Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in jo_march_writes' LiveJournal:

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Wednesday, September 30th, 2009
9:11 am	I will go to see my mom from December 26th to January 9th. I am so excited to go back to Switzerland, but mainly I am just excited to see her. I need to order a pair of boots, ones that do well in cold weather, maybe even snow... but I have no idea what it is I am looking for. Anyone know of good brands or what I should look for? I also need a coat... but I assume that I can figure out. Unless someone wants to lend their assistance on that too. I've lived in California and Florida all my life, I am not well versed in cold weather apparel. (7 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, September 21st, 2009
10:57 am	This is what college should be like... I found a sponsor today for Honors in the Major; Dr. Kaplan, my adviser and the director of English Lang Arts Education will oversee my undergraduate thesis. Right now I am looking for organizations to work with and doing preliminary research. Credit wise I cannot apply for the actual program until summer, but Dr. Kaplan will work with me before that so when I am accepted I will be well on my way to conducting my research and writing my thesis. I am also going to join his team to research literacy initiatives for adolescents; being on his research project should benefit me when I need him oversee my own. I hate to admit it, but I am more timid around male professors so I was glad that I held my professionalism and did not sound shy. He wants me to send him a page description of my work in the DR as well. I wonder if I could create a research project from my work in the DR? Maybe a TESOL project, look for ways to teach English easier? hmmm. Right now I was thinking of partnering with a program to enhance reading for kids from downtown Orlando. I figure if I am going to do a thesis, I want to come up with a way to better educate students. I am a little lost as to where I want to go with it all, but hey, I am off to a good start. So, in my life right now: Classes!!!! (Favorite classes: Development for Educators and TESOL for English Language Learners) Kappa Delta Pi Education Honors Organization Research with Dr Kaplan Internship at Diocese on Tuesdays Saturdays start volunteering downtown to teach reading (forgot name of organization) Research for my own thesis Work on book with Christie about DR  Church! :) Count down day till December 16th when I will board a plane to Switzerland to see my mommi! and all my family for almost a month!!! The down side of my life right now: I cannot study abroad because thanks to the great economy the once full scholarship provided by proworld is now only $1000 and I need $10,000. So, all my moving was for nothing... but I suppose you can't have it all. Dr. Kaplan talked to me more about Teach for America, he thinks it is great that I am leaning towards that when I graduate. CHECK IT OUT They have a lot of partnerships with grad schools too, so I could have a lead to getting in to a top notch grad school especially if I continue in the education field. University if North Carolina Chapel Hill has a great scholarship program. We shall see. Things are looking up, and there is a lot to look forward to now. So onward and time to study for my GTK which is on Wednesday, the first of my major education tests to become certified!!!!! (Comment on this)
Friday, August 28th, 2009
12:53 pm	Update After a battle, some favors, some pitty tears, and a lot of computer stalking, I have a schedule that is perfect this semester. I am in all the classes I needed and wanted.  I have a free day of no classes on Tuesday to dedicate to my work with the mission, and only a morning class on Thursday so I can dedicate the day to observations and classroom volunteer hours for my education classes. I am in a Spanish class that I actually can participate in. I am content. The month plus visit to the Dominican Republic was incredible. Words can not express my relief and pride in the success of each mission. The English education camp was our largest success thus far; the amount of vocabulary the children learned was amazing. All of the pre planning and curriculum design I did before was a huge help. The children acquiring a confidence to try was all the payment I needed for my work. They are willing to actually speak English now; they want to learn. When Valencia came with the intent to write a book about the five villages, the children were still trying to use their English. Can you believe that?! I was so proud. The book project went phenominal. For the three weeks prior to VCC's arrival, Christie (a professor) and I organized a photo project where the village children took photos for the book. The book is coming along, Christie and I are the editors and we hope to have it published by December in time for Christmas. We have to go back to La Cucarita one or two weekends this semester to check sources and finalize things, so I have a few long weekends to look forward to. The book is a ton of work, and as Sister said she expects a best seller. But I am merging my two passions together and I am excited to tell the story of the place I love from the perspective of the people themselves. They told me their stories (with Christie as an interpreter), they told me what needed to be in this book, they were in control. I am nervous, because my writing will be read by who knows how many people, but I hope this is as large of a success as Sister Bernie expects. She usually gets what she wants too, so we shall see. More later. Back to work! (Comment on this)
