Yesterday at lunch I went to turn in my deposit and my landlord was there! Yay!! And...she gave me the keys!! I was so excited!! I actually packed up a laundry basket of stuff to bring over after work when I went home for the rest of my lunchtime. After work I ventured over and got to check it out again, knowing it was mine. It is interesting to go back and see all the things you missed before, like, where am I going to fit a microwave? and will all of my hanging clothes actually fit? and can I get a couch up these stairs? heh. But, I still know it was the right choice. I can live with those things and make due. Now, the big question is picking out paint. I get so excited to do it, but for some reason, I am feeling a little stressed about it now. I don't know why. It's like I have an idea in my head about what will would look cool and what I want, but things don't always turn out that way. Hmmmm.... But today I brought some paint samples in to show my friend, Claire so she can give her input. I may even buy it today!
After checking out the apartment I went home to check on my pot roast! I was sooooo excited to make it, since I got a crock pot for Christmas and mom gave me a venison roast from dad's deer. At lunch I browned it on the stove and cut up potatoes, celery and carrots. I am praying it turned out. I don't always have the best luck in the world with cooking, but my grandma showed me step by step what to do when I went to visit this fall. Well, I came home and guess what... it smelled like pot roast! That was a very reassuring sign! And it even tasted like a pot roast!! Woo-hoo! I feel like the queen of the world!! I invited my boyfriend over for dinner and he also said it was great. Although, I think he knows how hard I try in the kitchen, that he would say just about anything was good. :) After dinner we hit up the high school hockey game. My bf had never been to one before, so it was fun to watch him and explain things to him. That's right, I explained a sport to someone. Not exactly sure if everything I explained was accurate, but it sounded good. We sat with his co-workers. One of his co-workers son was on the team. After the game we headed over to my new apartment, so I could show it off to him. He approved! I mentioned my paint thoughts to him, which was very interesting because he is a totally tan, black, and white, kind of guy. Well, me... not so much. I was going for more red and yellow. So, he didn't give me much help in picking it out, other than, "it's not what I would choose, but you do whatever you want." I will. Just not sure what yet.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Yesterday, at lunch time I stopped by the used furniture store in town. I honestly have driven past it countless times and had no clue it existed. When I got there, there was a sign on the door that said closed. I was a little bummed. As I walked back to my car I saw a man opening the door and flipping the sign. So, I went back for a second attempt. Inside the little "store", it was really more like a long narrow room with a small path in the middle of stacks of used furniture. The man asked what I was looking for and I said a bed and a couch. They have lots of queen beds with box springs for $75.00! I am kind of hoping for a full, just because I think it might be easier to get it into my apartment! The full they had was not so great, but he gets "new" used furniture in almost every week. So, I have plenty of time. I also spotted one of the ugliest couches on God's green earth, but for $20.00 I just may be the proud owner of it! I have a nice slip cover to put over it. If I get it, I will definitely take pics. I am really excited about the prospect of spending around $100.00 to get both a bed and a couch! Yee-haw for thriftiness! Now I just need the keys to my new place so I can buy the furniture and move it in!
After work, I went to bring my security deposit over to my new landlord, but she left early for the day. Bummer. I was hoping I could fanagle my way into getting my keys so I could start painting soon! Maybe today. I called her and she said to drop the check off today at lunchtime. I am getting to anxious to start planning where everything goes!That is my favorite part of moving. I love setting everything up.
I also dropped off an application for the local gym. My friend works there and said it is a super easy, laid-back job. I thought if they were looking for someone in the evenings, that would be a great second job. I'll especially need another job if I am going to be buying fancy $20 couches.
The rest of the evening was spent putting my Christmas ornaments away in boxes and attempting to hide all of my Christmas things behind my futon. I then cleaned my apartment so that it would look at least halfway decent if a new renter came to look at it.
After work, I went to bring my security deposit over to my new landlord, but she left early for the day. Bummer. I was hoping I could fanagle my way into getting my keys so I could start painting soon! Maybe today. I called her and she said to drop the check off today at lunchtime. I am getting to anxious to start planning where everything goes!That is my favorite part of moving. I love setting everything up.
I also dropped off an application for the local gym. My friend works there and said it is a super easy, laid-back job. I thought if they were looking for someone in the evenings, that would be a great second job. I'll especially need another job if I am going to be buying fancy $20 couches.
The rest of the evening was spent putting my Christmas ornaments away in boxes and attempting to hide all of my Christmas things behind my futon. I then cleaned my apartment so that it would look at least halfway decent if a new renter came to look at it.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Friday morning before work, I decided to act on another New Year's resolution. I resolve to pray about my concerns before talking to others about them. So, Friday morning I prayed about my apartment situation and about my finances and finding another job.
