WebGringa.com

Day 4: Dinner

2012-01-05T18:20:00.001-05:00

Steamed Broccoli and Squash with Tahini Sauce
Serves 4

Ingredients:
1/2 head broccoli florets
1 delicata squash, sliced and seeded
1 cup mixed tender greens
1 cup thinly sliced red cabbage
2 tbsp diced red onion
Coarse salt and pepper

Sauce:
1/2 cup tahini
1 lemon's zest and juice
1 tbsp olive oil
1 chopped garlic clove
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
3/4 cup water

1- Steam broccoli florets until bright green and tender, about 4 mins. Remove and set aside. Steam squash until bright yellow and tender, about 10 minutes.
2- In a bowl, toss greens, cabbage and onion.
3- Top with steamed veggies. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with Tahini sauce, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.

Sauce:
In a food processor, purée tahini, lemon zest and juice, olive oil, garlic, cumin, paprika and water until smooth. Season with salt.

Store sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week and use as a dressing for greens.

Day 2: Lunch

2012-01-02T14:26:00.001-05:00

Avocado with Bell Pepper and Tomatoes
Serves 1

1 tsp olive oil
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 small clove garlic, minced
Pinch cayenne
Coarse salt
1 ripe avocado, halved and seeded
1/2 yellow bell pepper, stem and seeds removed, diced
6 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 scallion, thinly sliced
1 tbsp freshly chopped cilantro, plus leaves for garnish

1- In a small bowl, whisk together oil, lime juice, garlic, and cayenne. Season with salt.
2- Scoop out meat from avocado halves and chop. Transfer to a bowl and add bell pepper, tomatoes, scallion, and cilantro.
3- Drizzle with dressing and season with salt. Gently stir to combine. Spoon mixture into avocado shells. Garnish with cilantro leaves.

Day 2: Breakfast

2012-01-02T11:29:00.001-05:00

Green Smoothie
Serves 2

Ingredients:
1 cup kale or collard greens firmly packed, stems removed, coarsely chopped (4 ounces)
1 Granny Smith apple, coarsely chopped
1 ripe banana
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 and 1/4 cup water

Combine ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

End of Day 1 Report

2012-01-02T11:25:00.001-05:00

I made it through the day! I must admit, I suffered through a major caffeine-withdrawal headache until I went to bed. I even had to take a mid-afternoon nap to try to get my mind off the pain.
But on the morning of Day 2, it has proven to be worth it already!

Day 1: Dinner

2012-01-01T22:09:00.001-05:00

Roasted Red Peppers, Cauliflower, and Almonds
Serves 2

1 red bell pepper, quartered and seeds removed
1/2 head cauliflower, cut into florets
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and pepper
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup kalamata olives
1/4 cup toasted slivered almonds
1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves

1- Heat oven to 425 degrees.
2- On a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle red pepper slices and cauliflower florets with 2 tbsp oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast until golden and tender, 18-20 minutes.
3- In a bowl, whisk together remaining 2 tbsp oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange roasted red peppers and cauliflower on a platter.
4- Top with olives, almonds, and parsley. Drizzle with dressing.

Day 1: Lunch

2012-01-01T15:15:00.001-05:00

Spiced Butternut Squash Soup
Serves 6; Makes 8 cups

Ingredients:
2 tbsp olive oil
1 chopped onion
2 chopped garlic cloves
1 inch fresh ginger, grated (2 tbsp)
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp cardamom
Dash ground cloves
2 peeled and chopped carrots
1 tart apple, peeled, quartered, chopped
4 cups chopped butternut squash
3 cups water
Coarse salt and pepper

1- Heat oil in medium sauce pan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until tender, 6-8 minutes. Add ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, ground cloves and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add carrots, apple, squash, and water. Bring to a boil; cover partially and reduce to a simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
2- Cook until veggies are tender, about 20 minutes. Let cool slightly.
3- Working in batches, purée until smooth in a blender. Adjust seasoning if necessary.

Day 1: Breakfast

2012-01-01T12:15:00.001-05:00

Antioxidant Smoothie
Serves 2

2 cups frozen mixed berries
1 cup unsweetened pomegranate juice

Blend in a blender until smooth

Whole Living Action Plan

2011-12-29T12:21:00.001-05:00

A few years ago, my friend, Aisha, told me about this great magazine: Body + Soul (since renamed to Whole Living). It has great recipes and articles about health (both mental and physical) and she had a free issue sent to my house. I was hooked immediately!

The magazine offers great healthy recipes, varying by season, that include calorie counts and other nutritional information. There are tips and reminders to take time for yourself and they even give suggestions on what you can do or how you can do it. They offer recipes for home remedies using herbs and things you may already have around the house, instructions for yoga poses to help with certain aches, pains, or stressors in your life, etc.

One of my favorite things is when they publish their Challenge of the Day – and better yet – their 21-Day Challenges for the New Year. These challenges often come with recipes and exercises to help you plan ahead and stick with it.

A friend recently reminded me how possible it is to find inspiration and actually act upon it. I found inspiration in the December issue of Whole Living and here are some of the details of the plan that I intend to take on next week:

Whole Living Action Plan: 21-Day Challenge

Week 1

- Detox!
- Only fruits and veggies
- No dairy or processed foods

Week 2

- Experiment with more nutrient-rich whole foods
- Add protein back into diet

Week 3

- Reintroduce gluten-free grains and eggs

Things to Skip:

- Processed foods or beverages
- Added sugar
- Dairy
- Gluten
- Caffeine
- Alcohol

I am even planning on incorporating as many as their “7 Secrets to a Successful Cleanse” as I can into my plan.

- I have already set my goals for what I want to achieve.

- I have informed key people in my day-to-day life about the changes I want to make, including people in my online social networks for added support.

- I have not invited a friend to join me, however, because I’m not so sure anyone would like to partake in such a strict plan.

- Luckily, I have always watched my intake of water, and I’m confident that I can keep myself hydrated. (The magazine recommends EIGHT 8-ounce glasses a day!)

- This part will be challenging, but I’m going to put major effort into spacing out my meals instead of nibbling all day so I can even out my metabolism.

- For the week before my ‘detox’ begins, I have been practicing keeping a food journal to ease into it next week. Here’s the one I ordered:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963796836/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
And yes, you can opt to do this in an app on your phone or online, but I find it more satisfying to write things down in a notebook.

- I will do my best to stick to the menu of recipes laid out for each week without jumping ahead.

I plan to update the blog as the weeks progress, including which areas I have been successful in or where I’ve experienced failure.

Cheers!

Fresh Start

2011-12-28T12:19:00.001-05:00

2011 has been a year full of challenges, losses, changes, and opportunities for growth. Many tears were shed, but, fortunately, laughter and love still found a way into my life.
Though I don’t want to dwell on the details of the sadness from the year, I will say that having experienced it with the support of my friends and family has given me the strength to come out the other side inspired to make positive changes in my life.

One of the major changes that took place this year was a move that took me from Cincinnati, my home of two years, to eastern Ohio, where much of my family lives and where I spent every summer growing up. My local support network changed from my Notre Dame-AmeriCorps group to several members of both sides of my family.

After being unemployed since the end of my two-year stint with AmeriCorps in July, a new job and regular schedule was very welcome this month. Feeling more secure in my career path over the past few weeks has allowed me to think more about what I want in terms of personal goals.

One of my personal goals involves a couple levels of self-improvement.

The first level is mental. I’ve already started working towards this goal by testing my willpower when it comes to healthier choices. For instance, I decided on November 27th, 2011 that I would no longer consume alcohol. I have made it through a full month and I feel much better physically, not to mention the satisfying feeling of my success in ‘sticking with it’.

The next is on the physical level. I’ve had arthritis for as long as I can remember and I’m pretty sure my metabolism has been slowing down steadily over the past several years. The past few months of lacking a regular schedule has hurt me in the ‘eating well department’. I’ve decided to take control and make some lifestyle changes regarding my diet and exercise.

My diet. I know the basics about what’s good for me and what’s not, but sticking with it is the difficult part and usually requires a degree of planning ahead when it comes to meals. I have a recipe box of some healthful meals that I’ll try from time to time, but I’m calling on my favorite magazine for help. Whole Living magazine is all about physical and mental health and happens to have a “Clean Eating Action Plan – 21-Day Challenge” that I plan on utilizing.

My exercise. I love to walk. I love how I feel after practicing yoga. I need to lose a few pounds of extra body fat. I would like to increase muscle mass. There you have it. My exercise goal is to do an hour of yoga 2-4 times per week, and walk 3 miles 1-2 times per week. I will feel better with all the stretching and strengthening, not to mention being able to brag about my long walks. :)

Another goal is to spend more time with the people I care about.

