Currently listening to: Night's on Fire by David Nail I've become that person... That doesn't blog for months... And then there is too much to update people on and its too overwhelming! Oh no! Wellllllll I guess I better just give the highlights then, so I don't bore everyone to tears (myself included). Basically since May I have: Accepted a teaching position at Draper Elementary
Worked at Zion National Park
Hiked in the Grand Canyon
Worked my last year of harvest in Washington (my dad let me drive the combine!)
Went to Seattle with my cousins. We went whale watching in Anacortes after we watched Papertowns and walked around downtown.
Moved to Salt Lake City, Utah
Started said teaching position on August 19
And I've done a bunch of hiking and goofing off in-between because let's face it... you shouldn't take life too seriously.
I've had some highs and lows... I've gone on a lot of fun adventures, but am trying to figure out this whole adulthood thing... which is more difficult then I thought... No wonder I shunned it for 23 years...
From sunflowers to butterflies, we are learning all about life cycles.
Shenanigans at Hoover Dam
Away from Las Vegas about an hour, close to a ghost town that I found while exploring with my good friend Kelsey!
I had the wonderful opportunity to have Sarah as a roommate during my time in Vegas. She is married and through unfortunate circumstances had to be a part from her husband. I love Sarah! She kept me organized (or tried to atleast) and listen to my woes of the dating scene in Vegas.
I had to. Everyone was embarrassed, but I had to be a cheesy tourist.
Midnight steak and eggs at South Point for 5.00
I have had some incredible high's and some awful lows, which include:
Playing Cards Against Humanity with new friends
Going to a Dan + Shay concert
Walking down the strip and looking at all the lights
Accepting my job offer in Draper!
Exploring with Kelsey, always in pursuit of the stars
Roadtrippin' to AZ and riding horses with my good friend Mikaela Gist
Going to Disneyland with my old roommate Taylor! ( who should totally move to Draper Utah with me... hint hint)
Helping my little second graders learn and become more prepared for third grade
Going to the casino on Tuesdays and watching the latest released movies for 5.00
Chipotle
Ultimate frisbee at the Silverado Park on Saturday
Going to the temple with friends
Trying different flavors of Blue Bell ice cream from Winco with Sarah
Legit Chinese food from China town ( So legit the guy didn't speak English and I brought out trusty Pleco and lots of pointing)
Along with the fun times there were also some bad times...
Getting my car towed for the first time in my life
Some awkward dates...
The heattttttt
Being observed by my supervisor that no one liked...
Freaking out about finding a job
Deciding which job to take which would determine my future...
Getting into my car and burning my hand on the steering wheel from the heat
Overall it has been great and I am glad that I was able to live in Las Vegas for a few months! Now off to find another adventure.
I will be home for a few weeks then I am heading down to Zion National Park to work for the summer! I am so so so excited. Then in August I will move to Draper so I can get ready to be a first grade teacher at Draper Elementary!
Monday, April 6, 2015
I had an interesting experience today at school, that I don't want to forget. I have to take a shower and get to bed so this will be brief.
For privacy sake, we will call this student Ben. Ben is a student that caused a lot of drama for me and my mentor teacher, which I don't need to go into detail about right now. The main point is that it caused some hate in my heart. I am not using this word lightly, I genuinely had a hard time working for this child because I thought the situation he put us teachers in was so unfair. I am a little embarrassed to admit, I was perhaps a little harder on Ben that I needed to be in the weeks following. The kid is rambunctious, and always getting into trouble so it wasn't a huge stretch that I had to discipline him. Well today an experience changed me, and the way I view Ben and other students like Ben. Ben and Kami (name changed again) are partners in a group that should have 4 students, but due to absences only has the two of them. This seating arrangement has been in place for about a month, and we are due to change it again any day. Well Ben and Kami do not get a long at allllllll. Sometimes it is exhausting listening to them complain about each other. Today in particular was a particularly rough day. I finally had to sit the two of them down individually, and in private. My instinct was to reprimand Ben, and send Kami back to work (glory child with rules and homework). I decided randomly " No. Listen Ben out. Maybe there is something more that's going on here than you are seeing." I am so glad I did. Long story short again, Ben was not feeling included in the group work, and Kami was taking over the project and so he was feeling frustrated. I took a minute before I responded to Ben. I acknowledged his feelings and reminded him that in our class, we are all friends and we all work together. I also acknowledged that it was probably hard for him to work with Kami for so long, and we already had planned for the desks to be moved soon. When I was about to send him back to his seat, he gave me the biggest hug I have ever received from a student. In that moment I was stunned. And my heart of ice melted. By no means is Ben a saint, that boy is a troublemaker at heart. But he is a student, and he needs my love too. People mess up, and I was holding this thing over his head for weeks, not giving him a chance for a fresh start and try again. Being a teacher is so rewarding and exhausting at the same time because you have to put your whole heart in it. Every student. I am going to do a better job of forgiving, and not just in the classroom. Everyone messes up, and I would be heartbroken if I wasn't given another chance. That'd be a double standard if I didn't extend that same forgiveness to my fellow man, whether that be a roommate, coworker or student. Anyways... enough with the late night ramblings of a tired student teacher. Goodnight ya'll.
