April 16, 2007

"While 32 of our friends and classmates are in heaven trying to explain what a Hokie is, I stand here sure in the fact that I wouldn't want to be anything else."


April 16th, 2007 started off like any other day. I woke up and checked my e-mail. There was an e-mail saying that there had been a shooting; I was a little concerned, but continued to get ready for my day anyways. There was no e-mail saying that class was cancelled; I had a quiz in my morning class (Early Rome and Christianity). I called Hunter, and we agreed to meet in our normal spot. When I met Hunter, we talked about the shooting, and suddenly we heard tons of sirens. We kept walking towards the drillfield but everyone started running the other way. We decided to turn around and go back to our dorms. Across the drill field, a tradgedy was occuring. 


I remember going up the elevator in Lee Hall, thinking that I wouldn't have to take my Geology test that I had studied all weekend for.  I was so happy; little did I know, two students in my Geology test wouldn't make it through the morning. I spent the next hours in Lee Hall, watching the news with Cary. It was surreal-- we had to keep reminding ourselves that the events going on were right outside our window. We were told to stay away from the windows, but looking out them you could see police officers with assult rifles and all of the streets blocked off. All of the news channels were reporting different things: there had been a shooting, 2 were dead, then 4; the number just kept rising. It all felt like a bad dream.


Eventually, Cary and I could not survive on the food in our dorm rooms. We decided to walk down to Owens to grab something to eat. Campus was so eerily quiet-- there was no one around. I had never seem campus so empty, so silent- like it was mourning, too. We basically ran to Owens, only to find the TVs turned on to the news stations, people crying, and a sense of panic. No one really know what was happening.


The rest of the night passed in a blur of death totals and Facebooking. Facebook and IM were really the only way to contact people. The phone lines were down and you could maybe get one text out of a 100 out. Luckily, I was able to let my family know I was ok. 


32 victims and a gunman died that day at Virginia Tech. The Hokie Nation banded together, creating make shift memorials, holding candle light vigils and celebrating the amazing lives of those that died. People asked me if I would return to VT the next year-- I could not think of anywhere else I would ever want to be. We were all bonded togehter even more now by this common experience. Now, we are all bonded together by remembering the lives of the 32 victims, by remembering their potential and cherishing every day a little more in their memory. 


"When others have moved on and life resumes its course, for us, there is only one emotion left: LOVE. Love for this university, love for the people who died on April 16th, 2007, and love for those who are left behind."


Live for 32.

Nashville, Tennessee

The beginning of my Spring Break was mainly working and getting lesson planning done. But on Thursday, I headed to Nashville to see Cary. I've never been to Nashville, or Tennessee for anything but driving through it, so it was a new experience!


Thursday evening, Cary picked me up from the airport and we went to dinner at a little Italian place. Nashville is quite the cool city-- there are all sorts of trendy neighborhoods and shops. They have some of the cutest houses I have ever seen. They also have tons of cute children in private school uniforms! Dinner was wonderful and it was great just to catch up a little bit.

On Friday, Cary had to go help save childrens' lives at the hospital, so Clint and I went to the Parthenon. It was so cool! It was built for a fair in Nashville (along with pyramids, DC buildings, etc) and eventually became a permanent feature. It is much different than the real Parthenon- no scaffolding, not falling down, not at the top of a big rock, not quite as magnificent; but it is still really cool! The inside is a museum with information on how it became a permanent fixture and photography from local artists. Upstairs, however, is a replica of the Athena statue that would have been in the real Parthenon. It was HUGE! They always tell you how big she would have been, but it is hard to imagine. Overall, a very cool building and a great way for students to become interested in the Classics!

Athena (The ropes in front are like movie theatre ropes if that gives you some perspective of size.)

After Cary got back from the hospital, we headed to a yummy frozen yogurt joint in another cute part of town. We had beautiful weather and just sat outside for quite a long time! For dinner, we headed downtown to the Hard Rock Cafe. Downtown Nashville is so cool! Suddenly there are tons of neon lights, live music, and people singing on the street. There are places to buy cowboy boots and horse carriage rides. It is definitely a unique place. We had dinner and drinks at the Hard Rock and again enjoyed the weather walking around.


