It has been three months of teaching in two/three different capacities. I may be due a reflection or two at this point.
1. Substitute teacher at a single school. You may be asking yourself, but wait. Don't substitute teachers usually circulate within a school district? How does it work?
I am what you call an internal-sub. Because I only work at one school, I have the benefits of better understanding the discipline system and the methods behind the madness consistent throughout the school. If a teacher has planned a personal day ahead of time, they may e-mail the principal or me directly to ask if I have the time to substitute. If it's the principal, he either texts me or writes an e-mail--depending on the length of time preceding the request. Often I have gotten called at 6:30 in the morning because a teacher wakes up and feels terrible. Once I had to drive over around noon since a teacher went home sick.
Because of this tremendous opportunity, I have been able to teach 6th-12th grade across all subjects--Special Education, Intervention, Math, Science, English, and Foreign Language classes, specifically.
I haven't subbed for a history class yet, but I'm looking forward to it.
2. Volunteer English teacher at a refugee employment-education store. For 12 weeks, a class of between 18-30 refugees study Retail and Janitorial skills; through this experience, they learn English related to the job, and spend some time developing Employment skills as well.
I love these guys. They're amazing. I basically go here to get inspired (and my employee's discount--25% off)
3. Baby-sitting. Cu-u-u-u-ute. I have a few families, and I get to play with kids--professionally!
My favorite part: reading bedtime stories. One of the favorites is a book called "The Sun" which is about-- you guessed it--the sun. When the kid tries to touch the sun, he pulls back his finger and says "ouch! That burns!". Adorable.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Getting Braces (4 months to go)
I got braces this morning. Bottom braces, to be specific. My mom thought that I should get my teeth fixed before I leave for Morocco. There's nothing wrong with them specifically, but they're kind of off-kilter--not in line entirely.
Will I be able to get them off in 6 months--in time to leave for Morocco with nice, straight teeth?
That's the plan. My orthodontist has presented the plan as a 3-6 month timeline; hopefully, it will all work out in the end.
Why did this happen???? (Why would I subject myself to braces yet again?)
Two years ago, I made my mom a deal that if she, a dentist of 20+ years (not going to say how many +'s) would finally go get her teeth fixed, I would spend more than 2 months in one location and get my teeth altered as well. (I originally had braces that modified my mouth significantly, but I lost the shape-retainers back in college...)
Today, I received bottom braces. And a retainer. If you think it's weird to see me now with the braces, you should have seen me before when I was younger, and had the large gap teeth going on. That was before my first set of braces. They needed a lot of work to get done. Overbite with headgear was the fix-it.
Onto the present: It's actually very comfortable for day 1; however, a minor situation came up when I bought a bagel earlier. When I took my first bite, I thought I took a brace off. Either that, or I had moved a brace. I am hoping they are in line. They are still poking me in the Perio's, so that's a good sign. I don't have an appointment for 8 weeks now, so cross your fingers and hope that I do not screw anything up!
No wire poking out the back. Nice.
Colors! I got bright pink, bright green, and bright blue in a continuous pattern.
Pictured below.
Why is this relevant to the Peace Corps? I've begun to realize that this is quite an important question to ask... The Peace Corps sent me a letter this week stating that, since my last dental review was over a year ago, I've got to get another one done. You know, yearly check-ups. Haven't done THAT in 5, 6 years.. Anyway, it reminded my mom, she reminded me, and I'm going to get a cavity filled and my wisdom teeth pulled. There go my smarts..
About the title:
In Arabic (traditionally), each person has two names. The first name--ie, Sameera. And the second name, which shows the possession by a family. For instance, Al-Bassar. It technically could mean 'son of Bassar'. The "Al-" in this example indicates "son of".
On that same line of thought, one of my (favorite) professors used to call me "Bint Bob". In this case, "Bint" means "daughter", and my father's name is Bob. I am, proudly, the daughter of Bob..
Will I be able to get them off in 6 months--in time to leave for Morocco with nice, straight teeth?
That's the plan. My orthodontist has presented the plan as a 3-6 month timeline; hopefully, it will all work out in the end.
Why did this happen???? (Why would I subject myself to braces yet again?)
Two years ago, I made my mom a deal that if she, a dentist of 20+ years (not going to say how many +'s) would finally go get her teeth fixed, I would spend more than 2 months in one location and get my teeth altered as well. (I originally had braces that modified my mouth significantly, but I lost the shape-retainers back in college...)
Today, I received bottom braces. And a retainer. If you think it's weird to see me now with the braces, you should have seen me before when I was younger, and had the large gap teeth going on. That was before my first set of braces. They needed a lot of work to get done. Overbite with headgear was the fix-it.
