There's a Pinterest quote which reads, "Go where you're celebrated, not where you're tolerated."
I think I may have found that enchanted place...
XOXO
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Respect
The whole notion that teachers are supposed to be these supreme beings above you is just ridiculous to me. I think a good teacher is one who considers themselves to be completely equal to their students. Sure, in class they have knowledge that they are sharing that the students don't yet know, but those same students know tons of things that the teacher doesn't know. So this whole charade of teachers seeing themselves as superior is just such an ego trip, to me.
For me, to be honest, I find my students to be even more intelligent than the average person. I respect my students and their thoughts and opinions much more than I respect those of the people who are supposedly my "equals." My students are always so clever and imaginative and hilarious. Dull thinking, mindless regurgitation and conformity are simply do not have a place in my classroom. I find that I am completely on my kids' side to be themselves - and bonus points for being totally crazy and strange!
I'd be that teacher that if a student didn't know an answer on an exam but wrote a really clever retort, I'd not only give them the points, but I'd give them bonus points. I want my kids to learn English and feel happy, excited and conforfortable with expressing themselves in the language, but more than that I want to instill in them that being their unique them and loving it is the most important thing ever. Teaching English is just the guise under which I can try to teach what I really find important. ;)
XOXO
For me, to be honest, I find my students to be even more intelligent than the average person. I respect my students and their thoughts and opinions much more than I respect those of the people who are supposedly my "equals." My students are always so clever and imaginative and hilarious. Dull thinking, mindless regurgitation and conformity are simply do not have a place in my classroom. I find that I am completely on my kids' side to be themselves - and bonus points for being totally crazy and strange!
I'd be that teacher that if a student didn't know an answer on an exam but wrote a really clever retort, I'd not only give them the points, but I'd give them bonus points. I want my kids to learn English and feel happy, excited and conforfortable with expressing themselves in the language, but more than that I want to instill in them that being their unique them and loving it is the most important thing ever. Teaching English is just the guise under which I can try to teach what I really find important. ;)
XOXO
Last Day of Camp 1
My lil narwhals again and I am so sad about it... But having them all texting me tonight, using everything I've taught them in class the past two weeks perfectly and telling me how much they missed me?! It made my little heart melt!! <3
I love them. So much. And I've loved these past two weeks. I don't think I've ever been this happy for two consecutive weeks nonstop. I have great friends who love my silliness, I have amazingly intelligent and awesome students who adore me, I have a pool time daily and weekly beach excursions.
This is me living my dream life.
<3 XOXO
I love them. So much. And I've loved these past two weeks. I don't think I've ever been this happy for two consecutive weeks nonstop. I have great friends who love my silliness, I have amazingly intelligent and awesome students who adore me, I have a pool time daily and weekly beach excursions.
This is me living my dream life.
<3 XOXO
Absolutely
I absolutely adore this! <3
I think this might be what "happiness" is... Truly. And I feel so grateful - both for this entire experience and for finally seeing what all those moments that threatened to break my heart and spirit were about. <3
I think this might be what "happiness" is... Truly. And I feel so grateful - both for this entire experience and for finally seeing what all those moments that threatened to break my heart and spirit were about. <3
First Day of Camp
I think I am going to LOVE this...!
After a relaxed morning of making posters and going out for a lunch of pizza and beer, it was time to get serious. Today was arrival day and the girls and I got to do oral placement tests for 96 11-13 year olds! They were all soooooo freaking adorable! It was cool to be in the same room as the other three girls, cuz it was fun how, with the same set of questions we were asking, we all did it in such a different way! One was very serious, one was very chill, one was very teacher like and one was, well, me. The biggest difference I could see was that I was 100% authentically interested in the conversation I was having with each one, while two of the others at least seemed focused on the task of evaluation. One kid told me at the end of it that I was really funny and he liked me. ^_^ Hahaha!
After the oral placements, we had dinner and then I got to work on dividing the 100 kids into groups based on their level and gender. I jumped in and took over in a rare act of leadership not so much to be insanely helpful, but because I had fallen in love with some of the kids I'd talked to and wanted to make sure I got them in my group! ;) I came up with a semi elaborate color coding system and went crazy! Man, I love color coded organization!! So. Much.
After I rocked it and got all of the groups assigned perfectly and like the awesome possum I am, we had to take the lists out to the pool where they were doing the First Night Pirate Baptism. It was 11:30 at night and the beautiful orange half-moon glistened across the water. The pool was surrounded by students and lit tiki torches, while two of the guy councilors, fully dressed in their pirate gear, lurked around in the water. It all looked so cool and eerie!! I started taking pictures of them and they told me to come over to get my pirate baptism next. I handed my phone to my friend to take a pic and when I bent down to talk to the two in the pool, they both grabbed me and yanked me into the pool, clothes and all!!!!! The students started cheering and laughing, as I was the only girl counselor they'd done it to, and as soon as I made my way to the surface, I couldn't help but giggle and splash around!
