Happy 24th birthday to my sister Ardith!
Let's see, what nice thing should I say about her?
Sometime back there... before we had even started thinking about college... despite the fact that she had already read through Lord of the Rings at least twice, she agreed to read it out loud to me, just because I preferred to experience it by having it read to me rather than reading it. I don't know that we finished, but I do remember hearing about the Company approaching the mountains. The point is her generosity.
And that is just one small example of how great she is.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
What makes an adult
Yesterday I reached a real milestone. I finally locked my keys in the car!
The police officer had a great time trying to get into the car. First he tried the right front door with a rubber pad to allow his metal hooker in to try to grab the lock. Then he tried the long rubber-tipped rod. Then I suggested he try the right front door, which usually isn't quite as persnickety. When that didn't work, he tried the right rear door. Then he came back to the right front door, which suddenly popped open -- of course, at the exact moment I had turned away to talk to his colleague. Bummer.
Oh well, I guess we know the little blue Toyota will make it through another six weeks of this crime-ridden town, as long as the police are still more adept than thieves!
The police officer had a great time trying to get into the car. First he tried the right front door with a rubber pad to allow his metal hooker in to try to grab the lock. Then he tried the long rubber-tipped rod. Then I suggested he try the right front door, which usually isn't quite as persnickety. When that didn't work, he tried the right rear door. Then he came back to the right front door, which suddenly popped open -- of course, at the exact moment I had turned away to talk to his colleague. Bummer.
Oh well, I guess we know the little blue Toyota will make it through another six weeks of this crime-ridden town, as long as the police are still more adept than thieves!
Saturday, April 21, 2007
What's wrong with this picture?
Look -- how can it be that a younger sister, who works full-time and even overtime hours, and goes to school part-time, and organizes a friend's bridal shower, and researches post-graduation job possibilities, not to mention just lives -- how can this girl have more time to post than her older sister who merely works 8 hours a day? Someone must be busy reconfiguring her L. Kernel.
By the way, family influence can have serious consequences. Outsiders have almost mistaken this same younger sister for a computer geek just because she was the first to mention Linux by name in a conversation.
By the way, family influence can have serious consequences. Outsiders have almost mistaken this same younger sister for a computer geek just because she was the first to mention Linux by name in a conversation.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
That was fast
Night class done in under 45 minutes! How can you beat that? Apart from the extra time and the beautiful evening, it's kind of sad. Education is getting so casual these days.
Graduation can't possibly be here in two weeks. Where did college life go? Apart from no more homework and real living, it's kind of sad. People are getting so spread out these days.
But that's not quite enough kind-of-sadness to get me enrolled in graduate school!!
If walking down the commencement aisle is anything like walking down the Buenos Aires street Villanueva away from the university for the last time, I'm afraid I may positively burst from sheer, sheer delight!
But it's still kind of sad.
And so the adventure continues!
Graduation can't possibly be here in two weeks. Where did college life go? Apart from no more homework and real living, it's kind of sad. People are getting so spread out these days.
But that's not quite enough kind-of-sadness to get me enrolled in graduate school!!
If walking down the commencement aisle is anything like walking down the Buenos Aires street Villanueva away from the university for the last time, I'm afraid I may positively burst from sheer, sheer delight!
But it's still kind of sad.
And so the adventure continues!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Driving home
While we were cheerfully working in the Language Department this afternoon, Profesor N. let out a whistle and informed us that there were "veintidos matados". Prof. B. suddenly was surprised - the last she had heard was 2 dead. I hadn't heard anything, probably due to work and class. It was a shock. But not so much as driving home and having the music station interrupted by a Fox special news report informing that 33 were now dead on the southern college campus.
I just don't understand how anyone could do that.
A few minutes later, on the last road to home, a commercial came on.
Music: "Raindrops keep falling on my head..."
Announcer: "Do you need to replace your wiper belts?"
That was hilarious! Just imagine what a pathetic car would let you know you need your wiper belts replaced by the raindrops hitting you. What kind of reasoning process did that script writer have? Sorry for laughing at him, but it was really funny.
Frankly, I don't understand that either - how sadness and joy in life get so curiously juxtaposed. It must be the goodness of God to keep us sane.
I just don't understand how anyone could do that.
A few minutes later, on the last road to home, a commercial came on.
Music: "Raindrops keep falling on my head..."
Announcer: "Do you need to replace your wiper belts?"
That was hilarious! Just imagine what a pathetic car would let you know you need your wiper belts replaced by the raindrops hitting you. What kind of reasoning process did that script writer have? Sorry for laughing at him, but it was really funny.
