Bucket List

Inspired, or maybe kicked into overdrive, by my last post and the realization that I have maybe six weeks left in the United States, I began thinking about how I want to spend that time. People I want to see, places I want to visit, experiences I'd like to share, conversations I'd like to have.

All in a big thought bubble above my head now .... but I think I can divide my time into four main chunks. Details to come.

July 3-11: I will be showcasing Phoenix for and traveling to Mexico City with one of my favorite people in the world.
Bucket list:

July 11-17: Moving out of my guest house downtown and into my parents' condo in N. Scottsdale.
Bucket list:

July 17-31: Flying home to Wisconsin to meet new and (new to me) babies, see old friends, my family and soak up small town Americana.
Bucket list:

August 1-departure: Final days in the valley.
Bucket list:

Climbing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2zyeVRcbs

I walked into my last dentist appointment on Friday (no cavities!) and as soon as I laid back in the chair, I heard this song, "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus playing. I know, I know. Not normally my style, but my kids sang this song at their Christmas concert and hearing it brought back memories of playing the CD in class and having their little voices ring out practicing the lyrics -- even the boys :) And I starting missing their faces so much.

Then, as I started listening to their voices in my head and the song on the radio, I heard the lyrics for what felt like the first time. And it synced to everything that has been sliding in and out of my head over these last few months, and for perhaps, much longer than that. I'm 29 years old and have lived a life so far filled with much grace, joy and laughter ... and this song sang in eight-year-old squeaky off-tune voices inside my mind in that dental chair reminded me that I have much more life to live, many more obstacles to jump, children to teach, people to meet and experiences to grow from. Although it has not and will not be easy, I always say, 'The good stuff is never easy to obtain, otherwise everyone would have gathered baskets full by now.'

As the hygienist came to take x-rays, she asked several questions (which I struggled with as my mouth was full of plastic and cardboard) about what I do and then about moving out of the country in August.

Her: "Are you married?"
Me: "No."
Her: "Do you have kids?"
Me: "None of my own."
Her: (Sigh) "I've always wanted to do something like you're doing, but I got pregnant."
        "Are you scared?"
Me: "Yes."
Her: "Where is Abu Dhabi, exactly?"
Me: "Near Saudi Arabia -- the middle east."
Her: "Is it safe there?"
Me: "I have heard it is the safest country in the middle east."
Her: "Do you have to cover everything on your body when you go out?"
Me: "I hope so, temperature gets to 130 degrees."
Her: "You're joking, right?"

It's interesting to watch people's (usually complete strangers) faces when they hear where I am going. First look registered is shock, then worry, followed by confusion. The questions they ask are stereotypes ... most of which I hope I can disprove upon arrival.

Dang, I will be on a plane headed as far from home as one can get in six weeks or less ... am I ready for this?!?!

Waiting for my 'What if?'

This is the most excruciating part of my journey so far.

Waiting.

 I'm not the best waiter. At first, I didn't mind and felt sort of relaxed about letting someone else on another end do some processing after running amok trying to get a document updated by the Arizona Department of Education and sending those revised documents off to become authenticated by the state, the US Embassy and the UAE Embassy.

But that was about a month and a half ago. I haven't heard from Footprints in ages (when I e-mail my rep to check in, she just says there is "nothing new to report yet, waiting on visas,") and am ambushed by millions of new posts on my Facebook threads of teachers moving to Abu Dhabi in August. Comments and questions such as, "Is coconut water easily available?" "Make sure you purchase international life insurance or change your existing life insurance policy so you are covered," "How soon after we arrive in AD does our health insurance kick in?" "Living Will, Living Trust, Power of Attorney, Pour Over Will, Advance Health Care Directive ... get it in order before leaving!" "What are you doing with your car while in AD?" "What bank have you found that will wire money internationally for free?" "How can I watch American TV in the UAE?" "Do I need the magic jack AND a VPN AND the Buffalo router in order to fool my computer into thinking it is still in the US?"

Enough. I am not even thinking about half of these things! I didn't know I was suppose to. And now that I am, I am stressing out because I don't know the answers to any of them!

Finally ... a comment with calming properties.

"As I sat all evening going through years of papers, I thought we are all so brave and inspirational. For us to take such massive leap, uprooting years of routines, friends and so much more, we deserve credit. Whatever the outcomes are, we took the leap and should be proud as there will be no 'what if'. :)"

{Purge}

Went back in to Brunson-Lee today to finish cleaning, packing and purging to get my room ready for the new teacher. It was a hard to swallow looking at the door that joined Mandy's room to mine, knowing that next year, she would be connected to someone else. Browsing through old binders and folders and desk name cards of students that I had for an entire year and those who called Brunson-Lee home for only a short time. Looking at all the table and chairs and remembering the personalities that had occupied them over the last 1,000 days. The spirits of so many kids who have come and gone from this room will travel with me across the Atlantic. Well-behaved and helpful, hurt and homeless, motivated and defiant. I have learned and loved you all. 

