Am I using this blog thingy right?

So, I just sent out my first icky parent e-mail. Not a fun thing to do, but it had to be done (I just used passive voice and I LOVED it!).

I, as I'm assuming everyone that reads this knows, recently embarked on my journey as a first year high school teacher/third year grad school student. I teach 12th grade Language Arts at a high school in sunny East Orlando, where I also sponsor the drama club.

There are many things I love about my new position. Parent e-mails is not one of them.

Don't get me wrong. I have so many parents that are just the sweetest -- I really should count my blessings. I recently took on designing costumes for our show on TOP of directing it, and the amount of support and energy from these generous parents just overwhelms me.

But it's a matter of FOCUSING that energy. When that energy seems attacking, or negative, or accusatory, it is NOT a good thing.

And you know what I hate? I hate that I feel like so much of it is because I'm young. And I've realized -- it's not a matter of me waiting to get older. If I am soggy and wishy-washy now as a young drama sponsor, what makes me think that merely aging will earn me their respect? I must go forth, from this moment on, determined, head strong, and balls to the walls!

In other news, because this is a blog so I can ramble, these are the things about my job that I love:
-When my kids think of amazing things in rehearsals and production that I would never have thought of
-My kids getting crowned homecoming king and queen
-My kids convincing me to have "Pie Day Friday" ... yes, we had about eight pies for a cast of fourteen
-My kids getting to school by 9 a.m. and staying until 6 p.m. on the day of the homecoming dance
-My kids all being ridiculously multi-talented -- I love listening to them play piano on the other side of my classroom (most of the time)
-Pay day ... yes, this seems like a lot of money to me
-My kids incessant teasing of me for my obsession with baby carrots and my over use of the phrase "Rock on"
-That my kids are not just talents, they're intellectual, kind, and caring actors
-Kids that are not only in drama, but in cheerleading, or on the football team, or in SGA
-My co-workers Sean and Holly
-The random things my kids find to decorate my classroom
-My administrators -- sometimes they let me go shopping on what I've termed "Daddy's money"
-My administrators -- they're letting me do a show with a pool on stage! And one that is risque, at that!
-One-on-one chats with my kids about life
-Thank yous from my kids -- I had one tell me she learned more from me in the past few weeks than she learned in the past three years
-Summer vacation
-Smiles and giggles

There. I've officially blogged.
-Elizabeth

Making roots in sandy ground

Despite my attempts to spend my residency time elsewhere, all signs pointed to Orlando. Amanda and I talked a lot about ‘Plan B’ before she left. We both scowled at the thought of our first life-outlines failing, but we both adapted and settled into Plan B. The funny thing about Plan B: it’s turned out better than Plan A for both of us. I thought I’d find a residency in a large theatre’s development department. I’d shuffle papers and smile at events while living and learning as a glorified file clerk. That would have been an amazing experience in observation, but it also would have required me to uproot myself entirely from the small but loving community I’ve established in Orlando. When the applications for Plan A failed to produce fruit, Plan B seemed to fall in my lap.

For the academic year (and hopefully longer), I’ll be working in a position that offers a full package of wicked exciting professional experiences. I’m co-teaching 2 arts and digital media classes to 3^rd -5^th graders during regular school hours and a weekly afterschool program with teenagers. The program focuses on the most underserved youth of Orlando. In addition to co-teaching the programs, we operate as a team of diversely skilled professionals to develop the curriculum according to the partnerships, mission of the organizations, and our students. Finally, I’m working on some grant reporting and eventually writing. The program is innovative, deals with the demographic I’m passionate about, and it allows me to continue to explore teaching, artistry, and administration simultaneously. Plan B rocks.

So, I’m in Orlando. Living in a little house. Living with a little dog. Driving a little car. Making roots in little soil. And, I like it (more than a little bit).

And it begins...

So here I am in Scotland. It's hard to believe but my residency is almost half over already (middle of next week)! Remember in January 2008 when I saw a show at IPAY that made me say, "I wish I could work for that company for my residency." And then I became slightly obsessed with that company and now I am working for them. That was good times.

I will say that I now wish that I could have made my time here longer because I feel like I'm just now getting my bearings. Probably about a week before I leave I'll actually be completely settled in. C'est la vie.

Here's a quick list of accomplishments and lessons thus far while living it up...Glasgow-style:

1. Curse of the Demeter is up and touring! Rave reviews from the group of 16 year-olds who sat completely silent through the first show. I'm going up to Perth tomorrow for their first out-of-Glasgow show, then onto the next order of business...more awesome-ness!

2. I love taking the train into work! Commutes aren't nearly as bad when you aren't in charge of them.

3. I went to the Highlands this weekend. Beautiful! I recommend it to anyone!!! But just make sure you're adequately prepared (see #4).

4. My jacket is neither waterproof nor warm (see #5).

5. I bought a new coat.

6. As many of you know, I am not very competitive. I enjoy playing games and sports, but the winning is mostly secondary to the fun of playing the game itself. Come to find out, after awhile I get sick of losing. And so, I am incredibly excited to announce that I won four square twice! In your face, losing streak!

7. Contrary to a taxi driver's ominous warning my first night here, Cathcart is not a dangerous neighborhood and I do not fear for my life anytime I walk home. In fact it is quite the opposite. Luckily I do have people here who care, like Paul, who asks me every time I see him if I've been stabbed yet. No, I haven't.

8. I should stop saying that I was "obsessed" with Visible Fictions. When I'm not around other people who use it frequently and casually, it sounds a little creepy and stalker-ish.

9. G-chat and Facebook chat is almost like a real conversation. But still not the same.

There's a brief overview of the past month. (Wha?!?! Month?!?! Yes. Month.)

I don't know if my cohorts will agree with me or not, but third year is a tough year. I'm finding it to be a lonely year without hot wings and doggie play dates and paint your own pottery. I really did find amazing friends during grad school and am now a little lost without them. But just like leaving home for Benedictine and leaving Benedictine to work at The Rose and leaving The Rose to go to grad school, this newest phase of my life will be yet another wonderful opportunity. And if I'm lucky (as I have been through all those other ventures), I'll walk away with a couple friends who I can't imagine my life without.

For good and for bad...here's to our third year!

Welcom to our blog!

Over the last 2 years, Amie, Amanda, Elizabeth and I have grown very close. Through a very challenging and intense course of studies, we found comfort and friendship in one another. Now, we are scattered all over starting the next step of our careers. I'm excited for our friends and families to read of our journeys this year! Let the stories begin!