PAVEing a Blog

Okay, so come on, if you had a chance to save this kitten from drowning, what would you do? Enough said, it has been a draining day, more details tomorrow….:)

Okay, so it is FRIDAY! and yesterday the students did an AWESOME job of feeding and caring for the kitten!

and it showed as she passed out at home, lol…

…so Friday starts a new day with feeding, getting “Francine DEWEY” used to the schedule of being a library cat, and overall, it has been an interesting week!

I have enrolled in several classes for online blogging, as well as starting to write a novel in November! AGH! The goal is to reach 50,000 words by the end of November, so…some prep time will allow me to get start! I am trying to get Camila started with me as a writing partner!

I get my work VISA TODAY! YEAH!

This Saturday is the College Fair at ASF, so we plan on selling PIZZA!

🙂

This is something I posted based on a student sharing this with me:

“You need to check these two websites out: (This was shown to me by a student yesterday, and she was fascinated in how it does NOT use 21st Century Technology but mimics it…but yet, it does use 21st Century and tries not to…lol…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iWxD0GZVVk&ob=av2e
(Original VIDEO)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISECTM3xmAs
(Behind the Scenes – Wait until you see HOW they made it!)

Thanks Mary (awesome student) for showing this to me!”

I put this in my post as I am beginning to see some interesting developments in myself as well as in Mexico!

I love being a librarian, my boss encourages me to grab the best and all I can, and I think with a new staff supporting her, we have been able to move the library in Mexico City to unchartered territory! 🙂 it is exciting! let me tell you why:

Just on the surface, we have cadets that are AWESOME, they are reviewing books and we place their pictures all around the library, it looks so neat and it personalizes their talents! 🙂

Second, things are starting to really come together! The ASOMEX conference gave us so many ideas and options, our library IS becoming a hub for technology and media information, it is exciting!

I am enrolled in three different courses, one on 2.0 tools where I collaborate with teachers all over the world, one where I write a novel in the month of November and finish it!, and working through NCTE’s 21st Century Pathways Technology Professional Development Module to create a Professional Development program for teachers online! It is exciting! 🙂 So much! Amid that, I am finding the students of the ASF School to be so interesting and into their knowledge searches, they talk about philosophers and theories like other schools talk about what type of gum they like, lol…so neat!

The last few days, since the ASOMEX Conference, wow! That Sunday following the Conference I headed to the Museum of Anthropology and did not get through it all, but it was free to get in! They are celebrating Brazil right now, and the bands that were playing in the middle, as well as books stands from UNUM were awesome! WOW! The museum was breathtaking, and I will try to add some pics here, but you will definitely want to checkout my facebook to see the album!
I was reminded of ,my turtle when I saw red eared striped turtles in the middle of the pond in the museum! Maybe that would be a cool place to get the turtle to?!

It was astonishing to see the historical Mayas and Oaxaca artifacts including so much more! 🙂 On the way back, I was riding the bus home in the evening, and saw two little girls putting stickers the size of a penny in people’s hands and hoping to get some money. It was sad to see these two sisters so late at night with stickers so small, for a little bit of money. I saw a couple give them their half empty bottle of Coke, and after the girls walked away down the metro train, the boy of the couple pulled out many coins of his pocket but did not give them any. It broke my heart. Yes, I know they are probably working for their parents, and have a good gig going based on them being little, but no one gave them anything this night. I saw them getting off the stop at Patriotismo, and I got off early too, motioned to the oldest sister, and gave them 20 pesos and walked away. I hoped they would use it for something they needed and would not tell their parents so they could get a goo meal or something they wanted, as I am sure their parents would not expect a 20 bill peso to be given out, so I hoped.

I thought about it and realized I never really gave much money to anyone at home, mostly because it seemed they were scammers, yet in Mexico, I feel they are more deserving and genuine, whether they are older or younger…strange, eh?

I see myself growing closer to students here, and we hit it off well. I am going to a roughing it camping trip with the freshmen, wow, this will be an experience for 3 days, lol. I like the outdoors events we do though, as I enjoy that element. I am seeng many mini projects from Banned Books representation, making videos for the library as far as informational, beginning weeding out of books and inventory of the library, as well as various ways to get the cadets to be more active!

