As the school year is coming to a close, I keep mentally preparing speeches for my seniors as they enter the world as "adults." I keep thinking of things like "How to be a successful adult." Here are some of the things I've come up:
1. Life is not a dress rehearsal. The sooner you can figure this out the sooner you will start taking responsibility for your own path in life. A wise professional once told me "the secret to my success as a young person was I took advantage of every moment early in my career. I showed up to EVERYTHING and was always early and stayed late to shake hands with the people I needed to help me grow." We only have 24 hours in a day use them wisely and efficiently.
2. Give yourself permission to make mistakes. Forgive and love yourself to learn how to embrace your failures.
3. Let people influence you, but make your own decisions. When you let people influence you it means you are hearing what they say, HOWEVER, this does not mean you have to adopt their ideas or dogma. Know the distinction. Perhaps another way to say this is: never be a walking closed book that only talks and never listens- unless of course you want to be someone that nobody listens to.
4. Make friends with people much older and wiser than you. One of the rules of the world goes something like this "if you are nice to people they will be nice to you." People who have more life experience than you have knowledge, connections, and foresight that can only help you. Don't be stupid and ignore their wisdom. Life is not a dress rehearsal. Get over thinking you know everything about the world.
5. Take Calculated Risks. "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got." When approaching a potentially new exciting possibility or life choice explore all options, the good, the bad, the ugly. Weigh the costs and benefits against each other and determine what you are willing to put on the line for the good. Once you decide what to do go in strong, but ALWAYS have a back up plan in the event it doesn't work out.
6. Take Responsibility for your Actions. Say "I'm sorry," or "I messed up," or "that was my fault," etc when you truly and royally screwed something up and mean it. Don't make excuses, and live up to your actions like a responsible adult. Life is not a dress rehearsal.
These are at least some of things that have been on my mind when forming a list for my kiddos. Most likely I will not really give them a speech, but I find natural snippets of these thoughts come out in my daily interactions with them.
"Oh you want to pass the class by suddenly turning in all your late work? You know I don't take late work. Now tell me, how do you find yourself in this situation?"
Or
"You know, when you say things like "Im a horrible, mean teacher" and are rude to me and the other teachers, it makes us not want to help you out in the future which will limit your options for getting good letters of recommendation or even getting extra help on your college applications. Think about the way you treat people."
Anyway, I'm curious to hear what other tips people have for graduating seniors before they go off into their young adult lives. Leave a comment :)
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Sunday, May 12, 2013
For My Mother. The Tomato Story.
When I was in kindergarten, I got this brilliant idea to take care of and plant my own garden. I'm fairly certain this idea stemmed from the gardening unit we were doing at the time while we read the book "Planting a Rainbow."
The idea of planting rainbows fascinated me! I remember specifically signing up to plant the purple flowers and could not WAIT to plant them and then consequently having to wait FOREVER to plant my flowers (purple is at the end of the rainbow you know.) Anyway, I enjoyed this unit so much my six year old self convinced my parents to allow me to plant my own vegetable/flower garden in the back yard.
Fast forward two-ish year and you will find my 8 year old self still planting a garden in the spring around this time of year. However, this year, my mom convinced me that I should plant tomatoes.
Me: Why should we plant tomatoes! Nobody in our family even likes tomatoes.. ok.. well maybe only you, but still we will have way too many tomatoes and you will make me eat them!
Mom: Oh but they are so good! You guys don't know what you are missing! Besides these are small cute tomatoes which are called cherry tomatos. You won't even notice them.
I still had my suspicions. Plus the plants smelled.... like green tomatoes and I did not like that smell. This was unsuitable for my garden, and we had to put them at the front of the it so the first thing you saw were ugly smelly tomato plants. I'm pretty sure we put the smelly marigolds up by them to help with bugs and all. It was not an appetizing aroma by any means.
Fast forward two months to the dry heat of July in the small eastern Washington town. The scene opens with me flying down the small hill on my bicycle zooming past my garden where my mother is hunched over the tomato plants.
"Amanda, come here. I want you to see something!"
I loop around and stop my bike in front of the plants. "Yes?"
Mom: "Have you seen these black pellets below your tomato plants?"
Me: Umm.... no... I don't usually check on the tomato plants... They smell. Why what are they?
Mom: "Well this usually means something is happening to the plant. I want you to notice the leaves. Do you see anything wrong with the leaves?"
I glance over the leaves of the plants to realize the tomato plants are more like plant skeletons with barely any leaves. They were similar to naked winter trees... something was happening to my tomato plants.
