This week has been exciting and boring, long and too short all at the same time. I now have my classroom on wheels set up, my books in my three seperate classrooms, discussions about space in those classrooms are finished, etc. etc. I finished typing up and making copies of all the stuff I wanted to hand out on the first day and those are all tucked away in their folders. I've been hearing pretty good things about the students and every English teacher has been very helpful. Some I've hit it off with right away, others will take more time because we're awkward/shy/distracted/have nothing in common just yet.
The drive hasn't been too bad. Until today. Well, yesterday, really. Due to the rain, people have left earlier than usual the past two days, probably thinking to themselves the same thing I was: It's raining out and may get a little crazy, better leave a little earlier! Driving across the bridge and into the tunnel yesterday evening was a wonderful event since rain was waiting on the other side, causing people to go slower. I snuck a few glances over at the ocean where there were these huge, dark clouds on the Hampton side of the tunnel, I could see some rain pouring down and the water was going ca-RAZY!
Today was even worse. Since it rained most of last night, Hampton was flooded in places and the schools were closed down. So, I left a little earlier just to make sure I got to school on time just in case some of the highway was flooded. It wasn't, but because of the rain, a LOT of people had left early so there was already about a 1/2 mile of back-up towards the bridge-tunnel than there would be at that time. Oh well. Coming back tonight was another story. There were back-ups everywhere, every single tunnel in the Hampton Roads area. The traffic reporter, when she got to the accident report after reporting every back-up (and the location where you hit the back-up), said, "Well, there are way too many accidents to list them. Just... be careful. It's so easy to hydroplane and some secondary roads are flooded." Going across the bridge and into the tunnel was... awesome? The waves were high, almost able to break over the bridge. The wind knocked my car around a little, once I could speed up to 55 again. The water was very dark and you could barely see the ships. It was kind of spooky and probably wouldn't have been as crazy-feeling if I had had someone else in the car with me.
That's the reason why I got most of my work done today. I'm not alone, either: most teachers seemed to be preparing just in case the roads were flooded and we were told not to come in.
But there is some light at the end of this tunnel: Yesterday, a letter came from Amanda, today, one came from Katy and Megan left me a message saying she sent me a letter back and it should be here soon. Megan gets to go see Wolf Parade in Kzoo. I hope she has a lot of fun. The letters were awesome, but I miss them all a LOT!
Also, we scrounged up enough for rent money, with about $20 left over. (David gets in Fin. Aid check this upcoming week and I get my first paycheck a week from tomorrow. That's great, but left us a little uncomfortable in the time period between moving and payment.)
Natalie flies to Germany today. I miss her & can't wait until April when I go see her. I will do it! I have to! I'm not sure if she got the message I sent her this morning, but I hope her flight went quickly and was somewhat entertaining.
This weekend will involve much planning and hopefully no flooding in Williamsburg (and I hope there is little to no flooding in Norfolk, too... but I only work there, so what do I care?! Haha, just kidding. I would hate to see all my pals there floating by on their couches...)
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Saturday, August 26, 2006
world class
Another hot and humid day. This week, I asked teachers from Virginia and surrounding states if fall ever happens here. They laughed and said, "Oh, sure. Sometime near end of October, November." But, then again, most of them acted as if Michigan was a frozen tundra year-round. I'm sure we'll get used to it. Plus, it'll be really nice to not have piles upon piles of snow for a good chunk of the year. I guess when it snows down here (well, if it flurries, rains and freezes a little, or accumulates the tiniest bit of snow), EVERYTHING closes down. David said someone in his program told him that it was because people can't drive down here, so they do it as a protection.
Driving down here is different: there are a lot more accidents, people are completely reckless and you see bad driving you wouldn't even see in the Detroit/Chicago area. I'm stunned they have to have so many traffic reports just to let you know where the accidents are. There are usually 2-3 at any given time. Holy crap! Oh, and when it rains, even if it's just a sprinkle, people freak out and slow down! Traffic about stops on the highway. I am totally stunned. David and I were having a good laugh imagining what driver's ed is like down here because it seems that no one knows how to drive! But, then again, we all make mistakes and everyone has their driving style.
