Friday Flashback #5

The flashback this week is an event that happened not too long ago... About a year ago to be exact. And this flashback is not really embarrassing to me; it is just sad and depressing!

A little over a year ago Matt and I moved to Hawaii to finish school. Our first apartment was not really an apartment but a bedroom. It was such a horrible place, but we were desperate for anything until we could get into TVA (the on campus married housing- it is about $600 cheaper than other married housing). For a reminder of our first home click here.

As you can tell our kitchen was right next to our bed, so when Matt would get ready for work (at 5:00 am) I could also hear him get ready and eat breakfast. Well, as most of you know or have experienced I get a little crabby, no VERY crabby, if I am woken up. However, I never really remember this crabbiness when I wake up.

Anyway, one thing that I hated about our first 'home' was that we always ALWAYS got ants. We would just think about making food and the ants would come out to play. So one morning I was getting ready in our bathroom and I noticed all these ants running around our shower and floor! I was so confused what was bringing them there since there was no food in our bathroom. So I just assumed maybe it was the sweet smell of my shampoo or body wash. I just ignored them, but day after day they remained!

Then one day I looked in the bathroom trash... and there was a granola bar wrapper in the BATHROOM trash!!!! What the heck? That was what was bringing the ants into the bathroom, but why was the granola bar wrapper in the bathroom? So I asked Matt why he would throw the granola bar wrapper in the bathroom trash, not the kitchen. Which lead to his story:

He had been eating his breakfast at our kitchen table (which was at the foot of our bed) and apparently his noise (the noise of him opening a granola bar) was bothering me enough that I had yelled at him time and time again. So being the nice husband he is and not liking being yelled at by his rude crabby wife he started eating his breakfast in the bathroom!

IN THE BATHROOM- He would put the toilet seat down and sit on top of the cover and eat his breakfast! When I heard this I was so overcome with guilt! What type of wife was I that had lead him to eat in the bathroom (gross)? A tired one? A selfish one? I don't know, but I felt bad!

Now, I can't say I have changed too much with not being the happiest about being woken up, but Matt no longer eats in the bathroom. Although, I am now the one that wakes up early- Matt is so nice he wakes up and makes my breakfast and lunch AND walks me to the car! If I have not said it before, I am saying it now- I am one LUCKY lady. I think at times our marriage is a little one sided. Now I think all marriages go through this at times, but Matt has never made me eat my breakfast in the bathroom and for that I think I will always be a bit guilty.

So while this was not some childhood memory or traumatic experience, this was still pretty sad. Hope you enjoyed it or at the very least feel a little sympathy for Matt.

Tutoring and Teaching

Over the last week I have realized how much I love my job(s). While Student Teaching does not really qualify as a job, but as a contiunation of school-- I still am counting it because if waking up at 6:30 and commuting an hour to school and an hour home and teaching for 6 hours is NOT a job- I don't know what is!

Anyway, back on track. I love student teaching. I am teaching 7th grade, and it is great. When I got my asssignment, I thought this would be the worse thing ever! While I am secondary education, which includes 6-12, I NEVER wanted to be anything but a high school teacher. So it surpised me when I actually started to enjoy these 11-12 year old rug rats. Overall, things are going great. While I don't really love or really feel comfortable with my content (Hawaiian and Pacific History), I find that it is pretty interesting. I started student teaching a couple weeks ago and I find myself exicted to see MOST of my students (there are those that I wish would take a sick day- hahaha - just joking- a little)!

I still HATE getting up at 6:30 and driving two hours total- overall it's good- plus, let's be honest when do I ever wake up? I hate mornings, whether those come at 6:30 or 10:30!

Okay, so part II- tutoring. While many student teachers opt to not teach while student teaching, that is not an option for me. As much as I hate to admit it, Matt and I are not rolling in the green. (I know that is a shock to some!) Anyway, I have to work. But I am blessed to work at the Reading Writing Center here on campus. I get to tutor students that need a little extra help with any assignments with ther classes. While sometimes this gets a little tedious, it really is one of the best, if not the best, jobs on campus. And luckly, Matt and I both work here!