Me: There's no leaves! They look kind of... pathetic.
Mom: Yeah.. you're right. I wonder what could be happening to the plants?! Hmmmm I want you to look at this branch. Do you see anything on it?
I look at the branch. I don't see a thing. They still look pathetic and smell like tomatoes. I crinkle my nose.
Me: "I don't see anything."
Mom: "Are you sure????? Look closer."
I lean in closer to the branch. Still do not see a thing. I think this woman is crazy for making me look at these pathetic plants under such speculation.
Me: No I still don't see anything.
Mom: "I really think you might be missing something. Are you sure you don't see anything? Make sure you look really close."
I lean in even closer at the branch she indicates. My face is now 3 inches away from this tomato branch. I cannot see a thing! I have no idea what I'm looking for and my mom keeps asking annoying questions like "Are you sure you don't see anything."
Me (still with my face 3 inches away from the plant): No I'm pretty sure there's nothing to see!! Can I go now?
Mom: Oh really? So you mean to tell me, you can't see the tomato worm? (my mom points her finger to the branch)
LO AND BEHOLD. THE UGLIEST, SCARIEST, WORM I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE LAY 3 INCHES AWAY FROM EYES.
It was a bright green thick worm with an ugly horn at the end chomping away at the tomato plant with greedy chompers that I'm sure must have smiled at me saying "hi! I am the tomato worm you didn't even know existed from your worst nightmare eating the plants you never were going to enjoy anyway!! (insert evil laugh). Small but mighty I OWN this tomato plant and frighten little children with every daring bite!
I FLIPPED out. I screamed and yelled "WHAT IS THAT!?!?!?" as terror and surprise rippled through me. OMG GET IT OFF THE PLANT!
My mother, was rolling over laughing till tears came to her eyes. It was like she had never witnessed anything as funny as this before. It's a tomato worm! she cried in between laughs. "Oh my goodness you should have seen your face!!"
I was not amused.
Me: What do you mean a tomato worm!?!? Where did it come from!?! Did you put it there? That is a MEAN MEAN trick.
You are a horrible human being.
Mom: Oh come on Amanda, I didn't put them there, they just show up sometimes when there's tomato plants. They are ugly creatures aren't they?
Me: Yes. This is stupid. I hate tomato plants.
Mom: Oh come it was pretty funny. You know what would be even funnier?
Me: Getting Caleb (my younger brother) to look at the tomato worms?
Mom: Exactly.
Me: I'll go get him.
Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!
Nearly 24 years of humorous mischief managed.
The idea of planting rainbows fascinated me! I remember specifically signing up to plant the purple flowers and could not WAIT to plant them and then consequently having to wait FOREVER to plant my flowers (purple is at the end of the rainbow you know.) Anyway, I enjoyed this unit so much my six year old self convinced my parents to allow me to plant my own vegetable/flower garden in the back yard.
Fast forward two-ish year and you will find my 8 year old self still planting a garden in the spring around this time of year. However, this year, my mom convinced me that I should plant tomatoes.
Me: Why should we plant tomatoes! Nobody in our family even likes tomatoes.. ok.. well maybe only you, but still we will have way too many tomatoes and you will make me eat them!
Mom: Oh but they are so good! You guys don't know what you are missing! Besides these are small cute tomatoes which are called cherry tomatos. You won't even notice them.
Fast forward two months to the dry heat of July in the small eastern Washington town. The scene opens with me flying down the small hill on my bicycle zooming past my garden where my mother is hunched over the tomato plants.
"Amanda, come here. I want you to see something!"
I loop around and stop my bike in front of the plants. "Yes?"
Mom: "Have you seen these black pellets below your tomato plants?"
Me: Umm.... no... I don't usually check on the tomato plants... They smell. Why what are they?
Mom: "Well this usually means something is happening to the plant. I want you to notice the leaves. Do you see anything wrong with the leaves?"
I glance over the leaves of the plants to realize the tomato plants are more like plant skeletons with barely any leaves. They were similar to naked winter trees... something was happening to my tomato plants.
Me: There's no leaves! They look kind of... pathetic.
Mom: Yeah.. you're right. I wonder what could be happening to the plants?! Hmmmm I want you to look at this branch. Do you see anything on it?
I look at the branch. I don't see a thing. They still look pathetic and smell like tomatoes. I crinkle my nose.
Me: "I don't see anything."
Mom: "Are you sure????? Look closer."
I lean in closer to the branch. Still do not see a thing. I think this woman is crazy for making me look at these pathetic plants under such speculation.
Me: No I still don't see anything.
