PAVEing a Blog

Cherry Blossom Festival.  When many think of this, I think they might think of kites, dancing, or music.  When I think of this, I always thin of  reunion of sorts with the National Aquarium as well as a chance to see some great individuals representing Delaware.  This year, I was excited to see students from Seaford High School since leaving Mexico.  This is the strangest thing, when I saw Ms. Duryea, Priyanka, Thania, Uri, Akshay, Ketsia, Alyssa, and Emily, it was like I had just been gone a short time!

When I hugged them, I realized how special, how selfless, and how amazing they were when we came into contact with each other doing something for the community.  They were there ahead of us, wearing green volunteer shirts, and before they could see me, I realized that one of the best parts of coming back to the United States was being alongside them, working alongside them, and just being – with them!

They did such a great job, representing all that is good, warm, and friendly on a warm, sunny day in Baltimore.  Alyssa came back from the University of Delaware to participate, and seeing all them together for this brief moment in time was amazing, and I wanted the day (minus the hand cramping, the broken hole punches, and the garbage picking at times for plastic bottles J) Working alongside y cousins, PAVE and Rachelle and family overall was  picture-book moment, and the pictures we have tell the same story from my smile! The kites were choreographed to music during the kite competition, although hardly any trees had cherry blossoms!   (Thank you wind, rain, and Rachelle for reminding me!)

I was VERY lucky – I was able to have my closest friends, Rachelle, her mother, Morgan, Mackenzie, Madison all come from Pennsylvania to the Cherry Blossom Festival!  J   I loved seeing them as well, and it was amazing to see so many close friends together.  We also connected with the case of Girl Scout cookies I purchased and ohmygosh, I LOVE GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!  Lol.

From working at 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM for the National Aquarium’s windsock booth (using plastic bottles recycled for this project)

to touring the National Museum of History with the girls, to just generally seeing Washington during a sunny, bright day, this was perhaps the nicest homecoming welcome of all.  If you haven’t seen the National Aquarium in the bottom of the Treasury Building, you MUST, it is an awesome venture and an awesome renovation since the Baltimore Aquarium took it over.  I loved this day, and as the PAVE students headed to new Carroll Station for the night, and Rachelle and family headed back to Pennsylvania, I missed them already!

Sunday was 10mile race day for The Cherry Blossom Festival!  For the first time, I decided to not run in the 10k (aside from me not being ready with the mileage I have or have not done, and rough-shape shoes), I came to this crucial part in my life, and it was better than running the 10 miler….I have for a long time been motivated to live three lives, one for me, one for my Dad, and one for Dave, a personal friend that ended his life way too short, and had left me some items of his, but the most memorable, was the running shorts that he left with the words NIKE on them….ever since running was the addiction again.  Yet, on this day, April 1, 2012, the day of my father’s birthday, I was perhaps given the best gift of all.  I finally felt this pressure lifted to not have to push myself too far, NOT have to run this 10 mile race to prove anything, and I knew at some point in my life, there would be a point when this occurred, I just had no idea when.  How did I know this would happen?  I had the same thing occur, with other major happenings in my life, points where I just felt this calm comer over me and knew I had reached a point where what I had done so far ha been enough, had shown others what kind of person my Dad was, Dave was, etc.  I finally, felt on this important day of mine and his, this feeling of elation and satisfaction.  I think it perhaps was the second best feeling I have ever felt in my life and I realized what a gift this was in itself.

Looking back, I am a little regretful I did not run that morning, but I was able to meet my PAVE group earlier thanks to the decision not to work my way back from the race, and seeing them at the end of the metro entry was also a highlight more than crossing a line and proving something to my Dad, Dave, and me.  It is so funny how sometimes the best gifts are the quiet gifts that happen in the times of solitude and quiet.  Yet, after a practical joke of “I thought you were supposed to meet us at 9:00 AM!” on the phone that morning from Ms. Duryea, (APRIL FOOLS!) – I smiled and realized I was beginning to like the slow down and relaxed approached to things, and take more of life in stride.  It allowed me to appreciate these things I am mentioning now.  The peace and relaxing I experienced while at my cousins was wonderful, and something I always took in with open arms when I was there.

On our way back from Washington D.C, I we stopped at Annapolis and were lucky enough to catch a beautiful, sun-filled day in Annapolis, and I kept thinking, it had been a long, long time since I had wanted to spend such a great day with a group of people as dynamic and valuable as Ms. Duryea, Priyanka, Thania, Ketsia Akshay Uri, and Emily.  Their smiles and giving spirit was contagious, and I could not get enough of just being around them.  As we neared and came into Seaford, dropped them off, I felt an ease of coming back to Seaford thanks to them.

