Everybody's lookin' forward to the weekend...

Today, I got my first taste of having my own classroom. Erin went to visit her old school in Cradock, so she left me in charge of her kiddies today. Everything went as well as it could have gone. It helped that it was a Friday and there were only three lessons I had to teach! The last 15 minutes or so of the day were also dedicated to playing music (namely Rebecca Black's "Friday," which has become a tradition at the end of every week). I have to say, I had so much fun!

Now I've got to spend the weekend getting ready for my 4-day trip to Hobbiton with the grade 6 classes.

Oh, and practicing for my reunion with Amy.

30 Things About Yours Truly :)

I nicked this survey from my dear friend, Rachel, who is also teaching overseas (in South Korea). Love!

1. Five ways to win your heart.

(1) Giving me chocolate. This is the tactic many of my students have taken.

(2) Singing along to Disney songs (preferably with me).

(3) Treating your dog like your child.

(4) Making me laugh. 

(5) Comparing me to some character in Harry Potter - I'm not picky UNLESS it's Voldemort.

2. Something you feel strongly about.

No Child Left Behind. I think it's the stupidest thing that has ever happened to our education system in America's recent history. There isn't enough blog space in the world to accommodate why I think/know it doesn't work.

3. A book you love.

I won't say the Harry Potter series, which I have been reading since I got to South Africa (on book 5 now), even though I do LOVE them. Love love love. Instead, I'll say Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. I am Catherine Morland, and I need to find my Henry Tilney.

4. Bullet your whole day.

• Woke up at 5:50.
• Ate breakfast while trolling on facebook.
• Got dressed, did hair and makeup. 
• Went to school.
• Read some Order of the Phoenix while waiting for Erin to get there. 
• Watched my students take their weekly test.
• Observed math lesson about measurement.
• Observed Afrikaans lesson.
• Break time! Listened to music and ate my lunch from tuckshop.
• Observed English lesson.
• Grade 5 meeting.
• Break time! Listened to music again.
• Admin period, listened to yet more music.
• School ended, talked about nonsense with Erin while still listening to music. I swear, bringing my laptop to school was the best idea ever.
• Got dropped off at the house. 
• Did internets thing - checked e-mail, facebooked, pintrested, etc, etc.
• Did my nails at the kitchen table - OPI Plugged-In Plum.
• Watched a Young & The Restless episode from last November.
• Now watching Oprah!

5. Things you want to say to an ex.

Pass!

6. Your views on mainstream music.

It's popular for a reason - most of it is so darn catchy! The only music I really don't like is rap.

7. Five pet peeves.

(1) Smacking your food or just smacking your lips for no reason.

(2) Lying.

(3) Crinkly bags. 

(4) When the heroine of a romance novel cuts herself off from the hero and doesn't tell him anything - ESPECIALLY if she is carrying his child. GIRL JUST TELL HIM.

(5) Being ignored.

8. What you ate today.

Cheerios, cheese flavored mini-cheddars, toasted chicken mayo sandwich, popcorn, Astros chocolate candy, and I'm getting ready to make some chicken and veggies.

9. How important you think education is.

Ha. I'm becoming a teacher. You do the math (and you better do it right or I will FAIL you.) 

10. Put your music player on shuffle and write the first ten songs that play.

(1) Otis Redding - Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay

(2) Disney - Heigh Ho

(3) David Cook - Avalanche

(4) Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach - I'll Never Fall In Love Again

(5) The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

(6) Jonas Brothers - Hold On

(7) The Beatles - Please Mister Postman

(8) Disney - I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)

(9) Demi Lovato - Gift of a Friend

(10) Elvis Presley - It's Now or Never

11. Your family.

Is the best. Ever. I would not be who I am today without them, and I really don't think I could live without. My family consists of so many people (all my aunts and uncles and cousins and friends who are nothing less than my family). But my mom and my sister are my rocks. I spend most of my time with them, and I can only truly be my weird self around them. 

My mom is the best woman I know! She is my source of strength and she has shown me what love is all about. I know I can always count on her to be honest with me, to love me no matter what, and to always be there for me (just like I will always be there for her). We can be at loggerheads at times because we're both too sensitive, but in the end, we end up laughing about it.

My sister is my best friend! She is the twin 1 to my twin 2, the Lizzie to my Jane, the Fred to my George (oh wait, just don't think about Fred at the end of Deathly Hallows), the Amy Pond to my 11th Doctor, the Merlin to my Prince Arthur... Okay, now I'm just using characters from our favorite TV shows. But, anyways, Amy seriously is my twin, just born 2 years earlier. We are so in sync with each other's brains it's scary. And weird. We make each other laugh with one look or one word or just something random that would make absolutely no sense to other people. I can't even begin to imagine what my life would be like were I an only child... I don't even want to! I love my sister more than anyone in the world (excluding mommy, of course). 

And of course there's daddy. Not a day goes by that I don't think about him and miss him. He was the most amazing man I've ever known and such a miracle to our family. But if I write too much about him, I'll cry!

12. Five guys whom you find attractive.

(1) Cary Grant

(2) Jake Gyllenhaal

(3) Prince Harry

(4) Rupert Grint

(5) Matt Damon

DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD IT IS FOR ME TO CHOOSE JUST FIVE?

