have a bus ticket, altough there is a bus that will take me to NYC straight from campus here which is nice.
Time to head back to session. Night yall...
I can see the emotions on some kids faces and it is amazing, how SueprCamp can change lives in ten days.
This piece makes me think about my own parents. I have so many issues with them. Although I lvoe them both, I feel like things could have gone way different in my life. I will not go into details because of time constraints, but times like this I think of the ... interesting times at home, and wonder... what it would have been to have parents who liked each other or at least talked.
I wonder what it would be like to have both parents on time to an event, to have all of my family at one event and not have to run interference. It would have been interesting, but it has shaped me into the person that I am today. For this I dont know if I am greatful or sad. But I have learned many lessons.
It will take me a long time to marry, for I dont want it to be the wrong person. It wil take me a long time to have kids, still worrying whether my partner is the right one and if I am going to mess up my kids. So many questions that I wanted answered when I was little that ring in my head. It should be intersting.
Right now I am focusing on NYC and moving. I still dont have a bus ticket, altough there is a bus that will take me to NYC straight from campus here which is nice.
Time to head back to session. Night yall...
Friday, July 20, 2007
hello from camp
Hey y'all. I hope you are all doing well.
Its day six around here. We are fast approaching the end of camp and we are finally running at full speed. I can finally upload videos, which is part of my job. And the store is running smoothly for the most part.
I am getting excited about moving to the city, although it does not seem real that I will not be returning to Eugene come the end of camp. One other person from here lives in the city, she lives in Brooklyn, so at least I will have a contact in the city. Mom is still looking for a ticket to come out and help me find an apartment which is exciting. I cant believe that I leave for the city in... 17 days. 17 days and counting.
Hope yall are enjoying your summer and don't be afraid to email. erickson.annie@gmail.com
Its day six around here. We are fast approaching the end of camp and we are finally running at full speed. I can finally upload videos, which is part of my job. And the store is running smoothly for the most part.
I am not making as good of friends here as I did with Bri last time I was at camp, but I expected it because of the distance between the staff and myself, seeing how I am the only person on campus with my job.
I am getting excited about moving to the city, although it does not seem real that I will not be returning to Eugene come the end of camp. One other person from here lives in the city, she lives in Brooklyn, so at least I will have a contact in the city. Mom is still looking for a ticket to come out and help me find an apartment which is exciting. I cant believe that I leave for the city in... 17 days. 17 days and counting.
Hope yall are enjoying your summer and don't be afraid to email. erickson.annie@gmail.com
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Longer blog
So it has been a long day here at camp. Today we did some more bonding as a staff. Then I got the chance to work on my store. I opened all my boxes, folded and hung up t-shirts, and took inventory. After a long day of work, including more games with the TL's my store is looking good and I am super excited.
This should be an interesting camp. I am super excited about most people here. The other few that I am worried about it is just because they are over the top in what I see as a not so positive way or not all the way into camp. We shall see how it works out. As for home, it seems that Jazz and Suzie are getting along just fine. Not without supervision yet, but doing good.
Here to prove it.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
alive
Just wanted to give a quick update.... lights out was one minute ago. Im alive, today was a LONg day of ropes course. i rocked the high beam that was like 50 feet off the ground. i also did the high trust fall, which honestly wasnt as high as last time i did it. i miss everyone back home but im loving my camp peeps.... tiem for sleep. leave a comment so i know who's reading.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
long days
It has been a couple of long days. Between the move yesterday and good bye's today its been a long couple of days.
To recap. Yesterday I moved out of my apt in Eugene. Suzie and I were out of the house by 12:15 pm yesterday. Pretty good for a goal of noon. (the only reason we didnt make it was I needed newspaper to put under the bug bombs...) We headed to Eric's house, AKA Suzie's summer home. She will only be there until I can find a place in NYC. After dropping off the Suz, I headed to Sunnyside to drop off my big tv to my little bro's mom (we have different moms). After that I headed to my mom's house on the mountain to do some luggage shuffle. I had some she's taking and she had some I am taking. After talking wtih mom for a while and mkaing sure all the plans for Vegas were in place I was off again. This time down tot he water front in Portland to hang out with David and his parents. What a novel idea, a 23 year old who still likes to hang out wiht his parents. After a wonderful fireworks display (iI forgot how wonderful fireworks are in person) David and I headed to our dear friend Monica's apartment to hang out and crash.
