Grand Canyon

With PIE students on Veteran's Day.

Trying out some head coverings

Sunday morning editing

Working on our literacy test training video.

Reflection: a grad school luxury

A few years ago, I'm sure that I pictured my life at 25. I have no idea what I thought it would be like, though it probably included more money and maybe more fame than I have now. It certainly did not include spending four nights a week in an elementary school gym teaching Saudi guys how to play volleyball. But, here I am.

The volleyball phenomenon at PIE started on a whim this summer. Since then it has morphed into a fairly constant event. Especially now that the weather has changed and we've moved the net into the gym. Now we have a court with lines and we can fill the gym with pop music. By the way, our favorite song (yes, OUR, as in mine and the Saudi guys') is "Hotel Room Service." Pitbull, you write a dirty, though catchy tune! I'm having trouble finding the right way to describe how much I appreciate volleyball. In the endless work cycle of grad school, volleyball is the only time when I can think about something besides writing assessment or lesson planning or job searching.

Tonight marked a distinct shift in volleyball. I asked the students if they would rather just play, or if they wanted to learn. To my surprise, they voted for learning, so I taught them how to pass and set. It helped--that wasn't a surprise. I've proposed some type of volleyball-based instruction (VBI for you TESOL nerds--you know who you are) as my practicum assignment next spring. Pending some insurance issues, I'll get to design a language class based on volleyball. It's perfect.

I can't say enough good things about the people who come to volleyball. There is a core group of people who I would definitely consider friends (Facebook will back this up). Then, there are the people on my intramural team (a.k.a The Crocodiles or Krokotiili) many of whom also fall in the friend category. Finally, there are students who drop in occasionally. What's really great is that I get to know so many of the students who aren't in my class. Volleyball has made me very visible at PIE. Most of the time I really enjoy it. "Miss Jena!" "Hi, Miss! Volleyball today?" "Miss, kill them!" (the last one refers to my serves). I really enjoy having students know me and talk with me during the day. From a language learning point of view, I'm thrilled that they are talking with a native speaker for a real purpose (yes, volleyball is a real purpose). I'm also learning some useful (some not) Arabic phrases, such as "I swear on my mustache [I will do it]!" "I swear!" "Come on!" "Work harder!" etc. I still can't say "Hello" or anything like that, but if you want to talk volleyball in Arabic, bring it on.

Seriously, I feel so lucky to spend time with these guys. With all the turmoil between the US and the Middle East, it's nice to have such a positive view of Arabic-speaking cultures. I spend most of my free time with a bunch of Saudi guys, and I think that's pretty cool.

Grad school coupled with being a TA is totally distressing. There is too much to do, no time to do it, but that's no excuse for doing it poorly. We are under pressure from all sides. Our physical and mental health suffers the consequences of too much stress, not enough food or sleep, and no time to reflect on it all. Clearly, I have two incredible (and simultaneous) opportunities: attend a prestigious TESL program AND get teaching experience in a top-notch IEP.

Tonight, I grateful for the PIE and its volleyball net. I think bump-set-spike has saved my sanity in Flagstaff.

To Coach Genrich--wherever you are: your practices were killer, but I'm so glad you taught me these skills and gave me this love for the game. If you could see me now!

Office nap

Karen taking a break.

Journal Club!

A picture from nerdy times at NAU.

Bonfire and friends

Leaves!

Sugar, fat, and a little taste of Japan

Green tea frappe

Fall in Flagstaff

Snowee

Some mid-October weather shots

A link to my publication!

Here's the link to my first TESOL-type publication. Co-publication...whatever. Karen, you're the best.

http://www.tesl-ej.org/wordpress/issues/volume16/ej62/ej62r6/

Workee

Me and the gals chipping away at a table of specifications. If you don't know what that is, add it to your blessings.

In N Out Burger

Phoenix treat. :)

Morning sun

The plant and I enjoyed the morning sun outside my office

Teacher perks

My students treated me to a latte and croissant this morning! Yahoo! I love this job.

More wedding pictures

Since no one wants another picture of my desk and stacks of papers, here is Sandford Hall in Mitchell, NE.

Battleborn

I don't know how many times The Killers have put out an album when I need it most, but they've done it again. This was my western Nebraska road trip soundtrack. Love LOVE Love.

Scottsbluff National Monument

Hiked this before getting a **spray tan**

My old roommates got married

Wyoming

Birthdays, publications, and passing the comps

What a weekend, or "what? A weekend?"

So, for once I was able to nearly execute a too ambitious plan of preparing not only for the coming week, but also the next. It did involve an alarm clock and two trips to Starbucks, but I was super productive, and I managed two rounds of sand volleyball and a picnic! Seriously, despite the intense reading and thinking, it was a great weekend in gorgeous late summer Flagstaff. I look forward to reaping the rewards of my hard work, and enjoying my good friends' wedding in Nebraska this weekend.

Working on a sunburn

Today was the beginning of zero-weekend mode in grad school. 6:15 alarm, at my desk by 8:00. Yet, an outdoor study study session at this elevation will immediately result in this type of sunburn, better known as farmer's tan. Eeww.