Frankly, I don't understand that either - how sadness and joy in life get so curiously juxtaposed. It must be the goodness of God to keep us sane.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
A very Good Friday
Grandpa Hoyt died on April 6th. Today was the funeral. I found this obituary to share.
I thank God for my wonderful Grandpa - for his good and faithful life, for the heritage he leaves in his family, and most of all for his presence with our Lord right at this moment.
I miss you, Grandpa, but I know it won't be for long.
I thank God for my wonderful Grandpa - for his good and faithful life, for the heritage he leaves in his family, and most of all for his presence with our Lord right at this moment.
I miss you, Grandpa, but I know it won't be for long.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Even downhill can be funny
Grading quizzes is amusing, especially when one comes across spelling such as "technoligy" and "boardered" -- and I cite mild examples.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
22
Okay, I have to admit that I did have a birthday, but this is more to celebrate wonderful people than the birthday.
Saturday before last, some friends surprised me - along with the other friend I thought we were surprising - and Sue Ann gave us roses (my first flowers ever!). Monday was the day, and I came home to find that Aunt Vici was making homemade pizza and Rachel had frosted that cake -- that cake that she was baking the night before and she said that no, it wasn't exactly for work; what was it for? it was for some devotional -- a dark chocolate cake with cut-up dark Dove's and even dark frosting. What a good liar she is! We all devotedly devoured it. They even had presents, many of them to stock up my chocolate stash. Two friends left cards in the mailbox, another friend mailed a package, and then I finally got to open what that Mommy sent out - an Irish Tenors CD and all of Milton's poetry! How lovely!
This afternoon at work in the Language Department, they told me they needed me to take notes for their departmental meeting. When I came in the meeting room, they had a cake and started singing. My four language and culture profs are just wonderful!
The best part of these 22 years has been sharing them with you all.
Saturday before last, some friends surprised me - along with the other friend I thought we were surprising - and Sue Ann gave us roses (my first flowers ever!). Monday was the day, and I came home to find that Aunt Vici was making homemade pizza and Rachel had frosted that cake -- that cake that she was baking the night before and she said that no, it wasn't exactly for work; what was it for? it was for some devotional -- a dark chocolate cake with cut-up dark Dove's and even dark frosting. What a good liar she is! We all devotedly devoured it. They even had presents, many of them to stock up my chocolate stash. Two friends left cards in the mailbox, another friend mailed a package, and then I finally got to open what that Mommy sent out - an Irish Tenors CD and all of Milton's poetry! How lovely!
This afternoon at work in the Language Department, they told me they needed me to take notes for their departmental meeting. When I came in the meeting room, they had a cake and started singing. My four language and culture profs are just wonderful!
The best part of these 22 years has been sharing them with you all.
Friday, March 30, 2007
At the end of the week
Did you know that if you don't put away your pajamas in the morning, you don't have to pull them out of the drawer at night?
Here's the one I really like: coming home to find the bed unmade and all ready to crawl into.
See, the secret of efficiency is doing less by doing less. It's great to find out how working hard and being a lazy slob just melt together.
Next week is spring break at the highschool. YIPPEE!! What luxury to sleep in till 6:30!
This is Friday night. I got home and enjoyed several good and amusing articles from the school newspaper over supper, then found Independence Day playing. I was hoping to see it all through, but somehow, watching TV became too boring after an hour. So maybe it's time for an unorthodox Friday night of going to bed before midnight.
Here's the one I really like: coming home to find the bed unmade and all ready to crawl into.
See, the secret of efficiency is doing less by doing less. It's great to find out how working hard and being a lazy slob just melt together.
Next week is spring break at the highschool. YIPPEE!! What luxury to sleep in till 6:30!
This is Friday night. I got home and enjoyed several good and amusing articles from the school newspaper over supper, then found Independence Day playing. I was hoping to see it all through, but somehow, watching TV became too boring after an hour. So maybe it's time for an unorthodox Friday night of going to bed before midnight.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
A matter of life and 4
Saturday morning I slept in. While sipping hot chocolate and checking emails, I ran across one from the Registrar's office. Oh boy, I wondered, is this an all-students email or just for a few?
Goodness, it's Saturday, I can't get back to her till Monday. (What does she mean about my voicemail, anyway - I don't have Grace voicemail... did she call here at home?)
This feeling prevailed throughout Saturday, Sunday, and into Monday morning, when, during a few moments' free time, I happened to run across that number 124 on the Grace site under Academic Policy and then in the Student Handbook - which all students are to read, memorize, and quote with loving accent. I began experiencing hallucinations of summer classes, extremely rapid independent studies, and even a 4-credit fall semester.