I recently had Spring Break, and I got to visit Jane and Joe! I hung out with them for a few days in Texas, and a few days in Louisiana. so.much.fun. I am pretty sure I was meant to live in the South. Everyone is so friendly, they call you "ma'am", "sweetheart", or " suga'. "
And you see people who just randomly pulled over on the side of the highway because they decided to go fishing. This song was stuck in my head the whole weekend
"You get a line, I get a pole. We'll go fishing in a craw fish hole."
This was delicious. Definitely worth the wait. I loved the whole atmosphere. There was the bustle of people getting in to their seats, and this old dude was singing his own version of "Let It Be" and the sun was shining.
Eatin' my way through New Orleans... one delicious melts-in-your-mouth praline at a time
Inside this beautiful church right there in the French Quarter. It was really quiet and peaceful, which was a big change from the jazz music being played outside.
i'm such a creeper. but oh wells.
Oooh Ihad my first food truck experience, and it was fantastic. The smell alone grabbed my attention. Tennessee knows their barbeque. It got even better. While I stood there licking my fingers between bites, there was this high school band playing jazz music. It was one of those moments where i was just content with life. the sun was shining, my tummy was filled with delicious food, and i was dancing to some fun music. needless to say, I am a fan of food trucks. If any of my Vegas friends are interested, the foodie fest is coming to Vegas! April 30th - May 3rd.
After my delicious food truck experience, we went walking down Bourbon street. We didn't get particularly far because it was a little more crazy then what we were looking for, but it was fun to people watch.
On our way back to Texas, we stopped at oak alley plantation. That was cool, it gave a different perspective of the south, other than Bourbon street (aka party central).
Along the sidewalk where 300 year old Oak trees are planted
totally random yet interesting facts:
the daughter of the man who owned this plantation in the 1900's had to have her leg amputated. she tripped on the stairs, her hoop skirt (made of whale bone) punctured her leg and caused an infection. in those days, amputating was the easiest thing to do.
another fact: this is how father's gave their approval while their 14 yr old daughter was courting. if the candle was bigger, they can have longer to talk. if the candle was shorter... bye bye suitor.
view from the top porch
Yummm
Overall it was a fantastic trip, a nice vacation that I needed. More to come soon, I just need to get back to job applications and enjoying the rest of my Spring Break!
(shout out to my awesome brother in law Joe for letting me steal some of his photos he took)
This is just an inspiring video to get me through that last stretch before spring break. I am in this video too!Tee hee. A couple of shots here and there while I went white water kayaking last summer.
Most importantly is the message behind this video.
Live life to the fullest, time is precious and if you want to do something, then go and do that great adventure. Don't not go and do something because you are scared of the unknown. (like move to a brand new city and start teaching...)
Currently listening to: "What's My Age Again" by Blink 182
This week has been so crazy, but wonderful. I turned 23! Last year on my birthday I was in Suzhou,
and so I thought it would be pretty hard to top. Well this year was pretty fantastic! Direct quote from mum: "23 does make you an adult whether you want to be or not." Whoah. Sometimes I think I should grow up and act more mature, and then I think "mhmmm... betta not." (name that movie)
My roommate Sarah made my birthday so special! She woke up freakishly early so I could have donuts from Krispy Kreme for breakfast, and got me the cutest mason jar mugs. And when the roommates and I went out to Red Robin,Sarah told them it was my birthday and so I got free ice cream. She did it all sneaky though so I had no idea until they came out. It was fabulous. I then went to the temple, which was packed full but also fantastic. Then I came home and watched Steel Magnolias, because let's face it: its one of the greatest movies of all time.
I got a birthday package from my momma! It was so nice to get fun mail. These cracked me up, and I also got St Pattie's Day earrings though I hadn't put them on at this point.
I GOT TO SEE DAN + SHAY IN CONCERT FOR MY BIRTHDAY! Seriously, they are just so so fantastic. I love everything country, and they had some fun covers thrown in there. Such a good show, I fully recommend them!
Aren't they beautiful?
The opening act was Canaan Smith. While he isn't super well known, he is one of my favorites to listen to these days. Essssspecially this song.
It was one of those nights where I thought "Yeah. I live in Vegas. It's pretty great."
Signing off for now- I have to go prepare lessons so I can enjoy my Spring Break in Texas with some family! Woot Woot!
