Today was the first day of Second Grade for my students. I went back and looked at my old posts from the last first day of school. There was no post for that day and I am not really surprised. I remember last year at this time. I was pulling my hair out. Man is this year way different. I have the same students as I did last year, and that is such a good thing. They already know me and my rules. They were so good today, of course it may be the honeymoon period. But at least there is one this time.
I remember last year the first time I met my students was at this Saturday ceremony for first graders. They were presented on the stage, then I walked them back to school. Here I was to have them in my class for 45minutes. The students had a snack and got their pictures taken. Then I wanted to read First Day Jitters to them. Well that is were it all went to hell. They couldn't understand English very well and got very impatient. One girl ran over to the window, looked out and saw all the parents outside in the courtyard. She then told the whole class this and everyone ran over to the window. At that time they started chanting... Let us out... Let us out. It was horrifying.
So on a positive note, they were wonderful today and I had such a great day with them. I am in huge favor of looping and I am excited to see where this year will lead us.
P.S. if this is a honeymoon period, I will take it, because last year my honeymoon period lasted 30 minutes.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Greece aka My favorite place in Europe so far
So while my sister was visiting me we spent a week in Greece.
First we flew into Athens and spent a day there. Athens is not one of my favorite places. There were a few cool things to see there, but it was really dirty and very hot. We only spent a day there, which I was fine with.
We went to two different islands in Greece. The first one was Paros. Paros is know for the beaches, and that is pretty much all you will do there. We spent two days on the beach. The first day we went to a beach that was surrounded by rocks. We had to wade through the water to get the one of the beaches. I actually slipped on the rocks and fell in. The water was so clear in Paros. This is also were I spent my birthday. Jennie and I went out for a few drinks that night to celebrate. On the last day we were in Paros we visited this cool church and did some shopping.
The next island we went to was Santorini, and this is my favorite place in Europe. There is so much to do and see on this island, I feel like I need to go back. The first night we got there I had a delicious seafood dinner and then we went out. Jennie wanted to be home by 2pm, but we didn't make it back to our place till 4pm. While out we met a few Americans and many other foreign people. We had a great time. We took the bus back to our hotel and luckily it was only 2 euro, because that is all we had left on us.
It was such a fun night, but we were hurting the next day. I really wanted to go on the volcano and to the hot springs, but I was not quite up to it. So, we spent the day by the pool. We stayed in a really nice hotel, so the pool was really cool. That night we had another delicious dinner and walked around the boardwalk.
The next morning I was up early to go scuba diving. I did two different dives. One was a wall dive off of White Island and the other was more of a cave dive. They both were really cool, but I saw a seal at the second dive. That was really great. I tried to get a picture of it, but I don't know if it turned out. As soon as I develop the film, I will let you know.
That evening we went into the town of Oia where we had dinner on top of a building and watched the beautiful sunset. This town is so cool. It has buildings off the side of a cliff with an amazing view of the volcano. I suggest going to Santorini if ever in Greece, or even close to Greece.
The final day was a travel day. We were supposed to catch a ferry from Santorini all the way to Athens. Well after waiting an hour for our ferry I decided to ask someone about it and I was told they canceled the trip. I panicked a little considering we were suppose to catch a flight out of Athens back to Berlin. But after waiting in a long line, I was pleasantly surprised they booked us on a flight out of Santorini to Athens. All we had to do was hang out in Santorini for the day, which was fine by me.
All in all the trip was great. Below are some pictures, most of them are on facebook too.
First we flew into Athens and spent a day there. Athens is not one of my favorite places. There were a few cool things to see there, but it was really dirty and very hot. We only spent a day there, which I was fine with.
We went to two different islands in Greece. The first one was Paros. Paros is know for the beaches, and that is pretty much all you will do there. We spent two days on the beach. The first day we went to a beach that was surrounded by rocks. We had to wade through the water to get the one of the beaches. I actually slipped on the rocks and fell in. The water was so clear in Paros. This is also were I spent my birthday. Jennie and I went out for a few drinks that night to celebrate. On the last day we were in Paros we visited this cool church and did some shopping.
The next island we went to was Santorini, and this is my favorite place in Europe. There is so much to do and see on this island, I feel like I need to go back. The first night we got there I had a delicious seafood dinner and then we went out. Jennie wanted to be home by 2pm, but we didn't make it back to our place till 4pm. While out we met a few Americans and many other foreign people. We had a great time. We took the bus back to our hotel and luckily it was only 2 euro, because that is all we had left on us.
It was such a fun night, but we were hurting the next day. I really wanted to go on the volcano and to the hot springs, but I was not quite up to it. So, we spent the day by the pool. We stayed in a really nice hotel, so the pool was really cool. That night we had another delicious dinner and walked around the boardwalk.