Mom: "I really think you might be missing something. Are you sure you don't see anything? Make sure you look really close."
I lean in even closer at the branch she indicates. My face is now 3 inches away from this tomato branch. I cannot see a thing! I have no idea what I'm looking for and my mom keeps asking annoying questions like "Are you sure you don't see anything."
Me (still with my face 3 inches away from the plant): No I'm pretty sure there's nothing to see!! Can I go now?
Mom: Oh really? So you mean to tell me, you can't see the tomato worm? (my mom points her finger to the branch)
LO AND BEHOLD. THE UGLIEST, SCARIEST, WORM I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE LAY 3 INCHES AWAY FROM EYES.
It was a bright green thick worm with an ugly horn at the end chomping away at the tomato plant with greedy chompers that I'm sure must have smiled at me saying "hi! I am the tomato worm you didn't even know existed from your worst nightmare eating the plants you never were going to enjoy anyway!! (insert evil laugh). Small but mighty I OWN this tomato plant and frighten little children with every daring bite!
I FLIPPED out. I screamed and yelled "WHAT IS THAT!?!?!?" as terror and surprise rippled through me. OMG GET IT OFF THE PLANT!
My mother, was rolling over laughing till tears came to her eyes. It was like she had never witnessed anything as funny as this before. It's a tomato worm! she cried in between laughs. "Oh my goodness you should have seen your face!!"
I was not amused.
Me: What do you mean a tomato worm!?!? Where did it come from!?! Did you put it there? That is a MEAN MEAN trick.
You are a horrible human being.
Mom: Oh come on Amanda, I didn't put them there, they just show up sometimes when there's tomato plants. They are ugly creatures aren't they?
Me: Yes. This is stupid. I hate tomato plants.
Mom: Oh come it was pretty funny. You know what would be even funnier?
Me: Getting Caleb (my younger brother) to look at the tomato worms?
Mom: Exactly.
Me: I'll go get him.
****
Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!
 |
| Tomato Worm. Tell me that isn't the ugliest worm you've ever seen. |
Nearly 24 years of humorous mischief managed.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
To Friendship
Approximately one year ago I packed nearly everything I owned into 2 bags and 3 boxes and traveled solo on a overnight bus from Detroit to New York City to start on an adventure of lifetime. Absolutely nothing was certain - I had no job security, didn't know a single human being in New York City, had nearly no income over the summer, drained my savings, but held onto a dream. A dream of determination and unwavering faith that everything would be ok. I came to New York City with the promise of becoming a teacher and here one year later, with countless endless nights behind me, I find myself finishing out the school year strong.
Would I do it all over again?
Absolutely. In a heart beat.
I often find myself thinking (usually on the subway) how New York has changed me. I have become a daily New York Times reader, weekly Soho/Chinatown explorer, shoe enthusiast, red head, who is particularly fond of Thai and Korean food.
I don't talk to strangers on the subway, and rarely do I smile before 8am. I walk at least 3 miles every day and track my steps with a pedometer.
I get uncomfortable and awkward when average people on the street want to talk to me about life or are friendly. (why are they being friendly it's so strange!) I no longer apologize to people on the street when I accidentally bump into them, unless of course it's majorly obvious.
My closet is beginning to bounce with color as I now own 3 different brightly colored pants among multiple dresses (oh and a red flannel shirt special for "flannel Fridays"). I judge people's shoes on the subway and take notice of trending fashions.
I can j-walk like a pro and am perhaps a little over confident in my j-walking abilities as friends have pulled me back to the sidewalk multiple times before experiencing near death experiences via taxi cab.
I have become more direct with my communication and have an "Ain't nobody got time for that" kind of attitude toward bull shit. If people are real with me I am real to them in return, but please be direct about it cause again aint nobody got time for sugarcoating.
I listen to a ridiculous amount of gangster rap, uncensored. I balance out the gangster rap by listening to country music on the subway and laugh at the irony. I create playlists for specific areas of New York City so that each area has a "theme" when I'm walking about it.
I have become an increasingly better cook and feel confident in the kitchen, but absolutely adore eating out. But sometimes I'm lazy... and make Kimchi Taco deliver even though its less than a block away.
I could go on with how else New York has influenced me, but I want to take some time to comment about the one priceless thing New York has given me: amazing friendships with other science women.
After college your friend circle inevitably shrinks. One of the unfortunate truths of adult life is you will have very few close friends among many many acquaintances. Sure you still have your college friends you promised to stay in touch with, but like a sunset those friendships slowly fade. Lives go different directions and suddenly what you find yourself doing is no longer directly related or relevant to others across the country. Part of my journey here in New York has been releasing those friendships into the archives of our history with smile.