Thursday, July 16th, 2009
10:58 am	Disney was a blast.  The girls had so much fun; they loved seeing where Mickey's house was the best and meeting the princesses. I need to post longer on this.... Yesterday was the final meeting, and for once I am really proud of myself. All of the materials and organization I did were a huge success. We are actually really prepared. Everyone knew how hard I had been working, and I wont' lie the recognition was nice after months of stress and work. I am excited because the kids are going to get so much out of this summer. That is why I do what I do, I want to make a difference for them; I want to improve their education so that they can live their dreams. I want to be a dream enabler, I want to empower them. Today I am packing my own things, which is difficult for a month long trip; my hiking shoes still have dirt caked on from last trip. I laugh as I dig out my teevas, bug spray, canteen, and cargo pants. One year: 4 missions. Not too shabby. This afternoon I have to say goodbye to my girls, Lucia, Jenny, and Nana will meet me up on the hill for one day, August 1 before they depart for the private school they and Elmi and Rosa were accepted to in the capital. Oh the things these 5 girls are going to do, oh the joy it has been to be a part of it. I also have to say good bye to Ann... she will not join me for the Valencia mission the last week of my trip, because she is dealing with a personal matter I should not disclose. I know how badly she wants to be a part of it. She is afterall the one who created the VCC trip last year, which was the start of it all for me. She will be greatly missed, she is like my second mom. I can't imagine a trip to the moutains without her. Back to packing, calling my mom for the last time, and my last trip to the office. (Comment on this)
Saturday, July 11th, 2009
4:04 pm	Up and coming So tomorrow my girls are going to be princesses for a day and go to Magic Kingdom to see "where Cinderella lives." Even though they are 15, 16, and 17 years old, they have a younger mindset than highschool kids here and they are so excited to go to Disney... even though they have no idea what Disney actually is. I am excited to spend a fun day with them and celebrate our mutual hard work. Then I have five days untilI leave for La Cucarita, and of course I am no where close to having everything done. Lesson plans are finished, but I still have three grueling long days ahead of me at the office to finish making and copying all of the materials. Should be fun? Friday was meetings galore day. The heads of the English Summer Camp (Chrisie and I) and the heads of Valencia's Service Learning group (Chrisie and  I again...seeing a pattern here?) met with the heads of the mission Ann and Maribel and laid out the schedule of the English camp and then set to work to create a schedule for Valencia's group and six hours later we were all tired and hungry but we got a lot accomplished. So now Valencia students won't just be on the mountain shuffling their feet waiting for something to do. Planning is a lot of work.  Being on the other side of things last year where I basically just showed up was rather nice, but the amount I am learning is invaluble to a girl who has her heart set on International Development as a career. Tomorrow is a day of fun followed by three days of work and then Thursday I say goodbye to everyone at the office and My Girls :( and then Friday is UCF orientation from 8am-4pm and then I leave bright and early Saturday Morning! Phew... I am already exhausted and the week/ month long trip has not even started!!!! YIKES (Comment on this)
Monday, July 6th, 2009
8:23 pm	In life, the little things make all the difference. The same can be said for teaching.   The little breakthroughs that a passerby would do precisely that, pass by. Little successes need to be harvested, cherished, noticing the little triumphs lets the student know they are making progress... makes them want to push forward. Today was Nana's turn.   Nana is in a class below Lucia and Jenny; she struggles with English. Not surprising since she aspires to be an engineer, she has an incredible mathematical mind. Grammar is just not her forte, at least when it comes to the complex English language. Today Nana had news to share. In her nonchalant manner, which is the common attitude of my shy girls, she told me she needed to practice with the English workbook Lucia and Jenny use. When I asked why, she told me in her timid English "This is because I do not need for study my class anymore." Her teacher instructed her to prepare to move up within the next week. I was so proud of her, because her English is not as advanced as Jenny or Lucia's the tendency is for people to  believe she is not working as hard. This is not the case at all, and Nana proved herself today.   Today had another small surprise, my girls are beginning to become comfortable with me. A feat for any teacher. Every Monday we write thank you letters to the host family from the previous weekend. The girls always with out fail write their letter first in pencil. I check the letters and then return them so the girls can painstakingly rewrite the letters in pen making sure there is not even so much as the dot of an "i" missing.     Lucia hands me her letter today looking shorter than the usually lofty letters she composes. I go to make any necessary corrections and instead I read "I did not have a good time this weekend. I do not want to thank you. I do not want to return to your house. I did not like your family." I look up to see Lucia laughing hysterically with Jenny and Nana. Silly girls!!! Lucia raised her hands in the air and exclaimed, "It's okay, I am just joking!" My little jokester... I was elated that she felt comfortable enough to come up with such a joke. And I was thankful for a laugh.   They are super excited for Disney this weekend, when I asked what will you be doing this weekend they all looked at me quizzically and then yelled "Are we going to go to Disney world this weekend?!" Apparently my explanations of the theme park have proven to be descriptive, because they are eagerly awaiting Sunday. As am I. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