Well...apartment update...
I got an apartment!! Friday I went to look at one during lunch, and had low expectations of it, but the minute I saw it I knew it was what I was looking for and was in my price range! It is 8 blocks closer to campus than my current apartment and it's in a residential area. It has a lot more storage than I have now, which heaven knows I need with all my stuff! It is the upper floor of a house, so it has a driveway and a front porch. What is even crazier, is that well I was talking with the landlord, we got on the subject of her son and that she pulled him out of the school here because it is getting really violent. I said I know how that goes, and that I was a teacher last year. Then she asked if I would be at all interested in tutoring. It is so nuts because I was going to bring in a card to the schools to say that I was a former teacher looking to tutor. God is one crazy guy!! I was so excited! The rest of the afternoon I struggled through week daydreaming of my new place and what colors I would paint it. It is baby blue and pale pink right now. Not exactly my style. I am also now on a mad hunt for furniture! Having moved here from Alaska and before that having been in New Zealand, I own nothing! I have a dresser and 2 little shelves! I am desperatly in need of a bed and a couch. But I am going to look at a used furniture store after work and hopefully something will work! I am also hoping that as soon as I pay my deposit I might get the keys, so I can start painting and slowly begin moving everything in. That would be nice!
After work on Friday I was exhausted for some reason, I fell asleep on the couch by 7!
Saturday my friend Claire and I went to Duluth for the day. It was a much needed girl retreat. We went to Michael's (the craft store) and I swear I could easily spend a whole paycheck there! I bought some new canvases that were on sale and am super pumped to make a few things for my new apartment! It was a great day.
The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing and taking down my Christmas stuff.
Well...apartment update...
I got an apartment!! Friday I went to look at one during lunch, and had low expectations of it, but the minute I saw it I knew it was what I was looking for and was in my price range! It is 8 blocks closer to campus than my current apartment and it's in a residential area. It has a lot more storage than I have now, which heaven knows I need with all my stuff! It is the upper floor of a house, so it has a driveway and a front porch. What is even crazier, is that well I was talking with the landlord, we got on the subject of her son and that she pulled him out of the school here because it is getting really violent. I said I know how that goes, and that I was a teacher last year. Then she asked if I would be at all interested in tutoring. It is so nuts because I was going to bring in a card to the schools to say that I was a former teacher looking to tutor. God is one crazy guy!! I was so excited! The rest of the afternoon I struggled through week daydreaming of my new place and what colors I would paint it. It is baby blue and pale pink right now. Not exactly my style. I am also now on a mad hunt for furniture! Having moved here from Alaska and before that having been in New Zealand, I own nothing! I have a dresser and 2 little shelves! I am desperatly in need of a bed and a couch. But I am going to look at a used furniture store after work and hopefully something will work! I am also hoping that as soon as I pay my deposit I might get the keys, so I can start painting and slowly begin moving everything in. That would be nice!
After work on Friday I was exhausted for some reason, I fell asleep on the couch by 7!
Saturday my friend Claire and I went to Duluth for the day. It was a much needed girl retreat. We went to Michael's (the craft store) and I swear I could easily spend a whole paycheck there! I bought some new canvases that were on sale and am super pumped to make a few things for my new apartment! It was a great day.
The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing and taking down my Christmas stuff.
Friday, January 2, 2009
It's a New Year
I am very optimistic about this New Year. 2008 brought a lot of great things, but also a lot of struggles. I moved, started a new job, and am learning how to make a budget with the low income I have. I am in the process of looking to a new apartment. My apartment now is pretty nice inside once I settled in and is furnished which was a huge bonus, but it is located right on Main Street above a little cafe and between 2 bars. I am not a fan living right in the bar community! I have 4 to look at today though. Ashland, doesn't offer much as far as nice housing. But I feel good knowing that I have a place already, so I am not stuck, I am just looking for either a better deal or a nicer location. I will keep you posted.
I am also planning a trip this weekend with my friend Claire, to Duluth to do something shopping with her and just have a mini girls getaway.
In conclusion, I have been mulling over my New Year's resolutions. Mine tend to always be the same, eat healthier, exercise more, read more, etc. But I really want something concrete so I can actually test my progress. I also find that the more resolutions you have, the harder it is to keep any of them. So I am going to work really hard on a few simple ones.
