Ok, maybe I'm being a little dramatic, but last week I experienced three different events coming to a head at the same time: the beginning of a new session, going home for a long weekend and completing my application. One of them by itself, would have been fine but all three together made for a challenging week that I'm still recovering from.
So, here's a brief update.
The first two weeks of the session have had their challenging moments. I am teaching one new class so that is keeping me busy. Overall, I do enjoy my students and am continuing to enjoy being in the IEP classroom. Just need to get used to teaching new material again.
Despite the timing, my time home went well! It was great to see family and friends and to worship at Rez on Sunday morning. I'm sad I wasn't able to see more friends, but it was a really quick trip On Sunday afternoon we had a party for the October birthdays in my family. It was really great to see everyone and experience Mom's delicious home cooking.
After much angst, my application for one of the FT positions is in. I should now expect to hear back at the end of the month if I made the first cut. I heard they received a great number of application. I'm trying to just leave it in God's hands and see what the future holds. The position would not begin until March 1. Meanwhile, I will keep looking at websites back in Illinois, so as to not put all my eggs in this one basket.
Until next week...
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Reflections between sessions
It's a beautiful crisp fall day here in Delaware. My first session ended with the last day of classes on Thursday and getting grades in on Friday. There isn't much recovery time between sessions since we meet our new students tomorrow morning and then start classes on Tuesday. I am thankful that I will be teaching in the same building and that I have just one new class prep...a higher level Reading/Writing class. Overall, it feels great to have one session under my belt and am looking forward to meet my new students.
Besides preparing for and teaching classes this week, I also need to finish my application for one of the permanent full time positions that will begin in March. The deadline is October 31st and I am needing to revise my resume and cover letter and then also provide a lesson plan and summary of past evaluations.
In addition, I will be needing to prepare for a sub for next Monday's class as I am flying home to Chicago for a long weekend to see family and friends and retrieve some much needed supplies: more cold weather clothes and teaching supplies. I am so looking forward to going home. Hope to see some of you while I'm there.
So how do I feel after one session? Well, I'm mostly very happy to be back in an IEP* environment. It looks like I could stay here, as long as the students keep coming, if I'd like. But since I really would like a job with insurance and competition here is pretty stiff, I must keep my eyes open for other FT opportunities elsewhere, especially IL. Do let me know if you hear of any opportunities.
Ok..need to work on my application. Prayers appreciated that I utilize my time well this week. Have a great week!
Besides preparing for and teaching classes this week, I also need to finish my application for one of the permanent full time positions that will begin in March. The deadline is October 31st and I am needing to revise my resume and cover letter and then also provide a lesson plan and summary of past evaluations.
In addition, I will be needing to prepare for a sub for next Monday's class as I am flying home to Chicago for a long weekend to see family and friends and retrieve some much needed supplies: more cold weather clothes and teaching supplies. I am so looking forward to going home. Hope to see some of you while I'm there.
So how do I feel after one session? Well, I'm mostly very happy to be back in an IEP* environment. It looks like I could stay here, as long as the students keep coming, if I'd like. But since I really would like a job with insurance and competition here is pretty stiff, I must keep my eyes open for other FT opportunities elsewhere, especially IL. Do let me know if you hear of any opportunities.
Ok..need to work on my application. Prayers appreciated that I utilize my time well this week. Have a great week!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Firsts from the First State
Happy Friday everyone! I'm in the home stretch of the session with one more week to go and the heat is cranking up again. I had a nice reprieve in the middle of the session...but lots of tests and paperwork to get done by next Thursday. There have definitely been some rough moments, but overall, I'm really enjoying teaching here and really appreciate being back in an IEP. I am looking forward to starting a new session on October 26 with more of the big picture in my mind. As I said, I'll be applying for one of ther permanent positions and just taking it session to session for now.
Ok, time for some Delaware trivia for today.
Did you know what the slogan on Delaware license plates says? "The First State". Why's that you ask, because it was the first colony to ratify the constitution back in 1787. Tuck that away for your next trivial puruit game.
Speaking of firsts. I have experienced a few here....
1. I saw my first ground hog and it was not a video of Punxsutawney Phil being woken up last February. It actually was in our backyard. I was eating lunch the other day and briefly saw a creature in the garden that looked strange but vaguely familiar. I mentioned it to my roommate Kathy later and she said it was probably the neighborhood groundhog. I'll let you know if I have any other encounters.
2. I experienced my first nor'easter. Actually it was just a grey rainy day here in Newark but they had snow further north. Word is another nor’easter is coming in this weekend. In winter they can dump a lot of snow, so that may be fun! More on nor'easters here.