Onto the present: It's actually very comfortable for day 1; however, a minor situation came up when I bought a bagel earlier. When I took my first bite, I thought I took a brace off. Either that, or I had moved a brace. I am hoping they are in line. They are still poking me in the Perio's, so that's a good sign. I don't have an appointment for 8 weeks now, so cross your fingers and hope that I do not screw anything up!
No wire poking out the back. Nice.
Colors! I got bright pink, bright green, and bright blue in a continuous pattern.
Pictured below.
Why is this relevant to the Peace Corps? I've begun to realize that this is quite an important question to ask... The Peace Corps sent me a letter this week stating that, since my last dental review was over a year ago, I've got to get another one done. You know, yearly check-ups. Haven't done THAT in 5, 6 years.. Anyway, it reminded my mom, she reminded me, and I'm going to get a cavity filled and my wisdom teeth pulled. There go my smarts..
About the title:
In Arabic (traditionally), each person has two names. The first name--ie, Sameera. And the second name, which shows the possession by a family. For instance, Al-Bassar. It technically could mean 'son of Bassar'. The "Al-" in this example indicates "son of".
On that same line of thought, one of my (favorite) professors used to call me "Bint Bob". In this case, "Bint" means "daughter", and my father's name is Bob. I am, proudly, the daughter of Bob..
Friday, October 21, 2011
Congrats from Morocco
Dear Invitee,
Congratulations on your invitation to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco! This email is to confirm receipt of your resume and Aspiration Statement.
Regards,
Morocco Desk
Congratulations on your invitation to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco! This email is to confirm receipt of your resume and Aspiration Statement.
Regards,
Morocco Desk
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Five months to go
Ironically, my Peace Corps assignment has me leaving the country two weeks before I can take my brother out for a drink. That's right, he'll finally be 21. I am starting to feel a bit of anxiety about leaving this place. I've gotten a steady job, that I love, good friends, and an amazing international community surrounding me. Sometimes I find myself panicking about leaving all of what I've grown here, especially because staying in one place is something new to me. I'm constantly traveling, and I made myself attempt to integrate into my local community yet again... and it worked. The idea of leaving all of what I've become emotionally involved in, and joining into and adapting with a new cultural foundation is a bit terrifying. The concept that I will be entering an arena where I will constantly be questioned about my organization, my motives, my needs, my "vegetarianism", and constantly harassed as a woman shakes my nerves. The language will be quite a challenge; I'll have a leg up on the alphabet, but I find myself "what if"-ing myself around every corner. Should I land in Morocco, dropped from a plane into a community, how would I survive?
I need to keep preparing....
Currently working on my shopping list.
After reading some Peace Corps Morocco blogs (what I do when I'm excited/nervous/bored), I've found out that the group I'm joining in March is the first Youth Development ONLY group for Morocco.
I'm slightly disappointed, because I was hoping I could learn from the previous volunteers on how to best educate my new village-family (here's hoping!) on how to take care of themselves. I don't have enough medical education at this point to feel that should be in my job description...
I need to keep preparing....
Currently working on my shopping list.
After reading some Peace Corps Morocco blogs (what I do when I'm excited/nervous/bored), I've found out that the group I'm joining in March is the first Youth Development ONLY group for Morocco.
I'm slightly disappointed, because I was hoping I could learn from the previous volunteers on how to best educate my new village-family (here's hoping!) on how to take care of themselves. I don't have enough medical education at this point to feel that should be in my job description...
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Capoeira (Turning Life Upside-Down)
I'm afraid of being upside-down. Who knew?
Should have been obvious from the abject attitude towards all things roller coasters.. Yet, I'll climb to the tallest tree in the country-side on a whim.
Yesterday was my first day of Capoeira teacher training, and I'm being to believe it will teach me a lot more about myself and my capabilities--and limits--than about teaching students. And it will teach me a lot about how to guide students in the future, that's for sure.
Part of the structure of Teacher Training is making sure that all of us Potential Teachers have a 4-5/5 on all of the most frequently made moves. Backflips are not exactly on the top ten topics for beginner classes, after all...
There are a good many moves that I need to work on, and I have no illusion about that fact. One especially that I have Always had difficulty maintaining and perfecting is a Bananeira, or handstand. When I modeled it for the class (we had to have a baseline from which to improve), I was given a 3--and made it a 2, because I am not quite as confident in my ability to do a standard handstand.
