"The 7-Day Be Thankful for 3 Things A Day Challenge", done my way

So here is what I've been thankful for in this past week. I didn't let this challenge go, I just haven't gotten on Facebook "enough" this week. In retrospect, I experienced a lot of good things this week, so not spending that time on Facebook is something I'm thankful for as well. 

Saturday, I was thankful for
1) Waking up to sunlight instead of an alarm
2) Smiling (it's my favourite)
3) Kids running lemonade stands

Sunday, I was thankful for
1) Learning something new
2) Making someone's day
3) Bagels, glorious bagels

Monday, I was thankful for
1) Old students remembering me
2) New students remembering me
3) Me remembering them back

Tuesday, I was thankful for
1) My ukulele skills
2) My tutoring skills
3) My first aid skills

Wednesday, I was thankful for
1) Singing made up songs
2) "Eating" fake food
3) Kicking rocks and throwing leaves

Thursday, I was thankful for
1) Finding my rain boots 
2) Getting organized for half of next week
3) Ending the day with friends

Friday, I was thankful for
1) Penicillin 
2) My European adventures 
3) Radio request song dedications

And TODAY, SUNDAY, I am thankful for HAVING TIME to post this. It's been a busy week (I wrote most of these in my notes before falling asleep). No matter how busy you are, don't forget to be thankful for your day. There's still at least 3 good things that happen, even on the poopy days. 

I know this was a challenge and that I was to nominate at least 21 other people to do this, but I will leave this with an open nomination. If you read this whole post and haven't done the "7-day, 3 things to be thankful for per day challenge", do it. As days go on, you'll find that you won't be looking for things to be thankful for. Things to be thankful for will be more apparent. It's a good feeling. Good luck. 

Week 5 of my long practicum

Happy Thanksgiving flowers?! Okay! Yes, this is the third bouquet since I started. I feel special.



Homeless lunch and lunch items at the end of EVERY day. So goes the sad life of our lunch basket. I feel disgusted.



My ESL students made cranberry sauce from scratch and served me some on a cracker. It was delicious! I feel thankful.



And of course, a witty corny joke left as a note for me on my desk. It really made my day. I feel appreciated.



I decided to break the "every other week" routine of my posts because this week was filled with so many good things, I just had to share. I love flowers in the classroom because it reminds me that we nurture the students so that they can bloom. If we neglect them they will wither... or rot, like forgotten lunches in the lunch basket. And even students, who at first seem to struggle, can achieve success as delicious as homemade cranberry sauce.

And, frankly, I just love a good corny joke.

One of the best parts of this week was when I was teaching tinikling (a traditional Filipino dance) to my students during P.E. I was genuinely worried that they would not want to do it. But lo and behold, all 30 of them got up and gave the first 8 counts a try. By the end of it, they were all hopping over my "bamboo sticks" (laid out skip ropes) and were working on the first 16 counts! I get all warm and fuzzy when I see them genuinely enthusiastic about anything I teach, but their participation in dance is even more special to me.

They like me! They really do!

Practicum after week 4

My latest bi-weekly installment of my practicum photo journal. Enjoy!


Fresh flowers for a new week.




"Need a pencil? Just don't forget to return it!" (I still have them all... so far!)




One of my lunches. I call it "oval bento", inspired by all my friends who make actual themed bento lunches for their kids. You know who you are! ;)




Symbolic of my practicum: I take the bus every day, I reflect every day.




After a long week of conferences with the students' parents, I decided to treat myself to a slice of butter chicken pizza, as per the suggestion of one of my students. It complimented my bacon-pep-mushroom slice deliciously.




I have been at "80% - full immersion" these last two weeks. My S.A. insists that I'm really at 100% because the few blocks she's kept require not much more than supervising the students (ex. Class meeting, reading with grade 1 buddies). Whatever it is that I'm at, I feel just fine. Everything is fitting like an old shoe.

As each week ends, I get more sad. I don't want this fun to end!

My first 2 weeks of my long practicum

I got fresh purple orchids from one of my students on my very first day.




I got myself a fancy lunch bag.




I left my umbrella in the classroom after the first rainy morning.




My desk is messy, but I got my name on it.. in 2 languages!




I realize that I can only see my forehead in ALL the staff washroom mirrors.




Boo urns, I think I got compli-sulted on my lilac pants. By a staff member.




I did the Terry Fox run with the kids.




My awesome School Associate has an awesome poster at the front of her class.