3. For the first time I'm living in a house that is heated by oil. Of course I had to do some research on it.... and I found out that over eight million households use heating oil to heat their homes in the U.S. and over 80% of those houses are in the Northeast. What does that mean for me? Well, until the cold temps came, I had to remember to turn the oil burner on in the am before turning on the shower. But now that we are needing the heat, the oil burner stays on. Yea! (never thought I'd be so excited about such a thing!)
Thanks for reading my sometimes mundane reports. Have a great weekend everyone!
Ok, time for some Delaware trivia for today.
Did you know what the slogan on Delaware license plates says? "The First State". Why's that you ask, because it was the first colony to ratify the constitution back in 1787. Tuck that away for your next trivial puruit game.
Speaking of firsts. I have experienced a few here....
1. I saw my first ground hog and it was not a video of Punxsutawney Phil being woken up last February. It actually was in our backyard. I was eating lunch the other day and briefly saw a creature in the garden that looked strange but vaguely familiar. I mentioned it to my roommate Kathy later and she said it was probably the neighborhood groundhog. I'll let you know if I have any other encounters.
2. I experienced my first nor'easter. Actually it was just a grey rainy day here in Newark but they had snow further north. Word is another nor’easter is coming in this weekend. In winter they can dump a lot of snow, so that may be fun! More on nor'easters here.
3. For the first time I'm living in a house that is heated by oil. Of course I had to do some research on it.... and I found out that over eight million households use heating oil to heat their homes in the U.S. and over 80% of those houses are in the Northeast. What does that mean for me? Well, until the cold temps came, I had to remember to turn the oil burner on in the am before turning on the shower. But now that we are needing the heat, the oil burner stays on. Yea! (never thought I'd be so excited about such a thing!)
Thanks for reading my sometimes mundane reports. Have a great weekend everyone!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
The Changing of The Green
Happy Fall everyone! I realize that I 'm a bit belated in my greeting but the leaves are just starting to change here and, well let's just say I've been a bit preoccupied getting used to my new life.
I also just found a page on the school's website where people can see a part of the U of Delaware campus that is called "The Green". At the U of I in Chambana a similar area was called "The Quad"... you know lots of grass and open space between classroom buildings... get the picture.
Well, since a few people have been asking for pictures of the area here, I thought I'd share this link so you can experience a bit of the campus. The image is actually updated every 5 seconds, so you can see people "moving" about (hey, if you'd like to see me, we can make an appointment and I can walk down the path with my pink umbrella!). It also would give you a chance to see some of the changing colors of Delaware.
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If you click on the menu to the left, you can see and learn more about the campus as well. Clicking on the "Mentor's Circle" will provide another view. The pictures in the "Views" section show The Green throughout the seasons. Check out The Green here * (you might need to use Netscape or Mozila to view the photo).
I hope this will give you a taste of what things look like here, at least on campus. How are the colors this year in your neck of the woods? I'd be interested to hear...
*Please note, that clicking during the daylight hours will provide the optimal view :).
I also just found a page on the school's website where people can see a part of the U of Delaware campus that is called "The Green". At the U of I in Chambana a similar area was called "The Quad"... you know lots of grass and open space between classroom buildings... get the picture.
Well, since a few people have been asking for pictures of the area here, I thought I'd share this link so you can experience a bit of the campus. The image is actually updated every 5 seconds, so you can see people "moving" about (hey, if you'd like to see me, we can make an appointment and I can walk down the path with my pink umbrella!). It also would give you a chance to see some of the changing colors of Delaware.
target="blank"
If you click on the menu to the left, you can see and learn more about the campus as well. Clicking on the "Mentor's Circle" will provide another view. The pictures in the "Views" section show The Green throughout the seasons. Check out The Green here * (you might need to use Netscape or Mozila to view the photo).
I hope this will give you a taste of what things look like here, at least on campus. How are the colors this year in your neck of the woods? I'd be interested to hear...
*Please note, that clicking during the daylight hours will provide the optimal view :).
Friday, October 9, 2009
Official Posting (and more)
Greetings from balmy Newark, DE. Well, it sure feels like that way after some cooler nights. It was a beautiful fall day today with temps in the high 70's. I'm not sure what is happening in your part of the world, but the leaves are just starting to change here. I'm really looking forward to seeing the fall colors framing those historic older buildings on campus. I hope to borrow a roommate's camera and actually get some visuals on my blog...stay tuned. Meanwhile, words will have to do for now.
Week 6 went by very quickly. Hard to believe there are just two weeks left in the session. Getting the parking pass in the remote lot and taking the shuttle has really made my life easier in so many ways. I actually only spent$.25 on parking this week....as opposed to $10-$15.
The other news this week is that the full time permanent openings for the ELI were finally posted (see details here). There are two positions open that I qualify for. The deadline for submitting the cover letter and CV is October 31st. I'm not sure when a final decision will be made but I'll know by November 30 if I made the first cut and then the positions will begin on March 1st. FT jobs in ESL don't come around often, so I expect the competition to be pretty tight. All I can do is give it my best shot and leave the rest in God's hands. I will definitely keep you posted.
