My kindergarteners call it "lellow".
Monday, September 28, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Classic Classroom Moments
After a spelling test in first grade, the students are told to put their heads down on their desks and turn their paper over. The teacher picked up one girl's paper and it had a wet spot on it that ran down the paper when she picked it up.
Teacher: Why is your paper wet?
Student: It's from my mouth.
Teacher: Why is your paper wet?
Student: It's from my mouth.
My Year Of Service - #4
Well, it has definitely been an interesting couple of weeks. I meant to write sooner, but something unexpected happened. After only 3 days of working with the children at school, I started to feel sick. Sore throat, stuffy nose, etc. I bet I got it from the preschooler I played with during after school care that first week. It ended up getting the better of me that weekend and I missed 3 days during my second week. Luckily, some friends helped me find an Urgent Care to see a doctor and get an antibiotic.
I'm now feeling much better and I was able to complete my first whole week at the school. Here's what my schedule looks like, at least until October, when Big Sisters begins and I'll have to stay late on Tuesdays as well:
Monday: 7:00am-5:30pm (10.5 hours)
Tuesday: 7:00am-3:00pm (8 hours)
Wednesday: 7:00am-12:45pm (5.75 hours) + 1:00pm-4:00pm at the AmeriCorps In-Service Meeting (3 hours)
Thursday: 7:00am-3:00pm (8 hours)
Friday: 7:00am-5:30pm (10.5 hours)
That's about 44 hours per week, then there will be more starting in October. We don't get paid overtime, but we get the same paycheck every 2 weeks with the requirement of serving the whole 1700 hours by the end of our 11 months.
I missed a lot of hours during that second week, but I can make them up by volunteering at other events in the city or by staying late on a Thursday.
Since I work in a school, I have to take into account that school ends in spring, plus the teacher conference days and holidays and breaks. That is why I have to ensure that I put in as many hours as I can in the beginning so I'm not scrambling to make them up at the end of the school year.
As far as my relationship with the students goes, I can tell that I'm still establishing myself. Many of them do not listen to me when I am trying to settle them down or create order in the classroom. Apparently I don't sound mean enough like the cafeteria lady or the after school care lady.
I find myself wanting to be their friend and help them to succeed. I feel I do much better when I work one-on-one with them, especially one in particular.
There is one kindergartener that has never been to school before and doesn't do so well with following directions all the time. He is also a little mean to the other students, threatening to beat them, etc. even if they are bigger than him.
When he got his worksheets, he would grab some crayons and scribble all over them and not even try to follow the teacher's instructions.
Shortly after I started, the teacher and I added a new part of a routine to their day. We split them into 3 groups. One would work with the teacher on letters and worksheets, one would come to my table and we'd work on a handwriting worksheet, and the other would play in Centers (different stations around the room). Of course, the student I'm talking about would only push his paper away saying he didn't want to do it and that he wanted to go home. He might also just scribble on it and that would be it.
I am happy and proud to say that I have seen great improvement in this child. One day last week (when I was still pretty sick), I somehow got him to write the letters on the worksheet and he finished it all. I kept encouraging him and telling how great he was doing and he gave me the best smiles I have ever seen. We shared the news with his teacher and she allowed him to pick from the candy jar before lunch time.
This week, there were 3 days where he did a great job on my worksheets... Not without a fight though. One of the days this week, he refused to do it while he was sitting at the table with his group, so I took him out into the cafeteria and sat him down in the "bad" chair. I kneeled next to him and had a talk with him. He said he wanted to go home. I told him he was my friend and that I would miss him too much if he went home. I reminded him of his good work the week before and how he got rewarded. I told him I wanted to see his beautiful letters again and that he had a choice. He could either sit out in the cafeteria then and do the worksheet during recess or he could do it now with me and show me his beautiful letters. He chose to do the worksheet with me. I said thank you, showing him how happy I was that he made that choice, and gave him a hug. He did a great job on his worksheet and he was allowed to play at recess time. At the end of the day, I gave him another hug and reminded him of how good his day was. I really try to emphasize the positive with this one, he tends to get mostly negative attention all day from not following directions, and Lord knows what he gets at home.
I can't wait to see how his year goes.