Dropping the vans off reminded me of the countless times of beach grass planting, trips to The Cherry Blossom Festival, and so much more with the same group I was with today.  Coming finally on the doorstep of my Mom’s house, it was just exciting to be back in Delaware where so much had been new when I first came, and the initial memories of where so much had been accomplished.  The first night back, I sat in the parking lot of the Seaford Library (laughing) to catch the internet and turn in my due assignments before midnight for my master’s Degree.  The sleep I had that night was wonderful, to have a long stretch of my adventure and trip behind me, with so many bright spots that had occurred already!

Monday April 2^nd turned out to be a slowly awakening and refreshing day to let it all sink in that I was actually back in Seaford, DE!  I slept in a little, then got ready, and made my way to Seaford High School, it was causing my heart to skip a little being back here since July!  I joking went to my usual entrance which was the cafeteria, and slipped in the kitchen, and made my way to Gwen DiCarlo, just like old times!  Her retake of seeing me was expected, and I was just in awe and loved being able to come in the door as I used to say hello.  We caught up for a few minutes, and then I moved on to the main office directly from the cafeteria.  I came across Mrs. Connie Halter, and it was so exciting to see her!  We talked and caught up as much as possible, and I made my way back to Mrs. Cox Cannon and caught up on so much.

Before I knew it, I was getting surprised by students I remembered from last year!     (Michael Wingate, Chris Michaels, “Toothpick”, Lindsay, and more!)  – It was exciting to see the changes in so many students in so short a time!  J  After seeing Mrs Fake, Mr Dickerson, Mr Dickson, Mr Ritts, Nancy McGee, Mrs Austin-Richardson, I was starting to get into the groove again of what it was like without the stressful busy moments to enjoy everyone’s stories of what was going on in their lives.  I liked it.  I slipped over to the Administration Office and said hello to Mrs Craft, Mrs Fields, as well as Maria Demott, Julia Tobin, and Eryn Johnson who came over, as well as Ryan Craft!  It was so nice to see everyone – I missed them more than I realized when I saw them.  I then finally found my way over to the Public Library and settled down to do some work.  I was able to catch up on quite a lot, and then was able to come back home and relax  with a nap…..it felt good!

Around 5-ish I head back to school and ran into Nancy McGee on the way to the school – then was dropped off at the school to catch the Key Cub meeting.  Seeing Jordan, Tammy Pham, Mr Cannon, everyone! – was awesome and it was great to see the planning of the Key Club again!  After listening to Tayvon as well, we headed to my Mom’s and then to Grotto’s!  🙂

It was awesome seeing everyone that stopped by – it felt nice just to relax and catch up with everyone over pizza!  🙂  I missed the taste of Grotto’s in being gone! 🙂  after dropping Tayvon back home, I realized how lucky I was to have made so many great friends while in Delaware, I was truly lucky.

Sleep came so quickly due to the massive visits I had made during the day!  🙂

Taking a break (no pun intended) from my weekly blog, I did have his urge off and on to try and recall all the specific and required events I experienced from the end of March to the present day – yet the break has been well deserved and chocked full of details that even for me, an avid bigger, seem to be so overwhelming, you have to ask – “Where do I start?!”

Monday, March 26th marked the day before I would head off to The National Writing Project to represent ASF on capitol hill, in showing connections to education across two country borders, as well as advocating for the technology we use in DE to connect classrooms across the world.  I was able to learn way was the legislation going on in the House of Representatives, the Senate, and how I would speak to legislators in lobbying that would help create future ties to what kinds of decisions are being made on education currently.  I had never lobbied before, and felt the the three legislators (Representative Carney, Senator Coons, and Senator Carper) from Delaware, would be interested in the projects that Mrs. Dixie were involve din that tied education  to Delaware, and community service itself.    I also hoped as I began to learn more and more about organizing and creating projects that created widespread influence as a Media Specialist and Librarian, the advocacy skills to lobby would be beneficial to stay in contact with people that will invest in the future of eduction.