Wrapping up at 48th & McDowell

It's hard to even do this. Write about my last day at Brunson-Lee. I sort of don't have words, which is why I've included several pictures to do some of the speaking for me. (Sigh.) Here we go.

 

 

 Had a hard time sleeping the night before, my mind was frantically searching, thinking, remembering and contemplating. Bounced out of bed before my alarm Friday morning (I know -- this NEVER happens), and started getting ready. Tried not to think about the significance of this day, but my stomach started cramping up anyway. Thank goodness my friend Shannon was there to calm my nerves. :) Out the door earlier than normal to get to a final morning meeting. Drove down the freeway with my windows down and music loud. Taking Ernesto's advice and breathing deeply.
 

 

My beloved school on our final morning together.

 

 Morning meeting, sitting next to my girl. Filling out 301 paperwork and got recognized for my time at B-L with kind words and a gift, along with the handfuls of other staff members who were leaving for their own adventures. (Miss you, Kaitlyn, Brittany, Kristen, Amanda, Christy, and Annie.)
 

 

 Got to my room to find these monkeys sitting outside my door. They damn near tackled me with hugs. We got our classroom ready for the last day.
 

 

 By the time I picked up my class outside on the playground and walked back to room 111, my desk was immediately filled with flowers, cards and gifts from my sweet boys and girls.

 

"Dear Ms. Warriner, thank you for helping my daughter. You are a special person for our family. Good luck in everything you do."

 

"Dear Ms. Warriner, There's no words to express my gratitude for helping me to deal with (student), he has changed a lot even at home. He used to be very shy and now he's more open to talk and express his feelings. Thank you so much, and it was a very blissful year having you as my teacher too. God bless you."

 

{Choked up}

 

And then, found this note taped to my door from our academic coach:

 

 

 

 

 We enjoyed our morning together, watching Michael Jackson music videos, chatting, cleaning and watching Matilda. Lunch time, waiting in line proved to be too much for them to handle :)
 

 

 End of the day photo -- Clarence didn't make it to school today. He's the only one missing in this class shot. Remember when bunny ears were cool?
 

 

 Then my room was empty. And this is my cry face. :(

I cried because a student broke down crying and clinging to me like she would never let go at dismissal and more than one followed suit; because a father of one of my boys came up to me, shook my hand and said "Thank you so much;" (I cried in front of him as he said that -- how embarrassing!); because my principal was watching me walk back to my classroom with a trail of kids following me because they didn't want to go home; because several moms came into my room and couldn't express their words in English very well, so they just looked at me with wet eyes and hugged me instead; because when everyone left, my room was silent and I knew this experience for me was over and another one was about to begin.
 

 

So, as in some cases where emotions run high, I ran to Casey Moore's Oyster Bar with the rest of our staff and drank, laughed and reminisced.

 

 

My personal and professional life has been enriched beyond the stars by this school, team, co-workers, students and community. It has been one wild ride.

See you later, gators.

Much love <3

M&M's

Last Thursday was a busy day for room 111 at Brunson-Lee. We started our day after breakfast with an award assembly in the cafeteria/gym. Awards went out for writing, spelling, math, reading, art  and perfect attendance. We cleaned house. I wish we could have given awards for PE & most improved. CJ would have probably been the recipient for both.

 After the assembly, a mother came by the room to drop this off for me with a hug and a thank you. One of the best notes I've ever received.

At then end of the day, three teachers, including myself, got pied in the face because our three classes finished a math program with 100% during the year. The pie was whip cream and it stung my eyes and clung to my lashes long after I thought I had washed it away. I chose Scotty McFly-Away to throw the pie and after he did, I wiped some off my face and rubbed it in his. Of course, some got up his nose and he was walking around with his head tilted WAY back telling everyone he couldn't breath. Lol. 