My New Year's Resolutions:
1. Blog at least twice a week
2. Read 1 book every other month (hopefully more, but I will start simple)
3. Do 60 sit-ups 5 days a week (20 to each side and 20 in the middle)
4. Stretch for at least 10 minutes a day to help with my muscle tension
I think that is pretty do-able.
Happy New Years!
I am also planning a trip this weekend with my friend Claire, to Duluth to do something shopping with her and just have a mini girls getaway.
In conclusion, I have been mulling over my New Year's resolutions. Mine tend to always be the same, eat healthier, exercise more, read more, etc. But I really want something concrete so I can actually test my progress. I also find that the more resolutions you have, the harder it is to keep any of them. So I am going to work really hard on a few simple ones.
My New Year's Resolutions:
1. Blog at least twice a week
2. Read 1 book every other month (hopefully more, but I will start simple)
3. Do 60 sit-ups 5 days a week (20 to each side and 20 in the middle)
4. Stretch for at least 10 minutes a day to help with my muscle tension
I think that is pretty do-able.
Happy New Years!
Starting Up Again
So, considering I have not written in almost 6 months, I am back to blogging once again. It is one of my New Year's resolutions!
To start, I am just going to give a quick account of life so far:
The past 6 months have been pretty crazy. I love my job as an admission counselor. The summer was slow, since there were no students on campus, and I didn't have recruits to work with yet. But once fall came...whew!! I was busier than all get out! My travel territory is the Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. I have the largest travel territory of all the counselors and did lots of driving and flying throughout September, October, and November. I went to 3 different college fairs throughout the state and got to see much of Ohio through the windshield of my rental car. It was a little scary at first, traveling around, trying to figure out what I was supposed to be doing and where I was supposed to be going. But I got the hang of it pretty quick and gained the independent confidence I needed. My favorite parts of the trip included shopping (Ashland doesn't offer much), hitting up good restaurants, hot-tubing at the hotels and visiting staying in Logan,OH. I randomly booked a hotel in Logan. It was a smaller town, so the hotel cost was cheaper, plus I heard it had a great state park to visit. Unfortunatly, the park road was closed for construction. But, I did drive along Lake Logan, which was gorgeous. One morning I grabbed my camera and went out to watch the fog roll across the lake, herons and ducks were all over. There was even a gorgeous old sleepy Bed and Breakfast right on the lake with Weeping Willows in front.
Throughout my travels I was able to see both sets of my grandparents, spend time with my cousin, and stay with my brother a few times which was great! My grandparents live more than 10 hours away from here, so getting to see them while I was working was awesome! I also got to head home to the U.P. to see my family on 3 different occassions for work too! That was so fun!
Travel season ended the first weekend of November. It was then time to catch up back at the office and work with the students I met on the road. The weeks went by, and before I knew it Thanksgiving was here! It was so nice to go home for the holiday (last year I was in Alaska for it). I love Thanksgiving! My parents invited some Michigan Tech students over since they weren't able to make it home for Thanksgiving. It was really fun!
So, now I am up to December. The first weekend, I got to see my college roomates in the Twin Cities, for our "Roomate Christmas". We caught up, laughed, shopped at the Mall of America, ate at Benni Hanna's (a cool Japanese restaurant where they cook your food right at the table). It was so great to see everyone.
December was pretty slow at work and I found myself counting down the days until break. I had one week off and went home to be with my family. It was weird without my sister there this year (she is in Colorado), but it was still great to be home. We baked, played cards, laughed, and relaxed. I even got a sewing machine for Christmas, which I can't wait to use!!
I was back in the office this week, but had New Year's Day off. I spent New Years Eve evening with some friends playing games all night. It was great!
So, there, pretty much caught up!
To start, I am just going to give a quick account of life so far:
The past 6 months have been pretty crazy. I love my job as an admission counselor. The summer was slow, since there were no students on campus, and I didn't have recruits to work with yet. But once fall came...whew!! I was busier than all get out! My travel territory is the Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. I have the largest travel territory of all the counselors and did lots of driving and flying throughout September, October, and November. I went to 3 different college fairs throughout the state and got to see much of Ohio through the windshield of my rental car. It was a little scary at first, traveling around, trying to figure out what I was supposed to be doing and where I was supposed to be going. But I got the hang of it pretty quick and gained the independent confidence I needed. My favorite parts of the trip included shopping (Ashland doesn't offer much), hitting up good restaurants, hot-tubing at the hotels and visiting staying in Logan,OH. I randomly booked a hotel in Logan. It was a smaller town, so the hotel cost was cheaper, plus I heard it had a great state park to visit. Unfortunatly, the park road was closed for construction. But, I did drive along Lake Logan, which was gorgeous. One morning I grabbed my camera and went out to watch the fog roll across the lake, herons and ducks were all over. There was even a gorgeous old sleepy Bed and Breakfast right on the lake with Weeping Willows in front.
