Summer Snow in Germany?!

So a few days after we got here this massive tree started to snow on us.... cotton! At first it was just weird, cotton flying in the air every time the wind blew. But now it is just annoying b/c I am pretty sure half of the staff has sinus infections because of the amount of stuff that is coming off of this tree. So to look on the bright side of being sick this week, Lauren and I decided to play in it yesterday. I made a snow angel and was throwing the cotton up in the air.

Doner Kabobs!!!

Last night was my first official night off!! We hit the German spa. It was AMAZING! We did this sauna treatment where we rubbed honey on us and then it just melted off of us. It was so nice. I wish the USA had spas like the Germans. They are so heavenly! After we closed the spa down we headed for some dinner. We found a street that had a few options... Tex Mex, Pizza or Doner Kabobs. For me there was no second guessing.. DONER!! It was so good. Just as good as last year. It is also funny how each place makes them a little different but they always so tasty!

The Calm Before the Kids

We continued the tradition of closing our precamp by going to dinner. We were all able to get showered and dressed nice. This year we had an auction because through out the week the staff earned "Digs Dollars" for going above and beyond what they were asked to do. It was funny at all the random stuff they went for. The big seller was a German scarf won by Volt (she is the one standing next to me on the left). It was a great night that we found ourselves at the local beirgarten for some good beverages and good fun!!

First Biergarten of the Summer

On Tuesday night, we headed to the local biergarten. Apparently when the first group of girls walked up Hans, the owner, was so excited. He said, "How long has it been? Seven months?" He told them he could hear us and he stayed open late on Saturday night but we never came. burnt burnt...

It was a great night getting to know the new people and catching up with the old!! This group is so fun and I am so glad that I am here. They are helping more than they will ever know : )

Staff 2010

Meet the Staff
Zim, Calypso, Bear, Bubbles, GG, Rosie, Volt, Checkers, Strawberrie, Jack, Tally, Jewels, Willow, Zia, Newt, Skeez, Starshine, Digs

And so the adventures begin...

After an emotional good-bye from the girls at work, my students and Lynn, I hopped on my plane headed over the "pond" to camp.

I had 2 really nice flights. I highly recommend the exit window seat on an international flight. It's kind of like being in business class without paying for it!When I arrived in Frankfurt I then had to ride on a train for two and half hours to camp.

So the funny part of my travels is... I picked up my backpack and headed to the bus that would take me to terminal 1 so I could catch my train. When I got myself settled on the bus I heard this beeping noise.. beep beep beep beep. Then it went faster and faster. Then it was like a buzzer went off. I was thinking, "What is that?!" A few minutes later, I heard it again! Come to find out, it was coming from my bag!I then remembered that I packed the game Catch Phrase in my backpack. At first I thought maybe it was at the top of my bag, but in reality it was all the way at the bottom of my bag. I could do NOTHING about it.

It then proceeded to go off at least 3 or 4 times per train (I rode 2). It also spoke the team scores, "Team 1 has 3 points. Team 2 has 6 points."

I am so surprised I didn't get questioned for having something "suspicious" in my bag.

Anyways, I made it and I am here getting into the groove of things.

The Beginning of Summer

Memorial Day Weekend 2010 = A weekend full of fun, family and cute kids!!!
Last weekend the whole Vu Family was together in Jacksonville to celebrate the (soon) arrival of Aspen. We gave Trang a bridal shower on Saturday and then headed to the beach on Sunday.

Phonics or lack of

As the end of the school is very near there is one more thing I don't want to forget about the 2009/2010 school year....

While reading some writing papers earlier in the year, I don't remember the topic but the student was discussing how they were excited that they had earned "oneroll." Translation.... honor roll.

Loved how phonics has REALLY worked for this student!

Busch Gardens

Last Tuesday we took our 5th graders to Busch Gardens. I didn't have enough parents volunteer so I had to take my own group this year. I will admit that I did pick three of my favorite students in my class, but had to take one boy, Carlos, that I couldn't trust to go with any other adult.

When we arrived we headed straight for the Montu roller coaster. All 4 kids were a little nervous waiting in line, but after we got off the coaster, they were all so excited and proud that they had been brave enough to ride it.

As we were walking back to grab our stuff out of the locker the kids were still very excited about the coaster and I hear Carlos say to the girls, "I will tell my wife about this someday!" He was referring to how much he loved the Montu. From that point on, I knew that my day was going to be one that I will never forget either.

Later on in the day we went on another roller coaster called Sheikra and I was sitting next to Carlos. At the end of the ride I asked him, "Carlos, will you tell your wife about this ride?" He looked straight at me and said, "Definitely!"

It had been a long time since I have been with someone who hadn't ever been to Busch Gardens. I wish I could just bottle up the pure joy that these kids got after every ride that they had "conquered." It was so refreshing and made my 7:30am-7pm day seem short.

Hardwork is Key

Last week I was priviledged to help Lynn take the Plant High girls tennis team to the state tournament. This is now becoming a tradition for us since this was our 3rd year in a row making it to the tournament. Every year we remember different things about the experience. Year one 2008...beating Chambo in the longest match ever.... Harry... State Runner-up....cheering for Joel.... school business... so we could stay an extra day and Congo River Rapids mini golf. Year two 2009... STATE CHAMPIONS... Miley Cyrus "The Climb".... confirming Amber's inability to play mini golf.

Year three 2010... moved up to 4A..State Runner-up....Hardwork= Freshy is a champion....New hotel... no mini golf : (...

This year was just so different to me. Plant was expected to go to the tournament but we changed things up. We went to a different place for dinner on the first night, we stayed in a new hotel (it was really nice and had a great free breakfast), Amber lost in the first round, and we didn't have a reason to stay for 3 nights. It was just weird. I was really proud of how hard the freshman worked during her final match. She pulled it together and had the match of her life!!!

Plant tennis is going to continue to be good in years to come. I am so proud to be able to help out as much as I do but don't want next year to come since there will be 6 seniors (including 3 of her top 5 players) on the team.

Plant Plant Plant!!!

One of my favorite stories from school

Last year I had a student who was new to the United States. She was doing very well considering she had been speaking English for only about a year and a half. The one thing that she was struggling with was American slang.
One day I was walking around while my students were working on an assignment. I came to Zelimar's desk and saw that she had a water bottle with an orange liquid inside. I asked her, "Hey Zelimar, is that OJ in your bottle?" She said, "No, Ms. Williams it's orange juice."
After I was done laughing, I then had to explain to her that sometimes orange juice is called OJ for short.

Peace & Love

This is the beginning....

I am starting this blog for a few different reasons...
1. I think it will be a great way to for me to keep everyone updated while I am in Europe this summer.
2. I want a way to share some of my crazy experiences that I have in life because there are many times I just feel like I am on EDtv (you know the movie).
3. I want to make sure that some of the things that have happened at school are NOT just happening at my school. *Feel free to post any work related stories*

I hope you enjoy!
Peace & Love