Week 6 went by very quickly. Hard to believe there are just two weeks left in the session. Getting the parking pass in the remote lot and taking the shuttle has really made my life easier in so many ways. I actually only spent$.25 on parking this week....as opposed to $10-$15.
The other news this week is that the full time permanent openings for the ELI were finally posted (see details here). There are two positions open that I qualify for. The deadline for submitting the cover letter and CV is October 31st. I'm not sure when a final decision will be made but I'll know by November 30 if I made the first cut and then the positions will begin on March 1st. FT jobs in ESL don't come around often, so I expect the competition to be pretty tight. All I can do is give it my best shot and leave the rest in God's hands. I will definitely keep you posted.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Levelling Off
Well, week five is history and I'm happy report that it was definitely a "more level" week. There were some low points but they weren't as deep and I seemed to recover from them more quickly. Yes, by the grace of God, I think I may be getting used to the pace here. The intensity will definitely increase in the final three weeks, but I choose to not ponder that and enjoy the weekend.
A few new developments to report....I purchased a very reasonably priced permit at a remote parking lot. It is just a 3-5 minute drive from home and then I can take a quick shuttle to campus. This will save me a long walk in the mornings before I teach. It also will reduce my stress (and cost) when I have to stay on campus for meetings.
And in case you heard a scream of delight on Wednesday morning originating from the East Coast...that was me rejoicing over getting my first paycheck in a long while. I am truly grateful for all the ways God has provided for me these past few months.
Today I was able to watch the Fighting Illinis play Penn State in football. No, they didn't win but it was still fun to see the U of I campus again and all the orange and blue. It's not often that I can catch the game of one of my favorite teams, unless they are playing a school from the northeast.
Thanks for your continued interest, friendship and support friends.
A few new developments to report....I purchased a very reasonably priced permit at a remote parking lot. It is just a 3-5 minute drive from home and then I can take a quick shuttle to campus. This will save me a long walk in the mornings before I teach. It also will reduce my stress (and cost) when I have to stay on campus for meetings.
And in case you heard a scream of delight on Wednesday morning originating from the East Coast...that was me rejoicing over getting my first paycheck in a long while. I am truly grateful for all the ways God has provided for me these past few months.
Today I was able to watch the Fighting Illinis play Penn State in football. No, they didn't win but it was still fun to see the U of I campus again and all the orange and blue. It's not often that I can catch the game of one of my favorite teams, unless they are playing a school from the northeast.
Thanks for your continued interest, friendship and support friends.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Invitation and Response
Well it looks like I'll be staying in Delaware at least until December 18th. I've been officially asked to return next session and I have answered in the affirmative. It goes without saying that I miss family, friends and the familiar back home; but I do feel that it in many ways it is good for me to be here:
Professionally, I am being pushed to my limits and challenged to help very motivated students. The schedule is demanding, but the administration and my colleagues are very supportive and helpful. Time will hopefully make each session easier.
Spiritually, the stressful circumstances are causing me to cry out to God more for His perspective of who I am and where my worth is. I'm also being encouraged by living "in community". Can't tell you what a difference it makes to NOT come home to an empty home at the end of a stressful day.
Physically, I'm making progress in growing in discipline when it comes to sleep, out of necessity with my first class starting at 8:30. And the expensive parking options are encouraging me to walk more (from free parking). Next I need to work on eating better.
Financially, this job pays well. I'm not sure how it will work month to month just yet, but combined with the low rent that I'm paying here, I think I'll be able to maintain my condo back in IL and keep paying the rest of my bills, with the possibility of saving for a rainy day. I am truly amazed at God's provision for my needs.
All in all, I know this is a good place for me to be right now. Some days are really hard, but overall the challenges are helping me grow on my journey.
Professionally, I am being pushed to my limits and challenged to help very motivated students. The schedule is demanding, but the administration and my colleagues are very supportive and helpful. Time will hopefully make each session easier.
Spiritually, the stressful circumstances are causing me to cry out to God more for His perspective of who I am and where my worth is. I'm also being encouraged by living "in community". Can't tell you what a difference it makes to NOT come home to an empty home at the end of a stressful day.
Physically, I'm making progress in growing in discipline when it comes to sleep, out of necessity with my first class starting at 8:30. And the expensive parking options are encouraging me to walk more (from free parking). Next I need to work on eating better.
Financially, this job pays well. I'm not sure how it will work month to month just yet, but combined with the low rent that I'm paying here, I think I'll be able to maintain my condo back in IL and keep paying the rest of my bills, with the possibility of saving for a rainy day. I am truly amazed at God's provision for my needs.
All in all, I know this is a good place for me to be right now. Some days are really hard, but overall the challenges are helping me grow on my journey.
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