~:[CH2 - Day 181]:~ A Different View

~:[CH2 - Day 181]:~ A Different View

We went from the lively city of Amsterdam to the very quiet and quaint Rhine River Valley. As much as I love the city, where I got to see Anne Frank's House and some awesome food place such as one with the entire legs of animals on sale, the little town of St. Goar was super cool to explore. The city is home to the cuckcoo clock and the largest beerstein store in the world. It borders the Rhine Valley and is surrounded by castles, mountains, small towns and even a train runs through the city. Beautiful and what I expected of such a city. We took the wine tasting experience and it was amazing tasting in the cellar. In any case, an early night in with an early departure to Munich tommorrow.

~:[CH2 - Day 180]:~ Waterways

~:[CH2 - Day 180]:~ Waterways

After making our way out of London, we headed to the cliffs of Dover and into France and drove through Belgium and eventually worked our way through the windmills of Holland and eventually to Amsterdam. I met so many new people today and had the best of times. Never gonna forget today. Another early start so see ya'll I tomorrow.

~:[CH2 - Day 179]:~ This is the End

~:[CH2 - Day 179]:~ This is the End

This is the end of our trip independently and now we join our group of amazing people. before meeting we grabbed some food at Dumpling Legend (xiao long bao) and caught thr movie This is the End, whiixh I slept through since I did not sleep well. We burned some time wandering before re-checking in to the same room. We met our fellow travelers who all seemed to be super cool from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and more. We got to know each other in our hotel's pub and headed out for a little before our trip. They were all cool and I had a great time. Can't wait until early tomorrow where we finally head out. This also is the end of our time in London. Cheers.

~:[CH2 - Day 178]:~ Learning the Lingo

~:[CH2 - Day 178]:~ Learning the Lingo

When you travel anywhere, you have a lot to learn. without a foreign language, we thought it would be easier but of course it wasn't. We got strange looks when asking for the restroom (loo) or a place to throw trash (rubbish), or get sprite when ordering lemonade, etc. Regardless we had fun roaming to St. Paul, London and Tower Bridge, the Globe Theater, Tower of London, down the Thames, through SoHo and ate in Chinatown, down to Ramba and stopped at the casino. We were told the subway was open all night but of coirse it wasn't so we took a bike taxi back to the hotel which was worth ever pound. Felt sorry for the driver, but he was awesome. One more day in London tomorrow. Let's make the most of it!

~:[CH2 - Day 177]:~ Pounding the Streets

~:[CH2 - Day 177]:~ Pounding the Streets

After a long flight, we got in way earlier than we had thought so we had a lot of time to turn. After taking the subway to our hotel, we found a pub around the corner and grabbed some food. I got aome salmon cakes which were ok. Ahong's sausage was probably the best. Wewalked through a few stores, hit up Buckingham Palace, wandered with no map and still ended up where we wanted to be ... at Westminster Abbey, the Parliament/Big Ben, and the London Eye. We even snuck in a stop at the arcade, the udderfestival, a walk across the Jubilee bridge and another dinner at a chicken restaurant that would have been good if they had any food left. What we had was good. Only problem, is that it's pretty expensive here. Lots of pounds to spend and lots more to gain :)

~:[CH2 - Day 176]:~ God Save the Queen

~:[CH2 - Day 176]:~ God Save the Queen

The day was spent cleaning ao I could come back to a fairly organized room. Almost a success as I still have a bit more to clean upon my return. However after that, I was able tongrab my stuff and head off to the airport. We ate a few times here and there and finally arrived at LAX ready for the adventures ahead. I was a little sad we were unable to sit together but a nap and some movies will be my company. Now with pounds and euros, I'm ready for this adventure to begin. Hope you enjoy this journey along with me!

~:[CH2 - Day 175]:~ These Cuties To Say Farewell To

~:[CH2 - Day 175]:~ These Cuties To Say Farewell To

On my final full day in the US, after a day of errands preparing for my departure, I stopped off at Banana Bay for some amazing fried rice, then over to MVP for some game time. I actually got 343 on basketball despite being a little rusty (will top that when I return) and won these five cuties in the claw games. For those that don't know me well, I love these types of games, not to win animals such as these, but simply to win. Regardless, it was a great final evening before I head off. Farewell everyone, my next post may be from LAX or from the air. 

