Ten Places I Want to Visit (U.S. version)

Here they are, again in no particular order: 1. Washington, D.C. 2. Chicago 3. Mt. Rushmore 4. Sonoma 5. Williamsburg, Va 6. Miami 7. Niagara Falls 8. Seattle 9. The Colorado Rockies 10. Cape Cod

Ten Places I Want to Visit (Non-US)

In no particular order: 1. Buenos Aires, Argentia 2. Sydney, Australia 3. Dakar, Senegal 4. Johannesburg, South Africa 5. Toronto, Canada 6. Dublin, Ireland 7. New Zealand 8. Tokyo, Japan 9. Prague, Czech Republic 10. Moscow, Russia What is your top ten?

Let's get this party started...

It's really funny. I've been reading blogs for a while now, and I have become used to seeing people say that they haven't blogged because "life got in the way". I always thought that was strange because I would blog about things that were happening in life. Well as you can see. It's been a good long while since I've blogged. I must now officially say it: "Life got in the way". I moved out of my apartment in June, but my wonderful cable company got the dates wrong, so I had to live about 5 weeks without TV or Internet. That isn't really an easy task, seeing as how my school internet connection doesn't allow me to check my other e-mail addresses. 2 days after moving, I left with students on an 11-day European trip to Madrid, Barcelona, and Paris. It was a great trip, and the kids had a great time. I was a bit worried because the students didn't really know each other beforehand, but it worked out great. It's amazing what you can learn about your students in 11 days! Amazingly enough, I wasn't quite finished with traveling yet. When I moved out of my apartment, I placed all of my furniture and belongings in storage. I slept 2 more days at my parent's house, then left for 2 weeks to stay with a friend in Philadelphia. I hadn't ever been to the 'City of Brotherly Love', but I was hyped to see the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and all the other stops that created the US. It is a great city as long as you stay in the city center. I got lost walking, and ended up in South Philly, which is something that should be avoided at all costs. This trip to the northeast contained a lot of firsts: My first time ever driving to New York City, my first time taking an Amtrak from Manhattan to Philly, and getting into random New York craziness. I've never stayed up after 5 am on consecutive nights, but I can no longer say that! Now that I am back in Texas, I have set my sights on moving into my new apartment, planning my AP classes, and getting back on a regular sleeping schedule. In theory, It seemed like a really fun idea to spend the summer traveling back to back, but needless to say, airports will wipe you out. I took 8 flights in a little over a month. I'm back, and ready to blog!

Has It Been A Month

Very interesting. I think that it has been nearly a month since my last semi-attempt at posting. Things have been humming along this year, and it's almost (surprisingly) the last day of school. I can't believe that this thing I call a job is almost over. To say that this year has been more or less smooth would be an understatement. Despite the fact that I was moved to a portable without technology--Internet and a projector--I seemed to make it through. This summer, I have having to do more planning for next year, when I will be teaching French IV AP. I am really excited! In about 35 days, I and another teacher are headlining a group to Spain and France for 11 days, after which I will be voyaging to Philadelphia. Gotta study at some point for that ratty GRE exam. Anyone wanna make $5

Back!

Montreal was great! I was amazed at how everyone was more or less bilingual in French and English. You could visit, choose one, stick with it, and have no problem at all. I really felt that portions were very much like Paris when I lived there, minus the scowling Parisian (désolé, Cédric!). Canadians are pretty friendly, and I am going to have to make it a point to go back during the warm summer months. Below are a few pictures from the trip. Again, happy 2007!

O! Canada

Off to Montreal for New Year's and after Christmas festivities! Will back in 2007 (unless I find something relelvant enough to blog about). Happy New Year et Bonne Année à tous!

Winter Break

I'm pretty much perplexed by the lack of issues that I am having at school lately. Besides random chattiness in class (which I can handle...it means the students are more or less engaged), the biggest issue I've had to face was the arrival of a fluent French speaker in my French III class. She's been utterly bored because we are reviewing the past tense, directions, and other random things that are good to know. If this class were taught in English, it would probably be like being 14 years old in a 4th grade class. The other French teacher and I somewhat made the executive decision to put her in the AP French class, that way she could have some semblance of a challenge. The highest level she could officially be in is III, because II is the highest level offered for credit by exam. So right now, she's not struggling, but at least she's not in a class with 8 year olds. I had my Professional Development Assessment recently, and I was pretty I was worried because this year our department got a new head and principal over foreign languages. I wasn't sure how the principal rated her evaluations, so I wasn't sure what to be in store for. Luckily, she came to one of my French III classes, and I spoke French for just about the whole time, so she had no idea what was going on (a fact relayed to me later). I felt really good about the evaluation, and knew that my kids were speaking back to me in French and asking questions, so it was a waiting game. I pulled out the typed evaluation form from my box, and I almost fell over. I had rated exceeds expectations in every category! The rating system is Doesn't Meet, Meets, Proficient, and Exceeds. Proficient is a bit of a misnomer, as it actually translates to an A. Things are falling into place and looking good. Hopefully, getting his marks these last 3 years will help me on my grad school apps. Who knows? Christmas Winter break begins Thursday afternoon after the Faculty Talent Show. The kids are ready, and I am right there with them. I'm hitting the road running with some eggnog. Only 11 days until I leave for Montreal!

Let the Overindulgence Begin!

Off to see the family in various parts of the Lone Star State. I plan on eating my weight in turkey, stuffing and sweet potato pie this holiday season! Happy Thanksgiving (even if it's not celebrated in your country--by the way, you should do something about that)!

Wishing...

I was still on summer vacation. These are a few of the pictures I took while in Las Vegas and in California... Yosemite Valley Mammoth Lakes, CA Yosemite National Park Yosemite Falls View towards Yosemite from Mammoth Mammoth Lakes My Ansel Adams impression Mammoth Lakes New York, New York Hotel & Casino Fashion Show Mall, Las Vegas Catalina Island, CA Catalina Island, CA Where oh where have you gone...Will I ever see ye again?

Etc...

First of all, I know you are wondering what this picture has to do with anything. My friend Vic took this while we were on the subway in NYC last week. This was part of a series of ads by a NYC legal firm. To go along with their 212-DIVORCE & 212-BAIL-OUT, they felt as if they needed to help our Hispanic brethren. I know they wanted something easy to remember, but seriously!? News front: If you read my post below, I seem a bit dispondent and worried. I was afraid that I wasn't going to get the numbers needed to teach French III next year. Well, that section increased three-fold in 2 days , so it looks like I will get to finally have a full schedule next year! If you know me, you know that Overheard in New York is one of my favorite websites. In honor of that, I have collected some choice quotes today that I will call: "Overheard in North Dallas Suburban High". Let's see how that will fit on the uniforms...here we go: A student throws up in the in-school suspension room, and runs to the bathroom. Observing Student: I wonder how many times he stuck his finger down his throat so that he didn't have to stay here. I should do that. A few students are having a conversation while waiting for class to begin. J: Mr., why do we have to learn French? If I go somewhere in Europe, it'd be ItaliaSpain. S: Where's ItaliaSpain? G: Dummy, it's Italy and Spain. S: Oh, are those countries? G: Yes! S: Oh...what continent is that? Girl drops pen, crouches down to get it, and some paper, as well. B: Hey! What's she doing? R (the whitest white guy): She's gettin' low!