Aaaaaaand then after school, the staff surprised Megan and Mario with a little thank you/going-away celebration. Sitting in the wooden chair that afternoon that I had sat in so many different times under a variety of circumstances felt different. Everything felt so final. Listening to a slideshow of all of the staff members talking about Megan and Mario and the memories each had with the two of them threw me back into a flashback of the last three years. When I got the phone call from BL's secretary, Mirtha, in Wisconsin asking if I could come in for an interview the next day. Going in for my interview with my resume in one hand and a Wisconsin Badger coffee cup bribe in the other (I still maintain that my hiring was based on that cup and that the academic coach, Megan, who sat in on my interview is also from Wisconsin). Getting handed my first class (ELD) and then being pulled in right before fall break to be told that due to staffing changes I'd be getting a totally different class (gifted). My world spun that year. My faith in myself was tested. I survived. Mostly due to the family/coaching/mentoring that surrounded me. Second year rolled around all too quickly, and I sort of felt like I knew what I was doing. A week in to my new class and I found out how wrong I was. Same classroom, whole different set of challenges. I had my first student get physical with me and get kicked out to a behavioral school. We had a staff member pass away in a car accident and it rocked our family. It was not until this year that I finally felt like I could hack it at B-L and breathe easy (is there such a thing in education?). This year presented its own set of challenges with several difficult students coming in from second grade. I cried when I got my class list. But, we made it. Together.

 

...Below is an e-mail Megan sent out after our staff send-off.

 

"Hello, all!

 

I wanted to thank you all for your grace the other day when I was relegated to 'Pre-Emergent' by my emotions.  With any other group of people, I would have been embarrassed that I had made myself so vulnerable.  With all of you, my family, I was only disappointed that I was prevented from expressing myself.  So here I go.

 

When I think back on my last 6 years here, I am confronted by one overwhelming true thing:  this school, and the people in it, and the children flowing through it, and the families enveloping it, saved me.  You all spoke of the things I had done for you, or had helped you discover, or had made you learn.  What you should know is that a coach, at best, is like a moon:  we can only reflect that light that exists.  And you, Brunson-Lee, were bright enough for both of us.

 

Crying in the media center on Wednesday, I was reminded of some other times I have laughed and cried with you all.  Once, my third year teaching, I was crying in my room with the door shut because of a fight I’d had with Kyley.  Ben Groom peeked in, left, drove to Safeway, bought me a chocolate éclair, and had a student bring it in with a note that said, “You looked like you need this.”  And to me, that’s what Brunson-Lee is about.  All of your love, teaching, compassion, companionship, and of course, your discipline procedures:  You, friend, look like you need this.  Let me give it to you.

Thank you for your celebration on Wednesday, for your gifts, for the awards assembly, and of course kinder graduation.  If someone had told me Wednesday morning that I had 48 hours to live, I can’t think of a thing that I’d do differently.  That, to me, is happiness.

 

There is a parable about two men  going on a journey to a new place.  While they are traveling, they meet someone coming from the place they are going to.  The two men stop him and asked how the people were in the town.  He asks the first man, 'How were the people in the town that you left?'  The first man says, 'Oh, they’re terrible.  They are lazy, they complain, and they aren’t good people.'  The man said, 'So, too, are the people in this place.'  He asks the second man the same question.  The second man said, 'Oh, you would love the people there.  They are kind, and generous, and hard-working.  I’m sad to leave.'  The man said, 'So, too, are the people in this place.'

 

If the people at my new school are anything like the people in this place that I am leaving, then I will be fortunate indeed. All my love to all of you – I look forward to hearing of your new adventures."

Covered in L.O.V.E.

SMH

Two things quickly.

One, CJ's dad got out of prison last week and CJ was absent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday hanging out with him. I wonder if having this male back in his life (he has been locked up for more than five years) will be a positive or another negative stacked against him. CJ seemed to be in high spirits on Monday when he told me his dad was back and what they did together and what he hopes they can do when school gets out. I smiled and said I was happy that CJ was happy. Dad, don't let this kid down.

Two, totally unrelatable. This is embarassing. Every year, I have had one mishap with showing a clip of something I have not viewed previously. For example, one year for Valentine's Day, I showed the Peanuts Valentine cartoon and when Charlie Brown started speaking, obsceneties flew out of his mouth, thanks to whatever idiot dubbed that version.

So, I had almost made it through this year with a clean slate. Until yesterday. We were studying types of spiders in science and toward the end of the period, I showed a clip of the ten most dangerous spiders. Everything was fine, the kids were covering their eyes and reading outloud the descriptions of the various spiders and the consequences of their bites. We get all the way to number one (I don't even remember the name) and the kids are reading the description: ".....Venom injected by his bite can lead to impotence." Oh God. Racing up front. "Which means you can't get it up." Crap. Who wrote this?! Luckily, they didn't get it. I quickly turned it off, and changed the subject. On to Geography.