So, the week is over. I finished up New Teacher Orientation and feel pretty confident (still a little nervous) aobut starting the school year. I got to see the curriculum for 10th graders and I love it. I love the school I'll be working in, the people I'll be working with, the English work room with its huge windows. Basically, it's perfect and, even though everyone else thinks I'm crazy for driving to Norfolk, I'm glad I chose NPS to work in. It does make the drive worth it and the drive isn't even that bad. This is one of the best districts in the country and is exactly what I was looking for. So, I'm happy.
On Thursday, there was a little event for David's program at a bar in New Town. New Town is this strange place. It's like a huge strip mall, but not. I have conflicted feelings about it. I love it because it's within walking distance of our apartment (two blocks. Downtown Williamsburg is close by bike, but walking would take 30-45 minutes and is kind of dangerous in parts) and they are using a smart technique to keep it feeling like a neighborhood/downtown area and keep land usage down. But, at the same time, it's got this ritzy, overpriced strip mall kind of feel. For example: the apartments there are totally overpriced (but really fancy and nice!). There is a Barnes and Noble being built (there are only two used book stores in town, the only independent bookstores I've found so far. Both are kind of far away) and an Old Navy right next to it. There is a movie theatre, places to eat, shop and whatnot. It is really nice because it feels like you're walking around a little city. They are seriously building a "New Town". So, I guess it's okay. If they would add in a little market so we could walk and get groceries, that would be perfect. So far, we have a Food Lion up Monticello (it's like Kroger or Harding's) and a Ukrop's the other way up Monticello (almost as big as Meijer, but only food... kind of like a big D&W). Both we'd have to get to by bike or car. Oh well.
Anyway, This event we went to. We had food, free pool, and I got to meet some of his professors, the head of his department and some of the other guys in his program (and their girlfriends/fiances). Everyone was super nice and we played two games of pool. I was totally nervous during the first one, but the second one I actually did pretty well.
Yesterday started my weekend. I got to sleep in! I slept until 10:30, got up, made some tea and sat on our porch and read before it got to hot to sit outside (plus, our porch is in the sun for the afternoon/evening). When David got home, we started our productive weekend: we set up our bank account, bought David's books (Over $500!! Holy crap!), cleaned the hampster cage, and vaccuumed a little. We also got to watch some of the Netflix movies we've had since before the move: Howl's Moving Castle, Hustle and Flow and Match Point. Match Point was the only one I wasn't too hot on. Today we cleaned the rest of the apartment, kind of starting a project: Don't live like we did on Davis Street. haha. We still have to put up decorations and pictures, but we still have time. We both have a lot of reading, preparing and whatnot to do for the next week (or for me: the next year).
And now, for the funniest/strangest moment of this week. I met Carly, a math teacher on my academy. We're pretty close in age and have a similar sense of humor. Basically, she's awesome. On Monday, during the meeting for the HS, we had to introduce ourselves. Basic stuff: our name, what we're teaching, where we're from and our worst job. After we were done and waiting for our lunch to arrive, she asked me: "So, you're from Kalamazoo, right? Do you own a moped?" I kind of laughed and asked her, "What do you know about Kalamazoo and mopeds?" She explained that she knew someone in the Mosquito Fleet. What a strange, small world.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
so completely!
Tomorrow is my last day of New Teacher Orientation. I will be very, very happy. Today was one long day of Classroom Management. Two hour stretches sitting in wooden auditorium chairs with fabric over them in an auditorium that made people sweat the first half of yesterday and then freeze the rest of the time. Awesome.
I e-mailed my department chair about my room (or lack thereof). When I heard another teacher talking about how she was supposed to be a 10th grade floater, but got lucky, I knew that I was probably the one that took her place. And I was right. I now have no actual classroom, but share other people's classrooms when they are on plan or duty periods. I guess three of my classes are in the same room, which is the room of one of the teachers I met on Monday.