Two weeks ago, I had a tutee come in for help with one of his EIL classes. He is from Korea and arrived in Hawaii three weeks ago. Our tutorial went really fast, so he asked if we could just talk. Now we don't usally do this here because there is a language cente that helps with speaking, but I felt that I should just finish our tutorial. And it was GREAT! I loved just speaking and helping him figure out how to say certain things in English. So for the past two weeks he has been coming in to see me and we go over his EIL homework and then just talk. I love seeing his inprovement and helping out any way I can.

The thing that most of you don't realize is that most of our students here are second langague learners. And they are not just learning a new language, but going to SCHOOL in a new langague and a completly new culture. This is something that I think outsiders, and sometimes insiders, overlook when looking at the school. People realize that we are an international school, but I don't think they realize what really goes into something to be international. These students that come all over the world to study here work thier butts off to succeed. So everyday when I go to both of my jobs- I KNOW I am making a difference.

Somedays I get bogged down because what I do is NOT easy, but at the end of the day, it is worth it!

Friday Flashback #4

This week I thought I would share a story with you. When I was young my family would go on vacation to Florida to visit my Aunt Nickie. Sometimes my mom would treat my brother and I to a trip to Disney World and one time we went with my Abuela and Papa. I was five or six around this particular trip with my grandparents. My mom always made sure I was close to someone or holding someone's hand so I would not get lost or taken.

Whenever we were standing in line, I made sure I was holding on to someone because I did not want to get separated. And this is where my story starts:

My family and I were standing in line for The Pirates of the Caribbean ride. And if you have ever been in the line you know it is really dark in there. So of course, I wanted to make sure I stood extra close to my Papa. So there we were walking along and then we stopped and were waiting...

My Papa had his back turned to me so to make sure I stayed close I put my hand in his back pocket (now remember I was five or six so that's not weird, plus I was short so it's all I could reach. And remember it was DARK!) But then all of a sudden I look up and my Papa turns around to look at me.... except it was not my Papa!!!!!!!!! It was a STRANGER and my hand was in his back pocket! I was really embarrassed, but at the same time I was scared because I did not see my Papa... or anyone in my family! Luckily, the stranger was pretty nice and he just smiled and helped me find my family (they were just a couple of people in front of me!) It all worked out, but of course I started crying and have never forgotten when I stuck my hand in a strangers pocket.

And there is my Friday Flashback! One of my most embarrassing moments of all times!

Stay tuned for next week.

Things You Need To Know About Me

I saw this type of post a while ago on one of my favorite blogs over at LLM. I thought it was a pretty great idea. I mean it's exactly what you guys were hoping for- me to share MORE about myself! Well, you are in for a treat.

Here Are Some Facts You Should Know About Me...

(J Money I would like to extend a challenge- How many of these facts did you already know about me!)

1. My first name is Mary. I don't really hate the name Mary, but I really am more of an Alex.

2. Speaking of Alex. I hate when people say: Alex is a boy's name. Especially when they are first meeting me! Rude! In fact, in high school my freshman Geography teacher Ms. Paul would only call me Mary Alex because she said Alex was a boy's name. I think Mary Alex is worse because it makes me sound like a nun!

3. Speaking of nuns- I used to want to be Catholic. Although, if I was going to leave the church I would just leave church in general and be free.

4. This one is important: I LOVE CHAPSTICK! Correction- I am addicted to Chapstick. This addiction started junior year of high school. I eat with Chapstick, sleep with Chapstick, carry Chapstick everywhere, you probably won't ever see me without Chapstick. I think I use Chapstick every 30 minutes, and that is a liberal estimation.

4. I still sleep with my childhood blanket.

5. I call this blanket Babushka. And anytime I travel it goes with me; in fact, it is the first thing I pack! I also carry this blanket around the house. I sit on the couch with it... wear it around my neck. I even do this strange thing and hold it to my face while sitting with it. When I sleep, I wrap it around my head to cover my eyes.

