I made it through the week! It has been a week full of all kinds of adventures and new experiences. I think everyone in our apartment has had their eyes opened to a whole new way of thinking. It has been a lot of fun to share our experiences with each other, along with our concerns and fears. Everyday we come home from school with funny stories to tell…and if they aren’t so funny we laugh nervously anyway and remind each other what an unbelievably hilarious situation we have found ourselves in. I love having roommates that are teachers!
Despite all of the crazy things that happen that are hard to handle like the constant yelling, the lectures to 8 year olds on how they aren’t trying hard enough and they are lazy, the parents who come in and spank their kids during school because they didn’t finish their homework, or the endless worksheets that seem pointless, there are still some really awesome moments throughout the day. I pulled each student out of class Thursday to have them read for me. I had a pile of books with different levels and many of the students were hoping they were going to get to read the whole stack of books to me. They love to read. A lot of them are reading on a very low level, but it is great to see their enthusiasm and desire to read. The other day I also had a few students beg me to eat lunch with them. Oh the joys of being a teacher. I can tell these kids really do want to behave and they want to learn, but they just aren’t quite sure how. I am excited to get to know them more, especially the most difficult ones, and watch how they progress.
This weekend we explored DC a little bit more. We went around to some of the monuments which were really neat for me because I had never been to any of them. I am so excited that I will have many more opportunities to go visit the different monuments and sites that are around this area. It is nice to not be visiting, but living here, because then I can take my time and I don’t have to feel too overwhelmed with too many in one day. Here are some pictures!
We were walking on the path toward heaven...
and i am pretty sure people were staring. :) It
is a seriously tall monument.
The Lincoln memorial!
the background.
What are the chances? Anyone know if I am
related to him? This was my favorite. What
an awesome way to remember those that
fought and died in the Vietnam War. It gave
me the chills.
Ah...the White House. It turns out this was the
back, but we didn't figure that out until we got
home and looked at the pictures. Jodi realized
it didn't look quite right and sure enough the
front is cooler. Another time.
We were also contemplating the idea of jumping
the fence. How cool would that be! It was voted
that I would be the one to get flung over the fence,
however on the off chance that I might be shot at
we decided to reconsider.
This was at a museum we happened across.
As teachers we tend to enjoy the hands-on
activities available.
You will be happy to know that I have cooked
more here than I have my whole life. We take
turns cooking once a week. Good times. This is
what happens when eating out becomes more
difficult than cooking. I guess I will have to
learn to cook.
Stefani. She can fall asleep anywhere at anytime
if she wants to. The first time we found her
asleep in her closet! This second time she fell
asleep on the coach during a nice roommate chat
one night. She was gone all night. We did lay
her down and take her glasses off. I wish I
could sleep so easily.
3 comments:
Hi Sweetie,
I'm glad you are finding time to have fun along with the challenges of student teaching. Is the path to heaven near the Washington Monument? Your mom and I climbed the 897 steps to the top of the monument. We didn't find heaven but came real close to hell during the last 97 steps of the decent (our legs were cramping then). It's too bad they have closed the steps to the public now.
On my second and third trip to DC, I was there during the Cherry Blossom Festival about the first week of April. There are many events going on around the Lincoln Memorial; even a soccer tournament nearby starting March 29th: http://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org/events/eng/event_display.php3?event_id=220
I hope you took some time to read the Gettysburg Address on the walls of the Lincoln Memorial. Inspiring. I checked out the name Robert L Collett from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and couldn't confirm a relation but found a page dedicated to him:
http://www.tanaya.net/cgi-bin/vmw.cgi?9824
If you guys feel like you need a good cry then visit the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and for a little fun try “Operation Spy” at the International Spy Museum.
We love you, Dad
Yea the path to heaven was actually the Washington monument silly! haha. I can't believe you walked up that thing! Well we are hoping to catch some museums this 3-day weekend so I am excited about that. Love you Dad!
Pretty girl Jessica: I'm so glad you're getting to see some of the sights in DC. It's and awesome city, huh!
I remember climbing up those steps, too! Not fun, but well worth the view.
I had been to all the monuments one time before when i went there with my group of interns from NYC. It was in the spring and on a Sunday. We had our Sunday dresses and the guys had on suits. At one of them we were just sitting there in a small group and saw some seagulls above. Next thing we know, one of them had pooped all over my friends Sunday jacket. It was hilarious but we felt bad it had ruined his suit jacket. We teased him about it the rest of our internship.
I'm glad you're learning a lot and have good experiences in your second grade class. When do we get to see some pictures of the kids?
I was back in DC a couple of years ago with the basketball team and we ate in Georgetown in an awesome italian restaurant. i can't remember what it was called but it was close to their campus. That whole area is really cute and fun to walk around in and fairly safe. But just in case, go in the day time on a Saturday. There was also a Brazilian restaurant near by as well, for when you're not in the mood to cook. I'm very proud that you've been doing some cooking, too!!:):):)
Love you tons. I'm headed to Los Angeles, San Diego and Albuquerque this week, oh fun!! The Los Angeles part is to get my Chilean passport renewed since it expires in May.
Better go for now. Even though tomorrow is a holiday, i still have lots of work to do to prepare for my trip.
Love you tons!!!! Mom.
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