I want to see myself grow in the area of learning Spanish better (classes are a bit overwhelming but I want to study harder and memorize more), I want to grow in the media area to be a leader, PD instructor, and mentor for technology in the school, I want to develop the system of bills being paid in the U.S. smoother, and I want to become more knowledgable about Mexico and the people surrounding me. I have a long way to go, but I see these goals as making me a better persona as well.

I miss my friends, XC team miserably, PAVE badly, and alot of things of DE, but do not miss the experience of education and people I am meeting on a cultural level, this is making me more aware of needs of others and being less selfish in my own life. I am excited to be here, and overwhelmed with the generosity and humbleness of the people around me.

We are looking to travel with the Literacy Magazine Staff in March to Columbia University in New York like we did with the yearbook, and that excites me alot! Additionally, this weekend we have a college fair, so things are a mix of social and school, which is a nice change…:)

I am sure I have more, but being 4:27 AM, I wanted to rip this off before it all escaped my memory, and I am thinking of sleep, XC’s meet at Tidewater today (GREAT PLACE!), and things I have been lucky enough to do…

Which brings me back to Mary (mentioned in the beginning) – It amazes me how much I have gotten to know the cadets (library aides here) since starting ASF and how much we joke and have gotten to know each other. The title Double Vision is true, when you watch those videos you see things that appear as one thing, but in reality are different. That is so true n the surface with Mexico, and all the students and the situations here. There is always room for complaints because a system is flawed, no system is perfect, BUT, give it time and you will see surface so much to be grateful for, it is hard to recollect it all in words let alone thoughts! 🙂

Whew…Okay, let me back up….Friday this week I knew I still was bogged down with preparing for the ASOMEX Conference we were Presenting ON SATURDAY! LOl, AGH! However, after the official kick off Friday night with a great speaker, Marco Torres, (Check him out!), I was getting excited! I watched this utube video of him, and some of the material was similar (and this was 2009) but he was smart enough to pick topics that STILL are relevant today in 2011! 🙂 I think there are some lessons to be learned in the message he brought to educators, librarians, and administration in 2011! 🙂

Friday night,a new book store opened, Under the Volcano Books given as a reference to me from Daniel Hamilton! Let me tell you, after leaving the cocktail/mingling ceremony following the keynote speaker, I walked a friend from the metro and went to find the bookstore. I went a few times on the Chiapas street, but no go? Where was it? I really wanted to find it! I went home, rechecked the address, and did the mapquest walk and heck, I was on a mission to try again! 🙂 Overall the distance was about 6k each way…so I WAS going to try and find this place! (It was 8:30PM now!)

I walked past and saw numbers on the right street, jump from 38 and 42, where was 40 Chiapas?! 🙂 Ahha! Found it! It was down the end of an alley, and wow! An awesome looking house, where the last grand opening was held, books on sale, to fund the opening of the new bookstore Under the Volcano Books! I met the owner, and it was exciting to see an English bookstore in Mexico, and a group of people all interested in the same venture for books! 🙂 I found Amanda, Mark, Daniel, and others I met from the ASOMEX Conference I just met from ASF there, it was great! Some of the best places I am finding involve a search, new friends, and different locations! I headed back to put some final touches on the Saturday presentation, and out like a light!

🙂 ASOMEX! Saturday! I have to say, I was so excited to see a mix of Librarians, ADMIN, faculty, all teachers from elementary, secondary, primary together, and it worked well! 🙂

It was neat to see the vendors there too…

I have to say I learned so many things…:) Take a look at our page for the presentation!

I tried to stack the page, combined with Elaine, with the many things I had tried and used in and out of the classroom. BUT WOW! The workshops I went to were awesome!

1- Finding polleverywhere.com and 2 – todaysmeet.com ! WOW! Check them out! Oh there is more! Check out 3 – Edmondo.com!

Also, WOW< this is great. TED…..FIRST check out RSA….

then check out Ted Robinson and CHANGING PARADIGMS! HOLY COW!

As if this was not enough – we went to Alejandro Archundia! OHMYGOSH! We put clown noses on took pictures in iphoto, of various expressions, switched places with different peoples’ laptops, and took similar pictures, as a basis for a story writing workshop! WOW! IT WORKED! And I learned how to to imovie in 5 minutes! These were unbelievably educational and exciting!

When we did out workshop it was a challenge to get all in within 2 hours! Elaine was awesome and showed she did so much more than what a typical “Librarian” is supposed to do, and that was the main goal, showing the fact that the word Librarian is a joke, there is oh so much more a good librarian does! 🙂 It is not for just book shelving anymore, lol … I hope the resources we provided were enough to show there is so much out there!