Throughout my travels I was able to see both sets of my grandparents, spend time with my cousin, and stay with my brother a few times which was great! My grandparents live more than 10 hours away from here, so getting to see them while I was working was awesome! I also got to head home to the U.P. to see my family on 3 different occassions for work too! That was so fun!
Travel season ended the first weekend of November. It was then time to catch up back at the office and work with the students I met on the road. The weeks went by, and before I knew it Thanksgiving was here! It was so nice to go home for the holiday (last year I was in Alaska for it). I love Thanksgiving! My parents invited some Michigan Tech students over since they weren't able to make it home for Thanksgiving. It was really fun!
So, now I am up to December. The first weekend, I got to see my college roomates in the Twin Cities, for our "Roomate Christmas". We caught up, laughed, shopped at the Mall of America, ate at Benni Hanna's (a cool Japanese restaurant where they cook your food right at the table). It was so great to see everyone.
December was pretty slow at work and I found myself counting down the days until break. I had one week off and went home to be with my family. It was weird without my sister there this year (she is in Colorado), but it was still great to be home. We baked, played cards, laughed, and relaxed. I even got a sewing machine for Christmas, which I can't wait to use!!
I was back in the office this week, but had New Year's Day off. I spent New Years Eve evening with some friends playing games all night. It was great!
So, there, pretty much caught up!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Updated Pics
I FINALLY just put all my pics from the past year up!! I added my Alaska, cruise, Europe, and summer pictures to my picture website. So, check it out!!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Work is definitely starting to pick up more now. Last week we had our staff retreat and were given our tentative travel schedules. Now I can start planning out the schools that I will visit and I know what college fairs I will be going to. Looks like I will be traveling a week in the U.P., and week or two in the lower peninsula, 4 days in Ohio, and another 1/2 week in Indiana. It is already less than 3 weeks until I fly to Cincinnati! Time will fly by from now through the end of the school year. Once I got to schools and fairs, then I have students that I will be working with throughout the rest of the year, until they arrive on campus as freshmen. I am excited to start the travel season and am really happy that I will get to visit my grandparents, brother and mom and dad while I am doing it! The college pays for my plane tickets or provides a car and pays for the gas, the hotel, and 3 meals a day when I am on the road! Sweet deal. And I have a laptop and Blackberry for traveling too. Can't complain. We also started moving students in today. It is so awesome to watch the incoming freshmen as they move all of their things into the dorms. Kind of makes me wish I was starting college all over again. It is weird to think that I would be at teacher in-services right now in Alaska if I were going back for another year. Even though I loved the kids, I think I made the right choice. I am still enjoying the sun too much to be back up there!
This past weekend, my friend Megan came to visit me. We had an awesome time. I had only seen her 1 time since we were in New Zealand together. Friday night we looked at each other's New Zealand scrapbooks and caught up on life. We were up until 2 a.m. when we decided we should probably go to bed. Saturday, we got up and drove North up the shore to Friendly Valley beach. It was gorgeous and Lake Superior was actually bareable to stand in! You know the water must be "warm" when people are actually staying in it rather than jump in and jump out. It was perfect! We then drove up to Bayfield to get some ice cream and check out the little shops. I love Bayfield. It reminds me of a bigger version of Copper Harbor, near home. While we were up there, I talked Megan into going with me to get my nose pierced. I have wanted to for ages, but thought I probably shouldn't as a teacher. I told myself that I would do it when I got a new job. Well, I still hadn't done it yet. So I called the tattoo place and they were open for another 1 and 1/2. We hopped in the car, drove back to Ashland and I did it!! I am extremely needle-phobic, but it wasn't bad at all. It is still a little sore, but I am really happy I did it!
Saturday night, we just hung out and watched a chick flick. Sunday morning, we got up pretty early, bought muffins at the grocery store and headed to the beach again. I wish I had more beach time. But I was so thankful to have had 2 great days to spend out there! It was a wonderful, hot, sunny weekend! I have to get out and enjoy them while I can!