I had started to research the background of these three legislators a few days before, and had this on my mind, when the morning of Monday, March 26th presented a weird twist.  I came in as usual, we began to organize the collections of fines and patrons, and poem, before you knew it, we had a request to head to the lower school to “help out.”  Moct and I headed to the lower school, and began to clear the top shelves of all books that would need sifted through and organized through, yet the job itself seemed a little light for Moct and I to both handle…and I wondered…but shrugged that off as, “Well, they wanted a good and fast job done is all!” – soooo…

…we continued to work through the shelf clearing job, and then found ourselves done within a few minutes and headed back to the Upper School.  In my mind I pretty much thought  – I did not think I did that much to help?  We arrived back at the Upper School Library, and within a few minutes were asked to join a meeting upstairs, and at this point I was really confused….REALLY…I had tried my best to stay on top of all announced meetings, and how did I let this one slip by?  When I walked upstairs into the upper Library, I saw rows and rows of people, TONS, waiting, SURPRISE.  No freaking way.  Way.  Everyone had gathered to surprise Moct and myself for our birthday, completely.  I was stunned.  Literally.  I mean this truly and honestly, I never have had a surprise birthday celebration, EVER, (or that I can remember at the age of 40) and when I saw the NUMBER of people, as well as the AMOUNT of food that was on the table, ohmygosh.  Elaine Fong had repeatedly organized, collected, and distributed information on a continual basis, as well as made a spread of food, along with others as well, that was worthy of a KING.  Chocolate covered strawberries, cake that was HUGE – on and on and on….DELICIOUS.  The best part was the great company I was in for my 40th birthday.  I carried the cards with me on the flight and kept staring at them – but the cards were signed by so many people, and overall, it might have been, I really think it WAS, the best birthday of all.  I was speechless the rest of the day and still worked through my mind the amount of time it took to reorganize, plan, and put together such a celebration, and I was just, in shock way after this occurred.  I thought I had escaped this type of event, and was quite content with myself, but realized, how cunning and creative everyone around me was.  Have I ever had a Monday quite like this?  NO WAY and I probably never will.  I am embarrassed to say thank you as that pales to the way I felt inside thanks to everyone that participated in making this such an incredible event for Moct and myself.  WOW.

This evening before I would leave was a special one, as it was filled with the special events of the dress rehearsal of The American School Foundation‘s  650 seat Espinosa Yglesias Fine Arts Building.  WOW!  There were so many highlights, I do not know where to begin  – from the anthem, to the bell ringing, to the singing (WOW!) to the orchestra pieces, to the Shakespeare reading, to the chair collapsing incident, oh YES – ask Helen or Alex how graceful I was when the chair collapsed from under me, of all PLACES, I am still laughing on that one!  The night was magical well into the evening.  The magical feel of the place was easy to feel from walking into the lobby, and everyone, EVERYONE, did a magnificent job of representing  

Finishing the next day was difficult as I headed out into the dark at the hour of 5:30 AM, arrived at the airport via metro, and kept thinking how lucky I was to be among a staff of educators as ASF that thought so much of me, I still could not get that celebration of smiles out of my head.  Amazing.  Somewhere in this euphoria of memory I realized i had my Mexican phone with me, but not my U.S. phone!  🙂   I thought, this will be an interesting turn of events!

I lazed my way into the MEX airport, later than I normally would, and found I just had about a 15 minute way before boarding.  Upon boarding, I found the trip to be rather quick, just over 2 hours, and headed into Miami.  I was amazed at the wetlands I saw below me coming into the Miami International Airport.

I can’t recall having a stop where I had to check my baggage out and back in at a different area when switching flights, so I had a little anxiety, yet, figured, it will all work out.  As I waited in the customs lines – I realized, 30 minutes, went to 20 minutes, down to 10 minutes before I boarded, and realized as I changed lanes to a line that was for just U.S. Passport holders, I was not going to make this flight.  I of course panicked quietly, and as I passed through the customs, I was asked by the officer, “Where are you headed to?”  Washington D.C.  “Where are you from?” – Mexico living and working, but formerly from Delaware.  “Itty bitty Delaware?”  Yes, as I laughed, he was amazed that I came all the way from Delaware, 🙂  I smiled and appreciated the chance to show what Delaware can do  🙂

I learned that I would be catching the next available flight – and literally, within  an hour, American Airlines had found me another flight and I would arrive at 8:00 PM instead of the scheduled time of 4:59 PM.  I was excited and appreciated how quickly I had been rerouted.  Thinks could have been MUCH much worse!

As I arrived in Reagan National Airport, I realized this was one of the only airports I had ever seen that provided wireless internet!  No other airports had done this, I LOVED this.  I was able to find out I had not updated my Firefox, and without that, I could not connect.  Note to self, UPDATE FIREFOX as a back up!

As I appreciated, the metro ran right through DC Reagan, and I was able to take it straight to Takoma Park.  I double checked with a passenger there that the double circles always met the ability to transfer to another line, (I tried this is Mexico and this did not work so well!)  – and I marveled at the contrast between the metro of D.C and Mexico, (number of people quiet, smoothness sometimes, etc) – I was excited to actually be near my cousins!  Had a year pass by so quickly?  Really?