The next morning I was up early to go scuba diving. I did two different dives. One was a wall dive off of White Island and the other was more of a cave dive. They both were really cool, but I saw a seal at the second dive. That was really great. I tried to get a picture of it, but I don't know if it turned out. As soon as I develop the film, I will let you know.
That evening we went into the town of Oia where we had dinner on top of a building and watched the beautiful sunset. This town is so cool. It has buildings off the side of a cliff with an amazing view of the volcano. I suggest going to Santorini if ever in Greece, or even close to Greece.
The final day was a travel day. We were supposed to catch a ferry from Santorini all the way to Athens. Well after waiting an hour for our ferry I decided to ask someone about it and I was told they canceled the trip. I panicked a little considering we were suppose to catch a flight out of Athens back to Berlin. But after waiting in a long line, I was pleasantly surprised they booked us on a flight out of Santorini to Athens. All we had to do was hang out in Santorini for the day, which was fine by me.
All in all the trip was great. Below are some pictures, most of them are on facebook too.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Catch up - Time at home
I really don't have any good excuses for the lack of blogging. It is summertime and I have been on the move for the last month.
Right after school was out I went the the US for 12 days. This was such a good time. I had to cram all my favorite summer time activities I do in Missouri in such a short time. I am sure there were things that I missed, like eating at Gates.
The day after I got home we did a big tailgate party at the Royals game. That was so much fun. We had a couple grills, a keg, and jello shots, thanks to my friend Steve. It went so well and I got to see a lot of people. The only problem was that I spent so much time socializing that I hardly watched the game. It's ok though, because they blew it in the 8th.
My friend Shanda came in town as well. She is getting married next summer so I got to go look at dresses with her and venues for the wedding. It was so nice to be a part of this, I was afraid I would miss out on some of that stuff being in Europe. She looked freaking hot in her dress, Jimmy is a lucky man.
Later that week I went to the Lake of the Ozarks with my family and my friend Becky and her daughter. This was another one of those summer favorites I had to get in. We went during the week, so it was so relaxing. It was nice to just lay out on the dock and read or listen to my ipod. We went out on the boat one day and that was so fun too. Gracie, Becky's daughter, even got in the water from the boat. She did so well. Everyone went home early and I stayed an extra night with my dad. I really enjoy this time with him. We don't always get alone time and it was nice to go on a night boat ride then stop at the local bar for a drink.
Soon after getting back from the lake I went to another Royals game with my friend Tedra and her family. Her son Logan is so adorable. He loved the game too.
I even went to my friend's wedding while I was home. Lets just say I was really busy.
I also saw the funniest movie of the summer... The Hangover, with my friend Shannon. It was great. If you have not seen it I suggest you do so. And of course I shopped! A must do in the USA. Clothes are so much cheaper in the US and since I make Euros it was a win-win situation. My mom and I went shopping with is always nice to spend that time with her.
Towards the end of my trip I was getting sad to leave, but I knew my sister was coming back to Berlin with me, so that made it better. I do miss home and it was so nice to see as many of you as I could.
Right after school was out I went the the US for 12 days. This was such a good time. I had to cram all my favorite summer time activities I do in Missouri in such a short time. I am sure there were things that I missed, like eating at Gates.
The day after I got home we did a big tailgate party at the Royals game. That was so much fun. We had a couple grills, a keg, and jello shots, thanks to my friend Steve. It went so well and I got to see a lot of people. The only problem was that I spent so much time socializing that I hardly watched the game. It's ok though, because they blew it in the 8th.
My friend Shanda came in town as well. She is getting married next summer so I got to go look at dresses with her and venues for the wedding. It was so nice to be a part of this, I was afraid I would miss out on some of that stuff being in Europe. She looked freaking hot in her dress, Jimmy is a lucky man.
Later that week I went to the Lake of the Ozarks with my family and my friend Becky and her daughter. This was another one of those summer favorites I had to get in. We went during the week, so it was so relaxing. It was nice to just lay out on the dock and read or listen to my ipod. We went out on the boat one day and that was so fun too. Gracie, Becky's daughter, even got in the water from the boat. She did so well. Everyone went home early and I stayed an extra night with my dad. I really enjoy this time with him. We don't always get alone time and it was nice to go on a night boat ride then stop at the local bar for a drink.
Soon after getting back from the lake I went to another Royals game with my friend Tedra and her family. Her son Logan is so adorable. He loved the game too.
I even went to my friend's wedding while I was home. Lets just say I was really busy.
I also saw the funniest movie of the summer... The Hangover, with my friend Shannon. It was great. If you have not seen it I suggest you do so. And of course I shopped! A must do in the USA. Clothes are so much cheaper in the US and since I make Euros it was a win-win situation. My mom and I went shopping with is always nice to spend that time with her.
Towards the end of my trip I was getting sad to leave, but I knew my sister was coming back to Berlin with me, so that made it better. I do miss home and it was so nice to see as many of you as I could.
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