This past weekend, my friend Megan came to visit me. We had an awesome time. I had only seen her 1 time since we were in New Zealand together. Friday night we looked at each other's New Zealand scrapbooks and caught up on life. We were up until 2 a.m. when we decided we should probably go to bed. Saturday, we got up and drove North up the shore to Friendly Valley beach. It was gorgeous and Lake Superior was actually bareable to stand in! You know the water must be "warm" when people are actually staying in it rather than jump in and jump out. It was perfect! We then drove up to Bayfield to get some ice cream and check out the little shops. I love Bayfield. It reminds me of a bigger version of Copper Harbor, near home. While we were up there, I talked Megan into going with me to get my nose pierced. I have wanted to for ages, but thought I probably shouldn't as a teacher. I told myself that I would do it when I got a new job. Well, I still hadn't done it yet. So I called the tattoo place and they were open for another 1 and 1/2. We hopped in the car, drove back to Ashland and I did it!! I am extremely needle-phobic, but it wasn't bad at all. It is still a little sore, but I am really happy I did it!
Saturday night, we just hung out and watched a chick flick. Sunday morning, we got up pretty early, bought muffins at the grocery store and headed to the beach again. I wish I had more beach time. But I was so thankful to have had 2 great days to spend out there! It was a wonderful, hot, sunny weekend! I have to get out and enjoy them while I can!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Livin' in Ashland
So...
Living in Ashland has been interesting in some ways and really great in others. I'll start with the interesting.
A few weeks ago, I was sitting in my living room on a Sunday evening around 10:30 when I heard a really loud BANG. It freaked me out so bad that I almost fell off the couch. About 30 seconds later another BANG, this one not quite as loud. Because I had my curtains open and my windows face right into the street, I jumped up and turned off my lights and peeked out the window. I could hear a big group of people talking just below me, one building over, but I couldn't see them. Not 3 minutes later 2 cop cars come flying down the street and park in the middle of the road. One cop gets out and yells, "Show me your hands!! Show me your hands!!", to the whole group. Then he says, "which way did he go?" and the group gave a description of a man and pointed in another direction. It was interesting to watch, but I didn't think a ton of it. I was telling my co-workers about it and joked that there was a shooting under my window. They all laughed and said shootings don't happen here. Well, the next day in the paper, there was a story about a 17-year-old who fired 2 shots at a group of people right on my street. Crazy! I guess I live in a rough neighborhood! Gotta be careful!
Other than that, Ashland has been nice. It is so great to be close to home (3 hours, which is much closer than Alaska) and to Duluth, where I went to school. I have been home a few times already and have been to Duluth three times! It has been so wonderful to catch up with friends.
A few weekends ago, my college roomates and I got together for our first "Christmas in July" party. We camped at a friends cabin and caught up on all the excitement in everyone's lives. Then two weekends later I had another girls weekend. This time with my teaching girls from college. We met in Duluth, caught up and went on some great hikes.
This past week, I went to New Counselor's Institute in Ripon, Wisconsin. It is like a 3 day conference for new admission counselors. It was really fun! I met some great people and am much more excited to hit the road this fall now that I know people who will be at the college fairs. Tomorrow we have a staff retreat with everyone from our office. This is when we will learn where we are going to be traveling to and we can start planning out the fall. Yeah!!!
I also got to go camping this weekend and checked out some great beaches along the way. It was a blast. I think I can get used to this "living in the lower 48 thing" again!
Living in Ashland has been interesting in some ways and really great in others. I'll start with the interesting.
A few weeks ago, I was sitting in my living room on a Sunday evening around 10:30 when I heard a really loud BANG. It freaked me out so bad that I almost fell off the couch. About 30 seconds later another BANG, this one not quite as loud. Because I had my curtains open and my windows face right into the street, I jumped up and turned off my lights and peeked out the window. I could hear a big group of people talking just below me, one building over, but I couldn't see them. Not 3 minutes later 2 cop cars come flying down the street and park in the middle of the road. One cop gets out and yells, "Show me your hands!! Show me your hands!!", to the whole group. Then he says, "which way did he go?" and the group gave a description of a man and pointed in another direction. It was interesting to watch, but I didn't think a ton of it. I was telling my co-workers about it and joked that there was a shooting under my window. They all laughed and said shootings don't happen here. Well, the next day in the paper, there was a story about a 17-year-old who fired 2 shots at a group of people right on my street. Crazy! I guess I live in a rough neighborhood! Gotta be careful!
Other than that, Ashland has been nice. It is so great to be close to home (3 hours, which is much closer than Alaska) and to Duluth, where I went to school. I have been home a few times already and have been to Duluth three times! It has been so wonderful to catch up with friends.
