Week One

As this week draws to a close I wanted to share a bit of what my first week at Groton-Dunstable Regional Middle School was like. I walked in on my first day to students already greeting me and shouting my name down the hall, that was pretty encouraging. I did an activity with all four of my classes where they were to create a personal flag. Seeing as I am now teaching geography, I thought this would be a good way for me to tie in the subject matter with me getting to know their names and a little bit about them. It provide to be a fairly successful activity, but I definitely learned who my shy ones were and there seemed to be a good handful. Over the week though, I saw quite a few more personalities emerge and I am looking forward to seeing them blossom and getting more comfortable with me. Though already, some a little too comfortable and I finally needed to start laying down the law more as the week went on. I think they are begin to realize who I am as a teacher and how their time with me will be though and I have seen how we will be able to mesh as a community for my time there.

We are currently working on Asia. They wrapped up with Africa right before I began so I worked with them this week on getting to know all the countries, capitals and major physical features. It is pretty amazing how true it is that you never really know something until you teach it. I am already learning so much myself and I am very excited about how much I am going to expand my own knowledge of both social studies and teaching while helping these students learn too. Next, we are moving on to do a more narrow study of Japan then onto China and then Iran. It is great being a window for middle schoolers into the cultures, events and features of countries around the globe. I definitely think I am falling for the idea of teaching middle school, especially social studies, more and more.

More updates to come as the weeks go on. I feel very lucky to have this chance to expand my experience and will be sure to keep a record of my adventures in Groton.

New Gigs

After returning from the honeymoon and UK family time, it was time to get down to business a.k.a operation - find Rinnie a job. I finished my course work 3 days before we left for the UK and though I did some "professional development" while in the UK, my main priority had to be finding a job on this side of the pond for the time being. The first week home I jumped headfirst into job search mode. I was lucky enough to land 3 interviews in the first 2 weeks. I ended up becoming a finalist for one, but alas, I was not the ideal fit.

The search continued and on February 4th, I had an interview out at Groton-Dunstable Regional Middle School for a Long Term 7th Grade Social Studies Substitute Teacher Position (phew, that's a long title). Anyways, the interview seemed to go well and I felt good, but that overwhelming need to play my own devil's advocate came into play shortly after the interview. Convincing myself that I had not been searching long enough, that I had been disappointed already in this process and this could potentially be another disappointment were just a few of the thoughts which crossed my mind. I knew that applying for teaching jobs was going to be stressful at the time of year I chose to do so, it was inevitable, but I knew that I wanted to get my MA done and I wanted to be on the path to a new career sooner rather than later.

Less than 24 hours after my interview, I got the call. I was full of all sorts of thoughts - I would be teaching Geography (well, better break out the atlas), I would be coming in more than mid-way through the year and of course the distance. Coincidentally, I spent last summer working out in Littleton, MA as Indian Hill Music's Summer Music choreographer and Groton is just the next town over. I never even knew these towns existed and here I am working in two of them less than a year apart from one another. Do I smell a hint of fate or I am just being a bit superstitious? Hmm...

As one might guess, I am excited. I am so looking forward to being back in the classroom and to adding to my teaching experience. It is such an empowering feeling to be doing something I have worked, planned and dreamed about for such a long time. Choosing one's path is so much more fulfilling than feeling like you have to follow one laid out for you. Stay tuned for updates from the front lines because no matter how much I love and want to teach, there are always decent war stories to be told in this profession.

P.S. - I also just took on the role of choreographer in Riverside Theatre Works' upcoming production of Annie Get Your Gun. Please check out their website for more details - www.rtwboston.com

Roman Holiday

As I think we've said before, 2009 was a whirlwind kind of year. We started off with moving to a new apartment, then running the Boston Marathon, getting engaged in Sydney, traveling to California a couple times, to Guelph and I also left my job at Northeastern to finish my Masters and student teach. On top of it all we thought, why not plan a wedding? We tend to enjoy being busy, though I am sure most of you know that.

Saying that, our honeymoon was something that had to be planned on the fly. We knew we were going to be in the UK for a good stint as many relatives, including both my sister-in-laws, could not make it to Boston for the event. We decided to have a party at Matt's cousin Sarah's restaurant (The Lemon Tree) in Hornsea, Yorkshire on the 27th of December so that those who could not make it could celebrate our marriage with us. This coupled with Christmas and New Year's meant that the honeymoon had to exist around all the time we knew we wanted to spend with family. We figured we would have an immediate mini-moon and at a future date, have another longer honeymoon. I finished student teaching on the 12th of December and we were on a plane on the 15th. I spent a good chunk of time with my 8th graders studying the Reformation, so when Matt mentioned Rome, I thought - Perfetto!

We spent about 6 days in Rome staying opposite the Tiber in the Donna Laura Hotel. The weather was a bit rainy and cold, but welcome compared to Boston winter. We wandered the streets of Rome stumbling upon history in such capacities that I could sometimes barely comprehend being from the good "Ole" US of A. Just strolling on the street you realize how many people have crossed the same bridge, stared at the same buildings, leaned on the same wall. The sites and sounds are such a unique amalgamation of ancient and modern. The blending as well of Roman culture with those of other European nations and the United States was something that made me feel alien and at home all at once. I did not dream in all my life I would be walking towards the Pantheon hearing Lady Gaga drift out of the speakers of a posh clothing shop. Each day brought new sites and sounds and every time I spotted something I studied in college it made feel as if I finally was completing parts of my academic adventures.

Our Roman Holiday brought us into a new chapter of our life together. It marked another experience which is uniquely Matt and Rinnie and reminded us once again why we are each others' favorite travel mates. We started an amazing journey in 2009 and we ended it in a fashion which we hope marks the majority of our lives - in discovering fun, love and life in new and exciting places, together.

Carpe diem!

Frame By Frame

After being away for about a month overseas we were not able to jump right on some of the post-wedding activities that come along after such an event. One of the ones we were both looking forward to the most was going through the professional photographs. We luckily have some amazing friends and family who took great pictures and put them up on Facebook very soon after the wedding which was wonderful and much appreciated. We really wanted to be able to sit down though and relive that wonderful evening through the lens of a great photographer - Todd Gieg. Todd took the photos for my Aunt Diane's wedding and for my grandparents' 60th Anniversary celebration. He has a really interesting approach to visually documenting these kinds of social gatherings and truly captures the emotion and personalities of everyone involved. Needless to say, when the package arrived with the photos - we were psyched!

From the start of evening through the hours of dining, dancing and speeches, the photos have captured our wedding bliss and we could not be happier. If you are a Facebook friend quite a few of the photos are up and accessible through either of our profiles. If not here are a couple more examples:



Now onto formal thank yous and breaking in all the beautiful wedding gifts. I am sure we will be posting information on a "kitchen gadget warming" party soon.