Arriving at Takoma Park Station, I walked the mile to my cousins, loving every minute of the walk.  Along the way I noticed two things, one – the smell of the flowers as I passed, and two- the smell of the air – I did not think I noticed but the air was so clean! It was intoxicating yes, and I was amazed at how warm it was!  🙂

Surprising my cousins at the door, (as I did not have my U.S. phone!) – I was just amazed I was in D.C with them!  🙂  We chatted alot, and then  literally died into their waterbed that first night, excited about the ability that I had to ready for my visits with the legislators, as well as being in DE, seeing my students from PAVE, and my friends from PA, Rachelle, Rachelle’s mom, Morgan, Mackenzie, and Madison, and just that I was going to have the best March ever seeing everyone as I slipped into sleepdom…

Wednesday morning was refreshing to know I did not have to be anywhere until 5:00 PM, or was it 4:00?  The time difference between Mexico and D.C has not escaped me, and I found it 4:15 before I knew it and realized I had to get on ball with getting there, the Hyatt on Capitol Hill.  I thought I had an hour!  I ran around, gathering my ties, shoes, all together, and we are off.  I made it to the Hyatt on Capitol Hill around 5:15 – D.C. time! – and this informational meeting allowed us to meet with individuals who let us in on the going on’s with Capitol Hill, the Senate, the House of representatives, to give us the backdrop off activities and interests occurring that will affect our lobbying.  I was excited as this was precursor to the actual visits we would be making tomorrow.

After an informational evening of preparing more, meeting up with representatives from the NWP in Delaware, I headed back home to get ready for the early start used on our schedule.

Thursday came and went so fast – I was up and ready to roll!  I arrived about 30 minutes early just due to nervous energy, and redid myself for the intros before we went out and hit the legislative offices.  Running into him the night before too, Paul Oh, who is extremely involved in the National Writing Project, he put my mind at ease of what was to come.  We were privileged enough to meet in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, where we listed to the Senator from Mississippi, Thad Cochran, who in 1999, initially had supported The National Writing Project.  His devotion to a National Project, as well as a program that reaches local branches, and now extends to international areas! – was inspiring and just the thing we needed before heading off!

We first headed to the office of Senator Carney, and I took my picture outside his office!  🙂  We met as a trio, and complemented each other in supporting how The National Writing Project supports National, local, and international endeavors of education and writing.  Competing for funds is difficult since the government had taken away funding and now organizations literally have to compete for funds.  I was able to leave with the senator information that showed the work students in Mexico had been creating and sharing with students in Delaware, to gather the skills needed for grant writing.  Below, you can see the items we shared with each of the legislators:

Letter,   grant proposals,    ASF representation,    the credentials I have acquired since becoming a National Writing Project Fellow

We did this two more consecutive times for legislators Coons and Carper  , and I thought, can you imagine the states that have 6 legislators?  🙂  I used to think lobbying would be the ideal job, then realized, wow, to do this and convince others that a certain program or bill is important and go from office to office, after one day I was EXHAUSTED!  🙂   Instead of heading to the reception, I was so exhausted I instead headed to my cousins.  Lois informed me we had a concert to go to, and wow, I needed to get some rest after this day of legislation talks, actually lobbying, and seeing the insides of so many cool Senate and House of Representative scenes.  

HAPA.  Know what it means?  Try Half in Hawaiian!  Knowing nothing about this group, I had no expectations, but when we arrived and saw the shingled barn where the concert would be, I knew this was gong to be memorable  🙂  I instantly had thoughts of Cool Dog Studios!  Only Wolf Trap Barn is UNREAL!  I was amazed at the Hawaiian outfits and the crowd that started to gather.  When I looked at the upcoming artists like Dan Navarro, Jim Brickman, and more, I knew this was going to be a great show!

Seeing Hawaiian, Polynesian, European, and folk music all combined was just, well, it was beyond description.  You will have to listen to believe.  Remembering a former member of their group, Charles, this concert was a brilliant memorial to what seemed to be an unforgettable former member of their group, and are this concert even more special!  I think their albums are worth the getting!

After that evening, it started to settle in that I was actually among family, and actually not on Mexico!  LOL.  I missed Mexico, but was missing so many other things I never had had the chance to do as being so busy with grading papers and so many other things when I had been here, it was as if I was trudging with two identities!