A few weekends ago, my college roomates and I got together for our first "Christmas in July" party. We camped at a friends cabin and caught up on all the excitement in everyone's lives. Then two weekends later I had another girls weekend. This time with my teaching girls from college. We met in Duluth, caught up and went on some great hikes.
This past week, I went to New Counselor's Institute in Ripon, Wisconsin. It is like a 3 day conference for new admission counselors. It was really fun! I met some great people and am much more excited to hit the road this fall now that I know people who will be at the college fairs. Tomorrow we have a staff retreat with everyone from our office. This is when we will learn where we are going to be traveling to and we can start planning out the fall. Yeah!!!
I also got to go camping this weekend and checked out some great beaches along the way. It was a blast. I think I can get used to this "living in the lower 48 thing" again!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Life in a Nutshell!
Well, obviously I have been extremely bad about keeping up on my website. The last time I wrote was 3 months ago! Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!! Guess you can tell that life has been a little crazy, huh?
Let’s see here… I think the best way to catch you up on my life would be to do this in sections. So here it goes.
Let’s see here… I think the best way to catch you up on my life would be to do this in sections. So here it goes.
Summer and Job Hunting!
After over 2 weeks in Europe, it was great to see my family!! I had not been home since Christmas and missed them so much!! I spent the next 2 weeks catching up, showing them my pictures, playing with my dogs, catching up on sleep, seeing friends, and looking for a job. I applied to a few but didn’t have any luck. My mom and sister and I drove to the lower peninsula of Michigan to visit my grandparents on both sides. During our trip I got a call about a job interview. They wanted me for a phone interview the next day. So I did my phone interview from the bathroom of my grandparents’ assisted living center!! The job was as an admissions counselor at Northland College in Ashland, Wisconsin. At the end of the interview they asked me if I could come to the college the next week for a campus interview. We got back from my grandparents on a Sunday night and Tuesday I drove to Ashland for the interview. Well, it went great and I was offered the job that day and was asked to start work on a week!! So I stayed the night in Ashland with my mom and we found an apartment, drove back that night and bought a car, the next day I packed and bought a cell phone and 2 days later I moved!! It has been crazy!!
I have now been in Ashland for just under 2 weeks. I like my job and know I will like it even more as I get busier working with students. Summer is a slow time in the job and I am adjusting to working in a cubicle. But it is nice to be only 3 hours from home and only 1 hour from Duluth, where I went to college.
It has been a wild few months, but I think I covered the big things and will try and be better about keeping up!
I have now been in Ashland for just under 2 weeks. I like my job and know I will like it even more as I get busier working with students. Summer is a slow time in the job and I am adjusting to working in a cubicle. But it is nice to be only 3 hours from home and only 1 hour from Duluth, where I went to college.
It has been a wild few months, but I think I covered the big things and will try and be better about keeping up!
Trip to Europe
In the middle of May, right after school got out I went to Europe for over 2 weeks! It was amazing!!! I loved it all so much! My friend Sean and I had been planning the trip for a few months and I didn’t really feel like it was actually going to happen until we hopped on our flight to Dublin. We had so much to catch up on and were so excited about our trip that the flight went by quickly. We arrived in Dublin for our 7 hour layover. At this time Sean’s mom met us at the airport (she lives in Dublin). We hung out there and caught up with her and then hopped on our next flight to Valencia, Spain. By the time we got there it was like 1 a.m. and we were exhausted. We had a few issues finding our rental car using the very little bit of Spanish I know, but we finally figured it out. We drove the hour drive to Denia and checked in to our hotel. The apartment we rented was really nice and our view of the pool court yard below was fantastic. We spent the week relaxing in the sun, testing out the Spanish cuisine, catching up on much needed sleep, going to the shops in town, and swimming at the beach. The week flew by and before we knew it we were headed out to the airport for the second leg of our journey.