In return I have met some of the most amazing people including some of my best girl friends in the city. There is something magical about sharing an experience of moving to New York to be a science teacher. Being a teacher is an intimate part of our lives that we all share together for the first time, which is solely unique to us. Sure we each have our own different issues and insecurities, but I find we accept each other where we are at in grace and humor. It's a breath of fresh air that keeps us (or at least me) swimming.
So I dedicate this landmark of a post to friendship: to the people we were and to the people we are becoming and all the laughs in between.
Would I do it all over again?
Absolutely. In a heart beat.
I often find myself thinking (usually on the subway) how New York has changed me. I have become a daily New York Times reader, weekly Soho/Chinatown explorer, shoe enthusiast, red head, who is particularly fond of Thai and Korean food.
I don't talk to strangers on the subway, and rarely do I smile before 8am. I walk at least 3 miles every day and track my steps with a pedometer.
I get uncomfortable and awkward when average people on the street want to talk to me about life or are friendly. (why are they being friendly it's so strange!) I no longer apologize to people on the street when I accidentally bump into them, unless of course it's majorly obvious.
My closet is beginning to bounce with color as I now own 3 different brightly colored pants among multiple dresses (oh and a red flannel shirt special for "flannel Fridays"). I judge people's shoes on the subway and take notice of trending fashions.
I can j-walk like a pro and am perhaps a little over confident in my j-walking abilities as friends have pulled me back to the sidewalk multiple times before experiencing near death experiences via taxi cab.
I have become more direct with my communication and have an "Ain't nobody got time for that" kind of attitude toward bull shit. If people are real with me I am real to them in return, but please be direct about it cause again aint nobody got time for sugarcoating.
I listen to a ridiculous amount of gangster rap, uncensored. I balance out the gangster rap by listening to country music on the subway and laugh at the irony. I create playlists for specific areas of New York City so that each area has a "theme" when I'm walking about it.
I have become an increasingly better cook and feel confident in the kitchen, but absolutely adore eating out. But sometimes I'm lazy... and make Kimchi Taco deliver even though its less than a block away.
I could go on with how else New York has influenced me, but I want to take some time to comment about the one priceless thing New York has given me: amazing friendships with other science women.
After college your friend circle inevitably shrinks. One of the unfortunate truths of adult life is you will have very few close friends among many many acquaintances. Sure you still have your college friends you promised to stay in touch with, but like a sunset those friendships slowly fade. Lives go different directions and suddenly what you find yourself doing is no longer directly related or relevant to others across the country. Part of my journey here in New York has been releasing those friendships into the archives of our history with smile.
In return I have met some of the most amazing people including some of my best girl friends in the city. There is something magical about sharing an experience of moving to New York to be a science teacher. Being a teacher is an intimate part of our lives that we all share together for the first time, which is solely unique to us. Sure we each have our own different issues and insecurities, but I find we accept each other where we are at in grace and humor. It's a breath of fresh air that keeps us (or at least me) swimming.
So I dedicate this landmark of a post to friendship: to the people we were and to the people we are becoming and all the laughs in between.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Some Call this a Moment. I call it Life.
Life in New York City moves fast. Very fast.
In some ways I feel like living in the city is an express route in life. The old saying "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere" holds really true for this busy spontaneous city that I love.
Opportunity lies just around the corner, always.
It was just a week ago when I felt like I was literally going insane as my graduate school semester came to a closing end. Now that it's over (for now) I feel like a brand new person - with a return of my spontaneous playful energy. I found my sense of humor and thoroughly enjoyed teaching my kids again. Of course it would be silly to blame so much of my misery on graduate school, but as the school year begins to fade toward the end I am beginning to see the new adventures that lay before me and it makes me incredibly excited.
May is my birthday month. I will be turning 24 in 3 weeks and I cannot echo how excited I am to finally be considered "mid-twenties." I am still young enough to dream and feel invincible to the world with the energy that most 20-somethings have making every moment count. Someday I will look back at my life as a 20-something, and I think I will be really proud. That makes me feel good about my choices.
Living in New York City is helping me take advantage of every moment of this one life we are given, which makes living very exciting.
Life is looking up right now.
~Plus it's almost summer.
In some ways I feel like living in the city is an express route in life. The old saying "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere" holds really true for this busy spontaneous city that I love.
Opportunity lies just around the corner, always.
