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!

Beautiful Weekend

Yep, so I met my goal of finishing up all my report cards this weekend. Boy is that a relief! I cannot believe that I'm done, though. It'll be amazing, if tomorrow, when I read them over, they sound alright. It has been a nice long weekend over here. 4 days away from school! Yippeee!!! I love my students, I really, do, but I'm ready to be done with the school year already!

The weather was amazing! It's been sunny and warm. I just sat out on my balcony for about an hour, reading, listening to music, and just enjoying the warmth of the sun as I closed my eyes for a bit. RE-LAX-ING!

So, now, it's Sunday evening (early yet, still) but evening nonetheless. I'm dreading heading into work tomorrow. Don't wanna go! If I could get away with calling in sick, I probably would. But it's far easier to suffer through the day than come up with sub plans!

Alright, here are a list of things I'm grateful for today (it's much needed after last weekend's plight!):

1. Blue skys and singing birds.
2. Friends who call to check up on you and make sure you're doing alright.
3. A clean kitchen - it took me a few hours to actually complete it today, but it's done and I'm happy about that!
4. The sunshine! Germany sure is pretty when the sun comes out!
5. The discovery of new music. I had been watching some "Ghost Whisperer" episodes and liked a few of the songs, and found out who sang them. The Script will be my new obsession. They're a band out of Ireland. Good sound!
6. Having someone else make dinner for me, and hearing her kids in the background get excited that I was invited over....how blessed do I feel that I'm wanted company!

Ok, so six isn't so bad for today...Oh, and I must welcome Trudy....thanks for being my first follower....how exciting is that!

To all those stateside this weekend, enjoy your Memorial Day tomorrow. Be safe and all!

Some good news....

So....I have a few interviews (FINALLY) set up. One is on Tuesday for a school in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Crazy. I'm not really all that sure I want to go to Asia, but...if that is where the wind is going to blow me, then....I suppose I'll have to see what happens.

I also have an interview for a school in San Diego! Yeah! Although it's a good 2-2 1/2 hrs away from my condo, I don't care. I would be back where I was hoping to be. So...we'll see about it all!

Life is complicated right now, though. I'm SOOOOOO ready to come home. I'm SOOOOO done with being here. But I'm scared about the change, especially since I don't know where I'll be. If I knew where I'll be then I'd be at least a bit ok with the change. But....without knowing, I don't know, I'm freaking out about it.

I'm sad to leave friends. I'm scared of that last day when we all do say goodbye. When will we see each other again. Will it just be a Facebook relationship, or will we talk on the phone. Will we be able to work out visits? Huh....just too much. Plus I have report cards to work on and loads of other very boring paperwork that needs to be finished!

YIKES!!!

Homesickness sucks at a time like this! Hope I get over it soon so that I can focus on what needs to be done.

The Friday from H-E-double hockey sticks!!!

Oh! My! Gawd!!! Today just totally bit the big one. I'm stressed with the end of the year normal close-out chaos that happens in a school. But to add to all of that, I'm still on the job hunt for another teaching gig, and I'm moving, and I'm having to do things the "German" way (which is SOOOOO not the easy way!!!)

I've been working on the yearbook - ugh times infinity! And then my friend asks, but doesn't actually "ask" more like "demands" that I should go to our school's flea market tomorrow morning and set up shop and sell the yearbook to those there.

It was the straw that broke the camels back!!! I swear! This happened right before the day started, and I'm still reeling from it! I did do the "adult" thing and talk to her about it. It was a good thing to do. I'm glad that we spoke, but....I'm still hurt and pissed and, and, and, and, and.....

When will this end???? This is when I'm so freakin' DONE with being in Germany. This is when I want so BADLY to be HOME!!! I miss people so very much....and this type of stuff just brings it all into my view again!

OKAY....I've vented. I'm better....well, better-ish. I'm ready for a BIG bottle of wine! Or a good stiff drink....if only I had some hard liquor....

Why did I do it?

Why did I do it? Why did I leave the states and come to Germany? I don't know, I guess it was because I was ready for a change. I guess it was because I was ready to have an adventure. Why did I go to a country that speaks a language I knew nothing about? I guess it was mostly because they offered me a job.

Why did I leave the desert, where the sun shines pretty much 365 days a year to come a country where it rains tons and the clouds make it gloomy most of the time? I suppose it was for a completely new way of life. I've enjoyed it, don't get me wrong. Well....not all the rain or cloud cover, but the days that the sun comes out are precious! I definitely love those!

Now....why am I leaving a job to come back to the states where I don't know if I'll have a job? Huh? Good question. It started out because I was ready to come home and be closer to family a friends for at least a year (a sort of coming back to the basics kind of year), but now I'm starting to become nervous about finding job.

I did it, and I don't regret any of it. I'm a changed person because of it!

Weather, weather, weather....

I'm so ready for spring I can taste. It's so close....the crocus' are starting to bloom. But today is a great example of German weather. It started out cloudy - not raining - just cloudy. Then there was a bit of a break in the clouds and the sun shone through for a bit. While the kids were at their lunch recess, a freak cloud burst happened and it started to pour - all the while you could still see blue skies and the sun. Then it stopped and the sun shone once more. The same thing happened at the kid's last recess. As they were coming in, another raincloud burst upon them! It was so crazy!

As I came home from the store the sun was out and there was a pretty blue sky with a few clouds scattered here and there. As the sun set, though, the clouds start to come together....I'm sure there will be another bit of raining tonight!

I'm done with the crazy German weather. I would like to be in the desert right now where the sun shines all the time and the sky is more or less empty of clouds! That would be fabulous....I guess I just need to wait a few more months for that one to happen, though, won't I?