After 5 minutes in the Registrar's office, after laying the groundwork of my innocence and preparing to do intense battle for my graduation date, we - the Registrar and I - discovered that those last four tricky credits had been found. I just can't tell you where or I'd have to shoot you.
Now how did this happen? Well, my major is pretty small -- only 70 credit hours, plus liberal arts requirements. I skipped a semester back in Spring '05 to be home with my siblings. Then after study abroad, I petitioned and got 9 hours worth of overseas classes counted toward liberal arts. Between this, my ignorance, and several perfectly timed faculty and staff responsibility shifts, nothing showed up till just last weekend.
So a note of warning to all people in college or thinking about it: you may have all your required classes in, but make sure you know if your school has a minimum credit requirement for graduation. And try to beat my time of 6 weeks prior to graduation for finding out about it.
Hi Sharon:
Oh boy! Just for me!
Per my voicemail message, it is imperative that you come to our office to meet
with Mrs. ----- and myself to discuss your graduation credit requirements.
Currently we are showing that the credits you have completed/currently enrolled in
will not meet the 124 total credit hours required to graduate.
Whaaaaaat....
This matter must be attended to immediately, in order to determine if you are to remain a May 2007 graduate.
What!?!
Oh my goodness! What did I miss?
But I have 120 credit hours as of this semester. Do I really need 124?Goodness, it's Saturday, I can't get back to her till Monday. (What does she mean about my voicemail, anyway - I don't have Grace voicemail... did she call here at home?)
But why didn't we cover this in the Senior Audit?
When am I supposed to go in there and discuss this? Oh, maybe she said in the email...Please call or email me what time below you can meet:
Monday, March 26th at 9am, 9:30am, 3pm.
Thank you.
No, thank you! What a great birthday present! March 26th!
The first two minutes were slight shock. Then I thought, "Awww, come on, they have to let me graduate. I didn't know anything about this." The few people I told were instantly concerned. But what was there to worry about? I was graduating. There was either a mistake or something we could easily work out. I had given up worrying about things (well, mostly) somewhere back in Argentina.This feeling prevailed throughout Saturday, Sunday, and into Monday morning, when, during a few moments' free time, I happened to run across that number 124 on the Grace site under Academic Policy and then in the Student Handbook - which all students are to read, memorize, and quote with loving accent. I began experiencing hallucinations of summer classes, extremely rapid independent studies, and even a 4-credit fall semester.
After 5 minutes in the Registrar's office, after laying the groundwork of my innocence and preparing to do intense battle for my graduation date, we - the Registrar and I - discovered that those last four tricky credits had been found. I just can't tell you where or I'd have to shoot you.
Now how did this happen? Well, my major is pretty small -- only 70 credit hours, plus liberal arts requirements. I skipped a semester back in Spring '05 to be home with my siblings. Then after study abroad, I petitioned and got 9 hours worth of overseas classes counted toward liberal arts. Between this, my ignorance, and several perfectly timed faculty and staff responsibility shifts, nothing showed up till just last weekend.
So a note of warning to all people in college or thinking about it: you may have all your required classes in, but make sure you know if your school has a minimum credit requirement for graduation. And try to beat my time of 6 weeks prior to graduation for finding out about it.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Finally
That was close. Almost two weeks without a post!
Last weekend Daddy and my sister Kendra drove out from Iowa. Daddy went on down to Tennessee to visit Grandpa Hoyt while Kendra stayed to visit Grace (and us too, a little!). She did a really good job of it too - spent two nights in the dorm and ate at least five times in the cafeteria, visited five classes, two chapel sessions, talked to professors, and even went to the weekly Chorus rehearsal. Not to mention put up with her sister's busy work schedule and took care of herself and explored various parts of campus. A lot better than I managed for my college visits! Wednesday evening was so beautiful that Hannah and Kendra and I went out to the lake and swung on the swings and walked around Grace Village and the Island for a while. The next morning Daddy and Kendra took off, but not before stopping by the school and changing my snow tires in the parking lot. Try telling me I don't have a wonderful Daddy! It was very nice to see my family for a little while.
Less than 6 weeks till I see them again and graduate! Yippee!
On Saturday I received a wonderful surprise birthday present, which I'll have to explain to you as soon as seems prudent.
In the meantime, you can all pray for the May 5th graduation. Thank you.