If 2011 has taught me anything, it’s that time with loved ones is precious and shouldn’t be taken for granted. I’m still working on the details, but living next door to Gramma and Grampa will prove beneficial to my reaching my goal. :)

I am hoping that blogging about my goals and progress will ensure my accountability to my readers (friends and family) and to myself.

Here’s to starting 2012 on the right foot and keeping up with new goals!

Whenever Photo 8/18/2011

2011-08-18T08:56:00.000-04:00

If I've learned anything from this crazy summer, it's that plenty of curve balls can come your way. I've decided to switch it up and remove the "weekly photo" from my now completely irregular routine. Instead, I'll just share a photo or two when I get the chance, making it a "whenever photo".

Clover on the Hillside, Taken on Scotch Ridge, Martins Ferry, Ohio - August 2011

Keeping it Together this Summer

2011-07-19T11:56:00.000-04:00

It's been a while! I've been meaning to get a lot done over the past 3 weeks - a couple blogs posts, etc. but some curve balls have been thrown my way!
Not only have I been bouncing all over the midwest, working different summer camps and preparing for my friend's wedding, but also dealing with a 5-day power outage at my mom's house and a computer meltdown!
I'm attempting to back up everything from my laptop, in addition to getting my sister's old desktop set up to my liking, plus creating a video for my Notre Dame-AmeriCorps closing ceremony on August 1st.
It's been a whirlwind of a summer so far and it won't calm down for me until the fall (probably mid-September or October)!

Some exciting and unrelated news: I won a bike in a raffle last weekend!! It's a refurbished 1977 Schwinn and I love it! I wish we weren't experiencing a massive heat wave this week so I could actually go for a bike ride without suffering a heat stroke. Anyway, here's my new beauty!

My new bike! :)

Week 1 of Summer Camp

2011-06-17T16:53:00.000-04:00

The first week of Destination Imagination Accept the Challenge Camp has come to an end... I am already excited about running an elementary school's after school program in the fall, but this successful week of DI camp has inspired and motivated me even more to make the program all it can be and more!

I look forward to the day where my students can get as excited as these kids about building structures, writing their own stories, performing, and using their imagination!

Appreciate the Rain

2011-06-15T21:19:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I went on a retreat with 5 other Notre Dame-AmeriCorps members and it was wonderful. It was close enough to Cincinnati to not be a long drive, yet secluded enough that it felt as if we left our busy lives far behind. The place is called Grailville and it's located in Loveland, Ohio. The property extends for about 300 acres and can accommodate several groups at once in its various farm houses. What really brightened my day was when I learned about their trails in the woods. I couldn't wait to go outside and "play"!

However, on the first day of the retreat it had stormed and continued to storm into the evening. Everything was wet and we didn't venture outside (much) for fear of being struck by lightning. I was disheartened and worried that my outdoor "play" time would be ruined by more storms. Luckily, only one more storm came on Saturday morning at 4am and the sun appeared for the rest of the weekend.

When we woke up on Saturday and made our way to the dining hall for breakfast, several things caught my eye and made me change my attitude towards the rainy weather. I had forgotten how rain makes ordinary things more photogenic and interesting, and I'd like to share some of the images that brought me joy - not only in taking, but also in sharing with the others on the retreat. Most of the photos below were possible because of the rain during the retreat... Therefore, I have learned to appreciate the rain because without it I would not have been able to capture these moments.

The word "play" is in quotation marks above because it is a word that now has a deeper meaning than it did before the retreat. Below is a quote from a handout we received during the retreat, and one I will remember.

“Play” By Pegge Bernecker
An antidote for suffering, play is healing and restorative. At its essence, play is free, dissolves conflicts, and builds connections. Life-giving, play leads us to appreciation and gratefulness.
When we play we discover our deepest self is seeded in creativity and generativity. Play is an act of restoration and remembering. Solitary and contemplative, or active and communal, play can occur anytime, anywhere. Planned or utterly spontaneous, play brings us into the present moment, embodied in time and place… Across gender, race, age, ethnicity, socio-economic status and geographical location, all people and creatures play. Play heals… We engage our senses and body, becoming refreshed and renewed.
Playing can be a catalyst for spiritual vitality to burgeon forth within each of us. It is through a spirituality of play –interacting with matter—that we encounter the sacred, one another, and our deepest self. Play is a gateway to skip through to increase our ability to be present, to heal, and to grow in gratefulness. Who will accompany you in your next play date? How do you play?

Weekly Photo 6.5.2011

2011-06-10T13:49:00.000-04:00

Lake Michigan, Lake Bluff Beach, June 5, 2011

Life Happens

2011-06-10T13:47:00.000-04:00

Since my last real entry, I've had some weeks where I've strayed drastically from my raw-ish food regime. However, lately, I'm trying to make up for it by being more active: walking more, riding my bike around, etc. I just got the bike from my step mom for my birthday and I've already put about 7 miles on it. Not to mention the 14 miles I put on my mom's bike while I was back home for a visit. I hope to make it an active summer - as active as my injured knee (from falling back in February) will let me be. Today, in fact, I just bought a knee brace that will hopefully help me out a bit.

~~~~~~~

Tebbe and I at the Jazz for Peace event she organized ~ March 2011

In other news, a close friend of mine and fellow AmeriCorps member, passed away suddenly on May 20th. Her name was Tebbe and once we got started talking we could go all night! We would carpool to our bi-weekly meetings from her work... it was like clockwork. As soon as our Site Director would send out the email about our upcoming meeting, Tebbe would send one out to me asking if we could go together.

She would often tell me stories about when she was a "hot, young thing" and when she was really into the music scene in Cincinnati. At least once during each story, I would have to stop her and ask what some of the slang meant! Tebbe always thought it was so funny that I was so clueless.

Tebbe was so young at heart and fully of spirit and positive energy. It was contagious! I know I felt it when I was around her and the other day I was able to hear one of her trainees from her work talk about how she had inspired him to turn his life around and make a difference. It was wonderful to hear how inspirational she was for so many people. I wish I had gotten more time with her... but I am so thankful that I got to know her as well as I did over the 2 years that we worked in AmeriCorps together.

City Beat Article: RIP Tebbe Farrell 1956-2011


Tebbe and I in the DC Metro ~ Feb. 2011

~~~~~~~

Time Flies

2011-05-14T23:39:00.001-04:00

Is it really the middle of May already?!?! I'm in shock.

Weekly Photo 5.2.2011

2011-05-02T19:49:00.000-04:00

Taken 4.29.2011 in front of the Museum Center in Cincinnati, Ohio

Trial & Error: Raw Food

2011-05-02T19:44:00.002-04:00

The past few weeks I've been learning about and trying out a modified version of "the raw food diet". I know it'll be near impossible to stick to it 100%, so I've been doing as much as I can.

I've been trying to limit or eliminate my intake of the following items:

chemicals
preservatives
hormone-based animal products
synthetic materials
food cooked in aluminum
artificial colors and flavors
meats
canned foods
cooked oils
overcooked and packaged foods
old and rotting food
foods frozen for too long
inorganic materials
processed foods
unknown and unpronounceable substances
cooked fruits
cooked vegetables
cooked grains
cooked beans
frozen foods
foods dried at high temperatures

And I've been trying to include more of the following, but I still have a lot of work to do in this area:

raw, live, organic food
whole food
amino-rich food
enzyme-rich food
food dried at low temperatures
rejuvenating food
sprouts and chlorophyll-rich food
cultured food
medicinal herbs
fresh, wild, hand-picked food

Items from the above lists were taken from The Raw Truth: The Art of Preparing Living Foods. The author puts them into categories that range from "Bio-Destructive" to "Bio-Regenerative". This book in particular also says that 60% of your food intake should be items from the "Fresh Foods" category, 20% should be from the "Sprouted Foods" category, 10% should be from "Cultured Foods", and the last 10% should be from "Dried Foods".

However, I have also heard that as long as at least 51% of your food intake is raw, you're set. That way, your body gets enough of a break from processing non-raw food items.

Luckily, to help me in this food-venture, I have been very fortunate to receive a gift of a Vitamix blender/food processor from my Mom. With this new toy, I have been able to try all kinds of juices and smoothies that I couldn't have tried otherwise. To give you an idea of its power, this machine will liquify carrots!!

Since the above-mentioned book spoke so highly of sprouts, I have tried twice to grow my own sprouts and have had no luck. The first time I tried lentils - and they sprouted like crazy! - but I had put way too many in the jar and I had to give it up. The second time I tried garbanzo beans, and after a few days they just turned black in the jar. I'm guessing they should have been put on a tray or damp paper towel after the initial sprouts came out.