6. I am addicted to Cherry Coke. Coke will do, but Cherry Coke is where it is at. This is an addiction that I have been struggling with for probably 22 years. I have tried to kick my habit, but don't really want too. Although, I have switched to Cherry Coke Zero.

7. I love to travel! I did a study abroad in England, and can't wait to travel again.

8. My favorite food is turkey sandwiches... most think it is pizza, but it's turkey sandwiches!

9. I once stole a Hansen poster in a teen magazine when I was in fifth grade. My mom would not buy the magazine for me so I went into the store bathroom with the magazine and took the poster out and then put the magazine back and walked out with my poster.

10. I don't eat chicken off the bone- in fact any animal on the bone.

11. I am very organized- very- very- very

12. I love t.v. In fact, I watch shows I don't really like just because I like to watch t.v. (I.E. Switched at Birth)

13. I read trashy novels and I am not even ashamed.

14. My favorite group is Simon and Garfunkel.

15. When I was 3, I had an alter ego name Christy. I would go out into my grandparents garage and knock on the door. When my Abuela would answer she would say OH CHRISTY! So nice to see you. Then we would play in Christy's world. Everyone in my family had another name. Abuela was Lucy Goosie, Papa- Smok'n Joe, my Aunt Nickie- Birtha Butt, and my mom was Maude. Christy's parents died in a plane crash on their way to the Bahamas. (Incidentally, my parents were flying to the Bahamas when Christy was created.) Now, I must state- Christy was NOT an imaginary friend, but an alter ego. When I knocked on my Abuela's door I WAS Christy.

16. I am afraid of the dark- sometimes when I have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I either hold it... or I RUN to the bathroom.

17. My favorite color is red, but I usually buy pink things (pink laptop case, etc).

18. I would leave my husband for Colin Firth... well maybe not leave... stray... haha no probably leave- Colin is my soulmate

19. I hate the Mormon culture- I think it's very restrictive and narrow minded. It's NOT the church I hate, but some of the people and the culture they insist must be a part of the religion. It really sours my feelings on being a part of church activities because I feel very much on the outside. I feel this culture does not credit women all that much and puts this insane pressure that doing what God wants means getting married right out of high school and raising children. When in fact, we can do so much more and God is happy with that as well. It's a strange culture that my children will not be raised in because I was not raised to think this way. (Sorry to get all serious.)

20. I am NOT morning person. Well really, I do not like to be woken up. In fact, no one in my family, including my husband, ever want to be the one to wake me up. I usually am really really mean. In fact, one night Matt woke me up getting into bed and I said, in a really nasty voice, "Ugh, you stink!" Matt then spent the rest of the night on our couch!

21. I have been collecting shot glasses ever since I was 12. I have over 250.

Well, there are 21 things you need to know! Hope you enjoyed them!

Friday Flashback #3

This is for you Jenny:

This is what happens when you let your grandparents dress you! But I guess they felt like something needed to cover my bald head!!!!! Plus, really what choice did I have!

Stay tuned for next week... I have a story to tell.

Friday Flashback #2

This week I thought I would post another picture.

Okay... take this beauty in!

Look at this wonderful fringe early 90s hair style! Really what's not to love? Maybe the big ears? Or the strange sleeveless turtle neck? Gotta love the 90s!

Thankful For #2

This week I thought I would do a little shout out to my Abuela! I am so thankful for my Abuela. She is such a wonderful woman. A great wife, mother, and of course Abuela (grandmother)! I am so lucky to have her in my life. She has always been supportive of me and the goals that I have set in my life. I love her so very much and wish I could see her everyday- unfortunately at this stage in my life and being over 4000 miles away that is impossible! She is always positive and upbeat.

I am thankful for my Abuela. I am thinking of her day because it is also her BIRTHDAY!!!!!! So I want to send a HAPPY BIRTHDAY her way!

I love you Abuela. I hope you have a great birthday and many more to come! Wish we could be there!

(This is picture of Abuela's senior picture)