Last weekend Daddy and my sister Kendra drove out from Iowa. Daddy went on down to Tennessee to visit Grandpa Hoyt while Kendra stayed to visit Grace (and us too, a little!). She did a really good job of it too - spent two nights in the dorm and ate at least five times in the cafeteria, visited five classes, two chapel sessions, talked to professors, and even went to the weekly Chorus rehearsal. Not to mention put up with her sister's busy work schedule and took care of herself and explored various parts of campus. A lot better than I managed for my college visits! Wednesday evening was so beautiful that Hannah and Kendra and I went out to the lake and swung on the swings and walked around Grace Village and the Island for a while. The next morning Daddy and Kendra took off, but not before stopping by the school and changing my snow tires in the parking lot. Try telling me I don't have a wonderful Daddy! It was very nice to see my family for a little while.
Less than 6 weeks till I see them again and graduate! Yippee!
On Saturday I received a wonderful surprise birthday present, which I'll have to explain to you as soon as seems prudent.
In the meantime, you can all pray for the May 5th graduation. Thank you.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Friday, March 09, 2007
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Spring Break!
Well, I said I'd post, even though I never wrote it into the schedule.
By the way, if Memomail has to keep contributing to my Yahoo inbox, I think it could come up with something more interesting than just "Come see Oprah live for free". Especially since that's all they've had for the last week.
Back to the post. Guess what? Life is busy! That's why Little Miss Language Lover hasn't been around for a while. Here's a typical day, to give you an idea:
5:30 - get up
7:30 - 12:30 - work as ESL assistant at highschool
12:30 - drive over to Grace while eating half a sandwich; Tuesdays and Thursdays only a quarter sandwich, hastily park and change clothes for Aerobics
1:00 - class
2:00 - 5:00 - usually work at the Language Department
6ish - either exercise for Aerobics at the gym or head home and do it; Thursday is class
9ish - fix breakfast and lunch for next day, pack, head toward bed; perhaps study if necessary
Weekend evenings: occasionally babysitting
Fortunately, studying hasn't been much necessary. I did have to write a paper two weeks ago and then had TWO midterms last week. Our Aerobics midterm was to be Thursday. On Tuesday, Coach Butler finished his lecture for the day and said he'd decided to give us 5 minutes to study and then give us the test. This was 10 true-or-false statements, the last of which he couldn't read, so he accepted a student suggestion. That worked out really well. We got out of class early and I didn't have to rush to get to my next class for a presentation.
This next class, by the way, was a great milestone. I had to prepare a PowerPoint presentation for the first time. It was kind of fun, but not so much that I'm regretting not being an Ed major.
Actually, it's too distracting. Not only does it keep the audience eyes off you, but it keeps your eyes and brain off your notes and the main points you want to make.
Today was lovely. After getting home from the early service, I drove up to Goshen to have Sunday dinner with Uncle Doug and Aunt Cindy, Gabe and his fiancée Bethany, Joshua, and Grandma. A nice long two-hour dinner with lots of chatting. The trip was therapeutic too - I got to drive 55 mph for the first time in months! And I found gas 10 cents cheaper than Warsaw but managed to miss getting it 9 cents cheaper yet. Oh well, in about two weeks I think it will be a good time to visit family again.
Yesterday I wrote a check for the first time since last July.
I think that's all the interesting news for now.
Oh, as the title mentioned, this week is Spring Break. Ahhh, how relaxing! Now I can finally work full days at the school - 7:30 - 3:30 - we'll be busy with language level testing. And I may even get in an afternoon or two at the Language Department. That leaves lots of time for recreational activities like taxes.
Isn't life just great?!
(Please take that as I said it, that is, without cynicism)
By the way, if Memomail has to keep contributing to my Yahoo inbox, I think it could come up with something more interesting than just "Come see Oprah live for free". Especially since that's all they've had for the last week.
Back to the post. Guess what? Life is busy! That's why Little Miss Language Lover hasn't been around for a while. Here's a typical day, to give you an idea:
5:30 - get up
7:30 - 12:30 - work as ESL assistant at highschool
12:30 - drive over to Grace while eating half a sandwich; Tuesdays and Thursdays only a quarter sandwich, hastily park and change clothes for Aerobics
1:00 - class
2:00 - 5:00 - usually work at the Language Department
6ish - either exercise for Aerobics at the gym or head home and do it; Thursday is class
9ish - fix breakfast and lunch for next day, pack, head toward bed; perhaps study if necessary
Weekend evenings: occasionally babysitting
Fortunately, studying hasn't been much necessary. I did have to write a paper two weeks ago and then had TWO midterms last week. Our Aerobics midterm was to be Thursday. On Tuesday, Coach Butler finished his lecture for the day and said he'd decided to give us 5 minutes to study and then give us the test. This was 10 true-or-false statements, the last of which he couldn't read, so he accepted a student suggestion. That worked out really well. We got out of class early and I didn't have to rush to get to my next class for a presentation.