It was just a week ago when I felt like I was literally going insane as my graduate school semester came to a closing end. Now that it's over (for now) I feel like a brand new person - with a return of my spontaneous playful energy. I found my sense of humor and thoroughly enjoyed teaching my kids again. Of course it would be silly to blame so much of my misery on graduate school, but as the school year begins to fade toward the end I am beginning to see the new adventures that lay before me and it makes me incredibly excited.
May is my birthday month. I will be turning 24 in 3 weeks and I cannot echo how excited I am to finally be considered "mid-twenties." I am still young enough to dream and feel invincible to the world with the energy that most 20-somethings have making every moment count. Someday I will look back at my life as a 20-something, and I think I will be really proud. That makes me feel good about my choices.
Living in New York City is helping me take advantage of every moment of this one life we are given, which makes living very exciting.
Life is looking up right now.
~Plus it's almost summer.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
May I suggest actually doing your schoolwork if you would like to graduate?
My kids look at me like I'm crazy when I say things like this in the classroom. WHAT!?! Why would a teacher say such a thing? They think they are going to waltz out of high school doing nothing, because you know, "working" doesn't exist in the real world after all.
April has been rough, on ALL of us new teachers.
Wake up. hate your life. ride the train. yell at bratty children. rush to grad school. listen to a painful 3 hour lecture. rush home. Sleep.. kind of, because really you are stressing about the next days lessons so you actually don't sleep. Somehow fit in homework. Run. Push Play. Repeat until May.
Ineffective.
Burnt Out. Wonder if what you are doing is going anywhere. Spiral in existential turmoil. Lose your sense of humor and turn into a bitter cynical person. Desire to make children cry.... a LOT. Buy more shoes. Come home early on a Friday night turn to look at your dog and say "I feel like I'm 30 years old and I am going to bed! At 8pm. On a Friday" and then you actually do.
This is my life or at least was for the month of April.
There was a significant amount of "this is not very much fun" in the month of April. And like I do any time I feel like this I say "I'm packing up and moving to Australia!" (Alexander and the no good very bad day. Anyone Anyone?)
There was a day in grad school where one of my fellow fellows came into the classroom and said, "Does anyone else feel like they haven't been themselves for the past month?"
We all raised our hands.
A chuckle from the back of the room replied in a rich voice "yeah I've been saying that all year. At what point does the 'I havent been feeling like myself lately,' turn into, now I'm just a horrible awful person?"
I laughed. The man had a point. Dear god, I hope I don't become the person I've been lately. Then consequently, I went out and had the time of my life that weekend and discovered I'm actually not 30 years old. Whew, what a relief!
But really. The burn out was really getting to me. In the middle of unsupported struggle, I found myself developing strange, but true, coping mechanisms.
My inner dialogue: "You kids don't care to learn! FINE! Well, then I AM GOING to learn something!" An intelligent mind is a horrible thing to waste. Next thing you know I'm deriving physics formulas from first principle while sitting in my education grad classes, revisiting Multi-variable calculus late at night when I cant sleep, reading and analyzing classic literature on the train ride into the city. Yeah.. I went bizerk.
There was a sense of urgency. I CANNOT do this for the rest of my life. I need options! Must-consume-everything-intellecutal-around-me and prepare to go back to school and get an advanced degree in something: mathematics, engineering, physics. SOMETHING. I cannot deal with this bullshit everyday!!!
CALL ALL THE PEOPLE YOU KNEW IN COLLEGE AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH THEIR LIVES!!!
:)
That was about 1 week ago. I'm still waiting for the dust and emotions to settle. Things can be pretty outrageous at my school especially since this is our first graduating class. But I'm rolling with it, for now at least.
Now grad school for the semester will be finished this week. Thursday to be exact. Not like I'm counting or anything. OH and there's 28 more days of content to teach. Just in case you were wondering.
Put on your pj pants. Eat mint flavored ice-cream. Watch the Manhattan Midtown skyline from the rooftop. Maybe have a mixed beverage. Write up one final paper on a student's behavior you've been observing all week. Listen to Queen. Cuddle with the dog. Think about calling in sick tomorrow. Decide not to. Fall into sleep.
April has been rough, on ALL of us new teachers.
Wake up. hate your life. ride the train. yell at bratty children. rush to grad school. listen to a painful 3 hour lecture. rush home. Sleep.. kind of, because really you are stressing about the next days lessons so you actually don't sleep. Somehow fit in homework. Run. Push Play. Repeat until May.
Ineffective.
