Interview

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and interest in how my interview went with my supervising teacher at Beach Elementary. She is very nice and I think that we will get along well. I am the first TA (teacher assistor) that she has had, so this will be new for the both of us. She used to teach kindergarten and got moved to 5th grade 3 yrs ago. She felt about 5th grade much like I do. I felt good about this since it proves I'm not the only one who has felt this way and can survive the experience. :) She likes it though as I'm sure I will.

I love the way she has her class setup. She has a large carpeted open space where she does lessons. They do seat work at their desks. This is so great to me because it reminds me of the montessori. It sort of feels like home to see it. I will spend the mornings in her class beginning in the fall, which will be nice because she does reading and writing in the morning - my area of expertise.

I am officially done with the semester and will have a nice break for awhile to enjoy life before August 28 usheres me into the College of Education. I am now accepting all (within reason) social plans that anyone would wish to include me in, or be included in. It is sad that my life is, out of necessity, so out of balance as to be either all mental and no social, or all social and no mental. Maybe one day my life even out and I will be well-rounded and healthy in all four areas at the same time.

5th Grade?

Yesterday I got my teacher assisting placement. I am assigned to a 5th grade class at Beach Elementary. I am excited to be so close to home! I am a little nervous about being in a 5th grade class though. Fifth graders are starting to become more independent and less enthusiastic about rules and authority. Their horomones are also starting to kick in and drive everyone around them crazy. They are becoming interested in the opposite sex, but would rather die than anyone find out, so they just pick on each other mercilessly. Then there are the emotional issues they are beginning to face. The boys are wired for sound, and the girls are breaking down in tears. They are also a little more critical of each other and authority than younger kids.

Not only will I have to deal with all of this, but 5th graders are required to do real math! Now we get down to the nitty gritty. I'm not sure what the phobia for math is, but I'm pretty sure I have it. I observed in Katie's 5th grade last year and the teacher recruited me to keep score on the board for a geography game. I only had to subtract and add, but it made me so nervous that I dropped the eraser on the floor. I think it had something to do with standing at the board with everyone staring at me while I attempted math. I've had bad experiences with that as a child.

I'm pretty sure I will like it though once I get to know the kids, and I'm pretty sure they will like me too. I hope that my supervising teacher is nice, and wonderful, and helpful to my learning experience. I will be calling on Monday to set up an interview time with her. Pray that I have God's favor as I go!

Exam studying commences this afternoon with the arrival of my geography study budy. Unfortunately, I have strained my right eye, which is very painful and annoying. Whenever I read or look at the computer screen I feel the muscle pull. Now is not the time to deal with something like this.

I am really looking forward to our spa party next Saturday!

Two

The number two is a very important number in life. It takes two days to get used to living around new people (in a short term living experience such as a trip). It takes two weeks to get used to a new schedule. It takes two months to function normally after a tragic heartbreak (maybe less or more depending on the situation, but on average a good amount of time to recover is two months: The first to come to terms with it, and the second to start really living again).

The number two has again resurfaced recently in the number of exams wich I must suffer through. This is really fortunate considering I'm taking four classes, which is two more than two for all the math loving freaks out there. What is the statistics of this happening in a semester? For me the statistics are high I think considering I had a similar situation last semester. I owe it to my profession choice: Teaching. Finals are often projects and the like. :)

I must only suffer through a geography exam and an English exam. Speaking of English, I got an A on my last paper. Not a 96% A, or even a 98% A. No, I got a 100% A!! It may be significant that this was my 2nd paper written for this class (The first of which I also got an A, but not as good of an A).

The exams are far enough apart that I can study sufficiently for each one without stressing too much. Then I'll get four months off, which is two more than two for the number neurotics!

Strange Sighting

I don't know if anyone else has seen this or not, but while driving past Memorial Park I saw the same strange sight for the second time in the last couple of weeks. The first time I saw him I thought I was making it up. When I saw him yesterday though, I couldn't deny that it was certifiably strange, but true. I'll let you judge on the strangeness of it, and I would appreciate any information as to the reasoning behind it.

