The Weave

I've found a mini-Eugene here in Chapel Hill. There's a hippie co-op grocery store called Weaver Street Market, affectionately known as "the weave" that looks like it stepped right out of Eugene. Except there are more hula hoops here. The front lawn is covered in children (and a few adults) hula hooping and running around. I haven't figured out if its BYO hula hoop, or if they live there. I went last night to get some lovely honky sushi a coconut fake ice cream, and it was quite the scene. There was a little stage with people playing music (of the bongo drum/folksy/hippie variety) and lots of people were hanging out eating food from The Weave's delicious hot bar, or just enjoying the atmosphere. If I wasn't so worn out from apartment hunting I might have joined them. As it was, I forgot to pick up another copy of NC's gay paper, since I gave mine away to a colleague who's moving to the sticks. Next time.

New Ride!

Check out my brand new Kia, isn't it cute?

Welcome to the jungle

I'm back in North Cackalacky, the home state. I've forgotten so many things about it, which happens I guess when you haven't lived in a place for 13 years. It's so green here! I didn't think this would seem different, coming from the good old Pac NW, but it's a different kind of green, lush. When I was driving from the airport to Chapel Hill with my lovely new friend Mary we were so confused, the signs said we were in the triangle area, but all we could see were trees. Were buildings lurking behind all those trees? It's like constantly driving through the woods. On Saturday we ventured our to get some provisions, and there were more trees until suddenly we were in the adorable, bricked downtown area of Chapel Hill. It's like being in the jungle and then suddenly you're in civilization again. I'm currently staying at my cousin's in Chapel Hill, and still- woods woods woods. It's kind of nice, just strange. Especially after being in Chicago.

Today is more TFA orientation goodness, and then later today I'm looking at an apartment. This week I need to find a place, buy a car, and get an NC driver's license. And you know, buy a bare minimum of furniture and kitchen stuff. Ai yai yai!

Pictures of my fellow teachers in Chicago

Making our connection bracelets- so silly

My collab, minus Joanna.

Back row: Michael, Carol, Laura, Paulina, Chelsea (coach), Reagan, and Katie
Front row: Joanna, Claire, Ali, me!, Natalie, Meaghan

Flash!

I love this man.
Laura with Flash

Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince at IMAX

Went to the movie with Ludmila, another ENC English teacher. Our shirts say "Hermione is my homegirl" on the front, and Gryffindor on the back. If you don't know what that means then I don't know why we are friends.

Aquarium

I am loving this teacher discount- we get into all the museum campus places for free. Went to the Shedd Aquarium this morning, and it was lovely.

White Sox vs. Oriels (is that how you spell that? eh)

A sponsor donated 425 White Sox tickets to us TFA-ers, so I went with my ENC (Eastern North Carolina) crew, and actually had a good time! Who knew that I could enjoy myself at a baseball game! There was crazy music which I enjoyed, as I could have a dance party in my seat, to the amusement of my friends. There was beer, hanging out, and fireworks when the Sox got a homerun- fun! I did have a hard time understanding the scoreboard, and had to have it explained several times. My teacher friends were doing their best to Check for Understanding and all those good old TFA buzzwords, but I still needed an IEP (Individualized Lesson Plan. I also need one to understand the TAL- teaching as leadership rubric. Seriously, my CMA- corps member advisor- color coded mine for me so I could make some kind of sense out of it. Have I mentioned we speak mainly in acronyms?). For example, when they players were at bat, they bring their numbers on the screen, but instead of showing the whole number, they show one number at a time. And because the first 2 times I was paying attention to the big screen when this was happening, the numbers went 1....2... and then 2....3... So I thought they were counting down to the pitch or something. It wasn't until an hour and a half later, when I noticed the numbers were 1...4... that I finally realized it was just the players number. But I also learned that the E means errors- though I don't get why they keep track. And I don't understand all the stats and why they are in decimals- so confusing. Ah well, the beer drinking part and singing at the 7th stretch I can get into. Oh, and the Sox won of course. I now have a baseball team, woo! We were informed by Chcago folk that since we live and work on the South Side, we are required to be White Sox fans.

Navy Pier

On Saturday, went to Navy Pier with 2 other TFA'ers, it was fun to do the touristy thing. We rode on the ferris wheel and the swings, had a funnel cake, and had a jolly good time. The only thing missing was my sunscreen, cause Navy Pier was a backup plan after we saw the horrendous line at the aquarium, so I'm a bit pinky today. Aloe from Walgreens is doing the trick though.

some of my fellow teachers

These are most of the teachers in my group for the summer, having some cupcakes for a birthday. We have a lot of fun together. Notice my new teacher dress- another TFA person at the same high school wore the exact same one today, it was hilarious. This is because we all shop at Target. There's one just a stop away on the L, they owe TFA people a lot cause we've been wiping them out of school supplies, teacher clothes, and random other things for the past month.

Yep, this is what we ride in to school

Public Art in Chicago

We had a free afternoon with a carnival, and these random picture taking things

There's also a Bid Daddy's Pizza near where we're staying

Playing pool and eating cotton candy at the same time is not recommended

The Field Museum

A cool exhibit on shoes from around the world

T- rex!

View of Lake Michigan from outside the museum

Downtown Chicago

Terrifying Tales from Rachel

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Flash

At our school, we have an amazing janitor called Flash. He's awesome. He plays music in the front of the school at the end of the day and calls it his "company." It's mostly the smooth-jazz type. Flash always greets us (at least the ladies) with a "how're you doing darlin'" and "we've got to stop meeting this way." I love him. He was quick to warn us to be careful this 4th of July weekend. He said we're the future teaching these kids, and that we have to take care of ourselves.

Art Institute of Chicago's Museum is Awesome!

This is a miniature Shaker room- they have a ton of these, made by a rich lady in the 1930s, they're so crazy!