Veggie day!

Every Thursday this summer I have been picking up my veggie share from the Community Supported Agriculture. It's been a lot of fun trying new vegetables that I might have turned my nose up at otherwise.

TGIWednesday

Reasons I love Wednesday...

Workee, no coffee

I spent a few hours reading about language assessment today.

By the way, a book review that I coauthored will be available soon! I'll link it!

Sunday stroll

As a child, I definitely would have named this structure as "the naughty one" or something to that effect. I was fascinated by power lines and their supports.

Beautiful view from the parking garage

Surprise?

What happened to my writing style?

What a week.

It would seem that a week shortened by Labor Day would go faster, not slower than a regular week, but not in my world. I made a few choices involving boyfriends and parking passes. I got swept up in the white water that is grad school. My TA position at the PIE is a big commitment. My grad classes are intellectually demanding, not to mention that I devote almost entire weekends to doing the readings and projects for them. The rest of my life (not that I know what that is) functions around eating, gym time and thinking about the PIE or my classes. 

My aunt is notorious for coming home from volleyball with tears in her eyes. My grandma often quotes here as saying "If I didn't have swing choir, I don't know what I'd do." In an ironic twist of fate --as she and I had the same coach and same tears-- I now find myself wondering if I could survive without my weekly PIE volleyball fix. It's often the highlight of my week. I can destress, sweat and enjoy a little fame. It's nice to be able to just enjoy being a person. Not a teacher, not a student, just a person who likes to hang out with international students.

When I'm not playing volleyball, sometimes I'm ruining surprise parties. Today I did that. I showed up at exactly the wrong time, and I had to make the choice to run, hide, or just lose a lot of face. As I was walking up to the door, I hear the surprisee coming. Not being a close friend, I knew I would be extremely out of place. With nowhere to go, I just attempted to be as weird as possible, and get her to the real surprise as quickly as I could without doing too much explaining. OMG. How embarrassing for someone who is as punctual as I am. I was late one time, and this is what I get. Anyway, the party was a lot of fun, I made fun of myself, and everyone seemed to have a great time. Actually the surprise was still good. My presence was just disorienting enough to accentuate the whole mystery of it all.

Life isn't smooth sailing. Every single day, we have to handle situations with grace and humility. Unfortunately, we don't do the right thing every time. Sometimes I really want to put my foot in my mouth or time-travel back just a few minutes and try again, but I can't. We don't get a re-do, and I think that's something I'm working on this week. We can't re-do the situation, but we can learn something and do it better next time.

Thursday

I snapped this pic before watching one of the coordinators teach at PIE. What a week.

Grad school food

Preparing some potatoes for lunch-on-the-go. Gourmet? No. Cheap? You bet.

Clouds at my office

This giant cloud was peeking in my office window today. I miss NE thunderstorms.

No, we don't carry that as a size for WOMEN

Ways to embarrass a woman in a shoe store...

Actually, I like these men's shoes. They are the right size, even if society thinks that it's a size for men.

Views

The clouds are rolling in over the PIE offices.

Detox tea

The best thing about tea is that, when it's hot, you have to slow down to drink it.

Friends

I love them.

House with awesome sunflowers

I walk by this house every morning.

Love, Gratitude, and Liberal Arts

The picture today is of a classroom in the Liberal Arts building, where I take all my grad classes. Grad school, much of it in such a classroom, has been one of the best things I've ever done. I've met friends that have enriched my life so much, and I've found a passion for my life. I'm a lucky person to be able to experience this lifestyle. Just a little love and gratitude going back into the universe.

Overload

My picture today was inspired by the official return to grad school life. Jena's version anyway. The overstimulation is incredibly demanding, and makes it hard for me to pay attention when friends are talking. Things like required readings and lesson plans and practicum assignments take on lives of their own, and then come to dominate mine in a way that is intellectually stimulating, but that seems to sideline all other life-pursuits. The iPhone and MacBook don't do much to help the situation, as my email is just a few taps away. Yet, here I am, taking on the overload with a year's worth of practice. I think I'm in for one heck of a semester. By the way, these mini blogs are tough to spit out! It's a new genre for me.

iCommunicating

So I bought an iPhone with my birthday money. It is awesome for sure. In fact, I have barely put it down tonight between my phone calls for advice and chatting, and the flurry of text messages asking for my advice on various things. It's amazing how connected we can be with these little things. Of course, the iPhone is a bit of a brain drain, but oh how I love it.

New Semester, Taking Refuge

Flagstaff turns into a giant parking lot at the beginning of each semester. The flood of new and returning students, plus their families, means that Target is a war zone, it takes 10 minutes to get through an intersection, and the youth of America invade my academic world with baseball caps, jean shorts, and chatter about house parties. I remember fondly my first days of college; yet I wouldn't want to relive the anxiety of figuring out how to survive with so much freedom. I'm fact, I'm grappling with my own prospects of freedom right now. The world post my graduation next spring, is wide open. I predict many a panicky blog about choosing from my infinite options. The picture today is of my refuge spot, Campus Coffee Beam. They have a delightful happy hour special. I came to love this place because of the hours and hours of comps preparation that I did here. Drink of choice? Fresh Americano.

