Merry Christmas and happy Chinese food day!

Tomorrow is a bit hectic so I thought I'd post this tonight:

A very warm Merry/Happy (depending on what country you're reading this from) Christmas to those who are celebrating today and tomorrow (a special Happy Christmas to The Lane family :) ).

To those who are celebrating the 25th of December with a movie and Chinese food, also enjoy yourselves!

My next post will be the last of the year, most likely reflecting on 2009 (par usual to my New Years posts...)

Do not use semicolons. They are transvestite hermaphrodites representing absolutely nothing. All they do is show you've been to college.

*Nothing new to really write at the moment. Currently in Philadelphia and have been since Friday. It's been a great time here visiting my mom and grandparents. Tomorrow I head up to Jersey to visit my father and Lori along with Wife and Krause. Then heading back DOWN to Maryland from the 27-1st of December (somewhere between Columbia and Baltimore--catch me if you can kids...).

*Meanwhile, I've been getting my act together and gathering everything I need to apply for this Oxford program by the 22nd of January. References. Check. Application. Almost completed. Personal Statement. Half way done. 25 pound fee. Waiting for pay day. Woop Woop! I'm on my way...to possibly/most definitely being rejected; but hey, at least I can say I tried (and if I get in I may flip metaphorically or literally, I haven't decided quite yet).

*I'm realising how hard it is to spend long periods of time apart from certain people you usually see every 4 days...not fair. With that said, Skype is a wonderful thing :D

*Started running again since I had my surgery almost three weeks ago! Feels good to be up and at it once more (I feel revitalized--well as much as one can regardless of jet lag...)

I won't let you choke, on the noose around your neck...

*A week later, my face has gone down significantly and I'm back at work :) . I managed to track my progress of recovery via pictures; it was amazing to see how much the swelling would go down in the course of one day :) Now I'm just trying to get passed the horrific bruising and random patches of swelling around my face and neck. Hopefully by the time I'm home on Friday evening it will have cleared.

*Adam and I exchanged presents this weekend; of course he outdid my presents by a long shot. I had a feeling this was going to happen, though I wasn't sure to what extent. I think next holiday I'm going to need to be a bit more imaginative. The hat he had been eyeing for quite a while (though I still am not entirely sold on the style all together), typical Chancery Lane umbrella (which can also double as an item to fend off tourists and bums on the street) to replace the sorrily broken pocket sized one he had just binned, black leather gloves that could easily be used to commit murders (hehe) and nifty beard trimmer/shaver kit were no match for what I was given: A signed copy of Richard Dawkin's new book, a random selection of my photography put into a bound book, the three seasons of Black Books, and an iPod (which is currently in the mail).

*Adam and I (being the closeted pretentious couple that we are) have decided to both go for this Oxford Creative Writing program. It only meets once a term for an extensive weekend and the program focuses on the three main creative writing mediums: Poetry, prose, and script writing. While I've never actually composed a play before, I have my C.S. Williams prose that is nearly well past words and plenty of poetry to send off. I had initially decided that I was not to attend any sort of graduate program next school year; however, with the amount of contact hours this particular program requires and a possible change in my money situation for next year, I may retract my previous decision and go ahead for the program part time.

*Friday I'm back in the States; very excited to see everyone! :)

This needs to be a shortened post as I have a few bits to mark before I head in the for the evening.

Winter wind littered London with lonely hearts..

*I know I haven't updated this in a while; between my ridiculously slow internet connection and my incredibly hectic schedule, it's been cause for about a months absence. Regardless, I'll try to update you all on life during this post.

*First and foremost, I finally got that massive cyst I had in my face taken out yesterday at the dentist office. The most horrific experience of my life, what with the tugging, scraping, pulling and cutting of various parts of my facial/mouth cavities. The end result was this:

Scary eh? Well, either way, at least it's finished and I no longer need to worry. They've had to send it away for a biopsy, but that's just standard procedure, as I've been told by everyone.