Burnt Out. Wonder if what you are doing is going anywhere. Spiral in existential turmoil. Lose your sense of humor and turn into a bitter cynical person. Desire to make children cry.... a LOT. Buy more shoes. Come home early on a Friday night turn to look at your dog and say "I feel like I'm 30 years old and I am going to bed! At 8pm. On a Friday" and then you actually do.
This is my life or at least was for the month of April.
There was a significant amount of "this is not very much fun" in the month of April. And like I do any time I feel like this I say "I'm packing up and moving to Australia!" (Alexander and the no good very bad day. Anyone Anyone?)
There was a day in grad school where one of my fellow fellows came into the classroom and said, "Does anyone else feel like they haven't been themselves for the past month?"
We all raised our hands.
A chuckle from the back of the room replied in a rich voice "yeah I've been saying that all year. At what point does the 'I havent been feeling like myself lately,' turn into, now I'm just a horrible awful person?"
I laughed. The man had a point. Dear god, I hope I don't become the person I've been lately. Then consequently, I went out and had the time of my life that weekend and discovered I'm actually not 30 years old. Whew, what a relief!
But really. The burn out was really getting to me. In the middle of unsupported struggle, I found myself developing strange, but true, coping mechanisms.
My inner dialogue: "You kids don't care to learn! FINE! Well, then I AM GOING to learn something!" An intelligent mind is a horrible thing to waste. Next thing you know I'm deriving physics formulas from first principle while sitting in my education grad classes, revisiting Multi-variable calculus late at night when I cant sleep, reading and analyzing classic literature on the train ride into the city. Yeah.. I went bizerk.
(PS who does that!?!?! Apparently, this girl.)
There was a sense of urgency. I CANNOT do this for the rest of my life. I need options! Must-consume-everything-intellecutal-around-me and prepare to go back to school and get an advanced degree in something: mathematics, engineering, physics. SOMETHING. I cannot deal with this bullshit everyday!!!
CALL ALL THE PEOPLE YOU KNEW IN COLLEGE AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH THEIR LIVES!!!
:)
That was about 1 week ago. I'm still waiting for the dust and emotions to settle. Things can be pretty outrageous at my school especially since this is our first graduating class. But I'm rolling with it, for now at least.
Now grad school for the semester will be finished this week. Thursday to be exact. Not like I'm counting or anything. OH and there's 28 more days of content to teach. Just in case you were wondering.
Put on your pj pants. Eat mint flavored ice-cream. Watch the Manhattan Midtown skyline from the rooftop. Maybe have a mixed beverage. Write up one final paper on a student's behavior you've been observing all week. Listen to Queen. Cuddle with the dog. Think about calling in sick tomorrow. Decide not to. Fall into sleep.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
85 Degrees is Sunglass Weather! (and I love my sunglasses)
Hi everyone!
It is spring in New York City, which means it's dress/skirt season! I would also say cute shoe season, but let's be real, every season is shoe season.
Also since it's spring it also means I am spending more time outside, which I love. I've been running in Prospect Park with Laika (more so she drags me through the park- that dog loves running!) I'm running my first 5K, the color run, in Brooklyn this fall. I've been doing the couch to 5K challenge, and now that it's nice outside it makes running so much more fantastic. (Just for the record I do NOT enjoy running, BUT I do like being outside, and I am too cheap to pay for a "real" gym membership as I don't really have enough time to commit to it to make it worth it). But hey, running works, "no matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everyone on the couch." :) All my friends who are runners say that it gets better and at some point I'll start enjoying it. I hope so. I've never been a distance runner/swimmer EVER. I've always been a sprinter, so hopefully it all works out.
In other news, I've been falling in love with Brooklyn! I mean I've always loved Brooklyn, BUT I was unaware of how many free things there are to do in Brooklyn, right in my area! For instance, the botanical gardens which are a hop and a skip away from my apartment are free before noon on Saturdays. It's quite large, with its own Japanese Garden section (and the cherry blossoms will bloom here soon!). I was able to find several daffodils there (my favorite flower) which crossed off number 12 on my spring city scavenger hunt I made for myself: Find a place filled with daffodils.
Then there's the Brooklyn Museum which is right near the botanical gardens which is free the first Saturday night of the month. So naturally, my roommates and I decided to crash that party in our high heels! Some of our friends told us people tend to be unusually over dressed at the event so we took that to mean shine all our silver, put on our best dresses, AND heels. We had a lovely time being fancy. However, the best part was that I discovered the Brooklyn Museum had a floor dedicated to ancient Egypt art! Since I toured Egypt in January of 2010 this always makes me excited. Who knew that the museum I walk by EVERYDAY on my way to work had such cool things in it! (looking back on it not it makes sense... I've just been taking it for granted. I wonder how many other things in New York I've been taking for granted even though it's RIGHT there.) Anyway, all of this makes me excited to live in Brooklyn. Needless to say, I've been having a very Brooklyn time lately.
