The Joys of Going Back to School

Today was my first day back to school.  I took last semester off because I decided to travel in China instead.  It has been awhile since I have been to school, and I think it shows...

My day consisted of:
Waking up at 6:00 AM.  I am not sure if you read that right.... SIX IN THE MORNING!  I don't think I have woken up this early for almost an entire year.  It was still dark outside when I woke up this morning.
Actually getting ready.   While in China, we did not get ready.  It was pointless because of the humidity.  I didn't even have a hair blow dryer with me.  But this morning, I got ready.  I even curled my hair!  While curling my hair, I burnt my neck...and it looked like a hickey... great... I thought to myself, people are going to think that I am considered as "one of those girls," on the first day of school.
I proceeded to step into a puddle on my way to class.  My foot was soaking wet.
When it was time to leave, I couldn't find my car.  I couldn't remember where I had parked.  I proceeded to walk in the parking lot for a good 15 minutes or so.  I called my Dad in the process, and told him that I couldn't find Big Booty (Jesse named my car.)  My Dad proceeded to tell me that things like that shouldn't happen to me, and that I should remember these type of things.  Maybe I am already having problems with my memory.  Thankfully, I found it and I was parked closer to the school than I had thought.

Luckily, my classes went well!  I am taking 17 credits this semester and I am going to be extremely busy!  I have one year left at Salt Lake Community College and then I am off to a "big" school.  I am contemplating where I shall go next...

Utah University

or 

Utah State

Let's just hope that I can make it out alive this semester....

 

The Help

If you haven't already... I definitely reccommend that you read this book and then go see the movie right NOW!   I was fortunate to finish the book right before the move came out.  On Wednesday, my mom and I met up with the girls on my Dad's side of the family.  We had a little girls night out.  We had dinner at Cafe Rio and then we went to see the movie.  I loved the book and I was hoping that the movie would meet my expectations, and it definitely did! 

and I must say that Emma Stone does an excellent job.  Don't you just love her??

"You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important."

Mat Kearney and Harry Potter

So on Wednesday night, I went to see one of my favorite artists, Mat Kearney, play at In the Venue.  He was opening for Owl City, and my gracious mother bought my brother and I some tickets.  We aren't fans of Owl City, but we had to see Mat play.  I took Katie with me and Jesse took his friend Hannah.  He was absolutely amazing and is wonderful live!  Through out the whole time that he sang, he continually kept looking over in our direction and  was smiling at us.  I swear that he was looking at me!  Well.. I am hoping and imaging that he was. 



If you have not heard Mat Kearney, I highly recommend
that you check him out!  His new album comes out
on August 2nd! 






Katie and I decided that black and white pictures are
always better



 

AND THEN

Last night I went and saw the permiere of Harry Potter 7: Part 2.  I just have to tell you, that it was abolutely epic!  I didn't think that I was going to be able to go because I didn't have a ticket.  Tickets went on sale while I was in China, and by the time I got home, they were sold out for all the midnight showings.   I had been to every midnight showings of the Harry Potter's and I thought that I was going to miss the LAST one.  However, Katie saved me!  She called me and told me that she had an extra ticket for an early showing at seven!  I was so excited that she invited me to go.  Not only did we get a free ticket, we got free popcorn, free candy, and free soda.  And we saw it in 3D!  The movie was so great, and I think that it might be one of my favorites so far.  I am sad to say that Harry Potter is now over.  I feel like my childhood just came crashing down.

                                                

Jesse and his friends all dressed up as death eaters.  My mom drew the dark mark on Jesse's arm.  Didn't she do such a good job?!???    

        HP FOR LIFE!!

Car Shopping

I have decided that I am not a fan of car shopping.

I realized that it might be considered a problem, or obsession, when I catch myself checking KSL every hour.

Maybe I will just result to the Yamaha scooter for awhile.   

Happy Fourth of July!

Oh, how I love America!

I had a great day which consisted of...

Seeing transformers 

Having a bbq with the family

and watching fireworks.  

Overall, it was a great day!

waiting for the fireworks to start!

Talk about the perfect independence day outfit... I was only wearing white shorts, a blue-white stripped shirt and a red belt.

 My dad proceeded to sing "America The Beautiful" as the fireworks were going off.  It made for some nice background music. 

Hope yours was just as good!  

Home

You guessed it... I am finally home and it is good to be back!
It was a long day of traveling, but definitely worth it when we eventually reached salt lake city.
I don't even know how to express how happy I was when I saw my family! 
It was so nice being able to see them face to face.
They have treated me like a princess since I have been home.
The house was clean, my room was ready, and A LOT of food was bought.
Even though it was hard to say goodbye to china, it feels good to be home.

Goodbye Grade One

Today was my last day of teaching.  I have been anxious for today, because I knew that had to say goodbye to my kids.  Saying goodbye is definitely not one of my favorite things to do.  Coming to China, I had to say a lot of goodbyes.  I was extremely sad saying goodbye to my family at the airport.  However, I knew that I would be able to see my family in a couple of months.  Saying goodbye to my kids was a lot harder because I don't know if I will ever see them again. 

For the last day of teaching we had a movie day.  They thought it was so much fun!  They were so focused in the movie and their eyes were glued to the screen.  It made me have a flashback to when I was a child and how excited I was when we would watch movies in Elementary school.  Whenever I would watch a movie in class, I would consider it the best day ever!  As we were watching the movie,  I would randomly sit among the kids because I wanted to make sure that I spent time with each of them.  I was making my rounds, and decided to sit by Bobby last.  As I sat next to Bobby, he reached for my hang and clung on tight.  I am going to miss Bobby!  He can't speak much English, but this small gesture was all I needed. 

After the movie, we split the kids up into our homeroom groups and we gave out gifts.  Everything was going well, and I was holding my emotions, until the kids had to line up to go back to Chinese class.  They were standing in line and I made eye contact with Steven.  He immediately burst out into tears.  Steven is a trouble maker!  He is very wild, and was the hardest to handle during class.  I couldn't believe that out of all of the kids, he was the one crying.  Sara and I rushed over to Steven, and hugged him as all of us cried.  This started a chain reaction, before I knew it all of the children were crying and hugging us.  They didn't want to let go.  I held onto each of them as they cried.  Some of the children asked us why we had to leave.  They told us that they loved us and that they were going to miss us. 

Even though today was an emotional day, I know that my kids will be okay.  I know that they are in good hands and that they will be taken care of.  They are all amazing and have so much potential!!  They each are brilliant students and they have a great future ahead of them. 

I came to China because I wanted to experience something new and different.  Little did I know, that not only would I experience something new and different, but I would love the teaching aspect!    Teaching here in China has actually helped me decide what I would like to do for my career.  I have been thinking for a long time what I would like to do, and I think that I have decided that I would like to become an Elementary teacher.  I have found that I love spending time with children.  What a better way to spend time with children than to teach?  Not only was I able to find my love for teaching, but I was able to spend time with the cutest children!  Each child had something to give, and I was able to learn and grow because of their examples.  The children that I taught, definitely made my teaching experience!  If it weren't for them, I would still be unsure of what I want to do for my education path.

WO AI NI GRADE ONE!