*Last weekend I joined Adam and his family for The Lane gathering in Norfolk for their annual Christmas get together. At this point I met 17 of his closest aunts, uncles and cousins. What a fabulous group of people! I obviously come from a family with a great deal of life and quirks of our own; The Lane family certainly does not differ. And while the Klafters, Fleischhackers, and Levine's all have their own quirks, it's exactly that which makes them so wonderful! I wouldn't have it any other way. I immediately was made to feel welcome, which I know my family would have done (and has done in the past) for Adam, had he been in a similar situation. The area we stayed in was lovely; very festive and picturesque. I managed to snap quite a few good photos this past weekend. I'll post these on Facebook when I'm in an area with better internet signal.

*The weekend before that, Adam and I traveled up North to Manchester for an exciting Thanksgiving meal with Jackie and Tony. It was so nice to be with someone from home during this holiday season; everyone made me feel so welcome last year when I had our massive shindig; however, this year I felt it necessary to be with someone who understood what Thanksgiving is all about; being with your loved ones. And while Jackie and I could not be with our family and friends during this holiday, we were in the company of good friends (most of whom, for me, were new) and wonderful, loving boyfriends :) Again, photos will be posted in a few days or so.

*My newest music obsession is Mumford and Sons. Check out their newest songs 'Little Lion Man' and 'Winter Wind' which will surely be one of the top songs (according to Radio 1) for this holiday season. For those of you in the US, spread the word! This group needs to be heard over seas :)

*Home in one week and two days! So excited to see everyone! Remember: 18-23 in Philly; 23-27 in NJ/NY; 27-1 in MD! Let me know if oyu want to get together (if we haven't spoken already!)

*Off I go to bed. Lets see if I make it into work tomorrow. Fingers crossed the swelling goes down.

A little night music...

*I currently have Classic FM blasting in the background, hence the anglicized version of my blog title (if I knew how to spell the German title I would, but I'm far too lazy at the present time to Google it). I've become accustomed to waking up in the morning and immediately turning on Classic FM; it's very soothing, especially directly before heading off to work. I suppose I've picked this up from years of wandering into my grandparents kitchen in the early morning, only to find my grandfather, an hour already into his day, drinking coffee, reading The Philadelphia Inquirer, with NPR (though this has changed as of a few years ago when my family renamed the station to 'National Palestinian Radio' instead of 'National Public Radio' due to their stance on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict--no surprise there are some in the family who stopped listening to NPR; a few of us who, wouldn't admit it out loud, still do listen to that station...) blasting in the background. Mozart, Strauss, Bach, Mendelssohn, Vivaldi, Wagner, and so many more danced through the kitchen, sometimes with great grander, and other times, with less intensity, never losing their beauty. To me, as a young girl, it all sounded relatively the same, and trying to remember who wrote what almost seemed like an unattainable task. However, to my grandfather, it as like remembering the alphabet; the only question that seemed to throw him for a loop, from time to time, was who was conducting the piece during that particular recording. At that point my grandmother and he would begin to argue (in more of an endearing way than anything) about who the conductor actually was. And from time to time he would quiz me about which instrument was playing during various times in each piece; even to this day I find I quiz myself to see if I can correctly identify each instrument. Following this my grandmother would start making her amazing wheat pancakes with real Maple Syrup.

It's amazing how many memories are recalled, not only smell, but sound as well. I must admit, I'm most certainly looking forward to going home for a few weeks.

Last weekend was great, what with having a very relaxing weekend spent in London. We spent Saturday faffing about in the morning and then heading to the Tate Modern. Can I just say that, if you don't go in there with an open mind, you will come out from most of it thinking 'what in the name of G-d was that?' At least that's how I felt coming out of many of the exhibits we saw. Regardless, it was nice to go to a gallery for the first time in a while. Following the Tate and a few drinks, we went to see 2012, which was a definite guilty pleasure movie. I highly recommend going to see if it you are looking for a brainless, but relatively exciting movie. A definite great way to spend 9 months!

'And it's a winding road...'

*I know it's been about a month since I last updated, but it's been long nights at work followed by a week up north for half term. Next thing I knew we're almost into the second week of November; where time has been flying off to these past few months is beyond me.

*Half term was brilliant! Adam and I rented a car and headed up north to where he grew up followed by a two day stay in Newcastle and a few hours spent at the Harry Potter Castle (HP nerds, eat your heart out!). It was really cool seeing where Adam grew up--quite different to the suburban hell that is Mahwah. And while the the closest shop is only open a few hours a day, the rolling hills, endless sky, and abundance of fresh air (minus the occasional smell of cow poop) were all rather refreshing; it was like visiting Tornado Alley in the States, minus the rednecks, confederate flags, Dennis Quaid, Jodie Foster, and (of course) tornados. Not to mention, our five mile runs were easier than any run I've ever experienced. I don't think you could ask for a flatter surface.