I'm now feeling much better and I was able to complete my first whole week at the school. Here's what my schedule looks like, at least until October, when Big Sisters begins and I'll have to stay late on Tuesdays as well:
Monday: 7:00am-5:30pm (10.5 hours)
Tuesday: 7:00am-3:00pm (8 hours)
Wednesday: 7:00am-12:45pm (5.75 hours) + 1:00pm-4:00pm at the AmeriCorps In-Service Meeting (3 hours)
Thursday: 7:00am-3:00pm (8 hours)
Friday: 7:00am-5:30pm (10.5 hours)
That's about 44 hours per week, then there will be more starting in October. We don't get paid overtime, but we get the same paycheck every 2 weeks with the requirement of serving the whole 1700 hours by the end of our 11 months.
I missed a lot of hours during that second week, but I can make them up by volunteering at other events in the city or by staying late on a Thursday.
Since I work in a school, I have to take into account that school ends in spring, plus the teacher conference days and holidays and breaks. That is why I have to ensure that I put in as many hours as I can in the beginning so I'm not scrambling to make them up at the end of the school year.
As far as my relationship with the students goes, I can tell that I'm still establishing myself. Many of them do not listen to me when I am trying to settle them down or create order in the classroom. Apparently I don't sound mean enough like the cafeteria lady or the after school care lady.
I find myself wanting to be their friend and help them to succeed. I feel I do much better when I work one-on-one with them, especially one in particular.
There is one kindergartener that has never been to school before and doesn't do so well with following directions all the time. He is also a little mean to the other students, threatening to beat them, etc. even if they are bigger than him.
When he got his worksheets, he would grab some crayons and scribble all over them and not even try to follow the teacher's instructions.
Shortly after I started, the teacher and I added a new part of a routine to their day. We split them into 3 groups. One would work with the teacher on letters and worksheets, one would come to my table and we'd work on a handwriting worksheet, and the other would play in Centers (different stations around the room). Of course, the student I'm talking about would only push his paper away saying he didn't want to do it and that he wanted to go home. He might also just scribble on it and that would be it.
I am happy and proud to say that I have seen great improvement in this child. One day last week (when I was still pretty sick), I somehow got him to write the letters on the worksheet and he finished it all. I kept encouraging him and telling how great he was doing and he gave me the best smiles I have ever seen. We shared the news with his teacher and she allowed him to pick from the candy jar before lunch time.
This week, there were 3 days where he did a great job on my worksheets... Not without a fight though. One of the days this week, he refused to do it while he was sitting at the table with his group, so I took him out into the cafeteria and sat him down in the "bad" chair. I kneeled next to him and had a talk with him. He said he wanted to go home. I told him he was my friend and that I would miss him too much if he went home. I reminded him of his good work the week before and how he got rewarded. I told him I wanted to see his beautiful letters again and that he had a choice. He could either sit out in the cafeteria then and do the worksheet during recess or he could do it now with me and show me his beautiful letters. He chose to do the worksheet with me. I said thank you, showing him how happy I was that he made that choice, and gave him a hug. He did a great job on his worksheet and he was allowed to play at recess time. At the end of the day, I gave him another hug and reminded him of how good his day was. I really try to emphasize the positive with this one, he tends to get mostly negative attention all day from not following directions, and Lord knows what he gets at home.
I can't wait to see how his year goes.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Classic Classroom Moments
Setting: A tutor helping 2 Kindergarteners with a "ch" worksheet. i.e.: A picture of a chimp with the letters "imp" printed below it. The students need to fill in the letters "ch".
Kindergarten Student: I know what number 10 is!
(Note: #10 is a picture of an open box of chalk with pieces of chalk coming out of it.)
Tutor: What?
Kindergarten Student: It's chalk!
Tutor: Really? How do you know that?
Kindergarten Student: ...Well, I know it ain't cigarettes!
-----
I now have a favorite Preschooler that attends After School Care. He always plays catch with a basketball with me and he is the cutest thing. Here are a couple of funny things that have happened in the past few weeks.
Setting: I was pretending to disagree with him about something so he said to me:
Preschooler: Yes you is!
Me (trying to correct him): Yes you ARE.
Preschooler: No I ain't!
-----
Me: I'll be right back, I have to blow my nose.
Preschooler: I have to blow my toes too!
Kindergarten Student: I know what number 10 is!
(Note: #10 is a picture of an open box of chalk with pieces of chalk coming out of it.)
Tutor: What?
Kindergarten Student: It's chalk!
Tutor: Really? How do you know that?
Kindergarten Student: ...Well, I know it ain't cigarettes!
-----
I now have a favorite Preschooler that attends After School Care. He always plays catch with a basketball with me and he is the cutest thing. Here are a couple of funny things that have happened in the past few weeks.
Setting: I was pretending to disagree with him about something so he said to me:
Preschooler: Yes you is!