Industrial walking and Locks of Love

Today I got new tires and had plenty of time to enjoy the rugged beauty of industrial northeastern Flagstaff. Then my friend donated her ponytail to Locks of Love. Very cool! She let me watch because I love hair changes. A diverse Saturday!

Monsoon

I took this photo outside PIE today after a monsoon storm drenched Flagstaff. The rains make everything better except for the soggy bike seats.

Popcorn and plans falling through

Today was just one of those days when it doesn't pay to plan ahead. I was reassigned to a new teaching position after two weeks of planning for the original, and my weekly volleyball stress relief got rained out. Indeed, ESL teachers often take on such challenges as last-minute switches, yet it's still tough to be thrown into a new mix right before the semester. Volleyball getting cancelled was a real shame since I look forward to that all week. Yet, amid the tribulations of student placement and monsoon season, I took comfort in a little treat from home. Colby Ridge popcorn. Nothing like calorie therapy, apparently. Much love!

View from the front door

When I step out of my apartment every morning, this is what I see: Trees, sunshine and a parking lot.
Minus the cars, it's a pretty good view. By the way, the neighbors with the blue truck are hard-core snow shovelers. The two of them and I scooped almost the entire lot by hand last winter.

Messy

Love that world map. It's m inspiration every single day, but my bed is a mess! I haven't slept much in the past three days thanks to comprehensive exams, extra-early teaching responsibilities and my birthday parties. I never said the pictures would be really interesting. They merely represent real life. Though in the future, I will try to find something cooler to take pictures of. Lots of love, Jena.

My 25th Birthday!

Sarah, Me and Seonmin at Brews and Cues. You'd never guess that Seonmin and I took the Comps Exam about 12 hours before this photo. We are applied linguistics rockstars.

So, my new idea is to keep an amateur photo blog. I've often complained of having so many pictures from travel, but so few from real life. Well, here's my attempt to document it. Courtesy of iPhone. Yep, I'm a spoiled brat. I have bought two Apple products in the past month. Worth every penny. I hope I can take some good or at least meaningful shots of my life--which is so sweet right now.

Summer Wrap-up

It's official. Summer is over. That's my fun thought for today.

I just waved goodbye to my boyfriend as he pulled his packed-up car out of the parking lot. I survived a whole summer living with someone. It was a painful adjustment for someone who was used to doing whatever I want all the time, having enough personal space, and not having to justify my coffee and ice cream habits. By yesterday though, I had adjusted to companionship. I have to say that I liked it.

Am I ready to crawl back into my grad school hermit hole? Kind of.

No time to waste, really. I have a comprehensive exam next Monday, which is coincidentally my 25th birthday. My study group is meeting today.

Call me crazy, but studying for this test has actually been a good thing for me. Despite my near constant work last semester, lots of details and interesting stuff slipped through the cracks. Now I have had a chance to reread and rethink lots of materials.

Me and The Guys in Level 5b

When I wasn't nerding out with my Sociolinguistics articles, I was teaching, planning, or thinking about level 5 writing. I think it was a wonderful twist of fate that I got assigned the class that I really didn't want. I wanted to try something besides advanced writing, but I actually got the chance to explore new techniques and new ways to lesson plan (in a group!). Besides the coursework, I got the best group of students imaginable. Just yesterday, they invited me for dinner. They also showered me (and my boyfriend!) with presents. I will say that even the unbelievably rich scent of my new Burberry perfume can't complete with the tears-welling-up feeling that I had when I got the e-mail asking if I could come over for dinner. It's sort of weird, but the fact that they want me to hang out with them is a great feeling. They also ask me for advice on school stuff, which I love. I just want them to be successful, because I know they can do it. I hope they get good ENG 105 teachers who understand second language writing. In my own experience, the Writing Center can do a lot, but they can't un-do a teacher's de-motivating feedback.

Writing skills aside, my students wear a lot of cologne. Seriously. I can tell if there are any students in the school building just by taking a whiff. Moreover, as a writing teacher, I am lucky enough to get essay drafts that smell like a fabulous department store. Sometimes I close my eyes, grab an essay and try to guess whose it is, just by scent.

I guess it follows that they should outfit me and my boyfriend with big bottles of the good stuff so that we too can announce our presence via the olfactory glands.

Speaking of all the ways I get spoiled, I'm writing this blog from my *MacBook Pro*. Yes, indeed. I bought the ultimate machine. It's sleek, sexy and the keyboard lights up! It's seriously awesome. I'm not always one to gush about technology (though this blog may say otherwise), but this thing is 8000% better than my old laptop.

Words to sum up summer 2012: Essays, Boyfriend, Campus Coffee Bean, The Comps, Volleyball, Students, Burberry, MacBook, Total spoilage, Free time, The Dream Team, Ramadan, Kapsa, Study Group, Pilates, Google Doc, Yoga, Rec Center, Veggies!

This summer proves once again that I am the luckiest girl I know. And this blog proves that I have forgotten how to write a coherent piece.