We’ve given up…

24 Jan 2010 02:41 pm | Category: Eric, Sharn

So, as you may or may not be able to guess, we’ve kinda given up on the blog :) We’re not sure what we’re going to do with this space as of yet, so we’ll continue leaving the blog up.  Who knows, we may decide to come back! In the meantime, feel free to see what’s going on in our lives through Facebook.

Eric and Sharn

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The Cougars Lost :(

21 Sep 2009 09:44 am | Category: Uncategorized

I’m still heartbroken over the poor performance of the Cougars this past weekend.  FSU were good, but we just really sucked :( What should have been a good game turned into a blow-out.

I think I’m going to go into mourning cause of this.

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I killed it!!

26 Aug 2009 05:10 pm | Category: Uncategorized

I can’t believe it! I killed my cactus! A cactus! It doesn’t even need watering often and I killed it! It’s not even really much of a cactus. It was a cactus I bought in Arizona and it’s mounted on a magnet, so it’s really small. And I killed it. Wow, seriously don’t get me plants.

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First day of 2nd grade

24 Aug 2009 04:43 pm | Category: Sharn, Work

I’m exhausted!!! Seriously! I think I had too much fun over the summer, and too much lazing around, that the first day of work just completely exhausted me! I even had plenty of sleep last night! I slept for at least 8 hours last night. But being on your feet and talking for 6 hours is exhausting. Especially when you have to be entertaining! You have to speak with lots of energy, wave your arms and act silly so they have your attention. 2nd grade is exhausting!!!!

3rd grade last year, the students were more independent. They actually listen, even if you’re on your down day and just can’t be that upbeat for 6 hours. But 2nd grade, no! Any minute you lose the energy, you lose them. There has to be a better way to be engaging, but not to the point of exhaustion. Or is there? Maybe you just need that kind of energy and character to keep their attention.

I have a great class, though. 5 boys and 16 girls. The boys are so well-behaved!! Usually the boys are the trouble makers. But this year, most likely I have girls as my trouble makers. There’s this one girl, OMG!! Killing me! Cannot sit still, cannot stand still, doesn’t listen. I’m gonna have to move her to the front of the class under my nose.

There’s still so much getting used to in 2nd grade. I need to get over this learning curve. I was at least 20 minutes behind on each subject today. Good things it’s just the first day of school and it’s just a lot of practicing routines and procedures. So, I did get done with all I needed to do today.

Ugh! And extended class is in my classroom. That means no peace and quiet for me in my room after school. Kids are there. Parents come in to pick up the kids. Ugh!!!

Ah well, tomorrow is another day. Good luck to me!

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Another school year!

23 Aug 2009 04:16 pm | Category: Sharn, Work

Summer is officially over! School is starting tomorrow. Wow, can’t believe how short this summer seemed. It felt like it went by so fast. It was a jam-packed summer. In 2 months we moved to a new apartment, went to England, went to Australia, had friends come visit, and put on 5 pounds. Yah, the last one not so fun.

I’m still working at Challenger School. Our campus has really expanded! The Pomeroy campus’s lease was up, so they moved all the teachers over. That campus only had preschool and kindergarten. Now we have almost 850 students and almost a hundred staff (and still less than 50 parking spots!!) We have a new elementary director, and I’m teaching a new grade! I taught 3rd grade the last two years. This year I’m going to be teaching 2nd grade. I didn’t really have much of a say in that. Enrollment for 3rd grade this year dropped significantly, so they had to drop one class. And there was an increase in enrollment for 2nd grade, so they had to add another class! Which works out for me I guess. If enrollment dropped, and they had to let go of any teachers, it would probably would have been me since I was the newest teacher! So, new year, new grade.

I’m excited about teaching 2nd grade. In 2nd grade, they’re still young and innocent. They still want to please you and want you to like them. So, it’s easier to make them do things you want them to. In 3rd grade, they’ve got more of their own initiative and sometimes rather cheeky, and not as cute anymore. In 2nd grade, they’re still cute. So, I’m excited!!

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Probable cause?!

01 May 2009 07:12 am | Category: Sharn, Work

Our school was closed by the Public Health Department yesterday because a kindergardener tested probable for the swine flu virus. Slightly alarming, I guess. Well, perfect timing. I’m really backed up in my grading, so now I have a week to catch up! And I’ll try to catch up on blogging as well!!

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Valentines’ Day

11 Mar 2009 08:52 pm | Category: Celebrations, Eric, Sharn

Like Eric said, we spent another Valentines’ Day apart. This is the second year in a row. And of course, he never fails to surprise me. He sent flowers to my school for me. So sweet!

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Random Food in Random Cities

01 Mar 2009 08:49 am | Category: Food, Japan

Wow, it’s definitely been a while since we’ve posted.  My bad for that.  Been busy with work (not a real excuse I know).  So, another brief catch-up:

As mentioned before, we went to Hong Kong and Singapore for Christmas.  We saw both sets of parents, Shem, and Sarah, and did (in my mind) waaaaay too much shopping =)  Good thing we could only take so much home.  Since then, I had my golden birthday (27 on the 27th of Jan) and we had yet another Valentine’s Day apart.  I’ll get around to posting photos from our trip and other things that have been going on…soon (I seem to say that a lot and never get around to it).

Other than that, in reference to the post title, Hamburg, Germany is a really pretty place to visit I’m sure in the summer.  In the winter…if you’re not German, don’t bother going =) It’s grey, on grey, on grey (sounds a lot like Intel – http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/08/conan-obrien-visits-mocks-intel-hq/).  BUT if you do happen to go, regardless of when, some of the best sushi I’ve had is found at a little shop called “Happi Sushi” near the corner of Valentinskamp and Neue ABC-Strasse:

The sushi was surprisingly fresh, the udon noodles super good, and on the day we went it was run by this tiny Japanese grandma and her grandson.  A definite must go to regardless of whether or not you’re craving sushi.

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International Meal

13 Feb 2009 07:51 pm | Category: Food, Sharn, Work

I wish I had photos. Cos it was a real spread.

A few of the teachers that I have lunch with decided to do a potluck. It will be Valentines’ day tomorrow, so we decided to have a little party on our own. We later realized that all of us were from a different culture. We had Persian, Pakistani, Mexican, Indian, Russian, American, and me, Singaporean. I had food that I don’t know the names of. Boy, it was yum! Made Eric real jealous when I was describing my meal to him. Don’t need to go to any fancy restaurant. Just have lunch at your local Challenger School teacher’s lunch room. That’s way I love California. All this diversity.

Like I said, wish I had photos!

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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

30 Dec 2008 10:12 pm | Category: Celebrations, Travel

We just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Hopefully we’ll post more later but best wishes to all from baggage claim 12 at the Hong Kong airport where we’re still waiting for our luggage…hopefully it comes soon :) my feet hurt from all of Sharn’s shopping trips. Not sure how much more standing I can take!

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