| Tell me where I went wrong. |
[14 Oct 2009|02:17am] |
It seems to me that everyone in the world has the "Teach English as a Foreign Language" gene. ... Except me.
I'm so frustrated with the school right now. They *knew* I had zero experience teaching. I *know* I speak fast (it was the top comment always in speech competitions). So we have a probationary period of teaching before we get contracts. I started teaching my real class on Monday and some girls complained to one of the Turkish business workers at the school that I speak too fast. Duh.
Except that not only did this worker tell me, but I got a call the next day from the head teacher and now have to go in early to meet with a different teacher about my lesson plan. It's like Office Space where Peter has 7 different teachers telling him to fill out TPS reports. I want to believe they mean well, but I don't.
*sigh* Someday, I will learn.
Besides missing the teaching gene, Turkey has been good. I can successfully direct a taxi driver in Turkish how to get to a number of places, including our apartment. Huzzah for that. We went to a restaurant where they have "table taps" which is a 2 liter tube of beer that sits on your table ... with a tap. It was pretty awesome.
Okay, back to lesson planning.
|
|
|
[08 Sep 2009|03:28pm] |
|
Teachers of the world - what have I gotten myself into?!
|
|
| I miss you guys. |
[02 Sep 2009|08:02am] |
Wow. I live in another country.
I have to say, I'm overwhelmed part of the time. It doesn't help I have a stinkin' cold that combined with jetlag makes me pretty dead to the world, but I'm trying to push through it and keep my eyes open to all that is around me.
I had to go grocery shopping today for food for our apartment - it was probably close to a Target except in Turkish and with no pasta sauce. Also, the Turks don't refrigerate their milk. You can, but they don't. I will.
I haven't heard any drums at 2am yet (they don't in this neighborhood, which we're staying in temporarily) but I have heard the call of the muzzein at different parts of the day. We don't seem to live too close to a mosque so it's not loud.
Speaking of our apartment, we have two separate balconies on it. One is right outside the kitchen and is smaller. There is an outdoor chimney/grill thing. The other balcony wraps around the side of the building and has a decent view of Ankara. I'll update with pictures once we settle more into the apartment.
|
|
| the dash is NOT silent |
[03 Jun 2009|06:43pm] |
Le-a. The dash is not silent. Apparently it is a girl's name.
In other news, Chicago is fun, but I'm falling asleep at 10pm these days. Not normal. I'm still real excited to go to Turkey, so that is good. It's fun to hear where other people are going. Katie, for instance, is going to Germany, but gets to visit us in Turkey as part of her job.
But really - Ledasha. Le-a.
|
|
| deep unto deep |
[06 Apr 2009|06:47pm] |
|
It's official, Andy and I are going to Turkey!
|
|
| Commenting |
[02 Apr 2009|08:18pm] |
An email from Kate prompted me to read some old entries. I found this comment on 11-9-2004. Ha!
it's true, crysten. you're absolutely right. i second that "ugh."
we've never met! wee.
i continue to love you, steph.
~trina
|
|
| 'cause I wasted the light. |
[21 Mar 2009|12:23am] |
It's probably because of the nap that I took after work, but it's 12:30am and I want to go out! I'm feeling restless tonight. The sad thing is - who to call? People lead normal lives and Friday nights mean either a) they're already doing something awesome or b) they're in bed by now.
And hopefully I'll be tired by 1am.
|
|
| And the world goes round |
[10 Mar 2009|10:18pm] |
Zoe has a Caring Bridge site: www.caringbridge.org/visit/zoejones. She's remaining mostly stable, but needs to get rid of her heart murmur. She finally opened up both of her eyes yesterday, so progress is being made. It's just amazing that they're tracking her weight gains in grams.
Kelli's wedding is this weekend, huzzah!
|
|
|
[27 Feb 2009|03:42pm] |
I'm an auntie again. Zoe Jones (yet to receive a middle name) was born this morning.
Can y'all keep her in your thoughts and prayers? She's a tiny thing that wasn't supposed to be born until June 1. Jamie is doing well, and Zoe is too but well, she's way early.
**Update** Zoe now has a middle name. It's Inez, which is Andy's mom's name.
Lil' Zoe had a blood transfusion today. The doctors said premies that are 3 months premature have a 80% survival, and those chances get better after the first 36 hours if there isn't anything catastrophic happening. Well, nothing catastrophic happened so huzzah for that!
|
|
| Hear my violin. |
[28 Jan 2009|09:46am] |
I spent a lot of money on tea yesterday, mostly through ignorance. I went to Teavana at the MOA to get the tea, since that is where my cast iron pot came from. I also asked how to get the hot water into the pot because I can't use my cast iron pot on the stove. Apparently. They wanted to sell me a device that simply heats water ... but it's not a tea kettle. I didn't even look at the price.
In the end, I bought delicious (and expensive) Oolong Chai Mate mix that will last me ForEvEr because it doesn't take a lot to make the tea. I guess the price equals out in the end. I also purchased a tea kettle at Target in which to boil the hot water because if you want a Teavana tea kettle, they start at $40 on the website. Teavana describes them as "our tea kettles are designed to quickly (and attractively) heat water to the perfect temperature." None of that ugly water heating going on. :)
Anyone in for a tiny tea party?
|
|
| < rant > |
[25 Jan 2009|04:03pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 annoyed |
] |
My poor car is in the shop. I tried to drive it yesterday and it REFUSED! The power steering went out so turning the wheel was nigh impossible. Today I took it to the only place that is open on Sundays, Tires Plus, where the not-so-nice gentleman behind the counter told me it would take "A Little While." Three hours later, when I look in the window into the garage, the tires are off my car! I had ok'ed a diagnostics check, why are the tires off?