June 21, 2013 ~ The Labyrinth of Love

"The nice thing about doing a crossword puzzle is, you know there is a solution." - Stephen Sondheim

Sondheim was not addressing the issue of love (at least not that I am aware of), however, it's very true, it's nice when you know that there is a solution to the problem. The work in trying to solve that puzzle or work your way through that labyrinth is worthwhile, when you know that the end result will yield an answer that is clear and concise. However, is the answer to the labyrinth of love ever clear and concise? Probably not, but it doesn't really have to be.

However, this puzzle becomes so much more difficult when your expectations are high because your initial experiences were amazing. My first major relationship revealed a lot about myself. It left me vulnerable, left me heartbroken, yet allowed me to grow, maybe beyond my years and ended, not with a new puzzle to solve, but stuck in a labyrinth with no way out. You see, the girl I dated set the bar pretty high for those to come after. She had everything you could imagine and was a perfect complement, however, life always throws curve balls and this one ended up separating us. A clean break would have meant a clean beginning with the scars of the relationship to be remembered, but maybe eventually fading below what experiences came after. However, the way it ended, left a cut so deep that never has been repaired and left me in a place where I have yet to be able to solve the labyrinth of love.

When someone matched or exceeded where the bar had been placed, timing was an issue, sometimes the flame wasn't there, or it simply wasn't a time that I was headed in that direction. Looking back, these missed opportunities buried me deeper in this labyrinth, as I knew all the amazingness that was out in the world. All the amazing features and qualities I dreamed of were not of a fairytale, but passed right before my eyes, unfortunately, never ended in the same frame as me in the end.

While the waves of emotions and experiences led me into the world of poetry, the solution to the labyrinth seemed as if it would be more difficult to solve. Trying to take myself out of the labyrinth, I lost some of the experiences I had and my confusion loomed even more, as I was not clearly able to analyze the situations that appeared before me. My ability to read situations ceased, as I missed clear signs that would try to lead me to the end or passed on passages that I should have taken. Sometimes I took a right when I should have taken a left and right when I thought I had the solution, I hit another dead end, many of them in fact.

Now I sit in the corner wondering, will I ever find my way to the end of this labyrinth. With the last frame in the movie of my life be one of solitude or one that Disney fairy tales are made up of? While I thought, maybe the process would be expedited if I just raised the bar, however, the amazing people I have met has led me to believe that there are those out there who are exactly what I am looking for and what I need and I am exactly what they are looking for and what they need. My vision is starting to fade and maybe the simple solution would be glasses, maybe some advice from a friend, or a more direct approach from those around me. Maybe I need more confidence, make more time, or simply stop thinking all together.

I voluntarily took myself out of this labyrinth for a little while, however, soon I hope that I can discover the end of this labyrinth. My first love will always hold a special place in my heart and will always be the one who I turn towards as my compass and nothing will change that; however, it is the last one who will eventually guide me to the solution to this puzzle. The bar has been set high, but I have no doubts that there are many that can reach these heights.

Love is confusing, there may be no good answer or maybe there is a great one. Who really knows? There may be a perfect match, there may  not be. The opportunity may have been passed up or maybe it will be flashed in front of me in a way that there is no way that I could miss it. Regardless, I still sit here locked within this labyrinth and I only hope that my life does not end here. I hope eventually that the massive walls that lock me in will crumble down and reveal my final frame with you standing by my side. Whoever you may be.

~:[CH2 - Day 174]:~ The Road

~:[CH2 - Day 174]:~ The Road

Our road took us from South Point in Vegas back home after hitting up Raising Canes and the outlets. It ended a pretty good trip and while I thought I would be a lot of traffic and I would be tired, I felt good the entire drive and the traffic was pretty good. On the way back, I got word that there was a celebration going on, so I stopped by to celebrate the progression down his road. His being Makoa and his road currently stopped at his Kindergarten graduation! We celebrated, like he was in this picture, with a small BBQ. And then there is the beginning of the road, where his quails eggs are headed, as they were born and will soon show up as newborns. The road can be a great one, however, it is up to you where that road goes.