Hopefully soon we will go to a Brooklyn Nets game.. or maybe even a baseball game down at Coney Island (hey it's not the Yankee's but the beer is a significantly cheaper!). There's so much to do in Brooklyn!
I also have some news for my blogger readers... I am going to take a break from blogging. I'm not sure for how long, I hope only for a month (when my spring grad classes end), but it may end up being till the end of the school year depending on how things escalate. I just have way too many things on my plate right now and some things that I just need to take care of. I think it makes the most sense to stop blogging so I can focus on finishing out the school year strong. Grad school, springtime classroom behaviors, and working with an unmotivated senior class is taking it's toll on me.
But... when I return, I hope to have purchased a new camera with a changeable lenses so I can take awesome pictures. Then I can even share some of them with you!
Until Next Time,
Amanda
It is spring in New York City, which means it's dress/skirt season! I would also say cute shoe season, but let's be real, every season is shoe season.
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| Laika leads the way! |
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| Running in Prospect Park |
In other news, I've been falling in love with Brooklyn! I mean I've always loved Brooklyn, BUT I was unaware of how many free things there are to do in Brooklyn, right in my area! For instance, the botanical gardens which are a hop and a skip away from my apartment are free before noon on Saturdays. It's quite large, with its own Japanese Garden section (and the cherry blossoms will bloom here soon!). I was able to find several daffodils there (my favorite flower) which crossed off number 12 on my spring city scavenger hunt I made for myself: Find a place filled with daffodils.
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| Brooklyn Museum |
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| Vanessa and Diane Stand looking at Gravity and Grace: Monumental Works by El Anatsui |
Hopefully soon we will go to a Brooklyn Nets game.. or maybe even a baseball game down at Coney Island (hey it's not the Yankee's but the beer is a significantly cheaper!). There's so much to do in Brooklyn!
I also have some news for my blogger readers... I am going to take a break from blogging. I'm not sure for how long, I hope only for a month (when my spring grad classes end), but it may end up being till the end of the school year depending on how things escalate. I just have way too many things on my plate right now and some things that I just need to take care of. I think it makes the most sense to stop blogging so I can focus on finishing out the school year strong. Grad school, springtime classroom behaviors, and working with an unmotivated senior class is taking it's toll on me.
But... when I return, I hope to have purchased a new camera with a changeable lenses so I can take awesome pictures. Then I can even share some of them with you!
Until Next Time,
Amanda
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Made it to Japan!
Whew! After a 14 hour direct flight from New York City, I found myself in Tokyo. I flew with American Airlines (because it is the cheapest) however I have come to realize that everyone says I should have paid to fly with an Asian company because the experience is "so much better." I'm not sure what that means, but I think next time I'll keep that in mind.
Anyway, so flying into Tokyo at 10pm I had the sudden realization that I had NO idea where my friend Elise lives or where the hotel was that we were staying in for the night. I was SO paranoid about getting to the airport directly after school on Friday, that these details of "what actually happens in Japan" totally escaped my thoughts. Elise had told me not to worry about anything in Japan because she had planned everything and would meet me outside of customs. Apparently I took this a little too much to heart. As I pondered this on the plane while filling out my customs card, I found that the Japanese needed to know where I was staying..... Oops. I decided I had a few options. 1. Lie and make up an address and phone number 2. Tell them I didn't know and my friend was picking me up (this would also make me look stupid) 3. Fill it out the best I could by putting my friends name down for the address and my own phone number (even though I wouldn't have my cell phone on anyway). The last one is what I decided to do.. Since it wasn't lying and was as close to the truth without making me look stupid. I did have my friends cell phone number saved in my phone, but conveniently that happened to be dead so that was not helpful either. In any case, the customs lady looked at my card suspiciously and asked me about the address and phone, I told her it was correct and I was meeting my friend. She decided that was ok, and I was on my way into Japan!
After spending one day in Tokyo these are my initial thoughts - the Japanese people would absolutely HATE New York City! Why do I say this? Well... NYC is a loud, spontaneous, dirty, and direct city. Tokyo is none of the above. Tokyo is quiet, organized, clean, and passive. People do NOT talk on the train, nor do people play music or dance on the train. They even wait for the train in lines! I can't picture New Yorkers doing that. We are always fighting to be on the train first with elbows ready. Elise turned to me and said "waiting in lines is very Japanese, they don't like surprises." I thought this was hilarious, but waited quietly in line. "oh and another thing, the Japanese people do not talk on the train, only foreigners do" she told me. She was right, and I found myself whispering to her on the train.