As for the rest of the teachers on my academy and in my school, I've only met the new ones, some administration, my vice-principal for my academy and the principal. All of them are totally nice, welcoming and awesome. I'm enjoying getting to know the ones I've gone through New Teacher Orientation with. We've been sharing lots of ideas and all that geeky teacher stuff, so, so far, I feel really supported. It is pretty amazing.
So, all of this leads me to being totally over not having a classroom of my own. I do have a work desk in the English work room (each core subject has a work room where you go work during your plan periods, if you have no academy meetings), so I have personal space. Plus, dealing with keeping my stuff organized on a cart will be much easier than organized a WHOLE ROOM when I've never done this before! Also, I don't have that much stuff and the money we're given to get supplies for the year probably would be a little tidbit of what I could use for a whole room, but will be more than comfortable for a cart! It's still exciting, cart or classroom.
The drive hasn't been too bad, either. Today I was excited because I got on the road pre-4o'clock traffic. Unfortunately, it was a day for accidents and I had two 15-20 minutes dead stops on the way back. One was just five miles from home! So frustrating and hot! I was always stuck in the sun to the point where I actually tested my crappy-running A/C (yet another thing to check out on the car, oy!), which worked pretty well. Ugh. At least it was on the way back and not the way there. I will be really glad that most normal school days I will be before the major commute times.
Today also involved: setting up medical/dental insurance, medical flexible spending account (to be used for eye care, mosly), payroll stuff, getting my first letter/card from Miss Julia as well as our car and renter's insurance. Yesterday I sent out some of my first mail from Williamsburg (ooh, exciting!). Yes, we are totally adults now.
Oh, and we totally managed and handled a good-sized leak in our second bathroom last night. I went in to take a bath (I've missed them!) and found water all over the floor and dripping a lot from the ceiling. The realtor was really quick in responding and the people below us had called them five minutes before. I love this apartment.
So, we've been here a week. Things are going good and will hopefully continue that way.
Start sending me letters! I'll write you back!
I e-mailed my department chair about my room (or lack thereof). When I heard another teacher talking about how she was supposed to be a 10th grade floater, but got lucky, I knew that I was probably the one that took her place. And I was right. I now have no actual classroom, but share other people's classrooms when they are on plan or duty periods. I guess three of my classes are in the same room, which is the room of one of the teachers I met on Monday.
As for the rest of the teachers on my academy and in my school, I've only met the new ones, some administration, my vice-principal for my academy and the principal. All of them are totally nice, welcoming and awesome. I'm enjoying getting to know the ones I've gone through New Teacher Orientation with. We've been sharing lots of ideas and all that geeky teacher stuff, so, so far, I feel really supported. It is pretty amazing.
So, all of this leads me to being totally over not having a classroom of my own. I do have a work desk in the English work room (each core subject has a work room where you go work during your plan periods, if you have no academy meetings), so I have personal space. Plus, dealing with keeping my stuff organized on a cart will be much easier than organized a WHOLE ROOM when I've never done this before! Also, I don't have that much stuff and the money we're given to get supplies for the year probably would be a little tidbit of what I could use for a whole room, but will be more than comfortable for a cart! It's still exciting, cart or classroom.
The drive hasn't been too bad, either. Today I was excited because I got on the road pre-4o'clock traffic. Unfortunately, it was a day for accidents and I had two 15-20 minutes dead stops on the way back. One was just five miles from home! So frustrating and hot! I was always stuck in the sun to the point where I actually tested my crappy-running A/C (yet another thing to check out on the car, oy!), which worked pretty well. Ugh. At least it was on the way back and not the way there. I will be really glad that most normal school days I will be before the major commute times.
Today also involved: setting up medical/dental insurance, medical flexible spending account (to be used for eye care, mosly), payroll stuff, getting my first letter/card from Miss Julia as well as our car and renter's insurance. Yesterday I sent out some of my first mail from Williamsburg (ooh, exciting!). Yes, we are totally adults now.
Oh, and we totally managed and handled a good-sized leak in our second bathroom last night. I went in to take a bath (I've missed them!) and found water all over the floor and dripping a lot from the ceiling. The realtor was really quick in responding and the people below us had called them five minutes before. I love this apartment.