Me (trying to correct him): Yes you ARE.
Preschooler: No I ain't!
-----
Me: I'll be right back, I have to blow my nose.
Preschooler: I have to blow my toes too!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Getting Settled
If you know me, you know that I move a lot. Since I graduated high school in 2003, I have moved 11 times. If anyone can learn to adapt to different environments, it would be me. However, my most recent move to Cincinnati is a bit different from my previous moves and it has me a little discombobulated. Don't get me wrong; I am not complaining. Everything has been wonderful here so far! Just different from my previous experiences.
For starters, I have never owned a car until this summer. Every time I've moved to a new city (Miami, Columbus, DC), the first thing I had to learn was the public transportation system. When I lived in Miami, Florida, I hardly left campus unless I was in Trina's car or exploring downtown with James by bus. In Columbus, I had to plan where I lived and worked according to the bus routes. If you can believe it, I lived, went to school, and worked on High Street, just on different ends of town. In DC, I relied on walking, the subway, and buses to get to work every day. It is such a strange feeling to now have the convenience of a car. I can hop in at any time and go wherever I want, even if it is across town. And, get this, I don't have to make my only grocery runs on my way home from work and have to carry my groceries a mile to my apartment building from the subway station!
Another major difference is when I've moved before, I never knew anyone in the new town before arriving. There would be a few weeks or so of me living on my own, going to classes or work, watching tv, going on the internet, etc. and kind of developing a routine before I started making friends. This time, I've known about 20 wonderful people in the area for over a year before moving here, plus I met 18 more upon arrival through my AmeriCorps position. I've never been so social during my first 3 weeks in a new town before in my life. Heck, this is the most social I've been in a long time!
The last thing that has me all discombobulated is that as an AmeriCorps member, I have to keep track of all my hours spent at work, In-Service meetings, and other volunteer work I do. I have never been good at keeping track of my hours and my mother can attest to this. Not only do we have the paper time sheets to fill out (which, we were just informed, are now obsolete), we have to log our hours online, print out reports, get them signed by our Service Site Supervisor, and bring them to our weekly meetings. I'm working on creating a system that will work for me, and I'm sure I'll get better at it as time goes by.
That's it for now. I better get some rest because this is going to be another action-packed week, both in school with the Kindergarteners and after school with friends and meetings.
For starters, I have never owned a car until this summer. Every time I've moved to a new city (Miami, Columbus, DC), the first thing I had to learn was the public transportation system. When I lived in Miami, Florida, I hardly left campus unless I was in Trina's car or exploring downtown with James by bus. In Columbus, I had to plan where I lived and worked according to the bus routes. If you can believe it, I lived, went to school, and worked on High Street, just on different ends of town. In DC, I relied on walking, the subway, and buses to get to work every day. It is such a strange feeling to now have the convenience of a car. I can hop in at any time and go wherever I want, even if it is across town. And, get this, I don't have to make my only grocery runs on my way home from work and have to carry my groceries a mile to my apartment building from the subway station!
Another major difference is when I've moved before, I never knew anyone in the new town before arriving. There would be a few weeks or so of me living on my own, going to classes or work, watching tv, going on the internet, etc. and kind of developing a routine before I started making friends. This time, I've known about 20 wonderful people in the area for over a year before moving here, plus I met 18 more upon arrival through my AmeriCorps position. I've never been so social during my first 3 weeks in a new town before in my life. Heck, this is the most social I've been in a long time!
The last thing that has me all discombobulated is that as an AmeriCorps member, I have to keep track of all my hours spent at work, In-Service meetings, and other volunteer work I do. I have never been good at keeping track of my hours and my mother can attest to this. Not only do we have the paper time sheets to fill out (which, we were just informed, are now obsolete), we have to log our hours online, print out reports, get them signed by our Service Site Supervisor, and bring them to our weekly meetings. I'm working on creating a system that will work for me, and I'm sure I'll get better at it as time goes by.
That's it for now. I better get some rest because this is going to be another action-packed week, both in school with the Kindergarteners and after school with friends and meetings.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Classic Classroom Moments
The kids that can't remember my name either tap me on my belly or my arm or call me by an entirely different name that must have been their teacher last year. One (or more) of the kids have been referring to me as "Miss Pimpins" to the lunch lady. And another one today called me "Miss Punkin".
Classic Classroom Moments
There is a first time for everything when you start working at an elementary school. Today I was on Pants Patrol. There were 2 accidents (one #2 and one #1, in K and 1st, respectively) and one child tore the rear of his pants wide open while climbing a tree at recess. (That's not allowed!) We had to go to the office and get everyone changed into a spare pair of uniform pants (and undies for the accidents).