Friday was a great day in returning to the last day of the National Writing Project to express the highlights and hear other success stories, and not all success stories of lobbying and meeting the legislators we met the day before.  We were also able to attend workshops, and I attended this one:

Working with Young People in Partnership with Museums and Libraries

This workshop will provide an opportunity to think together about ways to create relationships with museums and libraries around youth programming as a strategy for sustaining the work of your local site. Conversation will include a look at the 21st Century Learning Labs project, time to hear from sites where library and museum work is already happening, and time to brainstorm specific strategies for your site.

The best thing I did was work with someone from New York (and we shared our experiences from New York!) and we began to network relationships that can connect students in New York to students in Mexico.  This was exciting as we helped plan events for each other’s National Writing Project!  Using a process called Responsive Design, we found the creation process exhilarating, creative, and FRESH to standard approaches of researching ideas that created connections to the community.

Sounds technical, but in working with the instructor Kate Blinn from the National Writing Project and Ralph Cordova from the Piasa Bluffs Writing Project, the ideas we came up with were AWESOME!  I took materials back to show and share, and definitely post on my upcoming Library blog for my Mansfield University Masters.

Returning at the end of the day, I did see the place to pick up my 10 mile Cherry Blossom run packet!  This was at the National Building Museum, and I promptly went in and was amazed at the HUNDREDS of people participating!  (I mean hundreds!) Picked up my packet, as it started to rain, and headed back.  I snagged my bag with a commemorative Cherry Blossom Festival poster, shirt, and entry running info.  ohmygosh!  Tomorrow would be the Cherry Blossom Festival!  🙂  This is a great time to transition into a new post, and let readers FINALLY see a new post in my blog before starting a new one, so stay tuned for the details of my 10 mile run, The Cherry Blossom Festival, and many twists and turns to my visit!  🙂

VERY Behind with posting, but I thought it appropriate to start with the fact that yes, MARCH is READ an EBOOK Month among may other celebrated events!  🙂

In the tradition of having a Nook and a Kindle – here is some info on EBook month:

and here is some info on the choices you can make!

Kobo, ipad, Kindle, or Kindle?

Ms Fong has inspired me with the benefits of the Kindle, I saw someone beside me on the plane to the STATES! (I am in D.C! – the states!  WOW!) and a colleague asked about the ability to use KOBO with other readers’ files (no good news there), and I love Barnes and Noble and the existence of the Nook based on their commitment to education – tons of choices!

I will try to back log the experiences of the last 3 weeks, so stay tuned for the NEW topics..:)

Overall….

With the added post I made to the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday post I keep adding to below, the nights so far have been very exciting and so action packed, the lit mag students are amazing…:) WOnderful night as you will see in the updated post below! Now onto St Pat’s Day and I get to see my friend Umar! 🙂

My Next 30 Years

http://www.facebook.com/danesmusic?sk=app_178091127385

COMING TO BATTLE OF THE BANDS from NEW YORK! 🙂

And, my birthday today – and 316 hits on my blog on March 16th! How cool is that? WAY COOL!

Life – I find so many overlapping venues of life, then when they come a part of an event such as Battle of the Bands, isn’t it exciting to see people come from all around towards one competitive vent that benefits so many people?

My students are here, together, and we here this “awesome guy” come in and play the guitar and the harmonica, and I wondered, would HE come to Battle of the Bands? When yes came across as the answer – I had these thoughts –

A day filled with meeting Michael Arad, meeting the members of the 911 Tribute Center, on top of the amazing job our students get together and create something that touches each of us somewhere in the middle, is there a better way I could spend my birthday? I am sure there MIGHT be, yet, tho sis one of the best. The best would be with my family as well, but, these days from the 13th to the 18th – AMAZING!

Wait until you see the sister and brother of Camila de la Parra – one of many talented students we have….

Camila’s brother:

Camila’s sister

Life is funny – I will have so much more to say this day – as I turn 40 – so many things to express – and I just want to say, thanks for everyone allowing to turn 40 be wonderful and memorable! 🙂  I truly forward to my next 30 years!

🙂

Plan for the day (at 7:41 AM) – head to the conference – last day! Mail items to friends and family – call my Mom! 🙂 – eat lunch and a great dinner with great students – what goes in between? NO idea – I love it! 🙂 we are done at 12:00 today!

From Monday:
New York City!
TUESDAY! March 13, 2012

Just arrived in Jazz on the Park NEW YORK CITY – 70 degrees! What the heck?! Going out to eat and will update tonight, promise! All was safe, transition from airport to hostel easy! 🙂

TUESDAY

We arrived Tuesday – easy easy through customs! 🙂 🙂 We arrived, checked rooms, and then went to MEL’s BURGERS! For all of us, (six) appetizers, main meals, and fried Oreo desserts – ohmygosh, the fried OREOS with ice cream – OGMYGOSH!