In terms of my diet, what I've been doing during the week is having one mostly-fruit/some-veggie smoothie in the morning, a mid-morning snack of a banana, a regular lunch (sandwich, salad, yogurt, etc.), then a mostly-veggie smoothie in the evenings. On weekends, I'll have 1-2 smoothies each day, allowing for 1 meal per day to be more of a social nature. (i.e. going out with friends to a restaurant)

I'll admit, it was very difficult for me to follow the above regimen during the week-long break from work since there was no real routine. I went to the grocery store today to restock on plenty of fruit and vegetables so I can try out 5-6 new smoothies this week and get back into it.

That's that! Hopefully, I'll be able to update again with some more progress!

Weekly Photo 4.23.2011

2011-04-23T10:13:00.000-04:00

So, it's been about a month since I posted a "weekly photo". I guess time just got away from me!

Since there are only about 5 months until my trip to Brazil, I've been going through my old pictures and scanning them all. Believe me, this has been no small task as I have 2 large boxes of photo albums!
Here is a photo I took in 2002 on a trip with Belo Tours to Foz do Iguaçu, where we visited all 3 sides of the falls in Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, in addition to 2 other cities in Brazil: Curitiba and Florianópolis. This is by far my favorite picture from that trip!

Taken in June 2002, Foz do Iguaçu
Photographed: Chris (NY) and Matt (OR)

Weekly Photo 3.26.2011

2011-03-26T08:52:00.000-04:00

The countdown begins! My boyfriend and I will be going to Brazil in September, and in honor of that, here is a photo I took in 2002 in a place called Ouro Preto, Brazil when I was an exchange student. I'm so excited to be going back!

Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil; 2002

Weekly Photo 3.19.2011

2011-03-19T10:15:00.000-04:00

What can I say? I like bridges... So here's another one!

Taken 3.16.2011. Five Mile Trail, Anderson Township, Ohio.

Weekly Photo 3.12.2011

2011-03-12T15:55:00.005-05:00


Taken in December of 2005: Brooklyn Bridge, New York City.

This was taken on my first of many trips to New York City to visit a friend who still lives there. My trip to visit the suspension bridge in Cincinnati last night reminded me of the time my friend an I walked around NYC and walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. Good times. :)

Weekly Photo 3.5.2011

2011-03-05T14:06:00.000-05:00


Taken in 2006, Indianapolis, Indiana

I figured this photo taken in a Cajun/creole restaurant in Indianapolis would be appropriate since it is that Mardi Gras time of year. The friend that took me to this restaurant 5 years ago is getting married this year and I can't help but think about all the major transitions both of us have gone through - together and separately. Many moves within the Midwest and abroad and to the southeast. Living together in an old apartment where we could hear the man upstairs coughing all the time. Working together and being the only 2 front desk clerks for an entire shift on Christmas. Almost missing our flight to Brazil in 2001.. and many more.
Enjoy the colors of the photo - as they probably help remind those of us in colder climates that spring is on its way.

Weekly Photo 2.26.2011

2011-02-26T14:47:00.000-05:00

Taken 2.26.2011, Notre Dame-AmeriCorps National Conference, Washington, DC
We Americorps members ARE the essential piece to the puzzle.

New Book

2011-02-26T14:37:00.002-05:00

I just ordered Living in the Raw: Recipes for a Healthy Lifestyle from Amazon. This might be my new project: incorporating raw foods into my diet, possibly replacing, but we'll see.

Weekly Photo 2.13.2011

2011-02-13T14:00:00.000-05:00

In 2004, I lived in Miami, Florida and attended Florida International University. It was such a different time then! It was practically a requirement to know Spanish to leave the campus, but it was cool because the chances were higher in Miami to run into a Brazilian or two while roaming around.

One day, James and I took the 1.5 hour public transit bus ride to the eastern edge of Miami: downtown, to do a little exploring. In the front of one of the buildings we ran across this camera thing and we were amused. :) Memories.

Taken in 2004, Miami, Florida

Pandora Songs 2.13.2011

2011-02-13T13:44:00.000-05:00

Some songs I've bookmarked recently on Pandora.

Weekly Photo 2.5.2011

2011-02-05T23:06:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm going to go ahead and post another photo. I miss my maternal grandparents. Lately, a new project has been started in our family: to rebuild / repair the house my mom grew up in and my grandparents lived in until they passed. It's a beautiful old house that has a secret stairway that used to be for the servants - it is now closed off and the house has been divided up for renting. I am the oldest of the 3 girls in my family and I have the most memories of Gramma and Grampa, and that house. The following picture was taken a long time ago, and probably when I was either very young or not yet born. The location is the porch of the old house, where I remember swinging in that very same swing, probably singing to myself.

Weekly Photo 2.5.2011

2011-02-05T22:56:00.000-05:00

This photo was taken my my grandparents when they visited me at college. It reminds me of another time.. I made a few good friends that I still keep in touch with today, I studied a language I love, and I had an awesome professor that was also a good friend. It's amazing how much a life can change (and how many things can happen) in a mere 7 years.

Taken some time in 2003-2005, Florida International University, Miami, Florida

Weekly Photo 1.30.11

2011-01-30T09:37:00.000-05:00

I am posting a second photo this week because without realizing it, I skipped last week.
The reason for this particular photo is that I was reminded of it during a phone conversation last night with my Dad. His father's sister passed away over a week ago at the age of 103. We started talking about the cemetery at the small church on top of the hill on Scotch Ridge and I remembered the time I walked through there in 2007 with Grampa. The cemetery sits atop a hill next to the church that, up until a few years ago, was merely a one-room church with an outhouse. (They have since added on a gathering area, running water, and bathrooms.)
The tombstones date well into the 1800's and some are sinking or leaning over. Some are so eroded the names can't even be read.
At one point during our walk that day, Grampa placed his hand on the corner of one of the newer tombstones for leverage to walk back up the hill. I captured that moment with my camera and below is the resulting photo.

Taken in 2007, Scotch Ridge Church, Martins Ferry, Ohio

Weekly Photo 1.30.11

2011-01-30T09:10:00.000-05:00

"Two Farmers & A Cat"
Taken in 2007, on the Kithcart Farm, Dillonvale, Ohio

Cold Mountain, North Carolina

2011-01-20T09:22:00.000-05:00

We are having a snow day today at work, but I've been awake since 4:45am. I ended up keeping an eye on the webcam I like to look at daily and I made the following video that tracks the webcam from 5am-9am.

Weekly Photo 1.17.11

2011-01-17T08:00:00.000-05:00


John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, Cincinnati, OH; Taken Dec. 2009 during an urban hike (see the hikers?)

Note: This bridge has been under construction for some time. This photo was taken before the construction began. Here's a link to read about some of the history of the bridge.

Chicago Construction Challenge!

2011-01-13T06:21:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy week between homework for school, homework for work, and preparing to be out of town for the weekend. About Friday midday I'll be heading to Chicago to help my Mom with an event called Construction Challenge. Below is a quote from the website:

"To help develop the workforce of the future, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), presenting sponsor Volvo Construction Equipment, and Destination ImagiNation® (DI) are kicking off the 2010-11 Construction Challenge. Construction Challenge provides participants a real-world experience that will inspire them to explore and pursue careers in the construction industry.
High school teams will compete and solve transportation and water infrastructure Challenges using creativity, teamwork and problem solving. Teams of five (5) to seven (7) participants (plus an adult Team Manager) will compete at 9 Regional Rallies across North America, and the top 24 teams will advance to the Championship Finals at CONEXPO/CON-AGG in Las Vegas in March 2011." --ConstructionChallenge.org (http://constructionchallenge.org/index.php/who-we-are/about)

I've been a part of this for a few years now, always because my Mom has been involved in some big way. At least twice she's been the Chicago Rally Leader and responsible for recruiting teams from across her region to compete. The latest update I've heard is that she's gotten 40+ teams to sign up!

After I arrive on Friday evening, I'm sure I'll be helping set up for Saturday morning. Saturday is the big day and we'll be waking up super early and we'll be ready to start getting teams checked in by 7:30am or so. I'm not sure what I'll be doing after registration... My role might include taking photos, working in the score room, or any number of things! I can't wait to see what the challenges are this year - - and what the high schoolers come up with for their solutions!