Following our few days spent in Lincolnshire, we continued up north to Newcastle for two nights. After a hellish time getting into the city, being locked INTO a bloody car park (you'll need to ask me to explain the whole situation because I do not feel like typing it all out now), and then having to pay an arm and a leg for our parking (apparently the Jury's Inn in Newcastles doesn't have their own car park...), we finally made it up to the room. Following that joyous experience, we headed out for one heck of a session.

The next day we made our way up to Alwick (I think that's the correct name) Castle; the same castle that you see in the HP movies (they even show the visitors exactly where on the castle grounds Harry learned to fly). Aside from that, the scenery was gorgeous; something out of a painting. Following this we headed back to the hotel for a quiet evening out and headed back to MK/London the next day. All in all it was an enjoyable trip! Not to mention being able to spend time with Adam for more than two days a week was awesome as well. I have pictures that I will attempt to put on facebook (a few on here to give you a sneak peek) eventually.

*I know it's the 5th of November and I realise it is customary to shoot off fireworks, but must the kids around this area shoot them off every five minutes (and so close to houses for that matter?!)?? It's been driving me nuts now for about three hours. Not to mention I've had two people from the SAME charity knock on my door within the same hour asking for money; I realise that I live in a semi well off area, but I'm only a teacher! There is an actual reason for the saying 'you don't go into this profession for the money'. What a crazy night this has been.

*For all of those people who still read my blog: I am back in the States from the 18-2nd of December/January! PA: 18-23 ; NJ: 23-24 and 26-27 ; LI: 25 ; MD: 27-1. Let me know if you want to meet up! So excited to see everyone!

*Off I go to bed; I've been pulling 11 hour days as of late and I am exhausted. FUN FUN!

Fork in the road...

With the stress of work at the moment, I think I'm becoming slightly jaded with how I'm viewing Westernized Education. There's a point when you realize that teaching is one of those occupations that can easily be classified as a 'thankless profession'. Day after day you stand up in front of a group of students who may or may not care to listen, or appreciate, what they have at hand, depending on their mood, or even the weather. You prepare these kinesthetic, visually aesthetic, song and dance type lessons, only to find a third of your students actually appreciate what you have done for them in that seemingly insignificant hour. Meanwhile, you have students in places like Ghana, Libya, Zimbabwe, just to name a few, who are happy simply to see one book to two students, rather than three or four, a chalk board with actual chalk, and a person who cares enough to stand up in front of them, day after day, and help them gain the most precious gift of all: an education.

Then again, I think there's a reason why most teachers choose to vote Democrat; it's a profession where you do not see immediate results, much like what the members of the Republican party often expect to see. Instead, education seems to be an occupation where the results of your hard work shines through 10 to 20 years down the line when, that once awkward pupil is now helping modern medicine branch off and find new ways to help those in impoverished countries, fighting in a court for the 'little guy', starting up a billion dollar cooperation that employs thousands of people during a time of an economic crisis, or even running a country.

As a side note, I think I officially found my favorite teaching quote a few weeks back: 'In teaching, you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, for maybe 20 years' - Jacques Barzun.

And yet, at 23, I question whether or not this is who I am. Am I experienced enough to ensure that the 'generation of tomorrow' is equipped today with the tools to properly run our country and world (it's a scary thought really...something that has, more than once, kept me up at night). Sometimes I look out the window of my classroom and think back to when I was in middle and high school. We had one day a year when people could follow around the Principal, VP, guidance counselors and a variety of other staff members. These students would dress up in suits and dresses, looking like shrunken adults, and get a taste of what it was like to run a school. Sometimes, that's what I feel like; a child playing dress-up for a day. What do I know outside of my degree and the ability to analyze a bunch of shriveled up old dead guys and gals (in all honesty, I love those shriveled up dead guys and gals...)?

Maybe, as said before, the stress of work is starting to get to me. But I still can't kick this nagging question in the back of my head: Who am I and where do I go from here?