~:[CH2 - Day 173]:~ Best Ever?

~:[CH2 - Day 173]:~ Best Ever?

Tonight, I had one of the best burgers every to end the night at Grind Burgers. Pesto Garlic Mayo, Cayenne Pepper Ketchup, Pepper Jack Cheese, grilled onions, jalapenos, a fried egg and a few extras made for an amazing burger. The burger was especially satisfying after a long day, walking the strip in the hot weather as we went to Paris, Planet Hollywood, Bellagio, New York New York, Monte Carlo, and Excalibur. We hit up the Bellagio buffet and had a feast and also had some time to relax at the pool. At the end of the night, we did well on the floor EVERYWHERE and now I can sleep well tonight. It was great catching up with people again and now it's time to head back home and prep for Europe! Best day ever? May not the best, but pretty darn close.

~:[CH2 - Day 172]:~ Raising the Bar

~:[CH2 - Day 172]:~ Raising the Bar

We left way earlier than expected for Las Vegas and made it out early allowing us to head to the M buffet and the outlets to lounge around before the meet. While one of our athletes tweaked her ankle and another took two spills during his race, it ended up being a fun day. While we may not have anyone going to Nationals in North Carolina (by choice), it was a great junior olympic trek and we have a few days of relaxation ahead. After the race, we grabbed some food out, bowled, played the floor, and then met up with a few friends. All in all, it was a great time and I look forward to the rest of the weekend.

June 20, 2013 ~ The Road to Limitlessness

"What would you do if you weren't afraid?" - Spencer Johnson

I've long thought about the topic of fear and how it limits us in our lives. It stops us from taking action when we are unsure of ourselves, keeps us from taking risks, and sometimes saves us from our own selves. However, what would you do if you had no fear?

Believe it or not, I've always fallen on the more shy or timid side, growing up as a thinker more than a talker. I would prefer not to talk if I had the choice, not because I am bored or because I am uninterested, but simply because that is how I have been since I was small. I have been told that when I was small, my parents were even afraid that I may not talk. A few decades later, I am a teacher of a Model UN program. Of all places, right? Regardless, maybe because I am a Gemini, but often times, my other side kicks in and I want to think that that side of me is my fearless side, trying to move closer to a limitless society. Trying to break free of the chains they call being shy and moving towards the day of being able to say what I want to say when I want to say it.  Is it simply that my mind is active and the reason why I fall on the creative end of the spectrum or simply because I have allowed fear to control who I think I should be.

In many cases, I was too afraid to speak up, too afraid to talk to that girl, too afraid to raise my hand, or too afraid to take that leap. How would I have changed if I went forward, overcoming the fear that limited me? Would the absence of fear in our lives lead to limitlessness or recklessness?

In my opinion, I need to shed this fear, yet also balance it with reason. I have to rise from where I am at and not be afraid that I may fall back to where I started from, that my heart may be broken again, that I may fail. However, because I did not fear, I will have seen what is waiting for me, I would have experienced love, and I may have tasted a bit of success.

When I truly think about it, I do not fear too many things. I do not fear death, as I know that I have lived life to the fullest and accept that my time will eventually come. I do not fear heights, I do not fear bugs or critters, I do not even fear fear itself, just kidding on that last one. However, while I still fear things such as heartbreak, I know that life will continue to try to scare you out of things you should be able to do. The more times you face up to that challenge, the less times you'll be asking "what would you do if you weren't afraid." Let reason guide us down our path and let not fear restrict us from flying to heights we never knew existed.

To fear, I say goodbye. Limitlessness, here I come.

~:[CH2 - Day 171]:~ What Matters Most

~:[CH2 - Day 171]:~ What Matters Most

The summer has finally arrived, but it's not the arrival of summer that I enjoy the most about this day, it's about the wonderful messages that I get to read from a wide range of students. I must be very sentimental because the cards and the messages mean so much to me and it's hard for me to part with these cards, even a decade after I received them (yes, I still have letters and cards from my original classes). Regardless, after all the cleaning, the uploading of grades, the last meetings, and the check out, the messages in these cards will be with me for the rest of the day and probably for the rest of my life. Thank you for making my year a memorable one!