Weekly Photo 1.9.11

2011-01-09T07:35:00.000-05:00

Taken 11.25.2005 in Hocking Hills, Ohio

Back to School in 2011

2011-01-07T05:54:00.000-05:00

This week was my first week of college classes since 2007, and I can see it'll take a little getting used to. Not necessarily to the classes themselves, but to the homework and managing my time at home. I'm taking undergraduate level classes again to get the prerequisites necessary for the masters I want to pursue.
My first time around, my classes were all related to language, but now I've got to level up to health science! That means "Hello, physics, biology, and statistics!" I never was too fond of math..
This quarter my first classes are Statistics for Health Science and Astronomy: The Solar System. Yesterday it became apparent that for Stats we make our own homework. We have to find practice problems on the internet or in a book that wasn't ordered for our class (and therefore none of the 10 students has a copy - though we do have a general stats book) and keep them in a notebook that we can keep in a notebook to turn in at the end of the 10-week course for credit. A copy of the book we don't have is in the Learning Center, but you can't even take copies of the pages; you have to use it in the Learning Center. I think I'll look into finding a copy at the library of the campus next to where I work.
Astronomy is set up in a more familiar way. We have 10 weeks of class, only meeting once a week and that means doing a lot of work on our own - but at least it's "read the chapter and answer these questions, then email them to me by Sunday". We have our first assignment due this Sunday and our first quiz is on Tuesday!

As far as the rest of this leveling business goes, the soonest I'll be finished with the undergraduate classes is the summer of 2012. That is, if I am accepted into grad school by that time AND I can take 3 courses packed into a compact 10-week summer course. If it doesn't work out that way, I'd have to take those 3 courses over fall, winter and spring quarters and I wouldn't finish the undergrad classes until 2013. We'll just have to see!

Plants Update - January

2011-01-03T11:18:00.000-05:00

Low-light hanging plant - I can't remember the name

Lucky Bamboo


(left) Spider plant rescued from greenhouse floor on 10.23.2010 (front) Cactus gifted to me by my boyfriend's uncle on 1.1.11

Dracaena (3 short ones in the pot)

Spider plant rescued from the greenhouse floor in 2009

Cacti & Succulent pot - a couple have died since I got it in Oct. 2010

Wandering Jew, originally one short piece obtained from the greenhouse floor in 2009

Weekly Photo 1.3.2011

2011-01-03T10:56:00.000-05:00

The Field Road at Dusk - Taken 12.23.2010

Welcome to 2011

2011-01-03T10:30:00.000-05:00

It's been a long time since I've updated my blog - and even longer since I've updated my website. For the new year, I figured it might work out best if I combined the two.

:::::::

2011 brings about many changes and challenges. I will be going back to school for Speech Pathology tomorrow, while still working full-time as an AmeriCorps member at an elementary school. Plus, a lot of health issues have come up in my family and my boyfriend's.

Aside from the challenges the year brings, in the early fall, my boyfriend and I are planning a trip to somewhere far away. We haven't decided yet between Brazil, New Zealand, or Japan, but we will start delving into our plans over the next few months.

:::::::

As far as this blog goes, I hope to update it at least weekly. I hope I can keep it up!

Here I Go Again!

2010-04-02T18:25:00.000-04:00

It's official, everyone! I will be doing a 2nd year with AmeriCorps!!

A Real Look at My Future

2010-04-02T17:47:00.000-04:00

I have been toying with the idea of going back to school to become a Speech Therapist and today I took the first step to find out how to do it.

I met with a professor at University of Cincinnati about the Master's Program for Speech-Language Pathology. I knew going in that I would have some prerequisite courses to take before I could start the Master's Program, but I didn't imagine that it would be 11 courses!

That will make things tricky because I have agreed to another year as an AmeriCorps member and that means more than 40 hours each week with some days not ending until after 5:30pm. I was informed today that there are no evening classes for this program, but some are offered online. Long story short, it may take 2 years for me to complete the prerequisite courses before I could start the Master's Program.

There's a million other things to think about, like how would I pay for it, when would I start, would I take them online or on campus, etc.

This line of thought is still in the very beginning stages, but I am thinking about it.

Great Book

2010-03-09T22:31:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading this book, and I must say I have learned quite a few things from it. The Love & Logic method seems so logical, but as teachers (and probably also as parents) we don't tend to think of these methods on our own.
I've already started to try to use them at school and I've found that they work. It's remembering when and how to use them that are the hard parts that will take much practice.

Best Tuesday Yet!

2010-02-25T21:55:00.000-05:00

Always be aware of the wealth of resources you have around you -- and use them when you can!

I was stuck, and HATING Tuesdays. Those are the days I stay after school with 14 girls in grades 3-5 for an hour and make sure they get their homework finished. At the end of the hour some high school girls come and spend an hour with them, as part of the Big Sisters program. (It's from Big Brothers Big Sisters, but we only utilize the Sister part.)

This ritual started in October, after I had been at the school only 1 month, with no formal training on how to handle a group of 9-11 year olds. (Keep in mind, I work with only K and 1st grade all day, everyday.) The hour would consist of super-chatty girls that talked back to me, didn't get their homework done, and found lots of ways to waste time. There was no respect or real discipline to be had, since there was a lack of structure.

I was frustrated and I knew it didn't have to be that way. Luckily, I was able to vent my frustrations over dinner with a gentleman named Mike, another Notre Dame-AmeriCorps member from Dayton, Ohio. His specialty was working with kids in the same age range as those in my Big Sisters program and he gave me a lot of insight and a new perspective on a couple of things that had happened to me over the past few months.

When I got back to Cincinnati, I stayed a little later in the teacher's lounge to talk to the higher grade teachers and ask their advice. They gave me a couple ideas I could try and this Tuesday I went in armed and ready. I had my list of rules for the hour, new seating chart and all. Before we even went to the cafeteria I told them 'this is how it's going to be'. If the rules were broken, they would lose 5 minutes with their Big Sister because, after all, participating in the program is a privilege, not a right, and they should not be rewarded for disrespecting an adult for one full hour.

It must have gotten through to them because that was the quietest (and easiest) Tuesday for me yet this year. They sat in their assigned seats, did their homework, were respectful to me and each other, and hey, it even seemed to change their demeanor for the second hour with their Big Sisters. They were quieter, calmer, and seemed to have valuable conversations with their Big Sisters instead of being loud and somewhat out of control.

It was a great challenge for me to put down my foot like that and demand results from the students, but it really felt good to not have to argue and have a power struggle for an hour. It's really a win-win: They can be more focused on their homework so they have less (or none) to do at home later, and I can go home feeling more relaxed and less on-edge.

NDA Conference Thoughts

2010-02-24T06:26:00.000-05:00

Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 9:12am

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. -Gandhi

That was one of the many quotes from our AmeriCorps conference yesterday that stuck with me. We listened to a couple Notre Dame Sisters and a Congressman from Maryland, Elijah Cummings. His speech was about his journey from special ed in elementary school to law school and then becoming a Congressman. It was very inspiring and he had quite a few words of advice for educators like us at Notre Dame AmeriCorps. He really had a lot of positive energy and his delivery was much like that of a preacher - which even got a few responses from the audience.

Some of the thoughts he left me with were the following:

"Never mistake a comma for a period." Even if you get what you've dreamed about, there could still be more to life. More to achieve, more to learn, more to teach, etc.

This other thing he said seemed to me to be so true: We have a culture of mediocrity. When something is tough in college, we just stay away from it and do something easier. What we should do is strive for excellence instead and tackle any challenges that come our way.

"Plan for success"

"Know yourself and be true to yourself."

A lot of people think that it takes a group to make a change or start something. But it only takes one person + commitment and dedication.

Now that you've read Elijah's words: "Store THAT in your DNA!"

Notre Dame-AmeriCorps National Conference

2010-02-24T06:24:00.000-05:00

Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 12:18am

Today was such an emotionally charged day. I've been in a bit of a rut lately, trying to figure out what to do next in life, not sure what I else I can get from and give to my service site, etc. And today I learned a bit about other people's service experiences and I was blown away. It was as if some of them were talking directly to me and knew what I was thinking, even though they were talking to all 300+ of us. Some of the things I heard made me think about a second year with AmeriCorps in a different way: as an opportunity to do better and so much more the second time around. I'll have to post a few of the thoughts I was left with after our keynote speakers left the podium... But now I must get some rest.