This is my first trip to East Asia, and the differences here compared to the western world are subtle but very present. What I mean by that is just by walking around nothing is obviously different- its not like there are mosques everywhere or people wearing completely different clothing (like they do in Egypt), but the culture and mindset is very different. To give you an example, there is a Japanese girl pop band here that is really popular (especially with older middle aged men). Now upon hearing about this I was like "oh whose the lead singer?" Well.. What a stupid question to ask in Japan! Silly Amanda, there are no lead singers! In fact the band has 80 members. They usually have about 40 of them on stage at a time and they rotate them in and out. Everything is about the group in Japan. In fact even when students graduate high school they don't get acknowledged individually, they get acknowledged as a home room. I find this really interesting. It's very different.
Aside from this, I have found Tokyo to be EXTREMELY safe. I might even go as far to say it feels like one of the safest places I have ever experienced, but that might just be because I live in NYC. It has also been wonderful that Elise knows enough Japanese to get by as she has used it multiple occasions to get help navigating the trains in Tokyo. Elise lives about 4ish hours by bus south of Tokyo in the tea region of Japan. We are going there today actually, as we finish up one last day in Tokyo. I'm exited to see her place in rural Japan and meet some of the locals.
Until next time,
Amanda
Anyway, so flying into Tokyo at 10pm I had the sudden realization that I had NO idea where my friend Elise lives or where the hotel was that we were staying in for the night. I was SO paranoid about getting to the airport directly after school on Friday, that these details of "what actually happens in Japan" totally escaped my thoughts. Elise had told me not to worry about anything in Japan because she had planned everything and would meet me outside of customs. Apparently I took this a little too much to heart. As I pondered this on the plane while filling out my customs card, I found that the Japanese needed to know where I was staying..... Oops. I decided I had a few options. 1. Lie and make up an address and phone number 2. Tell them I didn't know and my friend was picking me up (this would also make me look stupid) 3. Fill it out the best I could by putting my friends name down for the address and my own phone number (even though I wouldn't have my cell phone on anyway). The last one is what I decided to do.. Since it wasn't lying and was as close to the truth without making me look stupid. I did have my friends cell phone number saved in my phone, but conveniently that happened to be dead so that was not helpful either. In any case, the customs lady looked at my card suspiciously and asked me about the address and phone, I told her it was correct and I was meeting my friend. She decided that was ok, and I was on my way into Japan!
After spending one day in Tokyo these are my initial thoughts - the Japanese people would absolutely HATE New York City! Why do I say this? Well... NYC is a loud, spontaneous, dirty, and direct city. Tokyo is none of the above. Tokyo is quiet, organized, clean, and passive. People do NOT talk on the train, nor do people play music or dance on the train. They even wait for the train in lines! I can't picture New Yorkers doing that. We are always fighting to be on the train first with elbows ready. Elise turned to me and said "waiting in lines is very Japanese, they don't like surprises." I thought this was hilarious, but waited quietly in line. "oh and another thing, the Japanese people do not talk on the train, only foreigners do" she told me. She was right, and I found myself whispering to her on the train.
This is my first trip to East Asia, and the differences here compared to the western world are subtle but very present. What I mean by that is just by walking around nothing is obviously different- its not like there are mosques everywhere or people wearing completely different clothing (like they do in Egypt), but the culture and mindset is very different. To give you an example, there is a Japanese girl pop band here that is really popular (especially with older middle aged men). Now upon hearing about this I was like "oh whose the lead singer?" Well.. What a stupid question to ask in Japan! Silly Amanda, there are no lead singers! In fact the band has 80 members. They usually have about 40 of them on stage at a time and they rotate them in and out. Everything is about the group in Japan. In fact even when students graduate high school they don't get acknowledged individually, they get acknowledged as a home room. I find this really interesting. It's very different.
Aside from this, I have found Tokyo to be EXTREMELY safe. I might even go as far to say it feels like one of the safest places I have ever experienced, but that might just be because I live in NYC. It has also been wonderful that Elise knows enough Japanese to get by as she has used it multiple occasions to get help navigating the trains in Tokyo. Elise lives about 4ish hours by bus south of Tokyo in the tea region of Japan. We are going there today actually, as we finish up one last day in Tokyo. I'm exited to see her place in rural Japan and meet some of the locals.
Until next time,
Amanda
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