This next class, by the way, was a great milestone. I had to prepare a PowerPoint presentation for the first time. It was kind of fun, but not so much that I'm regretting not being an Ed major.
Actually, it's too distracting. Not only does it keep the audience eyes off you, but it keeps your eyes and brain off your notes and the main points you want to make.
Today was lovely. After getting home from the early service, I drove up to Goshen to have Sunday dinner with Uncle Doug and Aunt Cindy, Gabe and his fiancée Bethany, Joshua, and Grandma. A nice long two-hour dinner with lots of chatting. The trip was therapeutic too - I got to drive 55 mph for the first time in months! And I found gas 10 cents cheaper than Warsaw but managed to miss getting it 9 cents cheaper yet. Oh well, in about two weeks I think it will be a good time to visit family again.
Yesterday I wrote a check for the first time since last July.
I think that's all the interesting news for now.
Oh, as the title mentioned, this week is Spring Break. Ahhh, how relaxing! Now I can finally work full days at the school - 7:30 - 3:30 - we'll be busy with language level testing. And I may even get in an afternoon or two at the Language Department. That leaves lots of time for recreational activities like taxes.
Isn't life just great?!
(Please take that as I said it, that is, without cynicism)
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Sunday afternoon
It's Sunday afternoon. This morning we went to church and worshiped God together with other believers, then afterwards had dinner with a couple who invited us over. After a nice relaxing meal, dessert and coffee, and plenty of chatting, it seems right to come back and write a post!
Mommy requested a job report. So far there is not much to report on. Snow days have not piled up the work for us in the ESL resource room. The three other girls and I work with students in various areas: one with the math students, one with the science, one with the language art courses, and I'm to help with social studies: history, government, geography. At least it has been fun getting to know my ESL colleagues and getting acquainted with some of the students... not to mention starting the assimilation process. Aunt Vici's right - the public school system is a different culture!
Tomorrow is President's Day. From what I hear, this retains its off-school status for Warsaw, since it was not set aside as a possible snow-day-make-up-day. I think I'll get up at 5:30 anyway - to stay in shape, and to work on my first real homework of the semester, a Psalm analysis paper.
Tonight, beginning around 9 p.m., we're having our first Kaffeeklatsch - an informal get-together to chat in German and (hopefully) drink coffee (except people whom caffeine affects and who are smart enough to know it). Since I was the one who volunteered to get the room use approval, guess I'd better show up with the approval slip. At least it won't be punishment to step outside tonight into these balmy 20- and 30-degree temperatures.
It snowed some more yesterday and today
+ rain predicted for this week
= we may be drowning soon!
Let's see, what else. I'm sure I'll think of something extremely interesting as soon as I publish this. Too bad!
Mommy requested a job report. So far there is not much to report on. Snow days have not piled up the work for us in the ESL resource room. The three other girls and I work with students in various areas: one with the math students, one with the science, one with the language art courses, and I'm to help with social studies: history, government, geography. At least it has been fun getting to know my ESL colleagues and getting acquainted with some of the students... not to mention starting the assimilation process. Aunt Vici's right - the public school system is a different culture!
Tomorrow is President's Day. From what I hear, this retains its off-school status for Warsaw, since it was not set aside as a possible snow-day-make-up-day. I think I'll get up at 5:30 anyway - to stay in shape, and to work on my first real homework of the semester, a Psalm analysis paper.
Tonight, beginning around 9 p.m., we're having our first Kaffeeklatsch - an informal get-together to chat in German and (hopefully) drink coffee (except people whom caffeine affects and who are smart enough to know it). Since I was the one who volunteered to get the room use approval, guess I'd better show up with the approval slip. At least it won't be punishment to step outside tonight into these balmy 20- and 30-degree temperatures.
It snowed some more yesterday and today
+ rain predicted for this week
= we may be drowning soon!
Let's see, what else. I'm sure I'll think of something extremely interesting as soon as I publish this. Too bad!
Friday, February 09, 2007
School and Snow
Well, I guess I should finally get this post to the press...
First the news:
They hired me!
Warsaw Community Schools.
Well, here's the story. I took an application home to fill out and worked on that over the weekend. Then the next week came, the Super Bowl, and snow and cold. First the schools put up announcements of two-hour delays, then they canceled school for Monday. Same thing happened Tuesday. Wednesday was just a two-hour delay, so I finally got the application in.
The lady glanced over it and said, "Oh good, you speak Spanish! And French! Wendy was just down here asking if we had anybody..."