So, we've been here a week. Things are going good and will hopefully continue that way.
Start sending me letters! I'll write you back!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
we have touchdown
Yes, yes, yes. We are finally in Williamsburg and unpacked the last box last night. We are pretty much settled, just a few more things to put in places to complete the feeling of "home" (for now). We are loving this apartment and this town. The apartment has so much space, we didn't know what to do with it at first. Now, we're looking forward to being able to host visitors pretty comfortably! (yay!) The cats finally adjusted. Well, Gabriel adjusted pretty quickly, he's pretty easy. Jackie took a while and was a little strange for a few days.
David started Orientation yesterday and seemed to enjoy himself. I had a new teacher orientation for my high school yesterday and I'm really happy I was placed at this school. The people who are also there and on my "academy" are pretty awesome. Today started New Teacher Orientation for the district and I am overwhelmed! I'm pretty sure it'll be okay, though.
This is short, but mostly to just make sure the internet knows I'm alive. We both have a lot of stuff to do to get our years started, so things feel nice and crazy. The heat and humidity is finally starting to subside and we are looking into fixing up bikes (and getting my one bike we had to leave behind down here) so we can ride around town. It's a good enough size to where we could do that and avoid being in the car as much (especially me). Speaking of the car, my Jetta and I have bonded a lot now that I'm driving anywhere between thirty minutes to an hour (depending on traffic) both ways. I'm becoming a good city driver and loving traffic reports.
David started Orientation yesterday and seemed to enjoy himself. I had a new teacher orientation for my high school yesterday and I'm really happy I was placed at this school. The people who are also there and on my "academy" are pretty awesome. Today started New Teacher Orientation for the district and I am overwhelmed! I'm pretty sure it'll be okay, though.
This is short, but mostly to just make sure the internet knows I'm alive. We both have a lot of stuff to do to get our years started, so things feel nice and crazy. The heat and humidity is finally starting to subside and we are looking into fixing up bikes (and getting my one bike we had to leave behind down here) so we can ride around town. It's a good enough size to where we could do that and avoid being in the car as much (especially me). Speaking of the car, my Jetta and I have bonded a lot now that I'm driving anywhere between thirty minutes to an hour (depending on traffic) both ways. I'm becoming a good city driver and loving traffic reports.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
cross that off yr list!
This week has been one crazy, run-around thing. The good thing is that I've gotten a lot done, despite the massive, oppressive and amazing heat wave we got hit with.
Saturday, we finally got to go to Paw Paw to St. Julian's and do a tour and wine tasting. We wanted to wait to go with my parents so we didn't feel so young and more people equals more entertainment. We then hung out at the cottage and tried out this HUGE 11 foot inflatable island called the Funsomethingorother, which I started calling FunFest '06. This big circular, inflatable thing has two "beds" (complete with inflatable pillows!) on the sides, creating the circle, and in the middle, there is mesh, creating this "WHOA. I'M IN THE WATER, BUT NOT! It's CRAZY." feeling. We had tons of fun on that thing, I think we all regressed to being five years old and amazed at everything. The last weekend we're in Michigan, the family's going out again Saturday through Sunday. I think we've planned to meet up with them on Saturday and entertain ourselves some more.
Monday, I finally got to eat lunch with Jen at Saffron. She had never been and I had never been for the lunch buffet. Man, it was good. I am really glad there will be Indian food in Virginia. I can't live without Middle Eastern or Indian food. I love it. Anyway. Jen and I talked a lot about how she basically got screwed out of a job for KPS (surprise, surprise!), how glad I am I didn't have to try and find a job around here, and how summer school is. It was great to see her, I hope we can see each other again before we leave.
Nearing the end of Jen and I's conversation, I stumbled upon a decision I didn't know I had finally made: I want to get my Master's. And I know what I want to do with it. I would like to be someone who was qualified to create and implement after-school and summer school programs. Oh yes.