The students and myself dug in and KILLED that meal! 🙂

What a great night coming into New York! We settled in for the night….

HOLA!
Wednesday update!

Okay, let’s down some specifics for you….:)

Wednesday MORNING! We have to make sure we all had our times ready for American time, not Mexican time! 🙂 LOL — We get there, and we were the first group to checkin, get organized, and line up the sessions we were going to attend, to the lit staff is the best – so organized and ready to go! I am so proud of them! They are so awesome! 🙂

🙂 As they processed info to make our magazine better and more organized – I waited in line to get the tickets for a possible broadways show! After 10:00 AM – and then at 3:30 PM! WE got it! Tickets to Warhorse! OHMYGOSH! This long for great seats? Or are there? More on this later….:)

We meet finally after the day in convention, back at the hostel, the staff able to eat at a Thai restaurant, and then we get it together, and off to the broadway show!

WOW! The seats were AWESOME! I mean AWESOME! We were right side lower level, 500 section, and EXCELLENT. I have to admit, and did not to the students, I had tears in my eyes. This was an AMAZING production!

This was my first Broadway show, and fitting as the staff that came with me this year is amazing, and I am glad I am sharing these quality things with them of the first time. They are so appreciative of the things that make our trip so quality – and I appreciate them so much! They are gems!

We make our way back, Camila needed to make a pitstop at the pharmacy to get refills on supplies for insulin, finally made it back, and we crashed for the night, exhaustion from the example and responsibilities of the day. The staff is WONDERFUL, they have become my kids without knowing it, lol. 🙂

Attached is the very brief highlight of the things that they have acquired :

SCHOLASTIC PRESS CONFERENCE IDEAS

THURSDAY

I am excited, today is Day 2 of the Conference, we broke down the interview we will do for the 911 Memorial Tribute Center and architect, and it should be a great day! 🙂 WOW! I now have a Kindle and Nook, and the students will test them out today! 🙂 🙂 ALso, we have a digital recorder for the interviews – I am excited! 🙂

I think we will have QUITE the literary magazine!

Okay – whew….6:40 PM – how are things?! 🙂 Okay, so we JUST finished doing so many things I am trying to calm down, lol. We met after the conference – headed south thanks to Camila’s directions to the 911 Memorial itself. I was amazed to see it was nothing like I remembered it when we were here from Delaware, I mean nothing. I went into panic mode, it was 3:30 and no call made at all, I gave Michael my cell phone and confirmed him being there, BUT – I was outside the memorial and no show, and I literally fell apart with crazy stress and worry. I had worked so hard to get this set up, and I want it to be AWESOME of the ASF staff, and now, it would look like we would be standing the ARCHITECT up for the 911 Memorial, as well as not getting the students to see Michael Arad, and I was so mad at myself. He called, on my crazy track done, but it showed up as a private number, one thing after another, I felt it was a disaster, and poor Ana picked up on my stress-ridden panic, and I am sure it scared her… but she was a major awesome confident trooper (sounds so old fashioned) assuring me it would be FINE, and to CALM DOWN for crying out loud, lol, and believe it or not, thanks to John the security guard at the main gate, when I told him our plight, he arranged for tickets for all of us into the Memorial, as well as getting us to finally into the Memorial….we found Michael, INSIDE THE MEMORIAL – and wow, SECURITY SECURITY SECURITY! – Ana, Mel, Ji, was right on the interview questions, direct, to the point, and all Ji, and EVERYONE was right to it, they did a magnificent job, MAGNIFICENT. The memorial is AMAZING, and the trivial info about the Memorial was just – well – amazing…the order of the names on the wall, the way it was created out of over 5000 entries for the idea, MIND BLOWING. I am glad the students had the chance to get this opportunity.

Moving to the Tribute Center, we met with the individuals in charge of this great initiative, Caroline Bevan, Meriam Lobel, and Clarissa Wallace, who gave us some great background, as del as some interesting ideas other schools, individuals, and groups have done to help interpret the 911 event. Again, words cannot explain this. We were able to enter here for free, and again between the tickets for the Tribute Center and the 911 Memorial, we saved over 195.00 for fee! It was such a great experience for the students, and we learned so much. I like the fact that they met and saw things that no one would see normally – and that is just way cool!

I let the staff go separate from me from the Tribute Center as I thought they needed some time away from me as an adult – and since they were all together, in the middle of downtown New York, how exciting! 🙂 They need some time away from the protecting self I am….:)

I am so looking forward to their ideas put into action and what they are able to do coming say from this trip. 🙂
Again, very proud of this young group…to say the very least….:) The pictures will be AMAZING!