For practice, my mestre suggested I practice against the wall. Now, every single person I have ever told about my ability to do a handstand--my yoga teachers, capoeira teachers, roommates-- have always suggested I use the wall. "You can't fall any farther than the wall", they say.
I may have a fear more founded on Roald Dahl and The Twits than anything else.
Once I got my heels over my heart (this phrasing is significant) I started to yell. Not on purpose, but out of fear. Of all the martial arts and activities I could have chosen, why would I become involved in the one that centered around being upside all the time? Why would I do such a thing to myself?
I came down, wiped away some laughter-tears, and tried again; this time as a head stand. I promised myself I could be afraid, but I had to do it without making a sound. I made it up there for a few moments, and found a beginning to grounding and clarity.
This experience of Capoeira is similar to my soon-to-be experience in the Peace Corps. It is something unique and unlike I have ever done in my life, but not something just anyone would do. Very few people would argue that going to the Peace Corps is anything but turning my life upside-down.
When I go to the Peace Corps, I will be putting my heels over my heart. Despite that there are people in my life that I love, family that I appreciate every moment even when I don't tell them, and a life that I am settled into, I am preparing to turn my life upside-down. It will not be easy; it will not come without a lot of work and dedication.
Sometime in the nearby future, I'll be able to do that perfect handstand, with control, and I'll be able to keep my heels over my heart without feeling out of sorts. It's a process.
For more information about Capoeira, here is a link to my group:
http://www.cap-denver.com/index_2.php
Should have been obvious from the abject attitude towards all things roller coasters.. Yet, I'll climb to the tallest tree in the country-side on a whim.
Yesterday was my first day of Capoeira teacher training, and I'm being to believe it will teach me a lot more about myself and my capabilities--and limits--than about teaching students. And it will teach me a lot about how to guide students in the future, that's for sure.
Part of the structure of Teacher Training is making sure that all of us Potential Teachers have a 4-5/5 on all of the most frequently made moves. Backflips are not exactly on the top ten topics for beginner classes, after all...
There are a good many moves that I need to work on, and I have no illusion about that fact. One especially that I have Always had difficulty maintaining and perfecting is a Bananeira, or handstand. When I modeled it for the class (we had to have a baseline from which to improve), I was given a 3--and made it a 2, because I am not quite as confident in my ability to do a standard handstand.
For practice, my mestre suggested I practice against the wall. Now, every single person I have ever told about my ability to do a handstand--my yoga teachers, capoeira teachers, roommates-- have always suggested I use the wall. "You can't fall any farther than the wall", they say.
I may have a fear more founded on Roald Dahl and The Twits than anything else.
Once I got my heels over my heart (this phrasing is significant) I started to yell. Not on purpose, but out of fear. Of all the martial arts and activities I could have chosen, why would I become involved in the one that centered around being upside all the time? Why would I do such a thing to myself?
I came down, wiped away some laughter-tears, and tried again; this time as a head stand. I promised myself I could be afraid, but I had to do it without making a sound. I made it up there for a few moments, and found a beginning to grounding and clarity.
This experience of Capoeira is similar to my soon-to-be experience in the Peace Corps. It is something unique and unlike I have ever done in my life, but not something just anyone would do. Very few people would argue that going to the Peace Corps is anything but turning my life upside-down.
When I go to the Peace Corps, I will be putting my heels over my heart. Despite that there are people in my life that I love, family that I appreciate every moment even when I don't tell them, and a life that I am settled into, I am preparing to turn my life upside-down. It will not be easy; it will not come without a lot of work and dedication.
Sometime in the nearby future, I'll be able to do that perfect handstand, with control, and I'll be able to keep my heels over my heart without feeling out of sorts. It's a process.
For more information about Capoeira, here is a link to my group:
http://www.cap-denver.com/index_2.php
Sunday, October 2, 2011
6 months to go (Safari Thrift)
What's goin' on, everybody?
6 months to go, one week down...
I start the internship at the African Community Center on Monday, and I'll be working on developing the English Language curriculum for the thrift store. Now, this thrift store is a special thrift store, because the main employees are the students who are accessing job training skills. Over a 12 week period, between 20-25 students have 3 main curricula:
1) Janitorial 2) Retail and 3) English language
The students are broken up into 3 groups by language skill and retail experience, and not only does the language training cater towards job growth, but the students gain the practical experience of running the store. The money from the purchases at the store go back into the program, and means that the training can continue for the next session.
This program is specifically for new immigrants that may have trouble assimilating or are simply recommended by case workers.
I'm excited by the opportunity to work and learn with some amazing people over the next six months. Hopefully the experiences I gain with writing curricula, cultural exchange, and developing professional relationships can be applied to my future Youth Development position in Morocco.