Tuesday, Natalie and I had plans to go to South Haven. Because of the wedding and working 2-3 jobs at a time, I haven't really had a chance to go out there. Plus, my parents have their cottage on another, closer lake (smaller and not public, too), so there really hasn't been a reason to go. But I did miss it. Which is how it got added to the "To Do Before Leaving Kzoo/Michigan" list. At first, I was kind of bummed David couldn't come along with us because he was scheduled to work. Then our alarm acted up again and didn't go off (it happened on Monday, too. I woke up with ten minutes to spare. Awesome.) David was still sleeping by the time I got home from work at 1, so he was already over two hours late. And out of a job (unfairly). So, David got to come! It was perfect. The lake was actually warm and we thanked the 100°+ weather. We had some delicious food and ice cream and went home happy and sleepy.
Wednesday, I finally got a haircut. I got it cut a while back, really cute, and grew it to the length I wanted for the wedding. Last night, I finally got to cut it. It feels great to not have hair on my neck anymore. Then, I hung out with Meg and Mike, we watched Project Runway, 30 Days, and laughed a hell of a lot (as per usual when one or both of them are involved). I'm going to miss my sister a lot. Oh! There was also an amazing storm, mostly lightening. We put up our car windows not 30 seconds before the downpour. Amazing.
On Thursday, I was home from the first job, and making food and getting ready to head to the second job for the day when I happened to peek outside. There was this adorable little kitten outside. I went outside to pet her and offer food/water and noticed that she looked pregnant. And she was. She is very sweet and cuddly and I immediately called Animal Rescue and e-mail SPCA, even though they were probably full to the brim with kittens/cats. They were both interested in taking her in because she was skinny, young and pregnant (with fleas. But we did manage to get rid of all of the fleas except the ones around her face because the shampoo shouldn't get near their eyes/mouth). Today we drop her off with Animal Rescue. I'll miss her a lot. She was very cute.
Today, we were supposed to go to Food Dance for breakfast. I got up and realized that we had left the gift card at my parents' house. Plus, there was some drama with the cats getting out through a screen that popped out at three in the morning. Gabriel finally came back at five a.m. (Jackie is always easy to lure back with treats). They got a little freaked out (well, that's an understatement) by mopeds starting up while they were waiting on the porch to be let back in (such good kitties!). All is well now. All cats home plus an extra (for the next hour).
So, David slept some more and I watched the movie Stay (that was just okay, as well). Then I called up my dad and we headed to the storage unit we'll use to make the move a little easier. We have to move out of our apartment andl ive with my parents for a few days, so having a storage unit doesn't burden them with finding space for our crap and it'll be easier to load up on the actual day. We did make it to RibFest today and tried two different kinds of ribs. One had a really good Texas tangy sauce, the other were really delicoius, but we went for the sweet sauce which was just okay. Tonight, we're meeting Katy at 8 at O'Duffy's. So, this weekend is still a major success in crossing things off of our "to do" list.
Next week, there will be Binder Park Zoo, another possible trip to South Haven with Meg on her day off, finishing up projects, and packing up. On my last Friday at job #1, they're throwing me a going away party of some sorts. That weekend, I would really love to get a group together to go to the Metro. It'd be perfect because they have a relaxed section and a dance area and they let in 18+, so Meg could join us. It'd be an awesome way to end our time here and see my favorite people one last time.
Saturday, we finally got to go to Paw Paw to St. Julian's and do a tour and wine tasting. We wanted to wait to go with my parents so we didn't feel so young and more people equals more entertainment. We then hung out at the cottage and tried out this HUGE 11 foot inflatable island called the Funsomethingorother, which I started calling FunFest '06. This big circular, inflatable thing has two "beds" (complete with inflatable pillows!) on the sides, creating the circle, and in the middle, there is mesh, creating this "WHOA. I'M IN THE WATER, BUT NOT! It's CRAZY." feeling. We had tons of fun on that thing, I think we all regressed to being five years old and amazed at everything. The last weekend we're in Michigan, the family's going out again Saturday through Sunday. I think we've planned to meet up with them on Saturday and entertain ourselves some more.
