Adventures of a Shockingly Average 30-Something

Last semester for Block II, I was in a fourth grade class.  I absolutely LOVED it, and had a fantastic time with those munchkins.  I started my second placement of student teaching today -- back with my wonderful fourth graders. I honestly couldn't be happier to be back with these kids.  I had such a great time in their classroom when I was there last semester, and when I found out that I would definitely be doing placement 2 in that same classroom, I was so glad and so excited.  In the four months it's been since I last saw them, I feel like they've grown up so much.  Back in November, there was ONE student who I was just about an inch taller than.  Now, there are two who are taller than me.  It's not just height though; some of them physically LOOK older.  I'm just here like "wait a minute, you guys are still babies.  Why are you growing up? And why so fast??"  I'm wondering, though, if they've matured any and how their behavior will...

It’s been five months, thirteen days Since it happened. Five months, twelve days Since I found out. Five months, five days Since your funeral. And five months, twenty-three days Since the last time I ever heard your voice, The last time I ever spoke to you And heard you speak back. Five months, twenty-three days. And I still hate myself Because I can’t remember if I said “I love you” or not When we hung up the phone That very last time. Five months, thirteen days. And I still hate the fact that that day, So completely, mind-shatteringly awful, Was so completely normal for me. I was in class when it happened. Five months, twelve days. And I can still hear Mom’s voice, waking me at two in the morning, Telling me what happened And I can still feel the way I felt inside when I burst into tears That I didn’t think would ever stop falling. Five months, five days. And I’m still sorry that I was so afraid To go up to your coffin. ...

It's pretty well known at this point that I am SUPER excited for this summer!  On June 23rd, I will be leaving to head to Australia until July 14th.  We had our first (of three) class meetings for the study abroad class on last Sunday and learned more about where we will be going and what we will be doing while in Australia.  The total flight time is going to be just about 20 hours (6 to 7 to fly from New York to Los Angeles, and then 13 to fly from Los Angeles to where we will be in Australia). Our first week there, we will be staying in Mooloolaba.  We're going to visit the Steve Irwin Zoo and Underwater World.  We're going to have a day tour of the Sunshine Coast, as well as going to the mall because our teacher for the course wants us to see how malls in Australia are different from malls in the US.  We're also going to have a day to spend on the beach! During the rest of our trip, we are going to go to Emu Park and Magnetic Island.  We'll see ...