Third grade advice & remarks about Abu Dhabi

My sister drew these name tags for my kids when she visited my classroom last week. I made copies and had them write me a piece of advice, a thought, a wish or a question about me leaving for Abu Dhabi. This is what they came up with (all translations are copied exactly as they were written):

 Ernesto: "Take deep breaths. Abu Dhabi is cool so be cool."

(Mr. Ernesto, you are the definition of cool. I will try to live up to you.)

 Ariana: "I wish you have a great time at Abu Dhabi and remember the class loves you very much and will miss you very much. We will miss you very much Ms. Warriner."

(Ariana, you are the sweetest student I have. I will miss your smile and the kindness that radiates from you.)

 Rafael: "you are the best teacher in the hole wide world I wish you cold be my teacher every day." (I AM your teacher every day, Rafael. And apparently, you are absent during our spelling lessons ;))

 Ashley: "the advice I will give you is keep on following your dreams in abu dhabi. I bet i will be difficult to speak the language."

(Isn't it amazing how at 8 and 9 years old they know about the concept of 'following one's dreams?' As far as learning to speak and write Arabic -- I'm sure difficult is not the word.)

 Nicholas: "I will miss you when you go to Abu Dhabi I'll miss because you're my favorite teacher."

(Nicholas, you have come a long way this year and have grown up tremendously. I'm proud of you.)

 Ana Victoria: "I will miss you when you go to Abu Dhabi. You are the best third grade teacher ever. I love you Ms. Warriner. I wish you would never move to Abu Dhabi. Thank you for everything you have done to me. Than you for teaching me the correct things."

(Victoria, you are going places, young lady. You have proved yourself to be a motivated, self-sufficient third grader with a giggle that makes me want to laugh every time I hear it.)

 Efren: "I wish that you would never leave to any state or city because if you are not in school my life will be miserable. And I wish that you would have a wonderful trip to Abu Dhabi and never ever ever and I mean never forget us on your trip and don't ever break there rules. and come back soon." (I love it when my hard-asses show a little emotion.)

 Juan: "have a nice day in abu dhabi I'm just telling you that you have teaching me a lot. you are nice." (One of my needier ELL students. Such a sweet, polite gentleman.)

 Wilson: "I hope you have a good time in Abu Dhabi. all of us will miss you mostly me."

(Wilson, you are too funny. 'Mostly me.' Mmmmhmm.)

 Rayshawn: "when you go to Abu Dhabi you be safe in the air and on ground. Thank you for teaching me all these: math, reading and geography. thank you so, so much for teaching me these. Be safe, Ms. Warriner." (My little linebacker looking out for my safety in all sorts of places - I just want to smush his little face!)

 Joseph: "Me and Jesus can't believe that you are moving. What language will you teach to your students? And what type of food will you eat?"

(I though Joseph meant the spiritual Jesus, when I first read this, but then remembered he has an older brother who I also had in third grade, named Jesus.)

 Dylan: "have a great summer Follow your dreams"

(This young man has spent the past two years in my classroom. A man of a few words.)

Guadalupe: "I want you to know that i have always loved you like i love my family. I hope you have fun in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirites. P.S. I wish to have your phone number to call you and make sure your ohkay."

(Sweet girl -- little intense.)

Write that down

So, when funny things happen in my classroom (daily), I usually text it to someone and we laugh about it. But last night my dad suggested I write some of them down, so I wouldn't forget. These two happened yesterday. 

 

The above sentence was written by a chunk of a boy in my class. He is Navajo, squat and square and built like a linebacker (his head seems to have been placed directly on his shoulders). He is very quiet and respectful in class. He usually will not speak unless I speak to him first. So, you can imagine my surprise, when I read his vocabulary test. I laughed out loud, alone in my classroom, at his response.

Meet Scott. :) He is a squirrely young man who is constantly on the move in class, even if he's seated (he puts his arms out back behind him like wings and wiggles them -- I have asked him repeatedly where he's going when he does this, but have not received anything more than a smile in response). Another one of my favorites, even though some days he exasperates me! Yesterday, while taking a test after recess, he complained of his left ear hurting him. He has more energy than anyone I have ever taught, but is a good-natured boy, who doesn't know how to be manipulative yet. When he complains about something, I know it's legitimate. So I sent him to the nurse with a pass. Everyone else continued to test ... silently. Ten minutes later, Scott bursts back into the (quiet) room, proclaiming, "I had DIRT in my ear! She cleaned it out -- but that's what was hurting my ear!" with such enthusiasm you would have thought he discovered historical treasure. He skipped back to his seat, continued his test. Approximately three seconds later, he piped up that his foot was asleep. SMH.