FRIDAY
WOW! The 16th! I am 4 years old (Did I forget a zero?!), lol. The Facebook telethon started on the 15th, and my friends have been amazing. If I didn’t respond individually, it would have been a crime, completely as I felt every well wish and birthday wish. We trudged to the conference, trudged mainly because we were exhausted! – but we ate at Tom’s Diner (site of Seinfeld) and I think that Sophie was on Seinfeld Heaven! The breakfast helped alot, we got to Columbia, and began! – Mr Schwatrz, who I did not realize the time, is an advisor from Daedalus, a lit mag in Connecticut, I met from NCTE on Connecticut! 🙂 Camila texted me to tell me to come to Hamilton as a speaker knew me. That was comforting to see him there and we chatted and talked! 🙂 The day progressed, we missed the awards at the end to eat, plan, and organize over pizza – and it was worth it, we made some GREAT strides as a staff! 🙂

We shipped until 4:00 (Mel – WHERE ARE YOOOOUUUUUUUU) and thanks to his quick thinking, met up back at the hostel. Dinner at 10:00 PM! 🙂 I did some shopping, gathered some clothes, and cleaned myself up 🙂 We headed out at 8:15 being picked up at the hostel with a taxi – and headed to

The Union Station Cafe

Okay, here is the brief, we get there early, wait outside and then (I know I am early) Sophia and I go in and are tad we will be seating you shortly. Yes, all restaurants like to say this, I had NO PROBLEM coming back at 10:00 – I was just checking in. They checked in out coats, we waited, and waited, and waited, half the group pout side, half the group inside. Somewhere amid this, I sensed an “artificaleness” that cut to the core. Whether it was a forced smile, a sense of authority, no idea, but we were definitely surrounded by people in the billionaire status. However we left and gather dat the Starbucks to wait until 10:00. Something kept settling in, not wanting me to go back, I did not like the vibe AT ALL, I was mad, angry, and just well, this was not worth the hassle based on a feeling I felt when I had walked in there.

The more I thought about it, there were omens, having to call ahead of time several time to find this location, everything seemed “complicated” – and when we switched choices, things changed…

I wanted to change venues – we walked around the corner and hit The Blue Water Grill in Union Station. OH MY! 🙂 RIGHT CHOICE! 🙂 The people as soon as we walked in, we were seated, and were shown the hospitality of kings and queens. The feeling was right, our waitress spoke Spanish, and all was well in the world. We had found the correct place 🙂

I made some comments I want to clarify. In my rant against The Union Station Cafe – I stated “I hated people with money” – swell, I have to say – I do. I came from none of it, and yes, appreciate the fact I can make my own – yet people that make alot of money, and that act like they own others because of the fact they have alot of money – it makes me fell just – down, upset, angry, and just overall – unsettled. Weird, eh? Yet, the students I am surrounded with are amazing – they might be surrounded with families lucky enough to be content an taken care of, yet they earned it, and the students have hearts of gold, hard work, and determination. This does not fit them into the money category, whether they want to be or not, lol. Hard to explain, but easier to see and feel. The students ARE money – worth their weight in a million people that feel their money allowed them to be short and quick with their clientele, and crzy, but that us how I felt within five minutes of being in the company of this restaurant!

I was quiet I guess this night compared to my boisterous self, yet, I was contemplating how lucky I was to be part of a group of students that had so much potential, and appreciated the night. The night was BEAUTIFUL – the roses given to the students were well deserved, and they took care of my on a birthday DAY that I would never forget. 40 was a very special day thanks to the patience, determination, and just overall generosity of students that rivaled, and excelled about any category of students I witnessed at Columbia, Princeton, and many many places. I made me value the parentage and group of friends I have been lucky enough to acquire.

Ana, Sophie, Mel, Camila, her friend visiting, as well as Ji were stunning – dressed to the 9’s 🙂 , and I could not have been in any more country. You are dying for the pictures, right? They will be coming, and well worth the wait. Was it a night worthy of Kings? Oh yes, the ride home in the limo Hummer with JP from Hait was memorable, and when he said “MOVE THE FURNITURE” and cranked the music, I DIED laughing and realized how good life can sometime when you have the right people to fill it. I laughed until I cried back to the hostel, but relayed how much we had seen and how much we had experienced during out time in New York, compared to the half glimpses we had caught in years’ past. 🙂

On top of it all, we came back to the hostel realizing what a great family of friends we had made here, they welcomed us, asked about our night, Dane who will be coming to Seaford will be arriving and rocking the stage, overall, I am blessed and very lucky in all things. 🙂

The lit mag students seem to have good karma wherever we go….:)

…to get involved!