Overall, this approach to a conference is GREAT! I was excited to see this much challenge to teachers and possibility 🙂

Very exciting and wow, not a bad way to spend a weekend with so many valuable resources to use! I hope this can carry on to NCTE in Chicago, Illinois! 🙂 (Fingers crossed).

ASOMEX…Wait until you see our workshop….

Titled:Breathing New Life into the Educator and Classroom . Technology at Your Fingertips for the Taking by Elaine Fong & Harry Brake, US Librarians – MS 206

and scheduled for Saturday, we bring to the all around educate the first ever world-created virtual classroom offering courses to teachers for FREE in all aspects of education, links to some of the latest and greatest tools to solidify basic tenets of educations, as well as the insights and FYI’s to Kindles, ebooks, Ipads, and more. All resources presented will give attendees a chance to begin utilizing these immediately, whether you are a Math teach searching for the newest method to tutor in basic to complex concepts, to the media resourcer in need of a fresh perspective, this cohort will equip you beyond the 21st Century!

I just checked out Glen Richard’s VLOG, (yes, video blogging!) – He has just arrived to India! If you are interested, you need to follow their 6 month adventure in India! Where you may ask? Well, great question! 🙂 HERE!
http://carmelcalling.blogspot.com/

I think there is so much truth when I read Glen’s blog about the anxiety of something so new, but having alot of people somewhere else supporting you. The people I have met mean so much to me and propel me forward into new things and that is how I can do these things, I think anyone is capable if they simply, let go.

I also love the possibilities of blogging, and vlogging, opposed to what facebook offers. Here you have a diary of thoughts and helpful reflections from people across the world. I see facebook as the table of contents to so much more, and facebook has opened the world up so much!

I hope many others will begin their blogs and vlogs base dont he many adventures and experiences that will motivate others to do so as well! 🙂

EL GRITO!!!!

Okay, so what is all the hype about El Grito? What is it? I found myself asking THE SAME THING, after finding out it means “The Cry”. Well, it IS a big deal! It was the cry that signaled the “cry” for independence of Mexico! 🙂 So, yes, a HUGE reason to celebrate!

Lost in the activities of El Grito, I found the students’ energy exciting and I was honored to be included as a part of this! 🙂 A huge food bazaar, Mariachi’s playing the traditional music, clubs from ASF represented, to ballons, pinata’s of every shape, size color, flags, painted faces, and so much more, EL GRITO!

At 6:28, I raced into the library and got SKYPE working and forgot about the time difference! OH NO! 🙂 However, I did manage to catch the XC TEAM thanks to the FYI’ing of the Taylors and it was so GREAT to see them! It made El Grito night perfect.

With having so many cool literary magazine students here, as well as reuniting with the Seaford gang, then later that night talking with Priyanka what more could you want out of a night, it was PERFECT! Friends are so much more important than anything, and tomorrow is the big day for XC their first meet! 🙂 It is metaphoric for them, tomorrow is their day to be INDEPENDENT of former times and release their possibilities!

Not much more can make a great beginning to El Grito, in Mexico and abroad…I am rich in close friends and love them dearly….:) So yes……EL GRITOOOOOOOOOOOO 🙂

First in Spanish…..

Metro premia al usuario 48 mil 500 millones
Por Agencia el Universal | El Universal – Hace 7 horas
CONTENIDO RELACIONADO
Artículo: UNAM y GDF ofrecen transporte seguro a estudiantes
El Universal – Hace 5 horas
Artículo: Matemáticas para mejorar al transporte público
El Universal – Hace 11 horas
Artículo: SSPDF resguarda cruces nocturnos de Línea A del Metro
El Universal – dom, 11 sep 2011
MÉXICO, D.F., septiembre 13 (EL UNIVERSAL).- El Sistema de Transporte Colectivo (STC) Metro llegó al usuario número 48 mil 500 millones y lo premió con un paquete de diversos aparatos electrodomésticos.
Pasadas las 12:00 horas de este martes, la señora Juana Emilia Aniceto cruzó uno de los torniquetes de la estación Chapultepec de la línea 1 del Metro y fue recibida con fanfarrias, confeti y aplausos por ser la usuaria 48 mil 500 millones.
La señora, de 58 años, y con cáncer de mama, se dirigía a la estación Hospital General de la línea 3, donde recibe quimioterapias desde hace un año y medio.
Sin embargo, al ingresar a la estación, donde los funcionarios del Metro le informaron que se había convertido en una pasajera distinguida. Le entregaron una serie de aparatos, entre ellos, una televisión de plasma de 32 pulgadas, un refrigerador, una plancha, un tostador