Never a dull day!
Never a dull day!
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
My Year of Service - #3
Yesterday was my first full day at my inner-city elementary school, and boy, was it different! I've never worked with a full class of kindergarteners or first-graders before, and I now get to work with both. I also help out in the lunchroom when the kindergarteners are seated and given their lunch tickets for the day.
My day is divided between the kindergarten and first grade classes, about 70% of it being spent with the younger group. I'm beginning to learn their names as they go through their daily routines of reciting the months of the year, days of the week, and numbers. During the day, I am one of their stations when they split into groups and rotate around the room. We do a worksheet that focuses on how to write the letter of the week: D and d. They are also learning to sort things, by size, color, etc.
Some of the kids are good listeners and others need to be told *much* more than once. I'm looking forward to mastering the "getting-the-kids'-attention" techniques the teachers use.
I am amazed at just how much my voice aches at the end of the day - and it's not even from yelling! There is so much talking involved when dealing with small children. Constant instruction, answering questions, etc.
With the first graders, I mostly help a couple kids at a time with an assignment in the back of the room. I make sure they follow directions and that they understand what they are doing. Now, in math, they are working on greater than ">", less than "<", and equal to "=". Remember that "Which number does the alligator always want to eat?" trick?
I am already getting hugs from a couple of students as soon as they see me in the morning and before they get on the bus in the afternoon. I know the job is going to be tough, but those little smiles and hugs really make it worth it! That and knowing there's a chance that my efforts may help them to achieve academic success in the future.
My day is divided between the kindergarten and first grade classes, about 70% of it being spent with the younger group. I'm beginning to learn their names as they go through their daily routines of reciting the months of the year, days of the week, and numbers. During the day, I am one of their stations when they split into groups and rotate around the room. We do a worksheet that focuses on how to write the letter of the week: D and d. They are also learning to sort things, by size, color, etc.
Some of the kids are good listeners and others need to be told *much* more than once. I'm looking forward to mastering the "getting-the-kids'-attention" techniques the teachers use.
I am amazed at just how much my voice aches at the end of the day - and it's not even from yelling! There is so much talking involved when dealing with small children. Constant instruction, answering questions, etc.
With the first graders, I mostly help a couple kids at a time with an assignment in the back of the room. I make sure they follow directions and that they understand what they are doing. Now, in math, they are working on greater than ">", less than "<", and equal to "=". Remember that "Which number does the alligator always want to eat?" trick?
I am already getting hugs from a couple of students as soon as they see me in the morning and before they get on the bus in the afternoon. I know the job is going to be tough, but those little smiles and hugs really make it worth it! That and knowing there's a chance that my efforts may help them to achieve academic success in the future.
Classic Classroom Moments
*One of my kindergarteners called me "Miss Pimpins" for a day.
*Two of my kindergarteners are from Ethiopia, and I know a few words in their native language (Amharic). I showed them how I can count to 5 in their language yesterday. Today one of them dragged his mother in by the hand so she could meet me, and so I could show her what I know how to say.
*Two of my kindergarteners are from Ethiopia, and I know a few words in their native language (Amharic). I showed them how I can count to 5 in their language yesterday. Today one of them dragged his mother in by the hand so she could meet me, and so I could show her what I know how to say.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
My Year of Service - #2
My first week with AmeriCorps was awesome!
The first day, I met the other 17 members at the Notre Dame Mission Volunteers-AmeriCorps (NDMVA) office and we got an overview of the week and the year. We then went to Mt. Notre Dame (a community of Notre Dame Sisters) and learned about the history of AmeriCorps and Notre Dame. You have probably heard about Sister Dorothy that was murdered in Brazil a few years ago. She was a Notre Dame Sister from Ohio and they have a whole room dedicated to her and artifacts from her life and death.
We also spent some time filling out paperwork, but one of the neatest things was that we got to meet a Sister and talk to her about her experiences living a life of service. I was paired up with Becky and Sister Betty Anne; boy was she spunky!
The second day, all of the members were to meet at a service site in a neighborhood that we have never seen. We met at a newly constructed house in Lockland that was built by Cincinnati Housing Partners for a low-income family. We did some major yard work, pulled weeks, cut down small trees, planted grass, painted the deck, etc. Some of us even got to use some major equipment! Amanda and Connie learned to use a chainsaw and Sarah, Katie and I learned to drive a Bobcat loader! We even took loades of dirt down the street to another lot where a house is being built.