Sorry for the delay in the blog, but I am sure your email is grateful!

Events have been pushed fast forwarded and many many exiting things on the horizon!

Since talking to Ms Dixie’s classes and Mr Alaniz, we have started to gain support for writing grant, creating projects,and putting grants into action for several exciting projects! 🙂 If you are curious, and just want to tap into the exciting things students have to offer the world – take a look at :

http://www.p2pu.org/en/groups/student-grant-writing/

I am thinking there many good things on the horizon! 🙂

Some ideas and events coming up:

Columbia University trip to New York with the literary Magazine March 13-18th

National Writing Project Spring Meeting March 28-March 30th Washington D.C., then The National Cherry Blossom Festival!

BobAyuda2012 interest form
National Volunteer Week – April 15, 2012 – April 21, 2012

This is exciting, you could participate in this awesome venture on the eve of April 19th, 2012 :

For 30.00 – you get a kit that can be prepared on April 19th and show the world on April 20th you are a part of National Volunteer Week in the United States, and impact this African effort, no matter where you are at!

Choose a local event and contribute to that the week of April 15th- April 21, 2012

If in Seaford, signing up to help reinvest in the Soroptomost Garden. PAVE needs VOLUNTEERS FOR SOROPTOMOIST GARDEN DURING National Volunteer Week, representing students from all over the world!

I think there are so may exciting things that can happen when you give something, eve a portion, of yourself to others – and we are only just beginning. This is what files me to speak to as many people as possible, and empower them to do things they only dream about now. Look at the journey we have made thanks to students that are no at The University of Delaware, Pittsburgh, and locations all over the world…if we can connect these students together, and with their parents, their parents’ friends’, and their friends’ friends’, can you imagine what could occur?

Kony 2012 is such a great example of one initiative that can happen when we reach our friends, their friends, and their friends’ friends….

I always said I felt I am living my life for two people – my father who believed in changing other people’s lives everyday, and a dear friend of mine who thought life was too much for him and decided to take his own, ironic, this is two opposite ends of the spectrum.

If we focus on the people we have in our lives that are still alive, then we have a chance to make a difference for the people we cherished that are no longer here.

I hope, that we make such a noise and change with so may talented students, youth, and adults working towards the same goal – to make their world a better place. I want to do that in education (helping to create an international curriculum that involves community service as a basis of measurement rather than a state test score, if we focus on bettering every single person alongside us, in this country, in that country, in this neighborhood, in that neighborhood, we begin to write grants, we begin to speak out, we being to write, whether in blogs, wiki’s, tweets, glogs, grants, classrooms, business offices, governments, schools, hospitals, doctor’s offices, debate, represent, vote, and change the world around us, isn’t that GREAT legacy to leave behind to that Junior, sophomore, Freshman, sister, brother, relative, friend?

Somehow, I see this is a mission given to me silently from my father, my from my lost friend, as each of you have someone that instills and inspires you to move and change. I owe this to my mother, to my students, to my friends, to my relatives – why? Why is this is responsibility? I always asked this and thought, “Maybe I AM taking on too much”, yet, I took a vow as a teacher when I decided to do this profession to do more than be the representative of pairs of paper stacks that will come back with a grade, but to be a representative of a living, changing, and inputting educator, we all know that is where the action is at – the gallant face of education.

I am excited I started this blog to help others when they make a move, but there is so much more – this along all the other TOOLS I mentioned, is JUST that, a tool, a vehicle. A vehicle that carries the most important item, you. You have the power to change EVERYTHING – I think this is one of the most exciting things there is in life, the possibility!

I feel sometimes I could do, only because there is so much NEED so many places. Nothing will ever stop my urge to want to help everyone, that often is recognized at my strength, as well as my weakness, but the most important asset I have is YOU. Just as in any job, we move forward, we trod on, we make a difference. 🙂

I LOVE this comment posted on our grant writing class:

Well, we are ASF high school junior students who really would like to take this opportunity as a way to grow up and now what real life actually is. We’re very excited about this whole idea and we have been plotting and disccussing our main topics for the project which has a lot to do with enviromental and humanity. Something interesting about us is that we have all participated in some sort of artistic department such as paint, dance, music and so on and we would really like to share those talents along with proving that living a green life is pro-life.

A STUDENT posted that – that is exciting! 🙂

Please join us at:

P2PU Grant Writing

If you’d like to join us!

We’d love to have you!

Check out the document and if you’d like to get involved! We would love to have you!

P2PU Mexico and Delaware

Unroll the surprises, here comes BOB’s Ayuda 2012 Concert… More details to come…:)

BobAyuda2012