June 20, 2013 ~ Don't Blink

"Don't blink, because in that fraction of a second, waves and waves of awesome are passing you by." - Jason Watanabe

It must be these graduations that get to me, as I am not ready to go to sleep, as my energy level is on a high (or maybe it was the Pepsi). However, with the memories of each graduating class, you realize all the awesomeness that is in this world. Each day, I turn on the news only to hear about shootings, robberies, rapes, and more, and then I realize, that's not really how life is. Sure, these things happen and it will probably happen to either you or someone you know before you pass on, however, life is about the awesomeness that surrounds you each day that comes in waves and right when you are not looking is when all that awesomeness will pass you by.

I don't want to go to sleep or maybe it's that I just don't want to close my eyes or even blink for that matter. Who wants to miss the awesomeness that surrounds you? Maybe that is why I sleep so little. Maybe that is why I think life is so awesome and amazing and is something that has so many positives. While the struggles of life are real, there is greatness all around us if we just are aware of what surrounds us.

My family is awesome. My parents have dedicated so much to ensure that I have everything I need, while once in awhile they complain about the complete mess that I make, ultimately, they are so accepting and accommodating, often too much. They have set such a great example for me of what it is to work hard, to help others, and most importantly to love. My brother resembles my parents in that he has always been there for me, always taking care of me, and always looking out for me. He sent me home when I was deathly sick with walking pneumonia when I first started teaching and always is concerned when I get sick, hurt, or simply seem stressed. My relatives are just as amazing as they took me in during the summers, invited me to everywhere they would go, and have always made sure that we enjoyed life together and never forgot to enjoy each others' awesomeness.

I am blessed to work with amazing students who are also awesome. To see them grow and mature and move into the real world is strange, but I am always inspired by the people that they have become. Former students who are continuing their pursuit of their dreams, those who are living their dream, and those starting on the path of discovering what their dreams are, make me realize all the possibilities that they have and all the awesomeness they have or will experience. To watch the musical talents of some, the athletic talents of others, the creative skills that some posses, as well as the intellectual capabilities fills me up with their awesomeness and inspires me to push to do more. The co-workers I have are also awesome. They always have fun and creative lessons, are so excited about the lessons that they teach, and always have wonderful success stories of how awesome their students are. While there are complaints, ultimately, the stories of awesomeness always seem to win in my eyes. Even the parents I get to work with inspire me to push for awesomeness because I see all that they do to provide for their sons or daughters. To the parents who are single trying to support their child, to those battling illness, to the ones working multiple jobs, or the others who sacrifice their own money and time to ensure that their son or daughter has the opportunities that they want them to have is simply awesome.

The police officer, the athlete, the store owner, the custodian, the businessman, the bus driver ... I could go on and on, but each of the these people add their own bit of awesomeness to this world. Not to mention our pets, the food, nature and everything about this world.

I know that times are tough and things will not always work out as we planned. We will face many struggles, some major and some that are minute, however, when all around you seems as if it is chaos, breathe, take a second and stop yourself from blinking. Look around you and see all the amazing things that surround you, all the awesomeness that you may have missed because life was moving to fast or all the negativity of the world has clouded your vision. This world has many problems in it and each day, people around the world are trying to figure out just how to solve all of these problems. While it may not completely solve all the world's problems, maybe taking a second, letting all that is going wrong go to allow yourself to see all that is going right may just be what you need and what this world needs.

Don't blink, as another wave of awesomeness is coming. Friends. Family. Students. Colleagues. Complete Strangers. Friends of My Future. Everyone. There is awesomeness everywhere, we just have to open our eyes and make sure we don't miss any of it in that fraction of a second. Don't blink. Don't blink.

~:[CH2 - Day 170]:~ A Day You'll Never Forget

~:[CH2 - Day 170]:~ A Day You'll Never Forget

To be honest, some people will forget this day, but many others will not. When all the dust has settled in life, this day will be one etched in their mind as one never to forget. I tried to make this experience just that for row 15 west, my row for this year. It was great to meet students I have never met, others I had lost contact with, and a few others I have know for quite some time. This day will always be a great one and this year, I will have gone through another graduation and uploaded another album of wonderful photos that I will never forget. Thank you class of 2013 for all the wonderful memories and I wish you the best going forward. The four years truly fly by so quickly and it is a reminder to cherish all the moments in life, as they each should be a day that you'll never forget.