The third day, we met back at the NDMVA office and learned a little more about each other. Then, at lunch time, we had lunch with some of the people with whom we will be working at our service sites. After lunch, we went to our service sites to learn a little more about our duties, etc. I went to my elementary school and got to meet my kindergarten and first grade teachers. Sister Marie took me and Stacey around to introduce us to the kids and I couldn't help but smile when the kids said in unison, "Good afternoon, Miss Pickens!"
The fourth and last day, we met at another location where we had an all-day team-building workshop. The man who worked with us is also a police officer in one of the worse areas of Cincinnati. We did several activities that got us to think and work together as a team. My favorite was called the "Power Walk" because I had never learned so much about my peers without speaking a word like that before. There was a line down the middle of the room. One side of the room stood for "agree" and the other "disagree". The farther away from the middle of the room that you stood meant the more you agree or disagree. We were asked questions like "Do you know where you are going?", "Do you practice religion?", "Are you afraid of death?", "Have you ever been in love?", "Do you have or want kids?", "Are you politically active?", along with some other loaded questions. At the end of each question we were reminded to look around the room to see how our peers answered the questions. I must say, it was a very powerful activity.
I'm really excited about the group of people I'll be working with through NDMVA. They seem like great people and I think we can learn a lot from each other. I can see some great friendships growing this year.
Now it's the weekend and I feel like I am more at home since I have groceries and a clean area to cook on. My first day working at the school is Tuesday because of the holiday weekend. I'm a little nervous, but excited too!
The first day, I met the other 17 members at the Notre Dame Mission Volunteers-AmeriCorps (NDMVA) office and we got an overview of the week and the year. We then went to Mt. Notre Dame (a community of Notre Dame Sisters) and learned about the history of AmeriCorps and Notre Dame. You have probably heard about Sister Dorothy that was murdered in Brazil a few years ago. She was a Notre Dame Sister from Ohio and they have a whole room dedicated to her and artifacts from her life and death.
We also spent some time filling out paperwork, but one of the neatest things was that we got to meet a Sister and talk to her about her experiences living a life of service. I was paired up with Becky and Sister Betty Anne; boy was she spunky!
The second day, all of the members were to meet at a service site in a neighborhood that we have never seen. We met at a newly constructed house in Lockland that was built by Cincinnati Housing Partners for a low-income family. We did some major yard work, pulled weeks, cut down small trees, planted grass, painted the deck, etc. Some of us even got to use some major equipment! Amanda and Connie learned to use a chainsaw and Sarah, Katie and I learned to drive a Bobcat loader! We even took loades of dirt down the street to another lot where a house is being built.
The third day, we met back at the NDMVA office and learned a little more about each other. Then, at lunch time, we had lunch with some of the people with whom we will be working at our service sites. After lunch, we went to our service sites to learn a little more about our duties, etc. I went to my elementary school and got to meet my kindergarten and first grade teachers. Sister Marie took me and Stacey around to introduce us to the kids and I couldn't help but smile when the kids said in unison, "Good afternoon, Miss Pickens!"
The fourth and last day, we met at another location where we had an all-day team-building workshop. The man who worked with us is also a police officer in one of the worse areas of Cincinnati. We did several activities that got us to think and work together as a team. My favorite was called the "Power Walk" because I had never learned so much about my peers without speaking a word like that before. There was a line down the middle of the room. One side of the room stood for "agree" and the other "disagree". The farther away from the middle of the room that you stood meant the more you agree or disagree. We were asked questions like "Do you know where you are going?", "Do you practice religion?", "Are you afraid of death?", "Have you ever been in love?", "Do you have or want kids?", "Are you politically active?", along with some other loaded questions. At the end of each question we were reminded to look around the room to see how our peers answered the questions. I must say, it was a very powerful activity.
I'm really excited about the group of people I'll be working with through NDMVA. They seem like great people and I think we can learn a lot from each other. I can see some great friendships growing this year.
Now it's the weekend and I feel like I am more at home since I have groceries and a clean area to cook on. My first day working at the school is Tuesday because of the holiday weekend. I'm a little nervous, but excited too!
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
My Year Of Service - #1
Following the suggestion of an old classmate and a friend of my parents, I applied for an AmeriCorps position in February of this year. After several essays and interviews, I got multiple acceptance letters in June and ultimately went with a program in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The AmeriCorps program that I'll be participating in this school year is run by Notre Dame Mission Volunteers-AmeriCorps and today is my first day of orientation. Today I'll be meeting with other NDMVA volunteers and learning about the service sites that each of us will be working in. My service site is an inner-city Catholic elementary school.