My Year of Service - #5

2009-12-09T18:05:00.000-05:00

My Service Site, NDMV-AmeriCorps Family, Other Volunteering, and Settling In

My Service Site:
After about 3 months at my service site, I've finally gotten the swing of things.. Well, sort of. It never ceases to amaze me how each day is so different from the last when you work with children.
I've been learning a lot about the many situations they have at home - parents going through divorce, living with grandparents, etc. and the effect they can have on the children's moods and behaviors. I always knew I was lucky to have a healthy home and family environment, but this experience is making sure I remember it.
I'm also learning a lot, but one thing that I have yet to figure out is why some children feel the need to lie a lot of the time. If I go back to school at the end of my year with AmeriCorps, I feel like I'll have a million questions like this one to ask of my future Early Childhood Development professor.
My elementary school (site) has had quite a few special, and memorable, days this year and I'd like to take a moment to reflect on them. One day, I assisted the school nurse on a 'field trip' of sorts to the Museum Center with about 15 students from all the grades (K-8). Earlier in the year, some people came to our school to do some preliminary eye exam to see if any students needed glasses. They determined that these 15 students needed glasses and we took them on this trip to get their eyes tested further and pick out some glasses. The most amazing part of this day was that everything was free for the students - from my school and several schools throughout the city - including the pair of glasses that they will be receiving shortly.
More recently, we took Preschool-4th grade to a local high school that had an entire day of Christmas fun planned out. There must have been hundreds of parents and volunteers there that day to make sure everything went smoothly, not to mention the students of that school! First, we had a Christmas Mass in the school's gym, where each younger student participated side-by-side with their big buddy from the high school, carrying a beautiful poinsettia plant up to the altar. Then, they provided pizza, drinks, and desserts for everyone! After lunch, everyone headed to another part of the building where a festival of games, face-painting, and other activities were. The kids even got to meet Santa with their big buddies and they received a personalized gift from Santa (and their big buddy). I've never seen so many smiling faces!!
I must say, seeing such a successful volunteer-run event like that really lifts my spirits.

My NDMV-AmeriCorps Family:
Each week I meet with the 18 Notre Dame Mission Volunteers-AmeriCorps members at a central location. The meetings really bring together the whole 'year-of-service' experience in the way that we have each other to lean on and ask advice of, etc. Not to mention the great things we learn from each other.
So far we have visited a couple service sites and met with some of the people that our fellow members work with and we will be visiting all the sites by the end of our year. Some meetings we get to know each other and ourselves better through presentations given by our fellow members on various subjects. We also take some time every month to have a piece of cake and celebrate the birthdays of our fellow members.

My Other Volunteering:
In order to ensure that I reach 1700 volunteering hours by the end of my year of service, I try to volunteer at places other than my service site when I can. I have helped out at a Power Inspires Progress Brunch, a day of Bingo Bonanza that raises money for my school, 2 health fairs put on by one of my fellow NDMVA member's service site, and even once a week at an art school for autistic individuals. If anything, I can say that this year's experiences are well-rounded.

Settling In:
I'm very happy to say that I can finally get around most of downtown and out to the southeastern suburbs without my GPS! I'm learning to love the local market and I go there when I can. It took about 3 months, but I finally went on my first hike with the Tri-State Hiking Club this week and I made a new friend.
Overall, I'm definitely feeling the tight budget, but I think I may be the happiest I've ever been. This experience is invaluable and I'm learning a lot about myself. :)

Classic Classroom Moments

2009-09-28T12:49:00.001-04:00

My kindergarteners call it "lellow".

Classic Classroom Moments

2009-09-26T16:44:00.000-04:00

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.

My Year Of Service - #4

2009-09-26T16:40:00.000-04:00

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.

Classic Classroom Moments

2009-09-21T17:53:00.000-04:00

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!

Getting Settled

2009-09-20T22:24:00.000-04:00

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.

Classic Classroom Moments

2009-09-10T18:16:00.000-04:00

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

2009-09-10T18:09:00.000-04:00

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!

My Year of Service - #3

2009-09-09T19:55:00.000-04:00

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.

Classic Classroom Moments

2009-09-09T18:03:00.000-04:00

*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.

My Year of Service - #2

2009-09-06T10:32:00.000-04:00

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!

My Year Of Service - #1

2009-09-01T06:58:00.000-04:00

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:

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!

My Eurotrip 2009: Day 12

2009-06-11T16:47:00.000-04:00

The Return
Tuesday, May 12

Siena and I got up early and had breakfast with Maria again, and her daughter. We said our goodbyes to Maria and Paolo and then loaded up the taxi that came for us at 7am. We ended up getting to the airport too early to check in, so Siena and I sat on a bench and waited for a while, listening to her iPod.

Then it was time for goodbye, as I left for the States and Siena stayed behind in Italy to enjoy the last 7 weeks of her stay there.

I am so glad she was my tour guide - and I was very impressed by her Italian, too!

My Eurotrip 2009: Day 11

2009-06-11T16:03:00.000-04:00

Exploring Florence
Monday, May 11

Siena and I woke up early and had breakfast with Maria. We took a bus to a place just outside of Florence where we walked up a hill to a path that led us to a beautiful view of Florence, only this time: As Seen from the Countryside.

Then, we took another bus to an anthropology museum where they had costumes and items from several different cultures from around the world. They even had real shrunken heads! Just like at the other museum, the collection hasn't been touched in decades.

Later, we walked to a sandwich place and order a "#9", which means they get to pick what goes on the sandwich for you. We ate our sandwiches while sitting in the shade on a park bench, watching the pigeons and people walk by.

We strolled the streets and looked in some shops. We even bought some cheap clothing at an outlet store. We got gelato one more time (hurray for coffee and hazelnut flavor!). Siena got Siciliano and Kiwi flavor.

We then got on a bus back to the homestay and watched "Bring it on" dubbed in Italian before we rearranged the suitcase situation and then had dinner. It was a fun dinner with the group of students, and a bit sad because it was my last one with them. They were very nice people!

We went to bed early after putting the finishing touches on the suitcase I was to take home to the States for Siena.

My Eurotrip 2009: Day 10

2009-06-11T15:44:00.000-04:00

Museum and Bologna
Sunday, May 10

Siena and I woke up at 8am and had breakfast with Maria. She's originally from Portugal, but has been living with her Italian husband in Italy for 25 years. She really missed speaking Portuguese, so that's how her and I communicated during our visit. (She would speak to Siena in Italian.)

Then, Siena and I went to the Museum of Natural History: Zoologia, the one called "La Specola". It was really interesting! They had stuffed animals (by taxidermy, not plush toys) that had been stuffed about 100 years ago and you could see the stitches! They were behind cabinet doors made with hand-rolled glass, and the collection in the museum has not been moved or changed since it was put there about a century ago.

After strolling the halls of La Specola, we went to the Florence Union Station to catch our train to Bologna so we could meet up with our distant cousin, Gionata. The last time I had seen him, it was about 10 years ago! His train came in only 10 minutes after ours and we walked from the train station towards the downtown area so we could find a place to eat. We ended up picking a pizza place because I pointed out that I haven't had Italian pizza yet (this trip). I got the "Popeye" pizza (it had spinach and cheese) and it was delicious!

We kept walking around town, and Gionata pointed out that Bologna also has a leaning tower (like Pisa). Except in Bologna, there are 2 right next to each other and only one is leaning. We also saw a piazza and a couple of churches while we were waiting for Alessandro to meet up with us. He and Gionata had shared a desk at school when they were kids, and now Alessandro has been living in Bologna for about 8 years.

He told us about the myth of the statue of Neptune in the piazza, and explained some things about the city to us. Before heading back to the train station, we stopped at a little bar and joined the Italians for a drink called "Spritz". It was really tasty!

At the train station, Gionata gave me a present from Aunt Rita and then we said good bye. It was nice to see him again after so long!

After the short, high-speed train ride back to Florence, Siena and I rushed to the homestay for the 8pm dinner with Maria and the other students staying there. We were joined by Maria Eugenia, Maria, Paolo (her husband), Stefan and his friend (Austrians), and Anika (from Sweden). Needless to say, there were many languages present at the table that night! We had pesto pasta, meat, salad, and fruit for dessert.

Siena and I went to our room and watched "Meet the Fockers" dubbed in Italian before going to bed.

My Eurotrip 2009: Day 9

2009-06-11T15:31:00.000-04:00

First Day in Florence
Saturday, May 9

Siena and I left at 5am with Eleni to get to our early-morning flight from Athens to Florence, Italy. We had a connection in Munich and had a bit of trouble finding our gate, but we eventually found it after we discovered the escalator.

We arrived in Florence on time and we took a taxi to her homestay, where we met Maria. We freshened up a bit and went downtown to the Duomo area by bus, which only took about 10-15 minutes. The line to go inside the Duomo was very long, so we decided to go up to the top of the neighboring bell tower instead. To get to the top, we had to climb 414 stairs, but the view was well worth it! After we climbed back down the narrow, winding staircase, we got some Chinese food and ate it on the steps of the San Lorenzo church nearby. We walked to a really good gelato place near Ponte Vecchio and then started our climb to the Piazzale Michelangiolo, where we had a beautiful veiw of the city.

