Friday, June 26, 2009

Boredom mixed with gratefulness

So I've been posting a lot of negative sad thoughts as of late and I'd thought I'd change it up. My apt is almost empty. It's my last night in it. Crazy. I've cleaned out my kitchen cabinets and I've cleared out my cupboard that had all my cooking stuff ie: pancake mix, flour, salt, pasta, spices, etc. I only have a few more things to do....I'd like to take the vacuum to all the edges of the apt so that when the painting starts tomorrow it won't be too hard. Especially since the vacuum will be taken away tomorrow.

Because of all of this, I am bored. I called my friend this morning to ask if she wanted to stroll around the Kellerskopf (the name of the hill by her apt). It's a beautiful morning out and the birds are chirping. It'd be nice to go and do that. But....I also need to be back and showered by before 12:20 or 12:30 so that I can catch the bus into town. I'm meeting some friends for lunch.

So....I guess I'm just bored for the morning as I will be having a good time this afternoon and I have plans for the afternoon. Gotta love that.

Ok....so maybe I'll be doing a few more things before I either go on a walk or go into town. I just don't wanna do it yet.

Here's a few grateful items for the day that might help put me in a positive mood for the remainder of the day:
1. The sun is out and it actually feels like summer.
2. The birds are singing some lovely songs.
3. I have lunch plans with 2 lovely friends that I won't see for a long, long time!
4. My clothes are drying out in the sunshine.
5. I'm calm and cool and collected - almost happy!
6. I love all my good friends - those new and old! It's great to have friends who care about you.
7. Balcony's are great...I love mine and I'm going to take advantage of it today while I still have a chair to sit on out there.

Ok, so 7 isn't bad for the day. I might think of more later, but....for now I'll leave it at that. Have a great Friday everyone! And a safe, safe, weekend!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Keeping my mind off things

Or rather, I'm trying to. My apt is almost empty. It's weird. I was in it for two years and it was definitely home. Although it was always a temporary place, I felt comfy here. It's now a bit echo-y. So bizarre. I still haven't heard about the job...darn it! So...I'm trying to keep my mind busy on the remainder of things that I need to do. Clean, clean, clean, and, oh, did I mention clean? Yep, gotta get the apt cleaned. Everything will be out of my place on Sat. And then it will be painted as well. So, so, so weird. I can't believe this chapter is closing!

It was a beautiful day today too, and then a frickin' huge rain cloud, that came out of nowhere, just burst open for like 15 minutes. I'm ready to go back to the desert. Sunny and HOT daily! No thoughts about what the weather will be like from one minute to the next - you know it will be sunny and hot!

My friend Martine is supposed to be coming over soon. We're gonna have a glass or two of wine. It'll be good. We haven't seen each other since last Friday. And now I've only got 5 more days before i have to say goodbye to her. It's all so sad.

Ok, so how do you keep your mind busy? My mind just keeps going back to what is or isn't happening....job? no job? what is it? I just wish I knew already! But....patience they say is a virtue...one I don't possess, but...I'm trying hard to acquire it!

I guess I should be thinking....Ireland, Ireland, Ireland....only 5 more days and I'll be in Ireland and starting a cool new traveling adventure....all by myself....but that might be a good thing....time to reflect and think about things and life and stuff.

So, I'll leave this on that good note....planning for my trip through Ireland. Friendly people, good scenery, and a fab accent!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

A poem

Goodbyes

When it's time to say goodbye I hope I have the strength.
When it's time to bid farewell I hope I can still wave.
It's time to leave.
This I know to be true.
You and I have a bond that I hope stays forever.
You and I have a trust that I hope never fades.
It's time to leave.
This I know to be true.
Leaving is rough both emotionally and spiritually.
Leaving is difficult both in real time and in elapsed time.
It's time to leave.
This I know to be true.
This chapter is over but a new one unfolds.
This chapter has ended; a new journey is waiting.
It's time to leave.
This I know to be true.
True friendship is hard to come by.
True friendship is what we have!
It's time to leave.
This I know to be true.

poem by Madamoiselle June 2009

So....sitting in my almost empty apt is making me sad, excited, and scared all at the same time. Starting a new chapter is hard. Transitioning is rough. But I fear I've been a tad negative lately, and I know that this poem isn't all that 'positive' but I thought I'd end it with a bit more optimism. I will see my friends soon...those who are in California, and that's a good thing. I'm glad to see them. I've missed them. I'm traveling through Ireland....that will be so fabulous and life-changing (as I'm going there solo). And I'm going to have multiple places around the world to come and visit! That is, by far, the best thing of all!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

No news

I woke up this morning after a dream where I had an email from the school saying that I had the job. But alas that was only a dream. When I checked....not-a-one email in my inbox. AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I ended up going out for a LONG walk this morning to try to clear my head from all the frustration building up! It didn't really work.