~:[CH2 - Day 169]:~ Wings and Things

~:[CH2 - Day 169]:~ Wings and Things

Yes it was another button day and the reality began to set in, the year is coming to a close. I can't believe how quickly the year ended, however, it has arrived. With a frantic day after a long night, I finished all I needed to including the music video, the freshman MUN dictionary, and the letter to the students. I began to clean my room and thought, another year has already gone by. I have gotten better in my work, but next year, I have a lot of changes I want to make. Two finals left and I am done and off to Vegas and Europe. After work, I headed to Yoshinoya and spent a lunch break in Irvine, took a much needed nap, then headed to Buffalo Wild Wings for a mini-reunion for the finals game. Unfortunately, it was not the final game, even though they could have closed it out. Then in the nightcap, I completed all the paperwork for my parent meeting on Thursday. It was a very productive 24 hours. Now it is time to rest!

~:[CH2 - Day 168]:~ Going Green

~:[CH2 - Day 168]:~ Going Green

It's that time of the year again as my freshmen once again reached the $500 fundraising barrier and I had to write a song and sing it and make a music video for it in 24 hours. I am pushing it, but it looks like I am going to get there on time! The song is based on Usher's Scream. Unfortunately, the song is not in my key and I can't sing to begin with so it's like cats screeching. I guess it's less of a reward and more torture than anything else. In any case, I had about six wardrobe changes through this process, maybe more. I lost track ... it definitely was pretty fun, but I think next time I will get more people involved in the process. What do you think? My next editing project is Sunny Fu's cover! Yahoo!

~:[CH2 - Day 167]:~ My Father's Day

~:[CH2 - Day 167]:~ My Father's Day

Today was Fathers' Day and tomorrow will be my dad's birthday, so this truly ends up being his weekend/week!  Each year, I ask him what he would like me to make for him and this year, as usual, he requested seafood spaghetti. I thus ventured out to find what I could which included clams, mussels, tiger shrimp, squid, and scallops mixed with an array of vegetables and other treats :) ... in the end, he at three plates before turning in! It may not be the healthiest things in the world to do, but when you do this once a year, he deserves to splurge! While I was able to do most of the housework I had planned and also the beginning of my packing, most of the day was spent cooking or with my pops, just lounging around resting, as a Sunday should be like.

~:[CH2 - Day 166]:~ The Rest of Your Life

~:[CH2 - Day 166]:~ The Rest of Your Life

Many of my friends have not had that thought of retirement yet, but being around teaching, you see colleagues head into retirement each year and it makes you think about what you have ahead of you. Tonight, we celebrated a fellow staff member, Le Wentz who has done so much to give back to our school. He was there for me in the worst of times and there to celebrate the best of times. He was patient, kind, and always displayed good character. While many times cautious, he simply wanted to make sure that we were all protected and good to ensure that there was nothing but good for us going forward. A few weeks ago, he was awarded with a staff Escudo de Oro award for representing the school as a staff member should, dedicated themselves, setting a good example, and the like and there is no doubt in my mind that he fits this role. We have a big void to fill and with all of his experience in the district, there is much to learn for his replacement. However, I am so glad that he was brought into my life, as not only is he a great colleague but is an even more wonderful friend. I wish you the best in your retirement, you deserve nothing but the best!

June 15, 2013 ~ Character

"Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." - Lao-Tze

This past week, my freshmen were assigned a speech contest topic of, "What is the importance of character?" I gave a very broad topic to see where the students would take the speeches and hope that they would be able to cover a range of topics, however, I never thought I would get the speeches that I had, which were not only well delivered, but many of which send strong and powerful messages.

The speeches opened up my eyes to the past of many of the students who seemed to have coasted their way to my classrooms. Ones that seemed like they had no problems, demonstrated that the impact of others reaches all, both good and bad. Some messages explained their experiences with bullying and how hurtful words had isolated them and made them wonder why they were being treated the way they were. Others told the stories of struggles and how their hope, perseverance, and good will of others help them with the situation that they or their friends/family were dealing with. While others told stories of how the efforts of someone in their lives changed how they saw things in life, how they did things in life, and how they were planning to live the rest of our lives.