Here is a good story for you. So, we left our hotel at around 4 a.m. and drove to Valencia. Once at the Valencia airport, we grabbed a light breakfast to hold us over until we got to Madrid; I had a muffin and Sean had a mayo and ham sandwich. We then flew to Madrid, took a bus to the other terminal, which was a 15 minute ride away, and had to wait an hour and a half before we could check in. Because we were there so early, we were the first in line and wanted to make sure we could make our flight from Athens to Heraklion with a one hour layover. When the desk opened Sean handed the lady our paper work and he got his ticket. I handed her mine and she said she couldn’t find me on her computer. She said there was no record of a ticket for me. She then asked me to stand to the side while her manager came to help her and pretty soon 4 other people had the same issue. Funny thing was, we all had last names that were at the end of the alphabet. Apparently, the second page of passenger names was never put into the airport computer! The lady at the desk showed me where the cut off was between people who made it one and people who didn’t. Sean was the last person to make the flight (his last name is Wall) and I was the first to not make it! So… after all this, we finally got my ticket, but only as far as Athens and once there I would have to check in again to get my ticket to Heraklion. We were both really frustrated and freaked out that we wouldn’t have enough time at the airport. But we got on the plane and made a plan to run through the airport, get this ticket ASAP and sprint to our gate. We touched the ground in Greece and followed our plan. Things went smooth and we made it to our gate just when we were supposed to board. Luckily, we had a 10 minute delay, so we could sit and catch our breath. At this time, Sean said he was feeling sick and I told him I was sure it was all the stress and running around and to sit back and relax. Well, he ran to the bathroom and had his first experience with food poisoning! He threw up in the airport and the whole flight to Crete. Once we got our bags and rental car in Heraklion, we learned it was almost a 3 hour drive to our hotel!!! I drove and Sean slept. I was so worried about him and knew the sooner we made it to the hotel, the better it would be. Well, after about 2 and ½ hours of driving on dark, winding roads Sean woke up and asked if we were lost. I said “of course not! We’re almost there.” Well, not so much. I guess I had missed a turn and somehow we ended up on the north tip of Greece instead of the south. Opps! So, I turned around and headed another 45 minutes back to where the correct turn was. Sean, fell back asleep and I was exhausted by this point. We were only 30 K from our hotel, when I saw flashing lights ahead and a man standing in the road. The closer I got I realized it was a police officer. He points me over to the side of the road and comes over speaking Greek. I shook my head and said that I don’t speak Greek. He switched to English and asked if I had been drinking anything. I said no ( I hadn’t had so much as a drink of water in 4 hours!). He made me take a breath-a-lizer test and when I passed it he said, “alright, have a good night.” And that was that! I guess they have a lot of random check points around the cities on Crete. FINALLY, we got to our hotel at about 1 a.m.! I swear sometimes, I have the craziest luck!
Anywho, Sean was sick for the next few days. So I explored town on my own and laid by the pool in between checking on Sean. Greece was fantastic!!! I absolutely loved it there! I went to a Greek dancing lesson, laid on the beach, went on an herbal hike, had a huge traditional Greek meal and hiked around the beaches. It was a dream and the food was awesome! I think I was Greek in another lifetime. I could live there! After another wonderfully amazing week, and with Sean in recovery, we headed back to Ireland to spend 3 days with Sean’s mom. We stayed in Dublin for the 3 days and did sight-seeing. We saw a Shakespeare play at Trinity College, went on a double-decker bus tour, toured the Guinness Brewery, went on a ghost bus tour and did some shopping. After 2 and ½ weeks of travel, we were spent by the time we flew home. We had one day in Boston (where Sean lives) before I headed back to see my family. It was the trip of a lifetime!
Here is a good story for you. So, we left our hotel at around 4 a.m. and drove to Valencia. Once at the Valencia airport, we grabbed a light breakfast to hold us over until we got to Madrid; I had a muffin and Sean had a mayo and ham sandwich. We then flew to Madrid, took a bus to the other terminal, which was a 15 minute ride away, and had to wait an hour and a half before we could check in. Because we were there so early, we were the first in line and wanted to make sure we could make our flight from Athens to Heraklion with a one hour layover. When the desk opened Sean handed the lady our paper work and he got his ticket. I handed her mine and she said she couldn’t find me on her computer. She said there was no record of a ticket for me. She then asked me to stand to the side while her manager came to help her and pretty soon 4 other people had the same issue. Funny thing was, we all had last names that were at the end of the alphabet. Apparently, the second page of passenger names was never put into the airport computer! The lady at the desk showed me where the cut off was between people who made it one and people who didn’t. Sean was the last person to make the flight (his last name is Wall) and I was the first to not make it! So… after all this, we finally got my ticket, but only as far as Athens and once there I would have to check in again to get my ticket to Heraklion. We were both really frustrated and freaked out that we wouldn’t have enough time at the airport. But we got on the plane and made a plan to run through the airport, get this ticket ASAP and sprint to our gate. We touched the ground in Greece and followed our plan. Things went smooth and we made it to our gate just when we were supposed to board. Luckily, we had a 10 minute delay, so we could sit and catch our breath. At this time, Sean said he was feeling sick and I told him I was sure it was all the stress and running around and to sit back and relax. Well, he ran to the bathroom and had his first experience with food poisoning! He threw up in the airport and the whole flight to Crete. Once we got our bags and rental car in Heraklion, we learned it was almost a 3 hour drive to our hotel!!! I drove and Sean slept. I was so worried about him and knew the sooner we made it to the hotel, the better it would be. Well, after about 2 and ½ hours of driving on dark, winding roads Sean woke up and asked if we were lost. I said “of course not! We’re almost there.” Well, not so much. I guess I had missed a turn and somehow we ended up on the north tip of Greece instead of the south. Opps! So, I turned around and headed another 45 minutes back to where the correct turn was. Sean, fell back asleep and I was exhausted by this point. We were only 30 K from our hotel, when I saw flashing lights ahead and a man standing in the road. The closer I got I realized it was a police officer. He points me over to the side of the road and comes over speaking Greek. I shook my head and said that I don’t speak Greek. He switched to English and asked if I had been drinking anything. I said no ( I hadn’t had so much as a drink of water in 4 hours!). He made me take a breath-a-lizer test and when I passed it he said, “alright, have a good night.” And that was that! I guess they have a lot of random check points around the cities on Crete. FINALLY, we got to our hotel at about 1 a.m.! I swear sometimes, I have the craziest luck!