I got back home around 6 p.m. to find a note informing me there was a position. It was too late to call, so I called back at 8:11 the next morning (Thursday). Went in for an interview and the next thing I knew, I was signing lots of papers and being handed a tag with my picture and Miss Hoyt.
Miss Hoyt is going to be an ESL Instructional Assistant at the Warsaw Community Highschool!
However, we had to wait till Monday to meet a high school staff person who was out of town. So on Monday I went back to meet her and the ESL team with whom I'll be working. I got a parking sticker that says I'm WCHS staff, and lets me park on the other side of the building, so I shouldn't have to trek through the whole building to find the Resource Room next time. It's important to not get lost on your first day of work, especially in a high school of 2,000.
Today was to be my first day, provided school wasn't canceled. I got up at 5:30. Then school was canceled. The snow wasn't to come till afternoon, but the 40-mph gusts had started in the morning and were already making nice drifts with the snow we had. Of course all the schools canceled classes, and of course Grace didn't (except for night classes, which of course I don't have on Tuesdays).
It wasn't hard to get to school. It was more fun coming back, partially swimming through one intersection and plowing into the driveway. Fortunately, Uncle Rene and Aunt Vici snowblew the driveway once everyone arrived home. It'll probably be ready for more tomorrow.
By that time, school had been well canceled for the next day. Oh good, now at least two of us will be free to clear the driveway tomorrow morning!
Well, till I do get to start work, I can keep practicing the 5:30 wake-up.
In the meantime, we're all surviving the snow fine, getting high and happy on Valentine's Day chocolate.
First the news:
They hired me!
Warsaw Community Schools.
Well, here's the story. I took an application home to fill out and worked on that over the weekend. Then the next week came, the Super Bowl, and snow and cold. First the schools put up announcements of two-hour delays, then they canceled school for Monday. Same thing happened Tuesday. Wednesday was just a two-hour delay, so I finally got the application in.
The lady glanced over it and said, "Oh good, you speak Spanish! And French! Wendy was just down here asking if we had anybody..."
I got back home around 6 p.m. to find a note informing me there was a position. It was too late to call, so I called back at 8:11 the next morning (Thursday). Went in for an interview and the next thing I knew, I was signing lots of papers and being handed a tag with my picture and Miss Hoyt.
Miss Hoyt is going to be an ESL Instructional Assistant at the Warsaw Community Highschool!
However, we had to wait till Monday to meet a high school staff person who was out of town. So on Monday I went back to meet her and the ESL team with whom I'll be working. I got a parking sticker that says I'm WCHS staff, and lets me park on the other side of the building, so I shouldn't have to trek through the whole building to find the Resource Room next time. It's important to not get lost on your first day of work, especially in a high school of 2,000.
Today was to be my first day, provided school wasn't canceled. I got up at 5:30. Then school was canceled. The snow wasn't to come till afternoon, but the 40-mph gusts had started in the morning and were already making nice drifts with the snow we had. Of course all the schools canceled classes, and of course Grace didn't (except for night classes, which of course I don't have on Tuesdays).
It wasn't hard to get to school. It was more fun coming back, partially swimming through one intersection and plowing into the driveway. Fortunately, Uncle Rene and Aunt Vici snowblew the driveway once everyone arrived home. It'll probably be ready for more tomorrow.
By that time, school had been well canceled for the next day. Oh good, now at least two of us will be free to clear the driveway tomorrow morning!
Well, till I do get to start work, I can keep practicing the 5:30 wake-up.
In the meantime, we're all surviving the snow fine, getting high and happy on Valentine's Day chocolate.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
5 weeks and 5 days later....
Mee-e-e-e-rrry Christmas!!
Weren't you all promised a bunch of presents?
The Argentina photos are now up!
(Actually they've been up for a couple weeks. Someone just forgot about them. Oops and sorry.)
The link below is my entire Photobucket album. The main page has a few pictures, and there should be a list of sub-albums at the top. You'll want to click on the sub-albums with Spanish titles for the Argentina photos. Please note that these albums provide bilingual captions! - you'll need to click on the photo to read the entire caption.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/SharonLHoyt/
You can go ahead and look at anything in my album. It's all safe!
I'll link it on the sidebar as well.
Have fun and stay out of trouble this weekend.
Weren't you all promised a bunch of presents?
The Argentina photos are now up!
(Actually they've been up for a couple weeks. Someone just forgot about them. Oops and sorry.)
The link below is my entire Photobucket album. The main page has a few pictures, and there should be a list of sub-albums at the top. You'll want to click on the sub-albums with Spanish titles for the Argentina photos. Please note that these albums provide bilingual captions! - you'll need to click on the photo to read the entire caption.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v603/SharonLHoyt/
You can go ahead and look at anything in my album. It's all safe!