Each of us travel down our own roads where often we are left with decisions of which road we are going to travel. When we arrive at the fork, we must ultimate decide what we are going to do. However, while we must think about how that decision impacts OUR lives, these speeches made me think that we must also begin to think more about how those decisions affect the lives of OTHERS.

I realized that in a life where there are so many deadlines and things to cover, I will need to re-assess the importance of all I do and find more time to slow down to spend more time addressing the things that matter. I need to think about slowing down before my words slice through the heart and minds of those whom I come across so that I avoid becoming like those who I see as individuals I hope I never become and even reach out to them to lend them a helping hand. I need to find more time to lend an ear, to show more care, and simply slow down to avoid missing these smaller gentler messages that are not screaming at me to stop, but simply trying to grab my attention in their infant stages. Maybe then, I can avoid allowing these smaller issues from becoming much larger ones.

Ergo, I believe that in a broader perspective, my views of those considered "criminal" and the way I address them also needs to be changed. As cruel and inhumane as the actions of someone may be, we don't know their struggles. We don't know the mistreatment and neglect that they received all their life. We don't know exactly what their situation is and who am I to judge who they are and what they deserve. When reading news articles online, I am appalled at the comments made by readers. The discrimination and the hate and it's no wonder why we are having so many problems in this world. Even hearing political campaigns and the way they attack each other, does not send the message we want to send to the upcoming generations. We all need to look at what our society is becoming because of things like this and do our part to make the changes we do, not only for the betterment of our lives, but of the generations ahead, to save them from a life filled with individuals of bad character who will take every chance to bring them down through verbal, physical, and cyber abuse.

We all make mistakes in our lives and we will continue to make mistakes going forward. However, I hope that at the end of my life, I can stand knowing that underneath me are the six pillars of character, which the speeches in my class this week displayed. I want to become like the many people that my students talked about in their speeches, not because I want to become a hero, but because I see how much pain that these individuals have taken away from the lives of my students, the impact that they made on their lives, and even the lives that they saved from the torment and cruelty of the world around, whether they be one of my students or even some complete stranger. Today, I also challenge you to do the same. Maybe if we all take this pledge and pledge our lives to one of good character, it can create an upwards spiral that will not only help our own lives, but the lives of generations to come. Maybe we can make a habit of good character and create a destiny that we can look back upon and be proud of. I have a lot of work to do, but with the help of those around me, I know that I can eventually make the pillars of character the cornerstone of my life.

~:[CH2 - Day 165]:~ Leaving Their Mark

~:[CH2 - Day 165]:~ Leaving Their Mark

There were so many pictures that could have ended up as my picture for the day, but I figured I could leave one that summed up the whole day. The class of '13 left the school, leaving great memories of great times. There are many who left so many impressions in my life for which I will be forever grateful. My freshman IAs (all seniors) were amazing and it was hard to say goodbye to them. It was great having one last chance to say goodbye to them all, as I ran into a few of them at Disneyland, as they were at Grad Nite. Regardless, today was bittersweet ... excited to see what they can do in this world, but sad that they will no longer grace the halls of our school. Farewell and I will see you all at graduation.

~:[CH2 - Day 164]:~ Goofing Around

~:[CH2 - Day 164]:~ Goofing Around

It wasn't all fun and games today with presentations and speeches to grade, but I did catch a bit of time to see this little cute and her brother, as well as a stop at my favorite place for a nightcap. Regardless, I can smell the end of the year slowly coming as I quickly try to piece things together for the end of the year. Can I get there without too much stress? We'll see. My freshman dictionary is set up and just needs to be filled in and I have to begin working on the music video, but other than that, it might be smooth sailing and time to goof around, as summer is almost here!

~:[CH2 - Day 163]:~ Jam Packed

~:[CH2 - Day 163]:~ Jam Packed

I ventured out to Tustin to grab lunch at Sake 2 Me Sushi for their AYCE lunch special. For $19.99, they had a pretty good selection of food and I was sure to get my money's worth. So much, that my stomach was jam packed of food when I left. I somehow found room to sneak a bit more when I ventured to TapEx with Jamie and I was totally and completely full. At that time, when I headed home, so was the freeway, as it took almost an hour and a half to get back home. 