To recap. Yesterday I moved out of my apt in Eugene. Suzie and I were out of the house by 12:15 pm yesterday. Pretty good for a goal of noon. (the only reason we didnt make it was I needed newspaper to put under the bug bombs...) We headed to Eric's house, AKA Suzie's summer home. She will only be there until I can find a place in NYC. After dropping off the Suz, I headed to Sunnyside to drop off my big tv to my little bro's mom (we have different moms). After that I headed to my mom's house on the mountain to do some luggage shuffle. I had some she's taking and she had some I am taking. After talking wtih mom for a while and mkaing sure all the plans for Vegas were in place I was off again. This time down tot he water front in Portland to hang out with David and his parents. What a novel idea, a 23 year old who still likes to hang out wiht his parents. After a wonderful fireworks display (iI forgot how wonderful fireworks are in person) David and I headed to our dear friend Monica's apartment to hang out and crash.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Leaving....
Today I am leaving Eugene. After five years in Eugene, enjoying friends, family and classes I move away. I wanted to take time to say thank you to all of you out there who have made an impact in my life.
Housing has been a HUGE part of my life. From meeting Eric, to being able to go to camp because housing was paid for. The main office, I will never forget! I have loved working in the main office of housing, although sometimes boring, it has paid for lots of things and I dont think I would have made it these last two years without Janice. Janice, thanx again for everything. You have no idea how much you mean to me.
Eugene-ians, education girls. I cant believe it's over. I am so glad that we became friends (and reconnected). You girls are special. I cant wait to swap teaching stories with you guys in the future. Hey, maybe I will move back at some point right!?! We shall see.
To everyone out there reading this, thank you. You know what you mean to me (or at least I hope you do...) Please, keep in touch. I cant wait to see you again.
Housing has been a HUGE part of my life. From meeting Eric, to being able to go to camp because housing was paid for. The main office, I will never forget! I have loved working in the main office of housing, although sometimes boring, it has paid for lots of things and I dont think I would have made it these last two years without Janice. Janice, thanx again for everything. You have no idea how much you mean to me.
Eugene-ians, education girls. I cant believe it's over. I am so glad that we became friends (and reconnected). You girls are special. I cant wait to swap teaching stories with you guys in the future. Hey, maybe I will move back at some point right!?! We shall see.
To everyone out there reading this, thank you. You know what you mean to me (or at least I hope you do...) Please, keep in touch. I cant wait to see you again.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Another milestone.. they keep coming
This weekend was another milestone. (apparently my fingers think it should be milestone rather than milestone...) I got a tattoo. I am super lazy and without pictures, so you can see the pictures on Eric's blog Unpublished Art. They are GREAT pictures. Including me wincing in pain, yes it HURT!!! And the final product minutes afterward.
Now, I can say I have a tattoo. That means I am ready to move to NYC right!? I'm a real New Yorker now: I have a tattoo and an iPod. NYC here I come.
10 days till Vegas
14 till camp training starts
42 days till I arrive in the city!!
WATCH OUT NYC... HERE I COME!
Now, I can say I have a tattoo. That means I am ready to move to NYC right!? I'm a real New Yorker now: I have a tattoo and an iPod. NYC here I come.
10 days till Vegas
14 till camp training starts
42 days till I arrive in the city!!
WATCH OUT NYC... HERE I COME!
Friday, June 22, 2007
A JOB!!!
That's right... I got a J O B!! Must mean Im an adult. WRONG.. never. ok seriously. I will be the technology teacher for the 2nd through 4th grade at PS/MS20 in the Bronx. Thats right. Technology. Im going to be the CRAZY teacher that drives her COW around the halls, coming in to teach random lessons here and there. I am so excited. I hope to know each and every child in 2nd through 4th grade. I will not have my own classroom but we shall see how that goes.
Im going back and fourth about it. I am super excited to get to teach technology to both students and other teachers, but at the same time I realized that I will not have my own classroom, which means I have no need for a classroom library right now. I am also going thought the usual issues of, is this right for me. Am I making a huge mistake going into teaching? Should I go into office work and be some one's right hand? It would be easy, I wouldn't have to learn how to spell. Would be WAY easier. I have the experience... who would kill me? EVERYONE! But I could do it.
We shall see. As for now I have accepted the job with PS 20 and we shall see how it goes. Ill learn a lot about computers that's for sure. I hope they have macs, but I don't think so. Creativity time if they do not...
going insane.. someone help....