On Saturday, Cary and I hung out beside the pool. Woo for being outside! Her apartment complex is very well manicured so we enjoyed the flowers and trees and the warmth. For lunch we headed to Cheesecake Factory (we go to Cheesecake Factory almost every time were together!) still enjoying the weather on the patio and walked around the mall until it was time to go to the airport. Nashville was so cool, I did not want to leave! Especially when I landed in Norfolk and it was cold and rainy! It was so great to get away, if only for a few days.


Now, it is back to student teaching. I have 4.5 weeks left. I am only teaching the I & II years now, so it is all down hill from here. It is crazy how fast it is going. In a little over a month I will be graduated! I signed my letter of intent today with FCPS-- I feel like such a real person. I hope everyone else enjoyed their weekend and/or spring break!

Exciting Times

The past week has been a little bit (ok a-lot-a-bit) crazy. Last Sunday I woke up with stomach pains; they kept getting worse and eventually Dan took me to Urgent Care. Poor boy, he always seems to be around when I'm sick! Urgent Care sent me to the ER (they thought it could be my appendix). Long story short, I went to the ER Sunday night and Monday night- they did CT scans each time, blood work, etc and could not find anything. 


On Tuesday, I had an interview with Frederick County Public Schools. I was still in pain but Dad drove me and I made it through. It seemed to go really well and is the first job that I've interviewed for that was only for Latin (not Latin and English). Once home from the interview, Mom drove me back to Williamsburg because I had to get back to my students. 

On Wednesday, I heard from FCPS, they wanted me to send a writing sample and my unofficial transcripts. By the end of the day, they unofficially offered me the job. Friday, the school board called and it was official! I am going to be a Latin teacher! At my rival high school! If you had of asked me my senior year of high school if I would be teaching Latin at Millbrook in 5 years I would have laughed. It is funny where life takes us!

Dan also found out some new information about Korea. He is not going to be in Seoul, but at Camp Mu Juk in Pohang. From our research, it is about 250 miles from Seoul and only a few from the coast. It is mainly used to house Marines on training missions and only has about 32 full-time Marines. Sounds like a fun place. However, it does have a new multimillion dollar gym- Dan is very excited about that!   


Danny will be on leave starting May 11 (my last day of student teaching) until about June 21st. He doesnt have his exact date to fly out yet, but it is nice to know when he will be on leave! May 15th is my graduation, and then we are going on a cruise to The Grand Caymans and Cozumel from May 21-26. Then it is off to the Jersey Shore (my first time!) for Memorial Day and back to the DC area for a wedding on the 29th. May is going to be a very fun month!


This week was definitely eventful, so this weekend I am just hanging out and resting. I am feeling better but not 100%. Oh yeah, I am on Spring Break! No students for a whole week. I am working for most of the week and then heading to Nashville to visit Cary for a few days. I am so excited to get out of Williamsburg, see Cary, and relax! Then it is back to the grind for the second half of student teaching. Life is exciting!

Summer Hats & Skittles

Although this weekend is going to be cold, summer really is almost here! I am halfway through my student teaching and graduate in 7 weeks! Judging by how quickly the first half of student teaching went, this will be here before I know it! 


This summer is starting to look pretty exciting as well! I have graduation on May 15th, Dan and I are planning on a cruise, and two weeks at the best place on earth (more details here). Im not sure what Im going to do for work, and Dan will be leaving in June, but as of now, it looks like Im going to be spending lots of time in the sun!

A bit more realistic

kim cattrall 

After the ordeal of this Fall, I definitely will be wearing lots of sunscreen. However, I really want a big, floppy, summer hat à la Samantha in The Sex and the City Movie. Obviously, this is a bit extreme, and Im not so sure it could even be worn indoors, but I want to find something to shade my face but also look cute. I saw one at Banana Republic but it was a bit big... any suggestions?

This wasnt even all of them...

And to keep me sane until this summer, Danny (aka best boyfriend ever) has brought me enough skittles to last until graduation! Yay! He is here for the weekend, so once he gets up (he is on night shift) we are headed to my high school for a baseball game! 