10:09 pm	My Pride, Their Diligence Driving the girls to the office today from Valencia Enterprises after class I was overwhelmed with pride for Lucia. As Nana was asking Lucia questions in Spanish, Lucia responded completely in English without so much as a glance in my direction which would have acknowledged she was speaking English to please her teacher. Not Lucia, she took the initiative upon herself to continue practicing for her own self benefit. The whole way to the office she would whip out her Spanish/English dictionary and ask me questions regarding the correct use of a word or how to say phrase. "Do we travel in the car or do we travel by car? Do you say I am scared or I have scared?" Then she took out her workbook and reviewed lessons from class for the ride's duration.     Once at the office, Sister Bernie has a special surprise for the girls: letters from their friends and family at home! Oh how wonderful, a special treat for the homesick travelers. However, as they had a test in tomorrow's class to study for, we had to work before we could play. Sister Bernie asked me to finish 30 minutes early with tutoring so that the girls could enjoy their letters with her. Lucia was ready for work, books and tools in hand to make her way to the now familiar study area also known as the Diocese Conference Room. She had asked me in the car and again at lunch if I would help the girls review their lessons for their test. Of course I had already planned to, but her asking proved her intent. Jenny held back explaining to Lucia they had letters to read, but Lucia understood that tomorrow's test was the most important thing to focus on. She instructed Jenny that first they would study with me for the test then they could read the letters. Once more she spoke entirely in English and marched straight through the doors of the mission office to the conference room. Studying for her test, her sentences were complex and her comprehension was high.     My little celebrities all have their shinning moments. Today was Lucia's day. My little all-star! (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, June 15th, 2009
4:01 pm	Welcome to Orlando Jenny, Lucia, y Nana Nana, Lucia, and Jenny are here. They started school today at Valencia Enterprises downtown. We did it :) And, Sister Bernie asked Maribel to call me today for a special request. She always thinks of ways to keep me busy. I was supposed to have the next three weeks off (since school ends next Monday), but now I am busy once more. I will be tutoring the girls 4 days a week after they finish at Valencia Enterprises; they will come to the mission office and I will work with them for 3 hours a day. They are supposed to be in "lab" during this time, but we do not want them alone without professors at the downtown location. So they will come to mission office under the protection of Ann, Angel, Jessie, Maribel, Sister Bernie and I guess myself. I am super excited since I do not have a car and I am not allowed to have the girls stay with me I thought I would not have a chance to see them a lot. I was sort of down on myself lately with regards to the mission; I have realizes I am not as irreplacable as I liked to imagine... especially with volunteers coming in right and left and a new volunteer who wants to go on a long term mission and already has a college degree, a car, and a lot of free time. Then I decided all of this only means good things for the mission and the new volunteer, Alina is super nice. She is going on the English camp mission, is 27 (?) and is super nice. So I may have made a new friend. And I now can spend 4 afternoons a week for the next month with three amazing high school girls who are going to do amazing things this summer. Oh, and on July 12th I am going to take them to Disney with Jessie... we have no decided whether to go to Magic Kingdom or Animal Kingdom. I sort of want them to go to Animal Kingdom since they all wanted to go to Africa and they have never seen these animals up close, but Jessie wants Magic Kingdom with the princesses and fun rides. Any input? (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
9:33 am	blogs seem to be all the rage now a days For the study abroad program I am applying to scholarship winners would have to post a blog while on their trip. Since I can only attend the program is I win the scholarship I decided to create a blog based on my trips to the Dominican Republic to put in my application. I wanted to do something like this anyway, so now there are multiple reasons to go forward with the idea. I will be posting background information and stories of past trips until I leave then when I come back I will post an entry for each day (30!!!)... the only sucky part is I cannot post while I am in La Cucarita since I have no access to internet, or electricity for that matter. Anyway, here is the start of it if your interested! dreadreams.blogspot.com/ Ahora tengo un examen de español. Adios! (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