Monday, I finally got to eat lunch with Jen at Saffron. She had never been and I had never been for the lunch buffet. Man, it was good. I am really glad there will be Indian food in Virginia. I can't live without Middle Eastern or Indian food. I love it. Anyway. Jen and I talked a lot about how she basically got screwed out of a job for KPS (surprise, surprise!), how glad I am I didn't have to try and find a job around here, and how summer school is. It was great to see her, I hope we can see each other again before we leave.
Nearing the end of Jen and I's conversation, I stumbled upon a decision I didn't know I had finally made: I want to get my Master's. And I know what I want to do with it. I would like to be someone who was qualified to create and implement after-school and summer school programs. Oh yes.
Tuesday, Natalie and I had plans to go to South Haven. Because of the wedding and working 2-3 jobs at a time, I haven't really had a chance to go out there. Plus, my parents have their cottage on another, closer lake (smaller and not public, too), so there really hasn't been a reason to go. But I did miss it. Which is how it got added to the "To Do Before Leaving Kzoo/Michigan" list. At first, I was kind of bummed David couldn't come along with us because he was scheduled to work. Then our alarm acted up again and didn't go off (it happened on Monday, too. I woke up with ten minutes to spare. Awesome.) David was still sleeping by the time I got home from work at 1, so he was already over two hours late. And out of a job (unfairly). So, David got to come! It was perfect. The lake was actually warm and we thanked the 100°+ weather. We had some delicious food and ice cream and went home happy and sleepy.
Wednesday, I finally got a haircut. I got it cut a while back, really cute, and grew it to the length I wanted for the wedding. Last night, I finally got to cut it. It feels great to not have hair on my neck anymore. Then, I hung out with Meg and Mike, we watched Project Runway, 30 Days, and laughed a hell of a lot (as per usual when one or both of them are involved). I'm going to miss my sister a lot. Oh! There was also an amazing storm, mostly lightening. We put up our car windows not 30 seconds before the downpour. Amazing.
On Thursday, I was home from the first job, and making food and getting ready to head to the second job for the day when I happened to peek outside. There was this adorable little kitten outside. I went outside to pet her and offer food/water and noticed that she looked pregnant. And she was. She is very sweet and cuddly and I immediately called Animal Rescue and e-mail SPCA, even though they were probably full to the brim with kittens/cats. They were both interested in taking her in because she was skinny, young and pregnant (with fleas. But we did manage to get rid of all of the fleas except the ones around her face because the shampoo shouldn't get near their eyes/mouth). Today we drop her off with Animal Rescue. I'll miss her a lot. She was very cute.
Today, we were supposed to go to Food Dance for breakfast. I got up and realized that we had left the gift card at my parents' house. Plus, there was some drama with the cats getting out through a screen that popped out at three in the morning. Gabriel finally came back at five a.m. (Jackie is always easy to lure back with treats). They got a little freaked out (well, that's an understatement) by mopeds starting up while they were waiting on the porch to be let back in (such good kitties!). All is well now. All cats home plus an extra (for the next hour).
So, David slept some more and I watched the movie Stay (that was just okay, as well). Then I called up my dad and we headed to the storage unit we'll use to make the move a little easier. We have to move out of our apartment andl ive with my parents for a few days, so having a storage unit doesn't burden them with finding space for our crap and it'll be easier to load up on the actual day. We did make it to RibFest today and tried two different kinds of ribs. One had a really good Texas tangy sauce, the other were really delicoius, but we went for the sweet sauce which was just okay. Tonight, we're meeting Katy at 8 at O'Duffy's. So, this weekend is still a major success in crossing things off of our "to do" list.
Next week, there will be Binder Park Zoo, another possible trip to South Haven with Meg on her day off, finishing up projects, and packing up. On my last Friday at job #1, they're throwing me a going away party of some sorts. That weekend, I would really love to get a group together to go to the Metro. It'd be perfect because they have a relaxed section and a dance area and they let in 18+, so Meg could join us. It'd be an awesome way to end our time here and see my favorite people one last time.
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