Wow!  Someone asked me if I felt the earthquake today, (yesterday now!)  nope!  LOL…(good!)  Amazing, but I was sleeping, so yeah, I can sleep through an earthquake it seems.

Moving back to what Sunday, our last day in New York was like for us – well, it was early so ugh,  🙂 – I woke up from a deep, deep, sleep, made my way out of the Hotel Newton, headed to the metro, and, being early, of course took the wrong train, and came back and boarded the #1 metro to Jazz on the Park.  I wasn’t the only one snoozing by a longshot – so I felt better 🙂  I woke Alice up, packed my things I left behind, we all started to get ready for the 7:00 AM pickup.  We ate bagels and muffins in Jazz on the Park, then as we gathered one last time in the lobby, the girls had something behind their back…..MYSTERIOUS….:)  they presented me with a Tony for Best Teacher, that was sooooo cooool!  🙂  I hugged them and thanked them for the kindest gift I can remember, and then they gave me a wrapped package on top of that.  I waited to open as we realized the pickup was here, and we were heading….HOOOOMMMME!  Minus Sofia, Natalie, Ms Dickson, and Camille, we were on our way from NY, a sunny day, as we checked in, and had a few moments at the airport  to take a few pics….I opened my package – Look below!  It was signed by the author, AND – the students – best gift EVER!

Believe it or not, I read the WHOLE thing on the flight home, I mean, the WHOLE book – no kidding.  Cover to cover, it was GREAT, no,  mean terrific.  I couldn’t believe I read the whole thing, literally, but it was really really good.  I never read anything by Harlan Coben, but this was exceptional. (sorry, had to get the puppies in there too!)

There is not much I can say about the flight home, that would even pale against the whole New York adventure in itself, yet, feeling the warmth was amazing as I got off the plane, and I knew, this weather was the best compared to the snow and the constant cold.  New York would NOT have been New York without the company I had surrounding me.

Aside from loving every moment I could spend with the students look at this overview:

On Tuesday we were able to meet Raphael Martin, Literary & Humanities Manager at Soho Repertory Theatre, who answered us about the off broadway experience and showed us through the Soho Theatre.  Amazing Q & A with him and insight into some awesome off broadway shows!  Then later, getting the opportunity to meet Cubby Graham earlier from Charity Water and getting an amazing tour – and getting info for Ms Dixie’s class AND seeing their Friday Times Square event! – WOW!  OVERLOAD already!

Wednesday we hit Columbia running with new workshops, where I presented info on the students for the very FIRST TIME.  Being able to attend a first class Nuyorican Open Mic Cafe that premieres poets on UTube, and one of our staff being a judge for the championships that would occur on Friday!

Thursday we attended more awesome workshops, the Staff presented to a great crowd FOR THE FIRST TIME (and featured on the slideshow at Columbia Scholastic Press Association at Columbia, we rushed off to meet JP escorting us to The Russian Tea Room dinner, then Mama Mia, meeting the lead boyfriend Zak Resnick in the musical, Mama Mia and meeting Clif Thorn who generously escorted us, introduced us, and gave us much to think about regarding the process of musicals and his experiences, seeing behind stage, meeting other actors of the Broadway Show, amazing night!  repentino final presentation at the above link!

Friday also attending more awesome workshops, meeting Rachel Reiner,   Senior Manager of Membership Services and Education Programs member of the Broadway League and owner of an off Broadway Group Resonance Ensemble, being treated like royalty and asking so many questions about the history of Broadway, being able to then go on to attend the Finals of the Open Mic Performances Friday night as well!

Saturday being able to capture amazing photos of 911 for an educational packet we have been planning for students that might not remember 911, along with the sightseeing we were able to fit into the cracks in between, this trip was amazingly meaningful because of the heart the staff put into everything they did, which makes all the difference in the world.

Overall, these experiences took the cake and allowed the students to experience, interview, present, and find out facts that would take them to many different paths in their own futures.