13. Your opinion about your body and how comfortable you are with it.

Some days I can't tell if I'm comfortable with the way I look or if I'm just too lazy to go to the gym and change it. 

14. What you wore today.

Pink striped button down shirt with a black cardigan over it, hot pink knee-length skirt, black tights, black sparkly flats. And all of my daily essentials: unicorn silly band, white watch, angel ring, mommy's wedding ring, and daddy's wedding ring on a gold chain around my neck.

15. Your zodiac/horoscope and if you think it fits your personality.

I'm an Aquarius and a Snake. I think they both fit me pretty well, actually.

16. Something you always think "what if..." about. 

WHAT IF I could just meet Prince Harry? I'm convinced there would be another royal wedding a few months after that.

17. Something that you're proud of.

I'm proud that I came to South Africa to do my student teaching. I've never done anything like this before, and I was scared out of my MIND before I left. What was I thinking leaving the country and my family for three months to go a place where I knew NOBODY or anything about the culture?! But I did it, and I don't regret it one bit.

18. A problem that you have had.

I'm kind of a shopaholic...

19. Five items you lust after.

(1) Any nail polish.

(2) Real Ray-Ban sunglasses.

(3) Hailee Steinfeld's hair.

(4) Tickets to Newsies at Paper Mill Playhouse.

(5) A park hopper ticket to Disney World.

20. Your fears.

Birds. They're out to get me.

21. How you hope your future will be like.

What I've always imagined it to be.

22. Your academics.

Graduated high school with honors, getting ready to graduate from UGA in December. I've never been extremely hard working when it comes to my studies, but I always end up achieving my goal in the end.

23. Something that you miss.

The variety of fast food that America offers.

24. Five words/phrases that make you laugh.

(1) "What excellent boiled potatoes."

(2)  "Yer gettin' wet, right?"

(3)  "The whole kit and canoodle!"

(4)  "There he goes off to his room to write that hit song 'Alone in my Principles'!"

(5)  "The walrus sings at midnight."

25. Something you're currently worrying about.

I'm worrying about leaving my class. How will I cope without them?!

26. Things you like and dislike about yourself.

Like: I like my sense of style. I like my eyes and my hair (most days). I like my wrists and my fingers and my always polished fingernails. I like my loving, caring heart. I like that I'm not afraid to be who I am, just shy at times. I like that I'm a kid (and a fatty) at heart.

Dislike: I dislike that I'm way too sensitive. I dislike that it's hard for me to let things go, especially things people have done to hurt me or my loved ones. I dislike that I'm too quiet and don't speak up for myself. I dislike my nose. I dislike that I don't seem to have control over my spending. I dislike that I can be sooo lazy. I dislike that I can't cook! 

27. A quote you try to live by.

"Never give up and good luck will find you." -The Neverending Story

28. Somewhere you'd like the move or visit.

I want to visit England SO badly, it's not even funny.

29. Five weird things that you like.

(1) Romance novels (is that weird? I don't know. I'm weird, so my perception of weird is pretty skewed).

(2) The Kennedy assassination (Again, I don't know. But I guess it's weird to be obsessed with a murder).

(3) Unicorns/Aliens/other things that "don't exist" but they really might.

(4) ...I really can't think at the moment. Considering how extremely unathletic I am, I guess it's kinda weird that I enjoy watching sports as much as I do.

(5) Driving during road trips. I DON'T KNOW. JUST THOUGHT OF SOMETHING. I like getting shots. Very weird, I know, but it just feels so satisfying.

30. One thing you're excited for.

Cape Town in 2 weeks!!!!!!!!

It's our game.

I'd have to be really, really, really clueless not to know that the Rugby World Cup started on Friday in New Zealand. Not only do they show commercials for it 'round the clock on TV (and we only get 4 channels at the house), but it's mentioned during Friday assemblies at school, too. It's basically everywhere - as I said to A Laura on Facebook earlier, I can't escape it! I don't mind, however, because I'm really liking Rugby. It's extremely nerve wracking because it's about twice as rough as football and they wear far less padding. And I still don't know any of the rules or terms (what I would think of to call a 'goal,' they call a 'try.' Or something.). But it's still fun to watch - especially as all the guys are BUFF and wear tight jerseys and short shorts :)

Once all the talk about the World Cup started, I assumed the USA wasn't even going to be in the tournament. I'd never heard of any American rugby teams (I mean, have you?). It wasn't until I saw a posting of the four pools when I saw that the USA was, indeed, participating. We're in pool C along with Russia, Ireland, Australia, and Italy. And we had our first game at 8am South Africa time against Ireland. I was up early, anyways, so I watched it. Before playing the national anthems for the two countries, they observed a moment of silence for September 11th. It's crazy how the events of our country affect the world. I know everyone remembers our country uniting after the tragedy, but I'm pretty sure the whole world was uniting along with us. Then, when they played the "Star Spangled Banner," I proudly sang along and actually had tears in my eyes by the end. Nothing like being in another country to make one feel the most patriotic. (In case you were wondering, USA lost to Ireland 10-22. The Springboks also had their first game straight afterward against Wales. They, at least, won 17-16!)

I'm going to steal a picture from my teacher, Erin, just so you all can see how adorable my class is :)

Go Bokke!!!