Right after that, the guy comes back to tell me that besides power steering, there are about $1,200 worth of other repairs that "could" be done. Ouch. Oo, and no matter what I choose, I don't get our only car back until tomorrow. Because poor him, he's so swamped with cars today. So surprising, given they are the only place for 10 miles that is open on a Sunday. He's real put out by repairing my car.
So I okay the essential things to make my car function and walk home in the cold. Now I need to finagle a way to get into work tomorrow, because working from home doesn't appear to be an option for me.
Whew. Okay, thanks for reading this far, if you did. I'm kind of frustrated. And a little bit lighter in the wallet. Also, I don't recommend Tires Plus. This is the second time we've had to go there and Andy didn't have a good experience the first time.
< /rant >
Ha, apparently if I don't put spaces in my faux-html tags, Blurty won't make them appear as just text. :)
** edit - Andy submitted a grumpy customer survey online to Tires Plus, and they called me about it. I got to explain what I was upset about (my definition of A Little While doesn't include 3+ hours of waiting). They were pretty understanding of it, and are even going to knock "a bit" off the final bill. So they aren't the devil himself.
|
|
| Can. As in Still Doing. |
[20 Jan 2009|09:51pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 cheerful |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
While My Guitar Gently Weeps |
] |
I've decided I'm not entirely a fan of "Yes We Did." It feels like people may act as if electing Barack Obama as president was the end goal. And don't get me wrong, I'm all for it. But I think even President Obama would say that the slogan "Yes We Can" is bigger than him, bigger than a campaign. Yes We Can is continuing to break down barriers, to make this nation better every day. Today was a triumph in one stage of that journey. But I don't want to stop.
In similar uh, news: I still love the Yes We Can video by will.i.am. And I love our president.
In unrelated news, Wii Fit is continuing to kick my butt, but I'm having fun with it. The yoga has done wonders for me when I've come home crabby from a commute. Other days, Wii Fit annoys me because the little inanimate Wii Fit board will chastise me for not stepping on it for, say, two days.
In other, other news: Traveling Ireland should happen within the next few years. That is a goal laid out here.
|
|
|
[13 Jan 2009|08:02pm] |
I was curious about the Wii Fit, so I'm borrowing Jon and Anna's for awhile to test it out before making a purchase. I gotta tell you... I kind of feel like a tool doing some of these things. The yoga made me feel like I was in Randy's dance class over again.
It's a good thing I'm in my own living room.
Also, it incurred this reaction from Andy, "Damn panda!" and "I overcompensate way too much." Teehee.
We'll see how this goes.
|
|
| 2008 and stuff |
[06 Jan 2009|11:10am] |
Now that we're into 2009, I figure I'd give the old blog a post. You know, get back into the swing of things.
( So... 2008 )
|
|
| *sigh* |
[19 Nov 2008|02:07pm] |
I was invited to a "You Know You're from Pequot If..." group on Facebook. I didn't join, but did peruse the list of how I would know. Oh man, did it bring back the memories.
( Read more... )
And this article sums up how, as much as I love Daniel Craig, James Bond has (irrevocably?) changed. And I dislike Jason Bourne and Jack Bauer for the reasons it talks about. I can't help but get sick during the action scenes. Anyway, http://www.mediapost.com/publications/index.cfm?fa=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=95013.
|
|
| Leaving on a jet plane |
[08 Aug 2008|09:48pm] |
Um... so I have a flight scheduled for tomorrow.
Flight as in, an instructor will fly a plane with me in it and let me take over the controls. I'm assuming I won't be landing the aircraft :)
I'll report back. I'm excited!
|
|
| The Meeting |
[25 Mar 2008|11:02am] |
Okay, it has been too long since I posted anyway. And Katrina asked it.
Katrina, Eric and I got to the school just before 7a.m. Slowly others trickled in, and then we waited. A professor (Matt Ryan) was so excited for our gathering. At our peak, I think we hit about 18 people. Anyway. 7:45 rolls around and President Holst rolls in. There was a split second where I think we all thought he was ignoring us, but he welcomed us in, and asked us to sit (most didn't).
MaryLynn kicked it off, and then we all got a chance to say what we wanted - why we were there, how we felt, what we wanted out of this. The reasons ranged, the emotions were similar but personal to each, and the calls to action were slightly different. I really do think at that moment, President Holst genuinely regretted being in an administrative position, because he wanted to encourage our discussion and debate, and he really couldn't.
Josiah L. was brilliant and very articulately said that if this situation happened for reasons we think (and know), then he is demanding change. He asked the president if he would change the nondisclosure contract because that is how we can best move forward in this process. President Holst agreed to contact Randy and see if they could agree to break the nondisclosure together. I think it is a positive step.
Randy may not agree to break the contract, but I think people will still push for change in administrative decisions such as this. I think President Holst got his first taste of how it has affected students, faculty and staff and the decisions they may make based on it. People were blunt about wanting to leave Concordia, how it and the LCMS have offended. That is what redeemed President Holst a bit to me - despite knowing that people want to leave, he is still willing to open the lines between Concordia, Randy and the rest of us.
Some people might still decide to leave after knowing for sure what happened. Concordia will probably still stand to lose out on some of this situation. But I'm glad President Holst is willing to make a repair.
He said: "If this was a mistake, then examine it, so it does not happen again."
|
|
| blow me kisses |
[08 Feb 2008|02:06pm] |
Fodder for Winter Rose.
In other news, getting a free ticket to a Wild game is sweet. Especially when you are in a suite, getting free food and drinks, and swag, all night.
Also - I saw Matt Royer on the light rail this morning. We chatted about what we're doing now and have been doing since the 5 or so years since we actually talked.
|
|