And if only you could see my class... There are at least 4 kids who are mini versions of my friends. I won't say any more, but if you're a friend of mine and you know that you make me laugh, chances are I'm talking about you. I love it! I feel at home :)

A Ridiculously Good Looking morning

It sure is cold this morning. I can't get over how picturesque RGL looks though. They're even better looking in HD!

Music that made me smile yesterday

First thing in the morning, I saw an email from John Legend in my inbox...



I know he didn't really write me, but you should have seen my smile when I saw it. Turned out to be a taste of his single "The Beginning" from his upcoming album Love in the Future. Not bad Mr. Stephens, not bad at all.

The other thing that made me smile occurred late last night when my homeboy sent me the link to Justin Timberlake's single "Mirrors". I loved this song already but thought I'd start crying cuz the video is melancholic too, but it's the stuff I dig, so I liked it nonetheless.
http://www.vevo.com/watch/justin-timberlake/mirrors/USRV81300104

Oh music, thank you for being good to me!

As seen on the SFU Surrey campus

A bouquet of roses in a planter.

Either they were forgotten or they were placed there by the recipient to be forgotten.

Tear.

Where am I?

The Bay Area?.. Or on the skytrain leaving Surrey?.. Either way, it's a welcome view to end a tiring week!

Happy Friday, friends.

Forget raindrops on roses, these are a few of my little favourite things from Christmas '12

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Our Nativity scene, the little gifts that look huge, and delicate crocheted snowflakes by my sister annie.

When the dog bites...

Happy birthday to us!!

Twins + birthday + candles + breakfast + high tea at the Empress + palabok = THIS.

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Frohe Weihnachten!

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This is what happens when the Buan twins go to the Vancouver Christmas market.
Genießen Sie!

WORLD'S BFF?!

His jacket says so. World's Best Friend Forever. That guy beside him is SO lucky!

Olive juice!

I love olives. And now, my arbequina olive tree has one lonely but potentially delicious olive growing! Mmm can't wait til it's ready to eat!

FINALLY. ROBOTIC. BEINGS. RULE. THE. WORLD.

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One of my favorite music groups inspired me for my costume this year. The Flight of the Conchords have a song called "The Humans Are Dead" and a music video where their futuristic costumes rival those of Daft Punk. I included a still from the video as point of reference.

I had so much fun making this costume that I thought it a shame that I could only show it off to elementary school kids and the trick or treaters. So here is a photo journal of what my robot alter ego did today, including play some PS3 and decide which costume to wear for trick or treating.

My Sunday at #BUMBERSHOOT!

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For those of you who know me, I love Bumbershoot. Well, I love it when I get to go on a day packed with a bunch of great artists and musicians. This year was the most impressive to me so far. Too many good things happening in one day. I was there early and stayed late, never leaving the grounds. And it was back to back excitement! So here is my Sunday experience: the feelings I felt as told by my train of thought.

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
Oh my goodness this woman is awesome. She never stops being awesome. She will always be awesome. Ditto for the Dap Kings. They command the whole crowd with every song and can even have them dance a handful of dances from the 60s like it was no thing! I love watching them live. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings never disappoint.

Tony Bennett
This man sings with so much heart, saying that he is moving to watch is an understatement. The Key Arena was almost full to the rafters and everyone was hanging off of his every word. A standing ovation thanked him at the end of every song. I am brought to tears from this experience. He is all heart. He is grateful for his fans. He is old fashioned and we don't mind it either.

Lee Fields and the Expressions
Beautiful voice. This man is dope. He has crazy charm and emotion for every song he sings. He loves his crowd, and he loves ladies. Tall ones, short ones, big ones, small ones, white ones, black ones, brown ones, ALL ones.

Big Sean
Mad energy. Key arena was packed to the rafters. Everyone was jumping, chanting, and dancing on queue! The crowd loves Big Sean and if this is just the beginning of his career, he has the potential of being the biggest up and coming rapper ever. No joke.

Mac miller
Wow... He sure can attract a crowd. We didn't stick around to see this turn into even more of a train wreck.

Bumbershoot After Dark
The DJ just mixed that horrible techno song I don't like into a dubstep beat. Really? That's how you make me like a hated song LESS.
Also I felt he was saying to himself "Hey, let's mix video game tracks into techno beats. Yeah, that'll sound so retro. Like a 1996 rave!" It was not good.

Okay, so I was a bit tired by that last review because it was about 11pm. The most fun at that event was watching the security guard deal with peeps doing it behind the curtains and men as they walk into the wrong restroom. Really, we had a great time. Other than shows, the art exhibits (namely Christopher Hoff's), the New Girl promo van, the JoeTv spare tire and the place called the Record Store were awesome! I already can't wait for next year!