I'll link it on the sidebar as well.
Have fun and stay out of trouble this weekend.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Little fun things
Some of the best moments lately?
On Monday I got to take out and HOLD my first piece of computer hardware! - my memory card. Well, maybe I should add that I didn't take it out to hold it... I took it out to erase all the memory with a pencil eraser.
On Monday I also got to park the little blue Toyota in the GARAGE!! And there's even a little remote control garage door opener! Imagine not stepping outside when you go somewhere, or when you come back. That's just about too much luxury to take! Don't worry, it won't make me too Athenian... it's just a temporary graduation till Rachel's car gets fixed.
Yesterday when I went to have supper at the cafeteria with Rachel B. and Sue Ann, my 'old' roomies, there was chocolate cheesecake... just for us.
One afternoon on the treadmill I saw half an original Star Trek episode. The best part was the vibrate-y sound effect for people being zapped to another location (see, I'm not Trekky enough to even remember what it's called... zapping from one place to another... hmmm, what is that called....)
One evening I was babysitting and getting paid to sit in a comfy living room, work on homework and watch TV - and it was then that I finally saw my first ever episode of The Next Generation!
In our latest Aerobics class, our professor - also director of the Rec Center - had to see about fixing a broken basket. So he told us to go exercise for 30 minutes. I got to jog around the track right behind where the men's baseball team was doing pitching practice and then have time to cool down and actually make it to my next class before it started.
Last night Rachel had to run something over to her aunt's, and came back bearing Dove's Darks. :)
Goodness, better stop before this gets overwhelmingly happy!
(P.S. If you analyze this post even more than you're supposed to, you'll easily come up with a list of Sharon's priorities: her computer, 'her' car, chocolate, Star Trek, adrenaline, and chocolate. Too bad that's the wrong list.)
On Monday I got to take out and HOLD my first piece of computer hardware! - my memory card. Well, maybe I should add that I didn't take it out to hold it... I took it out to erase all the memory with a pencil eraser.
On Monday I also got to park the little blue Toyota in the GARAGE!! And there's even a little remote control garage door opener! Imagine not stepping outside when you go somewhere, or when you come back. That's just about too much luxury to take! Don't worry, it won't make me too Athenian... it's just a temporary graduation till Rachel's car gets fixed.
Yesterday when I went to have supper at the cafeteria with Rachel B. and Sue Ann, my 'old' roomies, there was chocolate cheesecake... just for us.
One afternoon on the treadmill I saw half an original Star Trek episode. The best part was the vibrate-y sound effect for people being zapped to another location (see, I'm not Trekky enough to even remember what it's called... zapping from one place to another... hmmm, what is that called....)
One evening I was babysitting and getting paid to sit in a comfy living room, work on homework and watch TV - and it was then that I finally saw my first ever episode of The Next Generation!
In our latest Aerobics class, our professor - also director of the Rec Center - had to see about fixing a broken basket. So he told us to go exercise for 30 minutes. I got to jog around the track right behind where the men's baseball team was doing pitching practice and then have time to cool down and actually make it to my next class before it started.
Last night Rachel had to run something over to her aunt's, and came back bearing Dove's Darks. :)
Goodness, better stop before this gets overwhelmingly happy!
(P.S. If you analyze this post even more than you're supposed to, you'll easily come up with a list of Sharon's priorities: her computer, 'her' car, chocolate, Star Trek, adrenaline, and chocolate. Too bad that's the wrong list.)
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Classes
Here is the Spring '06 schedule:
[Edit: please Change Term to Spring '07]
Global Perspectives -- MW, 13:00 - 13:50
Aerobics -- TR, 13:00 -13:50
Study Abroad Debriefing -- T, 14:00 - 14:50
Poetry & Wisdom Literature -- R, 18:00 - 20:40
Why do we get 10 minutes off our 3-hour Poetry class? Because our professor asked us where and how we wanted our 20-minute break, and some bright person suggested a 10-minute break and getting out 10 minutes early.
Global Perspectives: The idea of this course is to help students develop a biblical lens for living in a multicultural world. It probably sounds like another "diversity appreciation" class. Some people don't appreciate learning to appreciate. However, I think it is good and useful, especially since most of us don't realize how very differently other people think, much less tried thinking that way.
Taking this class seemed kind of redundant after two semesters abroad, but it's a requirement for graduation. However, my advisor, Prof. Schram, encouraged me to take the option of being a TA. So instead of taking quizzes, I grade them. That's a lot more fun, especially with three of us four TAs and Prof. Schram working together and coming across some very interesting answers!
