YEAR ONE OF TFA IS OFFICIALLY OVER.
I cannot describe this year in just one word, but if I had to, it would be frustratinghardjoyoussaddeceptiveboringexcitingwonderful. There have been several friday nights this year spent out with my fellow TFA's celebrating our weeks and our transformational moments, but just as many nights spent alone in my bedroom/bathtub with a glass of wine crying out of desperation and uncertainty. I have grown into a new person this year, I am not the same. TFA has changed me for the worse and for the better. I am no longer blissfully ignorant of how many people in America cannot read a newspaper, but I am also fulfilled daily by my students and my love for my job. I am so grateful for this break (SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER SCHOOL'S OUT FOR..EVER..or just until august) but I will miss my students and their smiles.
Things I will NOT miss this summer:
- Miami humidity
- Miami drivers
- 6:30AM alarms
- being away from my family
- being away from the north
- cooking every night
- packing lunch everyday
- my classroom being a constant 58 degrees despite it being 90 outside
- my lesson plan binder
As for summer plans...
School ended on Thursday, I flew to Chicago on Friday, and Saturday was my beautiful cousin's wedding! Gorgeous outdoor wedding on a golf course, there was so much love on that golf course I think everyone cried.
Why is it when a man cries, it makes it that much more emotional? As soon as Matt, my cousin's now husband, started crying during his vows, I became this uncontrollable waterfall of tears and emotions that I could not stop. I would have been embarrassed but I realized that everyone around me was also crying now as well. And then when I realized that I wasn't alone, there was no stopping and I cried shamelessly into crumpled tissues that i had in my purse while trying to simultaneously take as many pictures as possible. Lets just say that it was a half success on both parts.
My cousin, Michelle, looked absolutely beautiful and I am so glad that I was able to share that moment with her.
Sunday my family and I explored downtown chicago checking out the typical touristy spots like the bean or "the beans" as my mother would call it and the navy pier. Chicago is one BEAUTIFUL city. It's like a smaller, cleaner NYC with a heck of a lot more brick. Miami is such a new city, I really miss the old feel that NYC and Chicago has...you can tell that there is history there.
After a day of exploring downtown chicago, my dad flew back to Jersey and my brother, my mom, and I flew to Toronto and then tomorrow we fly to Hong Kong! Canada is weird.
I'll definitely be posting again while i'm in Hong Kong sometime inbetween gorging myself on dim sum and shopping for everything and anything in mong kok. Gosh i'm excited about life right now :]