Anywho, Sean was sick for the next few days. So I explored town on my own and laid by the pool in between checking on Sean. Greece was fantastic!!! I absolutely loved it there! I went to a Greek dancing lesson, laid on the beach, went on an herbal hike, had a huge traditional Greek meal and hiked around the beaches. It was a dream and the food was awesome! I think I was Greek in another lifetime. I could live there! After another wonderfully amazing week, and with Sean in recovery, we headed back to Ireland to spend 3 days with Sean’s mom. We stayed in Dublin for the 3 days and did sight-seeing. We saw a Shakespeare play at Trinity College, went on a double-decker bus tour, toured the Guinness Brewery, went on a ghost bus tour and did some shopping. After 2 and ½ weeks of travel, we were spent by the time we flew home. We had one day in Boston (where Sean lives) before I headed back to see my family. It was the trip of a lifetime!
School/ Rose Urban Exchange:
The last few months of school flew by like the rest of the year. I took part in the Rose Urban Rural Exchange at the end of April. Five middle school students from Wasilla, AK came to Saint Paul Island for the week to experience life in a rural part of Alaska. I was in charge of organizing and planning the week. We had lots of great hang out time where the kids from Wasilla got to meet our students. We had a wonderful Halibut and King Crab dinner for students and host families. We even had a traditional dinner with Sea Lion meatballs! The students got to see all the different areas of life on our island and what it was like to go to a small school. One week after they came to visit us, I took four of our middle schoolers to Wasilla. It was such an amazing experience! Watching my students have one eye-opening experience to another was indescribable! They got to go to school in Wasilla where there are 800 kids in the middle school. That’s double the population of our island! We also got to go to Martin Buser’s Kennel. He has won the Iditarod on numerous occasions and told us all about it. We even got to hold his puppies. One of my students had never pet a dog before (we don’t have them on our island)! We went to a farm and got to see baby calves and even spent a day in Anchorage checking out a movie, dinner at a restaurant, a water park and native youth Olympics. I even saw a few moose! In fact I almost hit one!
The last few weeks of the school year are a blur. They sprinted right in front of me. And after having completed my first year of teaching and A LOT of thinking, I decided not to accept the contract for the following school year. Although I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my life, I was ready to be closer to home. It was a really hard decision to make, especially when I looked at my students. I truly cared for them so much, but I knew it was not fair to them, if I knew that I couldn’t give them all they deserved. So, I entered into one of the scariest moments in my life… the unknown. I had no clue what I was going to do, where I was going to live, when I would find a job! But I knew that I made the right decision and that something, somewhere would work out. I finished out the school year, cleaned my classroom, said a teary good-bye to my wonderful students and awesome school staff and headed once again for the lower 48.
The last few weeks of the school year are a blur. They sprinted right in front of me. And after having completed my first year of teaching and A LOT of thinking, I decided not to accept the contract for the following school year. Although I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my life, I was ready to be closer to home. It was a really hard decision to make, especially when I looked at my students. I truly cared for them so much, but I knew it was not fair to them, if I knew that I couldn’t give them all they deserved. So, I entered into one of the scariest moments in my life… the unknown. I had no clue what I was going to do, where I was going to live, when I would find a job! But I knew that I made the right decision and that something, somewhere would work out. I finished out the school year, cleaned my classroom, said a teary good-bye to my wonderful students and awesome school staff and headed once again for the lower 48.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)