During the day, I had my freshman participate in a speech competition with the topic of "What is the importance of character values?" It was very interesting to hear the range of speeches and will be great to hear a few more on Thursday, however, there were numerous ones that were impressive and others that were heart-warming and heart-breaking, as well. It's great to hear all these messages. It seems like a few of them were afraid to talk about some of these things before and now, even as freshman, they are able to stand up and speak up to share their story with the rest of the world.

~:[CH2 - Day 162]:~ Crowded in Here

~:[CH2 - Day 162]:~ Crowded in Here

Yes, I know this picture is not one of my best, but it shows just how packed my room was at lunch today! We had the best showing of any meeting I have had with this class and it's a good start for the new cabinet! On the opposite end, my day got off to a rough start with important papers being left at home and things all over the place. However, I persevered, finished all my grading (except current projects), holding my meetings, reviewing the final committee list for our fall conference and our class list for next year, reserved the bowling alley, then went to track practice. Pweh! I ended the day with a treat at Feast and gelato, running into some very cool and awesome people along the way!

~:[CH2 - Day 161]:~ It's Lonely Here

~:[CH2 - Day 161]:~ It's Lonely Here

I swore I wouldn't play Candy Crush on Facebook, but couldn't resisted and ended up reaching the end of the phone game and the Facebook game, last week.While it seems that the end is not truly the end, for now, I only go to Candy Crush to approve requests and nothing more. It's just me and four of my Facebook friends sitting and waiting for the new levels. Join us! In any case, it bothers me each day as I see those request lingering wondering if they'll put out new levels, which I should not waste my time on :) ... I was pretty sore today from running but survived and rewarded myself with boba and a taste of butterbeer which is super sweet and nothing compared to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Oh well, it was worth a shot!

~:[CH2 - Day 160]:~ Back in Town

~:[CH2 - Day 160]:~ Back in Town

Whenever Van is back in town, he always hits me and a few of his friends up to hang out and it's always great to see him since he only comes back from Nashville every so often. Last night I overslept, so today, I made sure to make it out to shoot some pool. As always, it was great catching up and while it will be sad that he'll be gone for so long, I know he'll be doing big things out in Nashville. The rest of my day is the reason for me being sunburned! Our meet today, which I thought would be a quick one, turn into another day of delays. Regardless, we survived and I left with some memories of the meet, my sunburn.

~:[CH2 - Day 159]:~ Just Waiting

~:[CH2 - Day 159]:~ Just Waiting

Hours and hours of my Saturday were spent waiting here at this very spot. We were waiting for our race to arrive so we could get home to our wonderful couches and beds. However, home is not where we were meant to be. Regardless, despite the endless hours in the overcasted morning then the warm afternoon, I enjoyed the stress-free environment after a stress-filled week. I much rather be waiting here for hours that stressing about another deadline. It's almost summer and the splash in the steeplechase pit is my first taste of summer. 

~:[CH2 - Day 158]:~ We Say, Adieu

~:[CH2 - Day 158]:~ We Say, Adieu

We said our farewells this evening to our MUN seniors who had so many stories that we could share from all the conferences throughout our years. It's always a bittersweet memory and always is that reminder of why we work so hard and do all that we do. It reminds me of why I do this year after year and why I take this program so serious. These students are my motivation, likewise, so is the memory of my advisor who gave every ounce of his life to this program, even when his days were numbered. It's great to be recognized for your excellence, but every year at the banquet, it is my chance to remind the program, as well as myself, that representing your country in the most professional way possible is more important that winning an award if it requires that you shortchange the experience of a TRUE Model UN experience. Many of our students epitomized this idea and I could not be any more proud of them and all that they achieved, including our two SGs this year! I had great students, super seniors, and an amazing co-advisor in Bill Mustard. Thank you!

I never thought the day could get any better, but not only did I get milk tea (because of the credit my seniors gave me), but I also ran into two alumni and had a long convo with them. While sometimes it can be a pain living in the city where you teach, sometimes, it's really nice, especially when you see how successful they have become and the mature and responsible adults they have grown to become. To everyone, I bid you farewell, but I will be sure to see you all soon.