We walked around for a while, looking in shops and a market before we had an awesome buffet dinner at Kitsch. It was a mere 8 Euros for the buffet and aperitivo. Then we took the bus back to the homestay and watched some Italian tv while we got ready for bed.

My Eurotrip 2009: Day 8

2009-06-11T14:59:00.000-04:00

Delphi
Friday, May 8

Siena and I left the house with Eleni around 8am and we drove about 2.5 hours to Delphi. We walked through the ruins that sit on the side of a mountain, and climbed our way in the hot sun up to the stadium. Afterwards, we walked through the museum that holds the gifts people from all over the world gave as an offering to the oracle.

After a snack, we continued on the road through the mountains for a couple of hours. We stopped for a real meal at a restaurant that had a patio right on the water. The owner of the restaurant was the son of a sailor and his widow, and he was also an artist. Siena showed him the couple of water colors she had with her, and he complimented her work.

We had "egg pie", cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice, potatoes, pork, and Greek salad. We fed some ducks in the water near our table with some stale bread the waitress provided. We were the only people in the whole place since it was a weekday, and it was very peaceful. You could hear the lapping of the waves against the stones of the patio under our feet.

We continued our drive up the coast, all the way to the bridge that connects the mainland to Peloponnisos. It was built in 2004 and it was quite a sight! From there, we followed the same course that we took on our first full day in Greece on the train ride to Kalavrita. We stopped at the narrow Corinth Canal that separates Peloponnisos from the mainland. We even got to see a boat go through it.

We continued driving through Athens to get to Pallini on the other side. We were so tired from the long day on the road that we just ordered souvlaki take out and relaxed. Since it was our last night with Simon, Eleni, Yia Yia, and Despina, we took this time to present them with some gifts we brought from the U.S. Siena even gave them a couple of her photographs from her photography class in Florence.

Siena and I packed our bags and went to bed.. The next day was our journey to Florence!

My Eurotrip 2009: Day 7

2009-05-22T10:29:00.000-04:00

Museums & Shopping
Thursday, May 7

Siena and I made our way to downtown Athens again on public transportation and our first stop was the National Art Gallery. I never knew just how much she knew about painting techniques, different periods (Renaissance, etc.) and styles. She gave me a mini lesson while we wandered through the mix of modern and old paintings.
Our next stop was the Benaki Museum, which is a private museum. Yia Yia had given us some spanakopita to take with us and we found a shade tree near the front steps of the Benaki Museum and ate it before going inside.
Afterwards, we went down to the area of town called Plaka where there are many shops and old buildings. We didn't do much shopping, but we enjoyed the view of the Acropolis from the narrow streets. When we had our fill, we made our way back to Pallini to rest for a while until Despina came back from work.

We had a snack and then left for downtown again, only this time our goal was to see the sunset from Areopagos. We climbed to the top of the rock and had an amazing view of the city and the sun setting through the clouds.
On our way back down, we saw the moon still in the sky and it was almost full. We wandered the streets for a while, taking in the orange and pink sky that was the backdrop for the old buildings. We made our way towards a metro station, but before we made it to the square, we stopped at a small restaurant and got some souvlaki. We sat out in the square and watched the night life start to brew as we ate our delicious food. Before we boarded the metro, we got one last glimpse of the Acroplis lit up against the black sky.

My Eurotrip 2009: Day 6

2009-05-07T10:30:00.000-04:00

The Parliament & Museums
Wednesday, May 6

The day started out with catching the bus to Athens with Despina at 8:30am, and Siena and I continued on to the metro. We got off at the Syntagma metro stop just in time to see the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in front of the Greek Parliament building at 10am.
Afterwards, we got back on the metro and went up to the Omonia stop and walked to the National Archeological Museum. We spent some time there, getting lost among the ancient jewelry and sculptures.
Afterwards, we had lunch at Goody's, which is a fast food restaurant. Only half of the menu was in English, like "Premium *insert Greek work here*" or "Goody's Club *insert Greek word here* + Coca-Cola". Siena and I decided to stick with what we know, and ordered 2 club sandwiches and fries. But because we didn't know that fries came with the sandwiches, we ended up with a LOT of fries.
Then, we walked down the street called Oktovriou-Patision until it intersected with Ermou, which is a street packed with high-end (and some not-so-high-end) stores, shops, and cafes. There were 2 items I wanted to get in Europe while I'm here: a purse and a pair of shoes. I got lucky and found a pair of really cute shoes in one of the first stores we went into. But finding the right purse proved to be more difficult.

While we were eating our lunch, it started to rain. Luckily, we had Despina's little umbrella with us and we managed to stay mostly dry while going between shops. We called Despina somewhere along the way, and when we weren't having any luck finding purses on Ermou, she directed us toward another street where I found my new purse! They were closing the shop as we were looking, but they let us hang around long enough to make a decision.
We made our way back to Syntagma and back to Pallini.

After resting for a while at Despina's house, we got changed and went out to downtown Athens for a drink at a couple of her favorite bars. One of them was called Nixon and had a bobblehead of Former President Nixon hanging out on the DJ's table. The neighborhood where the bars were located had a great view of the Acropolis lit up at night. We took a taxi back to the metro station where we had parked the car, and got home around midnight.

My Eurotrip 2009: Day 5

2009-05-06T13:07:00.000-04:00

Athens Public Transit & The Acropolis
Tuesday, May 5

Siena and I got up early and left the house with Despina, as she was on her way to work. We took a bus from a bus stop one block from her house and headed towards Athens. The night before she had given us hand-written notes on which buses to take and where, and which metro trains as well. She got off the bus soon after we got on, and we continued to the end of the line: the Ethniki Amyna metro stop. From there, we hopped on the metro to the Akropoli metro stop. From there, we walked around and saw many of the ruins. Luckily, the day was partly sunny and made it a beautiful day to do a lot of walking and take pictures.

We visited:
- Temple of Olympian Zeus
- Hadrian's Arch
- Theatre of Dionysos
- Odeon of Herodes Atticus
- The Parthenon and other Temples on the Acropolis
- Areopagus Hill
- Church of the Apostles of Solakis
- Stoa of Attalos and surrounding ruins

Along the way, we stopped at a restaurant and ate outdoors with a view of the Acropolis from our table. There were several birds flying around (pigeons, mourning doves, etc.) and some even jumped on our table while we were eating!

We continued our walking tour and made our way to the Monastiraki metro stop and headed back to Pallini. We got home after 5pm and took a 3-hour nap around 6pm. We woke up in time for dinner and essentially went back to bed. For some reason, I wasn't able to sleep right after my shower and I ended up staying awake on the internet until about 1am.

My Eurotrip 2009: Day 4

2009-05-06T12:25:00.000-04:00

Road Trip with Simon
Monday, May 4

Despina's father, Simon, had some flexibility in his schedule and took Siena and I for a drive around the Attica region of Greece. One important detail of this trip is that Simon does not speak English. He knows a few key words, and a lot of Polish words, but that didn't help the Romance linguists that Siena and I are.

We left around 9:30am and our first stop was Sounio, where the Temple of Poseidon sits on top of a hill near the sea. It was mostly cloudy, and very windy, but at least it wasn't raining. We had some coffee with Simon at a cafe at the bottom of the hill and then Siena and I made our way up to the top. Somehow we managed to get through without paying the entrance fee. (Oops!)
We drove through the hills and stopped to see some ruins from the road (it was Monday and they were closed!) We passed through Markopoulo and eventually made our way up to Marathon. At Marathon, we stopped at a restaurant on the beach for a snack. Keep in mind that our communication with Simon was very limited. He ordered some food for us, and you can imagine our surprise when 2 plates of octopus and 1 plate of calamari were delivered to our table. We tried to be polite by trying it, but let's just say it wasn't my favorite Greek dish.
Somewhere along the way, he had been trying to tell us about Ouzo, which is a drink like Raki that we tried on our first night in Greece. It is a very strong liquor that smells a bit like black licorice. Simon kept telling us that it was to 'clear our senses', you know, so we could taste the octopus. ;-) The grilled octopus was better than the boiled octopus, according to Siena. I could only get myself to try the grilled one.
We drove around some more and saw the starting point for the Olympic marathon that took place in 2004, a shrine to Saint Barbara, and made a stop for the bathroom and also ordered some spanakopita at a small tavern where Simon's friends worked.
A few times during the day, we had to call Despina to have her translate between us and her dad. We knew Simon wanted to tell us the history of many of the places we visited, but we just couldn't communicate. At some point, late in the day, he tried to tell us something about President Obama, which we found out later from Despina that it was a joke.
All in all, it was a good day and Simon was very generous with his time to take us all over Attica by car. :)

My Eurotrip 2009: Day 3

2009-05-06T11:21:00.000-04:00

Day Trip to Peloponnisos
Sunday, May 3
(Simon and Eleni's birthday!)