8:00 pm	I feel pretty bad ass. The professor who is in charge of the English curriculum and I sat down on Tuesday with the hopes of having a rough draft of the schedule for pre school grades 1-4 and middle school... tons of papers flying everywhere, charts being made and crossed out, diagrams drawn, confusion, clarity, explination, and BAM Everything worked out... like really well. I typed up the proposal with flashy tables and bubble charts to explain everything and Sister Bernie gave the okay!!! I felt so accomplished. I wasn't just walking into a predesigned plan. I made the plan. Talk about gaining experience. For the first time I did not feel completely terrified about this summer. Huge chem test and Spanish test tomorrow. FML. Only two weeks left! Hells yeah. I really miss my mom this week. Her favorite hymn played at church on Sunday, her favorite song on the radio today, Lyubov brought home her favorite desert, and I went to run an errand at Publix and that made me think of grocery shopping with her. Sheesh. I need to get a grip. It is going to be a loonnngggg time before I see her. My dad's house is being staked out by dept collectors and the people who want to foreclose it. So I am pretty sure it is only a matter of time before the house is gone. I need to get there asap so I can make sure to claim all important paperwork and last minute items!!!!! At least it will all be over after this. My dad can get an apartment and my mom can finalize the devorce and I can stay out of it. (Comment on this)
Monday, June 1st, 2009
11:33 am	22 Days Left at Valencia. 47 Days until I leave for La Cucarita. That means for 25 days I can have a summer vacation, a break from school, no job will hire me since I will be gone for a month, and all I have to do is go to the mission office a few days a week. Thank God, I need this break. (Comment on this)
Friday, May 22nd, 2009
12:58 pm	Well, I did it. A lot of people actually got turned down right in front of me, so I was nervous. But, I am officially a knight. Now I can finally apply to study abroad. (Sad that this is why I wanted to get into UCF) And I can try out to become a real knight and ride Pegasus, UCF's horse, at the games! Yeah! Oh and I can work on graduating sometime soon too. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
11:26 pm	My life can be summed up in countdowns. Two months until I leave for La Cucarita. 4 and a half weeks left of summer classes (Chemisty, Chemistry Lab, Spanish II, Teaching Diverse Pop., and Tech for Educators) 28 Days until Lucia, Nana, and Jenny come (the high school girls from La Cucarita who will study English at VCC) 1 month and 2 weeks until Tea joins the girls and studies English as well to prepare to apply to the nursing program. 3 months until the one year anniversery of my mom moving away... no use in making a countdown as to when I will see her. Less than two weeks until Stephanie's Birthday, Kevins too! Less than one month until Lyubov's birthday. 3 days until I find out if I am accepted into UCF. Right now my focus is on my classes. I will be available to have a life once more after June 22nd. Now back to studying for my 1st chem exam tomorrow. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, May 9th, 2009
2:49 pm	I hate the economy My mom is not coming this summer. And I will probably not go next Christmas. And next summer looks questionable. Shoot me. (Comment on this)
Thursday, May 7th, 2009
12:45 pm	English Summer Camp in La Cucarita... First meeting with the Summer English camp participants went well. Everyone is so excited to work with the children; I loved sharing my stories with everyone and explaining how we are now working directly with the Dominican government. Fixing the schooling from within is one of the greatest accomplishments the mission has done thus far. The team is so thrilled and ready to jump in; I love idealistic missioners, usually first timers, they bring back the idealism in me. Christie, the Professor of teaching English as a second language is heading the curriculum with my help so we have a lot of work ahead of us these next couple of months. I am going to learn so much; I have Sis. Bernie teaching me the government side of things and Christie teaching me the, well teaching side of things. Invaluble information. Here is to a lot of work with good rewards! (Comment on this)
Saturday, May 2nd, 2009
11:46 am	Starting to feel a little upset. Every week. 5:30 her time. 11:30am my time. Saturday. Every week. Like clockwork. So, if you have a date, couldn't you call my cell and let me know so I could call you via skype earlier?  Oh well, I hope she has fun. I will be cleaning the apartment. Not bitter, just wanted to hear more details about the house. Which is being foreclosed. And what is to become of my father. Who can obviously no longer live there. And I wanted to persuade my mom not to help him, because has a job and social security and could afford an apartment. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
2:27 pm	La la la la la It's goes around the world la la la la la (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, April 27th, 2009