Im going back and fourth about it. I am super excited to get to teach technology to both students and other teachers, but at the same time I realized that I will not have my own classroom, which means I have no need for a classroom library right now. I am also going thought the usual issues of, is this right for me. Am I making a huge mistake going into teaching? Should I go into office work and be some one's right hand? It would be easy, I wouldn't have to learn how to spell. Would be WAY easier. I have the experience... who would kill me? EVERYONE! But I could do it.
We shall see. As for now I have accepted the job with PS 20 and we shall see how it goes. Ill learn a lot about computers that's for sure. I hope they have macs, but I don't think so. Creativity time if they do not...
going insane.. someone help....
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Back from NYC and graduated
Ah... how much I love Oregon.. ok .. not really but I am glad to be back and less stressed. Last week was a LONG week traveling and interviewing. Then making sure I was back and ready for graduation on time. Yeah... long week. Further details you ask...ok.
Sunday, I flew to NYC on a red eye flight, only getting at most, four hours of sleep. Then picking up my very heavy luggage I treked into the city. An air train, two subway trains, a wrong platform and a two block walk I was at my hostel. It only took 3 hours. But on this trip I found my first nice New Yorker. After standing and watching about a million wrong trains go by, this very nice old man asked where I was going and pointed me in the right direction. Great.. 2 hours and I already lost. O well. back on track I was. After finding out I couldnt check into my hostel until four (it being 10 am) I locked up my stuff, grabbed only the essentials and headed out for a day in the city. Hitting Central Park first, I couldn't help but feel at home in the trees and kids playing. Reminded me of some of the parks in Oregon, minus the creepy people. Being noon on a Monday the park was full of people running and playing tennis, rather than bums and people asking for money. When playing in the park was done, I found myself a first New York hotdog from a vender. It was ok... too much sourcrout, but still good from a stary-eyed country girl (jk)! The rest of the afternoon I played 'walk til I am tired then hop on the subway and ride for a while.' This game is fun, especally when you are SUPER lost and have no idea where you are minus the subway stop that happens to be on the corner. Just for future reference, an unlimited metro card cannot be used again or 20 minutes after you use it so make sure its the right stop before you enter!
That was all on Monday!!! After sleeping a good 12 hours, I got up and started to get fancy for my trip to the career fair. With the fair being WAY up in the middle of nowhere in the Bronx I wanted to make sure I got there early. And boy did I. I was at the fair at 2pm... it was to start at three... o wait. not till 4. So I was there two hours early..o well. After a short speech of, this is what you should and shouldn't say, off we went. Of course I was sitting on the wrong side and ended up going in last, but I hit the ground running, after ten minutes I was in my first interview. The first interview I had went ok. It was all of ten minutes long (they aparently do things fast there) and I set up a demo lesson in the school. Thursday 9am. Interesting... off and running again. After looking around to see what there was, I saw a table that said TECHNOLOGY. That's the table for me I said. After about 20 minutes in line I was next. I sat down and introduced myself (I forgot that part last time) and bosted my technology experiences and how much I was excited to move to the big city. With my 'unique' experiences in technology the principal asked me back for an interview at the school. 'Which works better, Friday or Monday," she said. Umm...with college graduation looming that Friday I stated that I would not be in town and had another interview on Thursday. So she set me up with her assistant principal for the next day (without the assistant principal knowing). After that I waited another 30 minutes in a line to be cut off with only two people in front of me. Seeing as how this was the first table to leave and it had already been an hour and a half, I decided that was it for the day, I wouldn't be able to fit more in this trip anyway.
So, bright and shiney early Wednesday morning I headed up to have my frist interview. Without being able to actually talk to the assistant principal like I was supposed to I showed up anyway, hoping it has just been a SUPER busy morning and they still wanted to interview me. I got the standard, why NYC questions, along with the 'its going to be hard' speech. All of this I realize, but she wanted for me to have an experience in a NYC classroom before I was locked in forever, at her school or another schoool. I stayed at the site for over two hours. Having a fifth grade teacher show me the ropes, between meeting all the VERY friendly teachers, to students that were eager to find out what I would be teaching. It was AMAZING! These kids were so full of like, so excited. I really like that school and I couldnt ask for much more. The only down fall for this school is the lack of technology but that can be fixed! The rest of the day was spent on more tourist stuffs... Staten Island Ferry, World Trade Center, stuff like that. It was fun but tiring. As I drug myself back to hostel to change, Niki, a german student, came into the hostel room. A Very nice girl she is, she had a ticket to that night's comedy show off broadway. Being the go getter that I am, I said SURE! Only here for one more night might as well enjoy it right!?! Sweet. Off we went to our comedy show and enjoyed it. Although it was NYC I had people with Oregon stories approaching me (wearing my ORegon hoodie and all). It was way fun. Now all I had to get through was my impending demo lesson.