This is so frustrating. If they have sent me a letter, it's not going to get to me until the end of this week - if then - because of the distance from the west coast to Germany. Yikes! I think I will email them a bit later and see if they have made any decisions. I hate playing this game. It's so difficult and hard. But....alas, I need to play it in order to get a job!

Will post more when I know more!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Knotted all up!

Ok, so I've had a crazy weekend....packing and cleaning and getting in "last" looks of my lovely German Village. I've been sad, happy, excited, and sad all over again. Now I'm waiting to see if I got the job I interviewed for last Monday. Sometimes I hate being on a 9 hour time difference!

I look at my email and....nothing....my tummy is completely knotted up. I'm nervous. I hope that I got it. It would fill the rest of my summer with relief!

I guess I should just chill out and be patient. The last time I was feeling like this was when I was in London waiting to see if I got the 2nd interview. I ended up having a fairly prophetic dream....the principal telling me "Of course we want you to work for us!" Or it was something like that. I wonder if I should wait and see if I get another prophetic dream....UGH!!! I. Do. Not. Like. To. Wait. Patience is SOOOOOO not a virtue of mine. I keep hoping it will miraculously become a virtue but, alas, it hasn't happened. Although I suppose sometimes I'm more patient than I used to be.

So I decided to sit down and blog about this moment. I am hoping that I can say how happy I am tomorrow....Because hopefully I can say that I will have a job tomorrow.

Ok, so, I'm trying to have faith and think positively and all! I. Can. Do. This. Be patient that is. Or at the very least, I can try!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Goodbyes are rough

So today was the last day of school....WHOOHOO!!! However with that came the goodbyes to colleagues and friends that have been wonderful and fantastic over the past two years.

I was good with my kids...I usually am. Then my room parents gave me this book with all the kids pictures and something they had said about me. I almost lost it then. It was crazy. Then when we sent the kiddos to their parents, I saw a few of my parents from last year and I tried to hold it together, but I couldn't. I gave the one parent a hug and the tears just flowed down. It was so crazy. Then I saw another parent from last year and that set me off again. And a parent from this year. Leaving is hard...change is hard...saying goodbye is painful! I had to say goodbye to the woman I have been working with very closely for two years....It was so hard. I did fine until I walked away....And now, just writing about it, I'm tearing up!

When I hugged my assistant principal goodbye I lost it as well. She's been so nice and wonderful over the past two years. One of the best administrators I've had. Thankfully the major person that I WILL have to say goodbye to didn't need to happen today. Too many people...parents, friends, colleagues, students....Not. Fun.

I'm happy that school is over and that I can move onto something bigger and better! But....these were a bunch of people that were just amazing to work with! I cannot have asked for a better group of people to work with and become friends with.

Thankfully we've already set up a reunion in two years....Australia! I can save up for that one, and I'm looking forward to it.

I know that my really hard goodbye is yet to come. And I'm so not wanting that one to happen. But at least Martine and I have a few more days together before all that occurs. It will be heartbreaking, but....I know that we'll see each other again and keep in contact over the years!

So...here's to a fabulous two years in Germany! I have loved it! I can't believe that it's coming to a close!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Skype

Yep, so I had my 2nd interview this evening for a great job that would be perfect! I would love to teach in this school. It's opening up its doors this Sept. and the curriculum is what I've been doing for the past two years, as well as it being a duel immersion German/English school...I have just a little bit of experience with the German....Can't speak a lot but, I can speak some...

So the interview was over Skype....if you've never used Skype, it's pretty cool. It's basically a computer to computer phone call, but you can have video viewing options. So....way back when we were younger and people used to say that one day you could be talking to someone on the the phone and see them....well now you can. It's crazy!

I had the interview with the principal and five of the board members who are parents for the school. Crazy!!! But I hope it went well. We will see in a week's time one way or the other.

Fingers crossed that this went well. It would be a fabulous opportunity to go into this school. And not only that, I could finally relax. Knowing I have a job at home will be nice and I could then just focus on the rest of the things I need to do. Like moving!!!

Only 3 1/2 more days of school. I cannot believe that it's finally here. How crazy is that? You wish for this day after New Year's to arrive and then it shows up, almost out of the blue...Friday is going to be a mega sad day....lot's of really cool people that I'll be saying goodbye to! Ugh! I hate goodbyes!