Aerobics: This is a fun class. Coach Butler (the track coach) teaches it. He's a nice down-to-earth guy who's nuts about moving and, as the director of Grace's Gordon Rec Center, says he gets to "play all day". His goal is to teach us the principles of aerobic training so that we can train ourselves for life. Class is about fifteen minutes of relaxed, simply stated "aerobic theory" notes, then about thirty minutes of practicing them out on the track. Basically, he gives us minimum requirements to meet - at least 4 training sessions a week of getting the heartrate over 140 - and then it's up to us to do it, to do more and harder, and to keep incrementing to keep improving. Now, I really dislike being made to exercise, but I like the idea of learning how to aerobically train myself so that I always get to be in charge of my own exercise after this.
Study Abroad Debriefing: This is what study abroad students take the semester after returning. It's just one hour a week with very little homework. True, we do have to give at least half-hour presentations on our experiences to the other two debriefers and the professor. We also each have to teach a class to the whole briefing group (perhaps 10 students). We also have to pick various projects to work on during the semester. Somehow, Amy and Zach and I agreed to plan and set up the Study Abroad Chapel on February 22nd. Some of us may even be getting up there to talk. This is the kind of thing my brain simply didn't consider by default before. Before what? I don't know.
Poetry: This is by far my heaviest class. Requires reading at least 30 pages a week, reviewing for a potential weekly pop quiz, and writing two whole 5ish page papers during the semester; that's not even including the in-class group work and class discussion. We also have to read huge chunks of Scripture, something to the tune of 40+ Psalms per week. One of the poetic terms 'we' learned was hyperbole, which I have made good use of in this paragraph for your especial health benefit (that is, make you laugh and improve your heart).
And that's the whole whopping 7-credit-hour story!
[Edit: please Change Term to Spring '07]
Global Perspectives -- MW, 13:00 - 13:50
Aerobics -- TR, 13:00 -13:50
Study Abroad Debriefing -- T, 14:00 - 14:50
Poetry & Wisdom Literature -- R, 18:00 - 20:40
Why do we get 10 minutes off our 3-hour Poetry class? Because our professor asked us where and how we wanted our 20-minute break, and some bright person suggested a 10-minute break and getting out 10 minutes early.
Global Perspectives: The idea of this course is to help students develop a biblical lens for living in a multicultural world. It probably sounds like another "diversity appreciation" class. Some people don't appreciate learning to appreciate. However, I think it is good and useful, especially since most of us don't realize how very differently other people think, much less tried thinking that way.
Taking this class seemed kind of redundant after two semesters abroad, but it's a requirement for graduation. However, my advisor, Prof. Schram, encouraged me to take the option of being a TA. So instead of taking quizzes, I grade them. That's a lot more fun, especially with three of us four TAs and Prof. Schram working together and coming across some very interesting answers!
Aerobics: This is a fun class. Coach Butler (the track coach) teaches it. He's a nice down-to-earth guy who's nuts about moving and, as the director of Grace's Gordon Rec Center, says he gets to "play all day". His goal is to teach us the principles of aerobic training so that we can train ourselves for life. Class is about fifteen minutes of relaxed, simply stated "aerobic theory" notes, then about thirty minutes of practicing them out on the track. Basically, he gives us minimum requirements to meet - at least 4 training sessions a week of getting the heartrate over 140 - and then it's up to us to do it, to do more and harder, and to keep incrementing to keep improving. Now, I really dislike being made to exercise, but I like the idea of learning how to aerobically train myself so that I always get to be in charge of my own exercise after this.
Study Abroad Debriefing: This is what study abroad students take the semester after returning. It's just one hour a week with very little homework. True, we do have to give at least half-hour presentations on our experiences to the other two debriefers and the professor. We also each have to teach a class to the whole briefing group (perhaps 10 students). We also have to pick various projects to work on during the semester. Somehow, Amy and Zach and I agreed to plan and set up the Study Abroad Chapel on February 22nd. Some of us may even be getting up there to talk. This is the kind of thing my brain simply didn't consider by default before. Before what? I don't know.
Poetry: This is by far my heaviest class. Requires reading at least 30 pages a week, reviewing for a potential weekly pop quiz, and writing two whole 5ish page papers during the semester; that's not even including the in-class group work and class discussion. We also have to read huge chunks of Scripture, something to the tune of 40+ Psalms per week. One of the poetic terms 'we' learned was hyperbole, which I have made good use of in this paragraph for your especial health benefit (that is, make you laugh and improve your heart).
And that's the whole whopping 7-credit-hour story!
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