10:28 pm	They have the ability to make me so mad I want to punch a wall. They drive me nuts. They make me crazy. They love me for me more than anyone else I know. They know my deepest and darkest secrets. They make me laugh harder than anyone else has before. For the good, the bad, the ugly, and the in-between, I am thankful that I met Bianca and Lyubov. When I think of college I will most likely remember them. I will remember what a bitch I have the ability to be; I will remember how bitchy we can be to each other. Then I will remember how we spent countless nights in the living room crammed on one couch talking about anything and everything. It may be a pretty fucked up relationship, but regardless, we are The Mates. Tonight, due to finals and all the stress that comes with them, life was a subject of interest. Suddenly people around me are realizing that I am not going to graduate next year like everyone else and in fact if I get accepted into the program during everyone's graduation I will be in Mexico working with schools and a women's shelter and finally mastering Spanish. It is weird watching everyone go into the "what happens after college mode," but interesting to hear what people really want out of life. I realize that when all things are said and done, I want a family. And sometimes I feel so judged for saying that, because I am super independent and adventurous and spontaneous and supposed to fill a mold that does match a huge part of me, but not all of it. When I graduate I will spend a year or more in the mountains of the Dominican Republic fighting to give rights to people who do not have the opportunities we are so blessed to have. I will work with girls and push them to push themselves and develop self worth that enable them to aspire to be more than just a mother at 14 and want more than a husband... but that doesn't mean I cannot want those things. I want to always be passionate for helping others; I want to continue the work that I am doing, and someday find a place where I can make a difference, but I am beginning to realize I do not have to change the entire world. If I concentrate on little parts, maybe I will not change all of the world, but maybe I will make a huge difference for a group of people. Maybe that is enough. Because I still want the house with a front porch and a swing and an acre of land with a stable. I want to be able to fly my mom over to America whenever we see fit and have a room waiting for her. I want to be a mother... a real mother who has time for her kids and makes sure they grow up in a stable home. I can still run something like the mission office, work with inner city projects, teach at a community college, teach at a school, or do a million other things and be a mom. Just like Lyubov can run a Girl Scott Troop, become a counselor with the red cross for children who suffered natural disasters, be a school counselor or a teacher, work with community projects and be the best mom possible. I am probably making a lot of people gag at this point, Bianca certainly had her moments. She agreed with others. Bottom line is I can be whatever I want to be, but the older I get the more I realize that just because I am not living in a huge city in some government office does not mean I will not make a huge difference. I think sometimes I get too ahead of myself and dictate what I think I should want, because it is what others see me as. I am going to start living as what I see myself as. And I hope my roommates do the same. (Comment on this)
Saturday, April 25th, 2009
12:00 pm	My mom is going on a date. And I am staying home to study all weekend for finals. Wtf. I am pretty happy for my mom especially since we had a pretty heavy conversation today, but then she was like I have an incoming call and when I called back she could not longer talk because she had to go get ready. I didn't even get to tell her about my week or any of the funny things I save up and write down on little notes so I remember to tell her on our once a week phone call. Boo. The guy is like Jewish to the extreme... so he asked her to come to synagogue with him and then something else. That's cool, but I made a joke with my mom asking her if she would convert if this goes anywhere. It is now my job to be obnoxious. She said with a missioner for a daughter she better stay Catholic. That's right, daughters come first... and my mom likes being Catholic, so this may be an interesting combination. Well, I think it will be fine. Except when mom has to get ready for a date and has to have me call her back tomorrow. She really wanted me there to help her get ready; I had not felt the surge of wanting to be closer in a while, but I would have liked to help her get ready. And to interrogate this guy. No one messes with my mommy again... I'll shank 'im. This is soooooooooooooooooooooooooo weird, but HAH Dad, Take That. My mommy is going on a date, without you! That feels pretty good. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009
6:32 pm	Rejuvinating Father Fred is home for a month from the DR, his fist time back since August; today we had TONS of meetings in the mission office as things are changing, times are getting harder, and plans need to be made. Father Fred held a mass at 11:30 today for the Diocese, and going to mass under him was really nice. I felt at peace again, like I was back in La Cucarita. I needed that. This semester I was unable to go to church a lot since I lost my car, but the last month an a half I have been going again but Father Fred's mass today was just a reminder as to why we have to keep faith. Faith always seems to be rejuvinated in me when I most need it. Too bad the same things could not be said about this semester. Well, at least it is all over in a week and then I can focus on my last 6 weeks at Valencia and be done with it. Father Fred talked about being open to the world and having open arms and an openess to people. I think we all fail at this too much. I think regardless of different views, opinions, beliefs, we are all people. (Comment on this)