I know it seems like nothing more than silly horse play, but it was one of those rare moments where I just felt 100% alive. <3
XOXO
After a relaxed morning of making posters and going out for a lunch of pizza and beer, it was time to get serious. Today was arrival day and the girls and I got to do oral placement tests for 96 11-13 year olds! They were all soooooo freaking adorable! It was cool to be in the same room as the other three girls, cuz it was fun how, with the same set of questions we were asking, we all did it in such a different way! One was very serious, one was very chill, one was very teacher like and one was, well, me. The biggest difference I could see was that I was 100% authentically interested in the conversation I was having with each one, while two of the others at least seemed focused on the task of evaluation. One kid told me at the end of it that I was really funny and he liked me. ^_^ Hahaha!
After the oral placements, we had dinner and then I got to work on dividing the 100 kids into groups based on their level and gender. I jumped in and took over in a rare act of leadership not so much to be insanely helpful, but because I had fallen in love with some of the kids I'd talked to and wanted to make sure I got them in my group! ;) I came up with a semi elaborate color coding system and went crazy! Man, I love color coded organization!! So. Much.
After I rocked it and got all of the groups assigned perfectly and like the awesome possum I am, we had to take the lists out to the pool where they were doing the First Night Pirate Baptism. It was 11:30 at night and the beautiful orange half-moon glistened across the water. The pool was surrounded by students and lit tiki torches, while two of the guy councilors, fully dressed in their pirate gear, lurked around in the water. It all looked so cool and eerie!! I started taking pictures of them and they told me to come over to get my pirate baptism next. I handed my phone to my friend to take a pic and when I bent down to talk to the two in the pool, they both grabbed me and yanked me into the pool, clothes and all!!!!! The students started cheering and laughing, as I was the only girl counselor they'd done it to, and as soon as I made my way to the surface, I couldn't help but giggle and splash around!
I know it seems like nothing more than silly horse play, but it was one of those rare moments where I just felt 100% alive. <3
XOXO
So far...
So far so good! :)
I debated for weeks whether or not I should accept the job at this camp; I was given the job without any interview and, upon reading about it, felt it was too good to be true. Living on the beach on the Mediterranean Sea for a month, all housing, transportation and food included... Plus a decent salary, all while working with 10-12 year olds on nothing but random conversation?! There has to be a catch...
...well soon find out! So far I'm way impressed! ^_^
XOXO
I debated for weeks whether or not I should accept the job at this camp; I was given the job without any interview and, upon reading about it, felt it was too good to be true. Living on the beach on the Mediterranean Sea for a month, all housing, transportation and food included... Plus a decent salary, all while working with 10-12 year olds on nothing but random conversation?! There has to be a catch...
...well soon find out! So far I'm way impressed! ^_^
XOXO
July.
Five weeks ago I had no idea where I was going to live this summer, nor how I was going to make enough money to get by. All of my "friends" were about to move back to the US and my life as I'd come to know it was officially coming to a close without any plan for the coming three months whatsoever.
I was stressed. Not overly so, just appropriately shaken, standing at the ledge and having no idea what would be there when I jumped. But I knew there would be something. Uncertainty means anything is possible, and if there's one thing Pinterest has taught me, it's that perspective is everything and you send just as much energy worrying as you could use in creating the right vibrations and energy to prepare yourself for something great.
I took the month of July off from blogging. I was tired. I didn't know if I'd have much to write about. I just needed a break. And I'm very grateful I allowed myself that break without feeling even the slightest tinge of guilt. But! I'm rested and ready to go again. I adore my blog and having a place I can mentally, emotionally and spiritually escape to each night to digest and reflect upon my day.
So how was July? July was good. I got to live in the most adorable boho apartment in my favorite neighborhood in the whole world, Malasaña! I got to wake up each morning with sunshine pouring through my own personal balcony. I could walk out my front door and be in the center of Madrid in seconds! But what really made living there so great was David! :)
XOXO
I was stressed. Not overly so, just appropriately shaken, standing at the ledge and having no idea what would be there when I jumped. But I knew there would be something. Uncertainty means anything is possible, and if there's one thing Pinterest has taught me, it's that perspective is everything and you send just as much energy worrying as you could use in creating the right vibrations and energy to prepare yourself for something great.
I took the month of July off from blogging. I was tired. I didn't know if I'd have much to write about. I just needed a break. And I'm very grateful I allowed myself that break without feeling even the slightest tinge of guilt. But! I'm rested and ready to go again. I adore my blog and having a place I can mentally, emotionally and spiritually escape to each night to digest and reflect upon my day.
So how was July? July was good. I got to live in the most adorable boho apartment in my favorite neighborhood in the whole world, Malasaña! I got to wake up each morning with sunshine pouring through my own personal balcony. I could walk out my front door and be in the center of Madrid in seconds! But what really made living there so great was David! :)
XOXO
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