~
It has been quite a journey since the day I first submitted my application to AmeriCorps!
These last few weeks have been a bit of a challenge: packing, finding housing for my year of service, etc., but this last week was like finally getting that carrot on the end of a string.
I drove to Cincinnati from Chicago on Monday and stayed with a good friend. When I got to his house, my best friend from Illinois was sitting on his front steps to surprise me! The next day, the three of us visited what would be my apartment and then went sight-seeing for an entire day. We visited the Carew Tower, Fountain Square, Graeter's, the Purple People Bridge, and the Serpentine Wall.
After a long day in the sun, we went back to his house to find about 20 of his friends and family members waiting there to surprise-welcome me to Ohio. Not only that, but seconds after arriving, everyone in the room began to snap to a rhythm... And then my friend broke into song:
The party was fun and it was great to see so many familiar faces (and meet a couple new people as well!). I couldn't have asked for a more memorable first couple of days in Ohio. :)
The next day, I drove to Columbus and visited with my cousin and some former coworkers. Somehow, we managed to squeeze in a visit to the Columbus Zoo and see the baby elephant!
I hit the road again the next day, this time to eastern Ohio to visit family for a few days. It was nice to see them and I'm glad to be living a lot closer to them now (about 5 hours instead of 10, driving).
Sunday afternoon, I drove all the way back to my friend's house in Cincinnati and re-gathered my things. Monday morning we packed the cars and moved everything into my new apartment* (*rented room). Everything was done by 5pm!
Now I have merely one hour before my first day of AmeriCorps Orientation, and I am very excited! I'll get to meet the volunteers that I'll be serving and meeting with over the next 11 months and seeing the various service sites they will be working at.
I can't wait!
The AmeriCorps program that I'll be participating in this school year is run by Notre Dame Mission Volunteers-AmeriCorps and today is my first day of orientation. Today I'll be meeting with other NDMVA volunteers and learning about the service sites that each of us will be working in. My service site is an inner-city Catholic elementary school.
~
It has been quite a journey since the day I first submitted my application to AmeriCorps!
These last few weeks have been a bit of a challenge: packing, finding housing for my year of service, etc., but this last week was like finally getting that carrot on the end of a string.
I drove to Cincinnati from Chicago on Monday and stayed with a good friend. When I got to his house, my best friend from Illinois was sitting on his front steps to surprise me! The next day, the three of us visited what would be my apartment and then went sight-seeing for an entire day. We visited the Carew Tower, Fountain Square, Graeter's, the Purple People Bridge, and the Serpentine Wall.
After a long day in the sun, we went back to his house to find about 20 of his friends and family members waiting there to surprise-welcome me to Ohio. Not only that, but seconds after arriving, everyone in the room began to snap to a rhythm... And then my friend broke into song:
Josie Welcome to Cincinnati, girl
You'll be happily living in a world
Where we cheer on the Bengals and the Reds also Hello Ocho Cinco
Chili on hotdogs and fries
It is our speciality
So please have some pride
And if you do you'll see
The weather is nice at least sometimes
here's a hint : meteoroligists lie
if you like ice cream
there's nothing greater than Graeters
and Montgomery Inn's got the right flavor
i think that you'd agree to Skyline for lunch
and for dessert baby UDF caramel crunch
so Josie welcome to our metropolis
and actually, we call it Porkopolis
we wrote this ditty
to try to make you smile a little
Josie, Welcome to Cincinnati, girl
The party was fun and it was great to see so many familiar faces (and meet a couple new people as well!). I couldn't have asked for a more memorable first couple of days in Ohio. :)
The next day, I drove to Columbus and visited with my cousin and some former coworkers. Somehow, we managed to squeeze in a visit to the Columbus Zoo and see the baby elephant!
I hit the road again the next day, this time to eastern Ohio to visit family for a few days. It was nice to see them and I'm glad to be living a lot closer to them now (about 5 hours instead of 10, driving).
Sunday afternoon, I drove all the way back to my friend's house in Cincinnati and re-gathered my things. Monday morning we packed the cars and moved everything into my new apartment* (*rented room). Everything was done by 5pm!
Now I have merely one hour before my first day of AmeriCorps Orientation, and I am very excited! I'll get to meet the volunteers that I'll be serving and meeting with over the next 11 months and seeing the various service sites they will be working at.
I can't wait!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)