Now in English!…

Mexico, D. F. , September 13 (THE UNIVERSAL) .- The Collective Transport System (STC) Metro arrived to the user number 48 thousand 500 million and rewarded him with a package of various household appliances.
Past the 12:00 PM hours of this Tuesday, Mrs. Juana Emilia Aniceto crossed one of the turnstile at the Chapultepec station of line 1 of the Metro and was received with fanfare, confetti and applause for being the user 48 thousand 500 million.
The lady, 58 years, and with breast cancer, he was going to the station General Hospital on line 3, where he receives chemotherapies since a year and half ago.
However, upon entering the station, where the Metro officials informed him that he had become a transient distinguished. Delivered a series of appliances, among them, a plasma television of 32 inches, a refrigerator, an iron, a toaster, a fan and a battery of kitchen. un extractor y una batería de cocina.

Friday! Not sure why, but it was a good day, and well…

School – had an exciting feeling all day, not sure why. Met with some excited students who are very talented with possibilities of a lit mag, and it fueled me up and got me very excited, maybe it was the pizza?!

The day was good, Friday, out the door, ice cream in honor of Amanda’s belated birthday (did she get ANY?!), off to Costco’s. Got an awesome cushy pillow, (AWESOME!) – boxers, (always good), socks, shirt, jeans, some cool healthy snacks….:) Thanks Elaine for the Costco card visit!

Some great conversation with friends, out to a GREAT, AWESOME restaurant, LA Vid….great steak, great buffet…damper though, the waiter asked for a certain % tip….this bothered me in the fact that it was a buffet, but heck, do you have to tip hen the waiter fills your drink, takes your plates, (I am yes at this point), but then tells you you need to think about leaving when others are still getting their meals, and then asks for a % of a tip? This was the downside of this, but let me tell you scenery was BEAUTIFUL, FOOD DELICIOUS, wait staff need to have some etiquette regarding the over customer service.

No worries, we left, got a cab home, the cab driver did something that struck me as, well you do not see this every day. A violin player came by the car, an older man, and the cab driver gave the older man a tip of change, and I never saw a cab driver do that on his own. It stunned me, and my friend Chris was awesome enough to say how good that was of a thing for him to do.

I was dropped off at my corner, and saw looking back this was a kind of stop by the police to check all cabbies for legitimacy as well as I was afraid of him getting unwanted fees as bribes from the police. On getting out I had wanted to give him a larger tip, and he did not have enough change and did not mind getting one, but in his heart, this was one of the nicest drivers I ever saw and I gave him all the change in coinage I had.

I could not tear my look over my shoulders at the inspection of his cab, scrutinizing to see if any false charges would be made to get some money out of him. Finally, after ten minutes, a thorough inspection, he was let go a okay! No fees or “charges” were found and I could not help but think his kindness to others paid him back.

Walking across the street, a man and me when the coast was clear, a refusing to stop car kept barreling through and we had to run to avoid the car, who should have stopped about 30 seconds earlier. We both shook our heads, he shared a comment in Espanol tome, I did not know what, but knew we both agreed and laughed at the opportunity the driver took to be dangerous.

Into the apartment, warm, and receiving an email saying how wonderful the library is shaping up to be lately. This made me feel quite happy as I realized how lucky I was to have been under the supervision of a GREAT librarian so far as my boss, and seeing how pleasant it is to do things others will never do, to help others out. We do so well when we are surrounded by people that care.

I talked to several parents and runners of the XC team tonight, I am as nervous as they are for their Invitational at Lake Forest tomorrow. Looking back, I see we carry people we know, just met, or have shared experiences with everywhere we go in new places or old. If we treasure and make the most of those moments, we will have those forever with us, and it will make us better people in the future.

Ironic how things always come back to some starting point.

Waves of memories, good ones, replenish you in those moments when you feel you have nothing left to give.

Looking back without regret but with smiles only is a good day.

The future is so bright, I have to wear shades….oh yes, here in Mexico and in many other places! 🙂

I love the little things that many people seem to forget about, walk past, and never think about. 🙂