Again up bright and shiney early, I packed up all my stuff, put it into a locker and headed on the subway, sure of where I was going. Well.. of course I was super sure of where I was going. I had looked everything up perfectly. Well, when you look up schedules for NYC busses make sure you know which way to go. After wasting an HOUR I finally realized I went the wrong way on the bus and had ended up totally no where NEAR the school I needed to be at in an hour. Good thing I left early. So, catching the bus back to the subway station, I found the bus going the RIGHT way and walked off the bus with only minutes to spare. Right into the demo lesson I went. Highest fifth grade class, idioms I had chosen. Why? not sure, just wanted to teach something that I could do quickly with no resources. After the lesson, which I felt went ok, I had my interview with the principal, math and literacy coaches and what would be my mentor teacher. Man did I FRY in the interview. They sure did grill me up pretty well. I was done. At least this is what I felt like. I didnt know what 'balenced literacy was' and I didnt connect my idioms to anything. My defence was, with the proper materials and support from collegues that lesson would have gone a lot better, but with the lack of that in NYC I did the best I could. Is my best good enough, we'll see on Friday. After I found my way back to the bus after the interview I decided to check out Times Square and did a little shopping. AFter a long day, that was just starting, I decided to head to the airport even though I was SUPER early. O well right? Time to decompress. I was at the airport by 2, had lunch, and waited for my flight that was an hour late, at 730. Getting home safe I realized I love Oregon, but I am ready to move on.
So, Friday I will know about my demo lesson and I am not sure when I will hear about the other one. WE shall see... back to the drawing board if I do not get them.
ps... oregon educated people are not that bad...
Sunday, I flew to NYC on a red eye flight, only getting at most, four hours of sleep. Then picking up my very heavy luggage I treked into the city. An air train, two subway trains, a wrong platform and a two block walk I was at my hostel. It only took 3 hours. But on this trip I found my first nice New Yorker. After standing and watching about a million wrong trains go by, this very nice old man asked where I was going and pointed me in the right direction. Great.. 2 hours and I already lost. O well. back on track I was. After finding out I couldnt check into my hostel until four (it being 10 am) I locked up my stuff, grabbed only the essentials and headed out for a day in the city. Hitting Central Park first, I couldn't help but feel at home in the trees and kids playing. Reminded me of some of the parks in Oregon, minus the creepy people. Being noon on a Monday the park was full of people running and playing tennis, rather than bums and people asking for money. When playing in the park was done, I found myself a first New York hotdog from a vender. It was ok... too much sourcrout, but still good from a stary-eyed country girl (jk)! The rest of the afternoon I played 'walk til I am tired then hop on the subway and ride for a while.' This game is fun, especally when you are SUPER lost and have no idea where you are minus the subway stop that happens to be on the corner. Just for future reference, an unlimited metro card cannot be used again or 20 minutes after you use it so make sure its the right stop before you enter!
That was all on Monday!!! After sleeping a good 12 hours, I got up and started to get fancy for my trip to the career fair. With the fair being WAY up in the middle of nowhere in the Bronx I wanted to make sure I got there early. And boy did I. I was at the fair at 2pm... it was to start at three... o wait. not till 4. So I was there two hours early..o well. After a short speech of, this is what you should and shouldn't say, off we went. Of course I was sitting on the wrong side and ended up going in last, but I hit the ground running, after ten minutes I was in my first interview. The first interview I had went ok. It was all of ten minutes long (they aparently do things fast there) and I set up a demo lesson in the school. Thursday 9am. Interesting... off and running again. After looking around to see what there was, I saw a table that said TECHNOLOGY. That's the table for me I said. After about 20 minutes in line I was next. I sat down and introduced myself (I forgot that part last time) and bosted my technology experiences and how much I was excited to move to the big city. With my 'unique' experiences in technology the principal asked me back for an interview at the school. 'Which works better, Friday or Monday," she said. Umm...with college graduation looming that Friday I stated that I would not be in town and had another interview on Thursday. So she set me up with her assistant principal for the next day (without the assistant principal knowing). After that I waited another 30 minutes in a line to be cut off with only two people in front of me. Seeing as how this was the first table to leave and it had already been an hour and a half, I decided that was it for the day, I wouldn't be able to fit more in this trip anyway.