There is a man who stands facing the north bound traffic past Memorial Park. I'm always going south when he's standing there so I have to look in my rearview mirror to investigate. That is the reason why I thought my eyes were tricking me the first time I saw him. He wears a really nice suit that makes him look like a business man. My first impression was that he was on a strike because he holds a sign. In my rearview mirror though I was able to see the sign; it is white with a large black peace sign drawn on it. I got a really creepy feeling when I saw it. He just stands there by himself holding the sign.

Strange.

I Lived a Lifetime...

...in my sleep last night. Every trivial, recent concern unleashed itself in my subconcious in the form of twisted and surreal dreams. I'm exhausted.

Techblastednology!

@##!%***#@/!!!##*?^*$%##@##*&@!!!

Journal Excerpt

Almost went crazy today. Thankfully I passed out instead.

Finals...

...are moving upon me like a shadow from the pit.

WooHoo!

Thanks to Colleen I was able to triple what I had originally hoped to send to Voice of the Martyrs for Colombia! It is so great what we can do together as the body of Christ. I'm looking forward to the day when I find out what was/will be accomplished through our efforts. :) Thanks Colleen.

There are two more official weeks of the semester and then a week of finals. Projects and Papers are coming due (how are those illustrations coming for my book Anna?). I am so looking forward to the calm before the next stormy semester in the College of Education. I hope to read all sorts of mystery novels, watch good movies, take a self-defense class, cook for my family, spend time at the beach, hang out with friends, enjoy summer with my charges, and absolutely soak up the season.

Sounds pretty good doesn't it!

Psychological Experiment

The next time you are out take a few minutes to walk through the garden center of any store, or through a nearby greenhouse. There are fewer people in there than anywhere else right now, and the warm smells of the plants and flowers, even the sight of them, will lift your mental health. One advantage to garden centers over greenhouses is that garden centers also display fountains, statues, and relaxing lawn furniture. These things add to the enjoyment of the plants. The advantage of greenhouses is that there are even fewer people and there is more of a variety of plants to look at. You can enjoy this for free, so take advantage of it before the rest of the population does.

I took a few moments during my morning errand running to do this and found it very therapuetic. Especially since I was about to enter Walmart. It was easier to breathe which must have something to do with the oxygen given off by all plant life. It was soothing to the mind and soul.

Girl's Nights

Girl's night (gurl z nit), n 1. no men, cell phones, or worries. 2. several hours filled with giddy laughter, junkfood, games, movies, and pampering.















We have made quite a habit of these nights of feminine frivilocity. Last friday we gathered to play games. The friday before it was a spa party, or was it freakish movie night? I can't remember. The point is we let down our hair, and we just don't care! That is what a girl's night is all about.

Costa Rica Is a "No Go"

I was hoping to do my student teaching in Costa Rica next winter. I was very excited about the prospect of traveling to another country again, and getting to use my Spanish. However, upon closer inspection of the requirements of the program it looks like I will not be going after all. I am disappointed, but I think that it is probably for the best ( I grudgingly admit). I had told Katie (the 12 yr old that I’ve been taking care of since she was 8) about my plans to go to Costa Rica earlier this year. Friday I forlornly told her that it wasn’t working out, and was completely unprepared for her response. A look of relief and joy flashed through her eyes and she got the biggest smile on her face! She practically giggled. I was shocked. I had no idea she had been so disturbed about my leaving.

“If you leave Miss Stephenie, who will be with us?” It is completely unthinkable to her that I could ever leave her and Mary. Life (as they know it) would cease to continue. I wanted to say, “Well, you have parents. Someone else could stay with you. Oh, you’d be fine!” but I guess that really isn’t the point. They depend on me, I am a part of their life.

I also relieved Barak’s mind with the news that I wouldn’t be missing from the worship team for 71/2 weeks. This was one of the major things on my mind when considering going, actually. It would be a long time to be gone from my ministry and responsibility.

Looking at these things is sort of frightening to me. I’ve always been able to go and do whatever, whenever. I’ve enjoyed that. Somehow though, over the past five years, I have grown roots, and ties to people. I am depended on and needed. I can’t selfishly do whatever I want. It is sort of sobering, and a little humbling too.

I really have some great plans, but I know that God’s plans are better than mine. I don’t want to miss out on them because I blindly go after what I think would be best.

That is where it stands.