My personal goal while working at the ACC is to cement my elevator speech--you know, the 30 second snippet about yourself that is extremely useful in all sorts of situations.
Onto EMS quiz 2 and ASL paper. Wooo.
6 months to go, one week down...
I start the internship at the African Community Center on Monday, and I'll be working on developing the English Language curriculum for the thrift store. Now, this thrift store is a special thrift store, because the main employees are the students who are accessing job training skills. Over a 12 week period, between 20-25 students have 3 main curricula:
1) Janitorial 2) Retail and 3) English language
The students are broken up into 3 groups by language skill and retail experience, and not only does the language training cater towards job growth, but the students gain the practical experience of running the store. The money from the purchases at the store go back into the program, and means that the training can continue for the next session.
This program is specifically for new immigrants that may have trouble assimilating or are simply recommended by case workers.
I'm excited by the opportunity to work and learn with some amazing people over the next six months. Hopefully the experiences I gain with writing curricula, cultural exchange, and developing professional relationships can be applied to my future Youth Development position in Morocco.
My personal goal while working at the ACC is to cement my elevator speech--you know, the 30 second snippet about yourself that is extremely useful in all sorts of situations.
Onto EMS quiz 2 and ASL paper. Wooo.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Last year, this time (6 months to go)
I've been invited for MOROCCO! Woo. Leaving March of 2012, matter of fact.
As I'm sitting in my brother's apartment during Parents' Weekend, I think fondly of this same event a year ago. One year ago, I was on campus listening to a lecture from a Foreign Service/diplomat kind of guy. He'd spent years living and traveling around the world as a representative of the U.S., learning a few parts of many different languages-- his wife was the one with the knack, so to speak. He answered questions about how one route that will definitely get you started in the right directions is joining the Peace Corps. As I listened to the way his life had manifested and developed over the years, I found myself daydreaming of the possibilities.
What could the Peace Corps mean for me?
And then I took that question and threw it out, because no matter where I go or how or when I travel, I will always learn something. I can always benefit from the experience of meeting new people, because that is just who I am. I travel, and I meet people. And my name is Sam. It all fits together...
What it really means for me is that, in all likelihood, I will be the only American the people within my village have ever met-- with the possible exception of previous Peace Corps Volunteers. It's terrifying and exciting and frightening and wonderful all at once. How strong of an influence will this experience have on me? Will I have on them?
Am I going to be just another American traveling through, or will I be able to establish healthy habits and practices and maybe learn how to cook using a Tagine? (http://www.katherinemartinelli.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tagine.jpg)
I'm not really worried about my safety-- more for my sanity, at staying in one place for so long..
I don't know how I feel about the whole thing at the moment. I know that I would have felt much more comfortable in Jordan because I know the dialect a little and have friends in the area, but--to quote the masterful hokey pokey-- that's what it's all about!!
Onward to Morocco, 6 months countdown.
On a side note: I've stopped reading books and started reading Peace Corps blogs. Yay.
As I'm sitting in my brother's apartment during Parents' Weekend, I think fondly of this same event a year ago. One year ago, I was on campus listening to a lecture from a Foreign Service/diplomat kind of guy. He'd spent years living and traveling around the world as a representative of the U.S., learning a few parts of many different languages-- his wife was the one with the knack, so to speak. He answered questions about how one route that will definitely get you started in the right directions is joining the Peace Corps. As I listened to the way his life had manifested and developed over the years, I found myself daydreaming of the possibilities.
What could the Peace Corps mean for me?
And then I took that question and threw it out, because no matter where I go or how or when I travel, I will always learn something. I can always benefit from the experience of meeting new people, because that is just who I am. I travel, and I meet people. And my name is Sam. It all fits together...
What it really means for me is that, in all likelihood, I will be the only American the people within my village have ever met-- with the possible exception of previous Peace Corps Volunteers. It's terrifying and exciting and frightening and wonderful all at once. How strong of an influence will this experience have on me? Will I have on them?
Am I going to be just another American traveling through, or will I be able to establish healthy habits and practices and maybe learn how to cook using a Tagine? (http://www.katherinemartinelli.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tagine.jpg)
I'm not really worried about my safety-- more for my sanity, at staying in one place for so long..
I don't know how I feel about the whole thing at the moment. I know that I would have felt much more comfortable in Jordan because I know the dialect a little and have friends in the area, but--to quote the masterful hokey pokey-- that's what it's all about!!
Onward to Morocco, 6 months countdown.
On a side note: I've stopped reading books and started reading Peace Corps blogs. Yay.
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