So, bright and shiney early Wednesday morning I headed up to have my frist interview. Without being able to actually talk to the assistant principal like I was supposed to I showed up anyway, hoping it has just been a SUPER busy morning and they still wanted to interview me. I got the standard, why NYC questions, along with the 'its going to be hard' speech. All of this I realize, but she wanted for me to have an experience in a NYC classroom before I was locked in forever, at her school or another schoool. I stayed at the site for over two hours. Having a fifth grade teacher show me the ropes, between meeting all the VERY friendly teachers, to students that were eager to find out what I would be teaching. It was AMAZING! These kids were so full of like, so excited. I really like that school and I couldnt ask for much more. The only down fall for this school is the lack of technology but that can be fixed! The rest of the day was spent on more tourist stuffs... Staten Island Ferry, World Trade Center, stuff like that. It was fun but tiring. As I drug myself back to hostel to change, Niki, a german student, came into the hostel room. A Very nice girl she is, she had a ticket to that night's comedy show off broadway. Being the go getter that I am, I said SURE! Only here for one more night might as well enjoy it right!?! Sweet. Off we went to our comedy show and enjoyed it. Although it was NYC I had people with Oregon stories approaching me (wearing my ORegon hoodie and all). It was way fun. Now all I had to get through was my impending demo lesson.
Again up bright and shiney early, I packed up all my stuff, put it into a locker and headed on the subway, sure of where I was going. Well.. of course I was super sure of where I was going. I had looked everything up perfectly. Well, when you look up schedules for NYC busses make sure you know which way to go. After wasting an HOUR I finally realized I went the wrong way on the bus and had ended up totally no where NEAR the school I needed to be at in an hour. Good thing I left early. So, catching the bus back to the subway station, I found the bus going the RIGHT way and walked off the bus with only minutes to spare. Right into the demo lesson I went. Highest fifth grade class, idioms I had chosen. Why? not sure, just wanted to teach something that I could do quickly with no resources. After the lesson, which I felt went ok, I had my interview with the principal, math and literacy coaches and what would be my mentor teacher. Man did I FRY in the interview. They sure did grill me up pretty well. I was done. At least this is what I felt like. I didnt know what 'balenced literacy was' and I didnt connect my idioms to anything. My defence was, with the proper materials and support from collegues that lesson would have gone a lot better, but with the lack of that in NYC I did the best I could. Is my best good enough, we'll see on Friday. After I found my way back to the bus after the interview I decided to check out Times Square and did a little shopping. AFter a long day, that was just starting, I decided to head to the airport even though I was SUPER early. O well right? Time to decompress. I was at the airport by 2, had lunch, and waited for my flight that was an hour late, at 730. Getting home safe I realized I love Oregon, but I am ready to move on.
So, Friday I will know about my demo lesson and I am not sure when I will hear about the other one. WE shall see... back to the drawing board if I do not get them.
ps... oregon educated people are not that bad...
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
NYC traveler
Hey yall. (if anyone reads this) Im writing from my hostel in nyc. the hostel is nice, ten girls to a very small room but there is plenty of space in my locker for everything. its day two of four and i am super sore from walking EVERYWHERE yesterday. i played walk around until i got tired then hop on the subway to a different part of manhatten.
i am LOVING nyc. it is so refeshing to see diversity. there was more color on the frist subway that i was on yesterday than there is in ujean! jk.. but close. i am quickly becoming adjusted to walking and riding the subway. today i try my hand at the bus for my interview. wish me luck. time to look up info for my interview. ill let you know how it goes.
i am LOVING nyc. it is so refeshing to see diversity. there was more color on the frist subway that i was on yesterday than there is in ujean! jk.. but close. i am quickly becoming adjusted to walking and riding the subway. today i try my hand at the bus for my interview. wish me luck. time to look up info for my interview. ill let you know how it goes.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
End of an Era
Tomorrow will be the end of an era. I am finishing my degree tomorrow. Well, finishing the classes for my degree tomorrow. After five years in college I will be done. It is hard to imagine what life will be like without college. What will weekends be without the fear of homework looming over me?