Next week is another interview and the last week of teaching before spring break! Yay! Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

Signs of Life

A tree outside the Grad Plex

I love warm weather, Spring, flowering trees, and lighter evenings. When I got back to Williamsburg last weekend, it seemed that out of no where there were tons of flowering trees and daffodils. Tomorrow, the high is 79, and all of these new signs of life are encouraging. 


However, halfway around the world, the signs of life are not so encouraging. They are in need of water, shelter, and every basic need. Last Friday, I woke up to a text from my mom saying "Erin is ok." I was so glad to know this before turning on the TV and seeing all of the devastation. My cousin is an English teacher in Japan and was at school with her students during the earthquake. Luckily, they are all ok. Many of the roads are buckled and there is still not running water places, but they are doing well. They are only about 125 miles from the nuclear plant, so she is going to a friend's house further away until it is safe. She is so brave to stay there and help when Japan needs it the most. I love you, Erin! 


Erin shared a few links with ways to help Japan: 


-Buy a bow to show your support- all proceeds go to the relief effort! Click here!

Me, Erin, and Holly in 2007

-The Japan-America Society of Georgia has a fund for relief efforts as well. Click here!


Hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend!

Celebrations

With all of the craziness of student teaching, I don't get out of my room much! But last weekend, I was off to Winchester to celebrate one of my long-time friend's birthdays. This was a no-brainer-- I have pictures of us from my 5th birthday (It was a Halloween party- I was a princess, I believe and Sarah was a cowgirl. There was even a hayride!) and 6th birthday (Barney!), so missing this was out of the question. On the way to Winchester, I picked up my Mom and Lilly, so the drive was enjoyable. After dropping Lilly off at the Kolar residence it was off to birthday dinner and then out for drinks. It was so good to see all of my favorite people- The Blonde Squad, my best friends from high school, my parents, Momma and Daddy Ford, and of course Dan (with his new schedule, there is no telling when I actually see him). We all had a wonderful dinner, caught up, and spent the rest of the evening in downtown Winchester. Winchester isn't the most happening place in the world, but it has a few bars, and you always run into a few people from high school. Overall, it was a good evening topped off with brunch the next morning back at the Ford's (french toast and bacon- yes, please!)

The Blondes together again!

Kevin and the birthday girl!

On Friday, I have an interview at Gar-Field High School in Prince William County. I'm nervous! We did mock interviews the other day in class (must remember to slow down and remember teacher-like words!) so I think that I will be ok, but it is still scary. The real world is approaching fast. And I like to make plans. Sooo, not knowing where I will be working, or living, or anything is hard for me. I keep telling myself to live in the moment. So on that note, I will leave you with amazing words from my friend Jay:

The gift of life is everything else that is anything, everything that is not nothing - color, clouds, laughter, food, your favorite song, family, that feeling in your heart when you fall in love, the joy of seeing a child achieve, and everything from reese's peanut butter cups to trips to amazing places. How lucky are we to experience such beautiful miracles of life.

So this week, I am trying to find beautiful moments every day!

I can do anything for a year.....

I can do anything for a year... this has been my mantra since May when I came to grad school. I knew that completing my Masters in only one year would be intense, but I just kept thinking that I could do anything for a year. So, here I am, about 2 months away from graduating (!!!) and I am so glad that I decided on a one year program. I learned a lot and I'm so ready to be a teacher and have my own classroom. So, I can do anything for a year, right?


Well, next year will be another test. Danny found out about a week ago that he will be going to Korea for a year. It was very unexpected news, but I am trying to focus on all the good things:
1. Dan will have more time to finish his degree
2. Korea is not Iraq or Afghanistan- he will be safe
3. I will get to visit Korea!
4. Dan will get to experience a new culture 


Dan will leave sometime in June (we still don't have all the details yet) and return the next June, most likely on terminal leave. Hopefully, before he leaves we will get to take a fun vacation (in between my graduating and his leaving- any suggestions for fun trips?)  It will be interesting getting used to the time differences and the new ways of talking, but we can do it. We will be long-distance relationship experts! Then, when he returns he will be done with the Marines and ready to start something new. It will definitely be an adventure!