This day we woke up around 6am to get ready. Despina's boyfriend, Kostas, picked Siena, Eleni, Despina, and I up at the house and we headed to the suburban train line in Pallini to start our journey. We took a total of 4 trains:

Pallini -> Ano Liosia -> Kiato -> Diakofto -> Kalavrita

Along the way, we saw amazing scenery including the beautiful hills and mountains of Attica, the narrow canal that separates Peloponnisos from Attica, and miles of beautiful coastline. In Diakofto, we stopped in a small shop for snacks and water. From here, the train we took up the hill used othodotos (teeth in the middle of the railroad tracks for the train to use to climb up the hills in the Vouraiko Gorge). This railway used to be the only way in and out of the villages that lie in the mountains.

The train ride takes 1.5 hours to get to Kalavrita (from Diakofto), which is 22,000 meters above sea level, and about 22 km from the town of Diakofto. It is common for people to hike along the tracks all the way to the top. (It would be awesome to come back and do that one day!)

The train was very small: Only 2 cars and the engine in the middle. There were 2 first class sections on either end of the train, for which Eleni bought ticket for us! That meant that there were fewer people in that section and more room to run from window to window trying to get good pictures of the scenery. We all got some amazing shots. :)
Upon arrival in Kalavrita, we walked up the hill to a small museum about the German occupation of Greece and the massacre of the villagers from Kalavrita and surrounding villages.
Then we went to eat at a tavern and we had Greek salad (of course!), lamb chops, plain salad, and tiropita (like spanakopita [spinach & feta pie], but only with feta cheese).
Towards the end of our meal, Kostas and Despina worked it out with the waiter so we could surprise Eleni with a birthday cake. She was so surprised that she cried a little. We sang "Happy Birthday" in English and Greek. Well, Despina and Kostas sang in Greek...
After lunch, we continued to follow the mosaic design of railroad tracks on the sidewalk up the hill to see more shops and touristy things. We reached the end of the line and walked back down towards the train station, but we still had some time so we decided to stop at a cafe. We sat at a table in the sun and sipped our frothy caffeinated/decaf beverages.
On the way back to Pallini, it didn't take us long to realize that the ride home was going to be a crowded one. Friday, May 1 was May Day (kind of like Labor Day) and many people traveled to the villages from Athens for the 3-day weekend.
After the 2nd train back, I had to go to the bathroom. Only, the only bathroom available was on the opposite platform and the train was coming any minute. I made a mad dash downstairs, through the tunnel under the tracks, up to the bathroom and back just as the train was pulling in. I had to push my way through the crowd on the platform to get to Despina and everybody, but I made it!
We were very tired from the long day of traveling by train when we arrived home. We had another birthday cake for Eleni and Simon with Kostos and Despina's grandmother and then went to bed.

My Eurotrip 2009: Day 2 (cont'd)

2009-05-06T10:25:00.000-04:00

Arrival in Pallini, Greece
Saturday, May 2

Upon arrival at Despina's house, we had a snack of pasticcio (it looked a bit like lasagna in the pan, but consisted of noodles, ground meat, and an egg, cream, and flour substance that held it all together). I took a much-needed shower and relaxed a bit with my sister, and around 8 or 9pm, we all went out to dinner at a restaurant (or tavern) that serves traditional Crete food.

We tried:
- ofti (grilled feta cheese)
- dakos (paksimadi [toasted bread] with tomato, feta cheese, basil, oregano, and other herbs)
- tzatziki (yogurt, garlic, and cucumber)
- fricase (pork with vegetables and red sauce)
- gamopilafo (Crete 'wedding rice')
- graviera (yellow cheese)
- dolmadakia yialantzi (vine leaves stuffed with rice and meat)
- lahano dolmades (cabbage leaves with meat and rice)
- Dessert: Apples and cinnamon with halvas (made with semolina [made from corn] and oil)

It was delicious! I really liked the gamopilafo, strong flavor and all, and the dakos. :)

My Eurotrip 2009: Days 1 & 2

2009-05-02T11:58:00.000-04:00

The Voyage
Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2

I know Chicago has a very large Polish population, but I never imagined that I'd feel like I was in Poland before even boarding the plane. My flight to Athens, Greece had a connecting flight in Warsaw, Poland, and I traveled on Lot, a Polish airline, for both legs.
While waiting at the gate and aboard the plane, all of the announcements about my flight were in Polish, and it seemed like only some of them were translated into English.
As I boarded the plane, I had my ticket out and showed the flight attendant so she could tell me which aisle I should go down to get to my seat. Without hesitating, she directed me in Polish and the only thing I could think to say was, "English?" She smiled, and without missing a beat, she directed me in English.
I found my seat near the aisle in the row of seats in the middle of the plane. I was immediately surrounded by Polish chatter. The safety instructions were in Polish first, accompanied by a funny-looking video. (I'll upload that later.)
Because of the "Swine Flu" going around, my step-dad gave me some masks and rubber gloves to use, just in case anyone was coughing around me, etc. I thought I would try to be safe anyway, since I catch any cold that comes within 50 feet of me. I fell asleep with it on, but it didn't last long. I felt like I couldn't breathe, and I kept getting stares from the people sitting next to me and the little toddlers that were walking up and down the aisle with their moms, as if to practice for later. I took it off to eat our first meal, and kept it off.
The food was miniature, as were the forks and knifes. There was a choice of beef or chicken, and I chose beef. Among the other items on the food tray was a mini Kit Kat bar. How did they know I liked Kit Kats?
At some point, I tried explaining to the flight attendant how I felt like I seemed to be the only person on the plane that didn't speak Polish, and all she did was nod and grin. I don't think she had the faintest idea that I was trying to converse with her about something other than water or orange juice.
I went in and out of sleep, then caught the second half of the movie "Bride Wars". Just for kicks, I listened to the dubbed-in-polish version on my headphones and I think they had a man do the voice of Murphy Brown!
Shortly after breakfast, we started our descent. As we got closer, I peeked out the windows near me to catch a glimpse of the landscape from up high. Most of what I could see was miles of flat farmland, some forested areas, but no city. It wasn't until we were lined up with the runway that I could look out the other side of the plane and see what seemed like thousands of high rises scrunched next to each other.
As the Polish lady that I met at Jamaican Gardens said, the Warsaw airport is pretty small. It was neat the way most of it was made of glass, so you could look down on people that were waiting for their flights to board. After a little bit of confusion, I learned the word for Athens in Polish (Ateny) and eventually found my gate.
At a gift shop, I bought a Glamour magazine in Polish (to look at the fashions they show) and my first bottle of water. The label was entirely in Polish, so I was a bit surprised to find out that it was carbonated when I opened it later. I paid in Euros, but got back some Polish coins instead.
Around boarding time for my flight to Athens, I loaded into a bus with the other passengers and we boarded the plane via one of those little staircases on wheels. I slept the whole way and was surprised to find that I didn't have to go through customs once. The door I thought led to customs actually led to the welcome area, where dozens of people were gawking at the doors, waiting for their friends to walk through. I paused, but once I realized everyone was staring at me, I quickly walked around the 'barracade'. I looked around and around but didn't see Despina or Siena, until I went behing the crowd of people and saw the side of Despina's face.
We hugged and chatted on the way to Despina's house in one of the suburbs of Athens and were greeted by her mom, Elini, and grandmother [yia yia]. Elini fed us, Siena showed us her artwork, and we chatted until it was Greek "siesta" time. I took a much-needed shower and now I'm on the internet on Despina's tiny little HP Mini laptop. :)

My Eurotrip 2009

2009-04-21T17:55:00.000-04:00

The Preparation

The original plans were for my family to visit my sister, Siena, in Europe in June after the American schools got out. And by 'my family', I mean my mom, stepdad, baby sister, aunt, grandparents, and me. However, some things changed and now it's just my immediate family. Then, things changed again, and another option came about: What if I went earlier than everyone else and traveled with Siena in Europe for a week?

That sounded like a great idea! The next thing I knew, plane ticket options were being arranged and purchased (thanks to my mom!) and my departure date is Friday, May 1st for Athens, Greece!

I'll be meeting Siena there, and we'll be there for a week. We will be visiting Elini my mother's high school pen pal, and her daugher, Despina. Siena and I met Despina and Elini when we were very young (I was 4, and Siena was 1). Back then, I spoke no Greek and Despini spoke no English. We didn't care! My parents took pictures of the two of us trying to communicate with our hands and pointing at stuff; it was quite a sight!

