This is the view from my front porch on the first snow day for NYC public schools in 10 years!! Cristi and I were so thrilled you would think we won the lottery, but one free day with no kids is JUST as good!
The day after my birthday, three friends and I went on a 50 mile bike ride through the Pennsylvania Dutch country. It was exactly what I wanted for my birthday, beautiful sunny weather, three of my favorite people and being just about as far from NYC as possible (culturally speaking)
The wide open spaces are probably not a big deal to you but to a New Yorker who is not meant to be a New Yorker, it is enough to make you cry and giggle simultaneously. Which I did until I came to a big hill which kicked the giggle right out of me. This Amish man is plowing the field with horses. NUTS (but secretly I want to run away from NYC and find a bearded Amish man and lose myself in the simple life)
My ESL class has been studying different countries around the world this whole year and to end our unit on Egypt we went to the Metropolitan Museum to see the mummies. They loved it!
Then they had to split into groups and do a project and a presentation about a country of their choice. Mom and Dad got to come and see several presentations.
I went with some young women to a trapeze school downtown. They strap you in and then you soared through the air with the greatest of ease, those daring young women on the flying trapeze. It was really cool.
I took my students to Central Park for a class on orienteering in the Ramble. They had compasses and a "treasure" map of Central park, so they had to find the treasures. For the first 30 minutes they were just so thrilled to be out of a building (there are no playgrounds in schools in NYC) that they went running around with no real aim or direction, they caught on eventually.
Then we had a great afternoon playing in the park...until one little girl became a woman for the first time (if you know what I mean) and I had to deal with a hysterical 6th grader. MOTHERS, please talk to your daughters about what is going to happen to them so they don't flip out on a field trip!!
FYI. Spring is here. This is the park across from the church, we went on a walk on a gorgeous Sunday. These are my three current roommates and a friend of ours. (Aja, Cristi, Cy and Danielle). That is the Hudson behind them and the New Jersey beyond the water.
I have some pictures of Mom, Dad, Evan, and Landon's visit. As you can see in this picture, Evan LOVED it!!
6 comments:
Oh that poor little girl. Your life sounds so much fun, it could only be more fun if you lived in Utah though.
So much fun! This inspired me to switch to a random photo screensaver on my computer. Very great.
YAY! I love to read about your life, NYC really does offer things that you don't find anywhere else. I am happy that your life is exciting! Mom
Would love to have seen the Amish countryside and simplicity with you. And NO playgrounds in NYC schools!!?? That means that you have those poor kids, and teachers, inside all day?? Do they at least get to run around in a gym? No wonder they like to run when they're free. Thanks for the amazing update.
This must be the second one of "The First of Many..."
Thank you for sharing your life.
Loved it! The pictures were great and so many things sounded really fun. It also sounds like you would love to not live in NYC. Why are you there again? Your kids look cool though and I'm sure they are happy you are their teacher. I know you do a lot for them. Riding bikes through Amish country looks so wonderful. We went there the summer before we were married. Did you go to Intercourse, PA? I'm glad you are having a good time and that you are soon done with school, etc. Can't wait until you are here.
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