~:[CH2 - Day 157]:~ Closing Out

~:[CH2 - Day 157]:~ Closing Out

Banquets are always the interesting mix of emotions, celebrating athletes who have stood out, remembering the past, saying goodbye and getting a chance to start over. With as few words as possible, I survived the night. I was not unscathed, but hoping that character can help build an armor that will drive me forward and fight off all the obstacles that come my way. One of the traditions I loved that started last season was the Champion of Character Awards, awarding athletes who deserve such an honor by displaying good character values. It is something often taken for granted, but a team built on character can survive those obstacles that are sure to arrive. Character counts and let's do all we can to ensure we live a life along those lines and help this world become a better place.

~:[CH2 - Day 156]:~ Recognition Well Deserved

~:[CH2 - Day 156]:~ Recognition Well Deserved

The highest awards given to a student at our school is known as the Escudo de Oro, given to a student who has a balance of everything on campus including citizenship, academics, extracurricular activities, and service to the community. It was a pleasure to see some of the students I work with being recognized including five MUN students (one in cross country) and one additional cross country athlete. I am very lucky to work with six of the best students that Cerritos has to offer. I guess that must be why my job seems so easy and enjoyable. In addition, our assistant principal was also awarded the Escudo de Oro, a rarity, but a well-deserved on! Le has put so much of himself into this school and I could not have asked for anyone better to work with me through the most difficult of times. I am hoping he enjoys his retirement, because he deserves it! I also had two athletes awarded with the Scholar Athlete of the Year Award and another four awarded lifetime passes (almost half of those awarded)! It was a great night and everyone recognized tonight deserved it!

~:[CH2 - Day 155]:~ Almost Set to Jet

~:[CH2 - Day 155]:~ Almost Set to Jet

This week is super busy and I've made a lot of progress despite being distracted. One of the things that distracted me was all my paperwork for my trip to Europe arriving today. This summer I will be in London, Amsterdam, Koblenz, Munich, Hopfgarten, Venice, Lauterbrunnen, and Paris among shorter stops in a few other places covering over 13k miles. I am excited for the trip itself, however, have a lot of editing and other work to do in the next few days. I cannot think about the twenty days from now until I finish the next few.

~:[CH2 - Day 154]:~ Returning Home

~:[CH2 - Day 154]:~ Returning Home

I spent most of my time this weekend inside my wonderful car, today, I got to spend some time outside of. Still fatigued from the weekend and with a load of work ahead this week, I managed to survive the day and complete almost every errand for the track and field banquet unexpectedly in one day! I got the programs completed and copied, the patches, and picked up pictures for the Model UN banquet, which is also this week. I wrapped up the faculty & staff slideshow and am closing out the track and field slideshow. Pweh! I thought I was going to get the Model UN photo section of the video done too, but it appears that will have to wait until tomorrow. Let me survive the next 96 hours and I will be in good shape.

~:[CH2 - Day 153]:~ Morning View

~:[CH2 - Day 153]:~ Morning View

It's great to wake up in the morning to a new view. This morning, this was it. It was a beautiful day in Vegas to head back on our way, as we had a successful trip with good food and fun. The drive home was smooth and my nap when I got back was wonderful. While I did not finish everything I had hoped to complete today, I believe I am on progress to get everything done on time for the banquets I have this week. If I can survive this week, I will be in very GREAT shape. Wish me luck :D

~:[CH2 - Day 152]:~ Detour

~:[CH2 - Day 152]:~ Detour

We were suppose to be home Saturday night, but we ended up taking a detour on the way home with the entire day to burn. We booked a hotel early in the morning before departing and took a "wrong turn" on our detour and ended up in Las Vegas. As usual, we took a stop over at the MGM, ate at Bacchanal Buffet (delicious, thanks Brittnie), and then just enjoyed some time on the floor of MGM. The Hangover slot was kind, craps was kinder, but gold fish was the kindest. TNT directed me towards the machine, but I knew of the possibilities because of Adam. What are the chances of winning so much on a slot machine? It was a great quick stop and was nice to catch up with a few people. However, it's never good to stay here too long so we shall venture back to reality very soon.