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Wine Cellar Bash

As the school year is coming to a close and as many of us are moving back to our home countries, or onto other countries, we decided to throw a big bash for our colleagues...Yep, we are THAT nice!

It was a fabulous night full of laughter and dancing and of course WINE!!!

This was our DJ and his wife....He did this for us for FREE....isn't he a sweetie pie???

So our lovely DJ pulled all of us up on the dance floor to dance the bloody Maccarena!

I love this woman! Can't wait to go visit her in Vermont! I wanna be a leaf-peeper in the fall!

As you can tell, we really didn't enjoy ourselves at all! LOL It was great....Can you believe that we're teachers??? Yes, we teach your lil' guys the three R's.

Good times in a wine cellar!

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Finally, I can do Writer's Workshop....

Interview is over....claming down now....Won't find out until next week if I make the cut for the 2nd interview - which really counts for getting the job!

Now I can take some time to write to MamaKat's writing prompt:

For some crazy reason, I think I tend to choose number 3 the most when I write these prompts. I wonder why that is? Lucky number? I always thought my lucky number was seven. Huh? Something to think about.

3.) Describe a memorable gift. Why was it important to you?

I received a journal from my boyfriend, at the time, a few years ago. He had gone to Europe with some buddies for the summer and had picked up a journal from Florence, Italy. He had saved it for my birthday. It was so sweet. He had whipped the present out of his bag one evening and lay it on my chest. I was taken aback, but when I saw it was a leather bound journal I was completely touched. He knew I wrote in a journal often. He had been thinking about me during his summer vacation....it was just so sweet.

I didn't start writing in it right away as I had more of my previous journal to fill in. When I did start writing in it - as I still am doing to this day - I think back to that evening and smile! It's a good reminder of a great gift and a wonderful gesture from a great guy! I still love that guy....can't wait to get back to the states and see him again!

I love gifts that come to you from someone who took the time to think about what it is that you like and know about who you are. A journal was just the most appropriate gift to give me....I simply love it!

LA....here I come??? (I hope!)

I am nervous....I have an interview in about 45 minutes. It's at a school that would be fabulous for me. I soooo hope that the interview goes well. Not only that, they are willing to do the phone interview thing as I'm still in Germany. I'm so glad for that.

I've made my notes and I've gone through them. My tummy is filled with butterflies....ugh! I hope that it goes well, because I was hoping to do one of MamaKat's writing prompts this week. I haven't done one in awhile.

I cannot, however, think about much else at the moment than my imminent interview. Fingers are crossed, prayers have been sent up. I have friends wishing me luck all over the world....

Well, I'll keep you posted on the news as it arrives. I just need to calm down....maybe a cup of tea would be smart! That might help calm the nerves. Yep...off to make tea! Too good of an idea to pass up!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Work Makes You Free

So, Auschwitz was very interesting, and disturbing. We walked through the gate that read "Arbeit Macht Frei" which means: Work makes you free. How condescending! These prisoners were forced to walk through those gates to conduct work that never made them free.


We saw a very disturbing amount of hair that had been kept. I learned that a lot of the hair had been used to make blankets and clothes. It was not something I knew about nor really wanted to see. The children were always the saddest. There was a picture of a girl after they had been freed, and she was 14 yrs old, but she looked 60. That brought a wave of saddness on.

When we went to Auschwitz-Birkenau (the second Auschwitz) we saw the train platform that everyone was dropped off at. And the gas chamber - however the gas chambers had been destroyed by the SS Men before they were over-taken by the Soviets.
When we went to look at the barracks that were really horse stables turned into barracks, we saw a gentleman who was with his grandson we believe and a friend. The grandson was videoing him. He ended up having been a survivor. He walked into the barracks and went straight to his old bunk and lay down. It was amazing! He even mentioned that he had been there when he was 8 yrs old to 11 yrs old. I cannot imagine what must go through his mind coming back to this place. It is so unfathomable for those of us so removed from it. I can go through the camp and listen to the tour guide and read the history. But to have lived it, wow! I don't know.

On a brighter note....after our "downer" of a day, we decided we needed to perk up! So, we had a great dinner and then hit a few bars. We were shushed in a bar...stupid people! We're in a bar, and we were asked to be quieter! Can you believe it? We were pissed, needless to say. We then went to a different bar and had a much more fun time....let's just say there were tables and there was dancing....put two and two together!

The city of Krakow, after seeing the history, is very pretty. The main square is lovely. And there is a market that is quite fun to look around at. Here are some final pictures of the city. It definitely helps to see the city after going to Auschwitz. It lets you know that there is good out there and that what happened, although real, didn't stop this town from becoming beautiful!



I would definitely recommend going to Krakow if you ever have the chance!