I still speak no Greek, but Despina has since learned a great deal of English, and thanks to the marvels of Facebook, we have reconnected and now we are able to have real conversations!

Siena, Despina, and I are currently emailing and messaging back and forth about what we would like to do while we're in Athens. I just picked up a couple of maps and a small book about Athens to take with me... It all still seems so surreal, but I'm getting excited!

Substitute Teaching: Day 4

2009-03-17T12:51:00.001-04:00

Day 4: Monday, March 16, 2009
This time, I found out about the sub opening the night before by checking the online system for openings. The teacher I was subbing for teaches a couple classes of English with a co-teacher, a Yearbook class, and a couple of study hall type classes with a T.A.
The first class was the Yearbook class and the students just worked at computer stations around the room, editing and proofing pages for the yearbook for the end of the year. There was a lot of discussion between them, they played some music in the back corner, and if they had questions, the directed them to one of the Yearbook Leaders. It was interesting to see how the ideas for the yearbook come together and how many of the students do the artwork for it.
The next two classes were English with a co-teacher. My lesson plan told me to let the co-teacher take the lead, and I would help by manning the PowerPoint presentation from the back of the room. The classes were reading Of Mice and Men, which I somehow never read in school, so I got a sneak peak into chapter 5 when the co-teacher read it aloud to the class.
After 4th period lunch, I had two periods of the study hall with the T.A. It's basically a time for the students to work on homework or projects and ask us for help if they need it. I let the students know that I am good with editing papers and Spanish and immediately some hands went up. I helped two students with their papers by checking their grammar and then walked around the room to see that the others were being productive. The T.A. helped the students with their Math and Geography throughout the two periods.
7th period was the teacher's Prep period, so I spent most of it in the teacher's lounge reading a book I brought. With about 10 minutes left, I went to my old Earth Science teacher's room to see if we could catch up a bit between classes.
Then I went back to my classroom to see if any students would show up for drop-in yearbook work on the computers during 8th period.
I am learning that every experience as a substitute teacher is incredibly different than the one that came before. It's exciting to see how different each teacher's day is from the next.

Substitute Teaching: Day 3

2009-03-15T22:35:00.000-04:00

Day 3: Friday, March 6, 2009
This call to sub came on Thursday evening, which gave me much more time to prepare. The teacher I subbed for was a Management and Business Math teacher with a full load of classes. Two of the classes were working on a presentation about the stocks of major companies, and therefore were scheduled to be in computer labs. It was interesting to walk around the room and take a peek at the stock graphs that each student had from companies like McDonalds, Verizon, AT&T, Home Depot, Caterpillar, etc. Most of the graphs showed a nearly steady decline starting around October or November of last year. One other class was held in a regular classroom and they just had book work to do.
The rest of the day was made up of 25-minute computer classes. (During 4, 5, 6, and 7, the lunch periods are split in half. The students spend half the period in the cafeteria and the other half in a study hall or a computer skills class.) The students just worked on some assignments on the computer until the bell rang.
This time, my 8th period was for Prep so I didn't have to stay the whole day. I had plenty of time to hop on my bike and get to my other job after school. On my way out, I ran into my Biology teacher from freshman year. It turns out that he had my little sister and when I told him her name, he laughed and said that "She was a HOOT". Yep, that's my sister!
One of the things that made the day more interesting was the fact that we couldn't find the teacher's lesson plans anywhere in the morning. The Sub Coordinator and I had to go around to a few different classrooms to figure out which computer lab or classroom I was supposed to be in for first period. She eventually got a copy from the department head right before the bell rang, and the rest of the day went smoothly.

Substitute Teaching: Day 2

2009-03-09T00:29:00.000-04:00

Day 2: Monday, February 23, 2009
This time the call came at 6:45am, a mere 3 hours after I had gone to bed, and 15 minutes before I was supposed to be at the school. I accepted the assignment because I live so close to the school and I had no plans for the day. And really, who else would be able to come in on such short notice? I didn't want to leave them hanging.
I subbed for a full day as an LRP (Learning Resource Program) teacher. The number of students in each of my periods was less than 10. Basically, the class time was to be used for homework, with the LRP teachers and Student Aides there to assist.
To my surprise, during second period I discovered a familiar face in the classroom. It was a former classmate of mine from high school that now works there as an Aide. We had a chance to catch up a bit, since we both spent most of the day in the same classroom.
This time, I was in the same building as my little sister, and we caught each other in the hallway.. then later in the cafeteria. I had to keep reminding her to not call me by my first name in front of her friends, in case I had them in any of my classes. It was funny to see her in her daily environment, iPod headphones between classes and all.
It's only been 5 1/2 years since I graduated high school, but so many things have changed since then. The year after I graduated, they gutted and rebuilt the whole front of the building. Now, during passing periods, they play music for the last 60 seconds instead of a plain warning bell. The students are constantly looking at or listening to their cell phones or iPods. I'm sure 6 years from now things will have changed again.
All in all, it was a good day and quite a different experience from my first day as a sub.

Substitute Teaching: Day 1

2009-03-07T20:00:00.001-05:00

Day 1: Thursday, December 18, 2008
I've been living back in my hometown for 6 months now, trying to figure things out. I've been thinking a lot about becoming a teacher and my first step towards it was to become a substitute teacher at my old high school. Finally, on December 18, 2008, I had my first subbing 'gig'.
I received the phone call from the automated system around 10pm the night before and I couldn't wait to see what it would be like. I gathered the teacher's class schedule, my sub parking pass, and a book to read during any down time I had. At first, it was strange to walk those familiar halls and not recognize a soul... Until I ran into a couple of my old teachers. I visited with my Art, Spanish, and English teachers from my freshman year at high school. They could hardly believe that enough time had passed for me to be out of college and back at the high school as a teacher.
The teacher I was subbing for teaches Geography, which was one of my favorite classes. And, oddly enough, they were on Latin America that week. My first class was the worst, in terms of awkwardness, but I learned the most from it. I made a note of my mistakes in attempting to govern the class for future use. First of all, if the lesson plan states that the students should be working quietly and individually in their seats, you should relay that to the students right away.
Some of the students would try to tell me that the teacher lets them sit and work together, even at the front of the room. Others would try listening to their iPods or chatting with their neighbor.
But, as the day went on, I started to get the hang of it.
At lunch time, I went through the same line in the cafeteria as the students, only to find that there was a special buffet (of real food) for faculty that day in the lounge. As I sat there, alone, eating my rubbery hamburger, some faculty members from another table invited me to sit with them. One of them was apparently the Assistant Principal, who introduced himself as 'Joe', a janitor, until a teacher called him out on it. Strangely, I felt like I was a kid in school again, getting a joke pulled on me. I guess you could say I didn't feel very welcomed on my first day as a sub.
Thankfully,though, I had a better experience while on hall duty. A Student Aide passed by a couple of times and we struck up a conversation about how it was my first day. She was very friendly and made me feel better about being there.
On the lesson plan, the teacher seemed to warn me about his 8th period class: That if they misbehave, I was to issue them a warning, and if they did it a second time, I was to let the teacher know to give them a detention upon his return. Mind you, this was the Thursday before Winter Break, and there was talk of a snow day the following day. At the beginning of the period, the students could not sit still and all they wanted to do was talk. Thankfully, the weekly school newspapers were delivered to the classroom about 15 minutes in, and one student gathered them up and distributed them to nearly everyone. They were happy to read the the newspaper instead of study for an upcoming quiz, and they were no trouble at all, as the lesson plan seemed to imply.
One of the funnier parts of the day was during one class, a girl asked me what my first name was. (My name "Miss LastName" was on the board behind me.) They started going around the room guessing random names. I eventually got them to study with the promise of if they were good all period, I might tell them my first name at the end of class. Several students asked for a pass to go to the bathroom over the course of the period, and I initialed it. So, of course, when they started up the guessing game at the end of the period again, someone remembered having seen the letter "J" and they went wild. They eventually guessed it, and I was glad to have entertained them (relatively quietly) for a few more minutes of class.
My first thoughts after the completion of my first day as a substitute teacher were positive ones. Although it was challenging to manage a room of about 30 high school students, it was fun, and I looked forward to my next chance.

Four Years Later

2009-03-07T19:58:00.001-05:00

It looks like I might be using this account after all. I hope to add something worth reading soon.

dont plan to use this..

2005-08-11T12:24:00.000-04:00

hi there,

i don't really plan to use this. i just got the account so i could post comments on someone else's page. :P