All week I have been stressing about stuff that is happening this week. Frist off, capstone presentations, the presentation of my masters thesis (capstone), were a joke. The professor didn't watch any of them, no other facilty (except one education and our tech teacher) showed up to watch, and people sat down and read their PowerPoint slides to us. This was a big let down to me, but also a big stresser off of me. I have finished one class and am in my one of my last grad classes. Within the next few hours I will be done with classes as a grad student. Craziness
Tomorrow I will be going back to my student teaching class for the lsat time tomorrow. Life is pretty crazy. I am going to miss those kids, I am going to miss my teacher but I am excited that she wants to do pin pals. I really want to do epin pals, aka email pin pals. Google is GREAT for this because of the conversations aspect.
When thinking of my job in housing it has been interesting. I started training my replacement this week. It has been great to see that people in housing keep saying "replace you, i did not think that was possible." means people actually Love me in housing. It means I have done a good job overall in my job. Hopefully that transfers over to the real world and my classroom. I REALLY need to get a letter of rec from my boss.
It has been an interesting and good experience in college. I feel like, instead of gratudaiton, this weekend going to NYC is going to be the ending of college and the starting of my new life. We shall see....
Off to listen in my last class.
All week I have been stressing about stuff that is happening this week. Frist off, capstone presentations, the presentation of my masters thesis (capstone), were a joke. The professor didn't watch any of them, no other facilty (except one education and our tech teacher) showed up to watch, and people sat down and read their PowerPoint slides to us. This was a big let down to me, but also a big stresser off of me. I have finished one class and am in my one of my last grad classes. Within the next few hours I will be done with classes as a grad student. Craziness
Tomorrow I will be going back to my student teaching class for the lsat time tomorrow. Life is pretty crazy. I am going to miss those kids, I am going to miss my teacher but I am excited that she wants to do pin pals. I really want to do epin pals, aka email pin pals. Google is GREAT for this because of the conversations aspect.
When thinking of my job in housing it has been interesting. I started training my replacement this week. It has been great to see that people in housing keep saying "replace you, i did not think that was possible." means people actually Love me in housing. It means I have done a good job overall in my job. Hopefully that transfers over to the real world and my classroom. I REALLY need to get a letter of rec from my boss.
It has been an interesting and good experience in college. I feel like, instead of gratudaiton, this weekend going to NYC is going to be the ending of college and the starting of my new life. We shall see....
Off to listen in my last class.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Life is a changin.....
O man. Again its been a while. I have been very busy. If you don't remember I am finishing up my degree here at U Oregon. I am less than 4 weeks away from being unofficially done (assuming I pass everything). In 4 weeks and 4 days I will be offically done and walking across a stage that says I am DONE!!!
Today is a mile stone in my education career. I am sitting next to my final capstone paper. For those of you who do not know what a 'capstone' is, it is the final paper at the end of my Master's Degree. The topic of the paper the Digital Divide. I finished the paper today. It's done. It ended up being 18 full pages, 24 with all the extra stuff. I am so excited it's done. Now all I gotta do is do the presentation.
This means it's basically over. College is just about done... I am not sure how I feel about this. In three weeks I will be in NYC interviewing for jobs. I am starting to freak out.. that's all. So freaking close, what if I don't get a job while I am there in June? What happens if I get a really bad apartment? What if I cant pay my bills?
I guess I am one step closer. One step closer to being an adult, one step closer to being done wiht school and one step close to being a REAL teacher.... I am not to sure about this.....
Today is a mile stone in my education career. I am sitting next to my final capstone paper. For those of you who do not know what a 'capstone' is, it is the final paper at the end of my Master's Degree. The topic of the paper the Digital Divide. I finished the paper today. It's done. It ended up being 18 full pages, 24 with all the extra stuff. I am so excited it's done. Now all I gotta do is do the presentation.
This means it's basically over. College is just about done... I am not sure how I feel about this. In three weeks I will be in NYC interviewing for jobs. I am starting to freak out.. that's all. So freaking close, what if I don't get a job while I am there in June? What happens if I get a really bad apartment? What if I cant pay my bills?
I guess I am one step closer. One step closer to being an adult, one step closer to being done wiht school and one step close to being a REAL teacher.... I am not to sure about this.....
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