Spring Break 2010

Okay, so March 15th was the beginning of Steven and mine's spring break....we're been pretty lucky in having the last two spring breaks end up being the same week! Like last year, we headed to MO to visit my sister, brother-in-law, and niece :)

This time though we flew:



We've never flown together and I thought it was interesting....I'm not so sure about Steven though...haha.

I'm not the best flier. Pretty much everyone in my family loves to fly and my dad used to work for an airlines which meant flying free by stand-by so we were able to travel quite a lot growing up. Loved traveling, hated flying. And I still don't really like it. Luckily, since we left on St. Patrick's Day, Southwest had a special where everyone on the flight (21+ of course!) were given a free can of Heineken to enjoy:


Pretty sweet deal! And although it was 7 a.m., you can't let something like that go to waste! Plus it was the only drink we had on St. Patty's day.....we're good kids!

So Steven put up with my slight anxiety of flying (haaaa) and got a free beer out of the deal. Not bad, right? (By the way, Steven loves flying. Loves, loves, loves it. Of course.)

When we got there, I was so excited to see my sister P, and niece AJ waiting for us! AJ was of course a little shy at first, she just kept staring and smiling, it was so cute! :)
She saw me at Christmas and P and I skype every few weeks and she "talks" to me on the phone all of the time, but I wasn't sure if she would really remember me. And the last time she saw Steven she was just a little thing, so I was most nervous about her freaking out because he was around (he tends to scare little ones because he's 6' 7"...basically a giant to them!) but she did really good!

We had fun though, went to Purina Farms, went to P's work, went on a walk, blew bubbles, and I made two tutus for AJ - I think they turned out super cute!!

AJ and I at Purina Farms

Steven and AJ at Purina Farms

AJ looking adorable in her pink tutu

AJ's blue and green tutu

Even Teddy got in on the tutu action!

Sad to be going home :(

I don't look that nervous, do I???

Steven and I were also able to go to Anheuser-Busch for their brewery tour and had a really good time! All of those pictures are on Steven's computer though so I'll try to post them later!

It was a great short trip and I'm hoping we can go back this summer....I don't like them living so far away! :(
But we're lucky in the fact of all of these technologies to keep in touch with each other and we do get to see each other quite often, so can't complain too much! My dad heads down next weekend to see them and to run the St. Louis Half-Marathon, I'm sure he's going to have an awesome time!

Another Busy Week Done!

School has just been non-stop since spring break! It's been crazy!

This past week I had been studying for an expressive test that I took yesterday in ASL Fingerspelling and Numbers - I was nervous because the two weeks before spring break happened, our teacher was out of town in Mexico sooooo in the past four weeks, we've had class once! Not good! After spring break, we had the one class (which had a pop quiz...I did really poorly on that quiz) and then it was this week with the test, so I wasn't sure that I would be prepared for it.....but I got through it and she said I did good, so hopefully it turns out OK! I was really awkward during the test because I sign left-handed and the way she had it set up was really crappy for lefties. I sat at the end of the table, but she had that chair at an angle, so my left side was closer to the table then my right plus she had taped down the test at an angle so every-time I signed to her, my hand was in the way and I couldn't read the paper!! Plus my elbow kept hitting the table...it was just annoying. She told me that I needed to move my arm out farther because I ended up signing really close to my body so I wouldn't be hitting my elbow and so I could read what I was supposed to be signing........ummmm hello! I don't think it effected my grade though so if it's the same for our next test, I'll tell her that I want to stand or something. This coming week will be the receptive test.....hopefully that will go fine as well!

I also had a 3-4 page paper due this week for my Eastern Philosophy class. Mine turned out to be 9 pages that I wrote in under 3 hours, haha. I didn't mean for it to be that long, but the topic I had chosen to write about said to "pick several verses" and I probably over-compensated on the number I did. Oh well. She also handed back the book report papers we turned in last Thursday and I was happy to see she gave me an A! Finally! We have a test in EP next Thursday as well, so my week is going to be another crazy one.....plus I have a test in my on-line class too....joy!!

Monday in my ASL Linguistics class we were given our results of the test we took the week before break - we only have expressive tests in Linguistics and this time we video-taped it so our teacher could grade them over break. We then set-up individual meetings with him so find out what we got and go over what we did wrong. Half of the class had meetings before the other half and they were freaking us out because they kept saying that they did bad and he's a really harsh grader, ext, so the rest of us who were having meetings with him Monday before class were super nervous to meet with him! One of the ladies in our class is a CODA (child(ren) of Deaf Adults) and she received a B so everyone was expecting to do worse than her. Keep in mind that for Linguistics and Fingerspelling and Numbers, grading is different and much harder. To receive an A, the percentage is 94% and up instead of 90% and up. So getting a C or even a D might not be that bad because it would have been a B or C. Haha, that's what everyone is keeping in mind to stay positive! Anyways, I had my meeting, he showed me my grade and I almost started crying because I got a really high B. The look on my face must have been crazy because my teacher started laughing at my expression. It's just a relief to have a good grade and be doing good in that class!

Now I just have to finish my on-line homework and turn it in and I'll be done with this week's craziness. Next week will be the three tests and the week after that will be a Linguistics test. Then we start preparing for the end of the semester.....crazy! But I'm ready to be done!

I've been thinking about taking ASL 5 during summer term, but we'll see. I need to decide soon!

The School Situation

Here it is in all it's glory:

Currently I am enrolled in an American Sign Language Certificate Program through Saint Paul College. After this semester is over, I will only have two classes left to complete for the certificate requirements - so close! After I receive it, I will be able to apply for jobs that are looking for people with ASL experience, which I would love to be able to find so I can gain more experience!

If you checked out the certificate link, you might have noticed that there is also an Associates Degree in Interpretation/Transliteration that Saint Paul College offers and might be wondering why I am not in that program since I want to become an interpreter. First, I came into SPC with very little ASL skills and Deaf knowledge. In order to apply for the program, you have to complete ASL I through IV along with both a math and English class. I just completed those classes this past fall semester ('09) and applied for the program this spring; which means I would enter the interpreting/transliterating program this fall (if I get in, haha).

This is not the only interpreting program I have applied/will be applying for though......

Starting in 2012 (the year I would graduate from SPC with my associates) the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf will be implementing a new rule in which any person who wants to become a certified interpreter on a national level (so basically to take the test to become a RID registered interpreter - which is very important) needs to have at least their Bachelor's in any one subject. Right now they only require an Associates - which I would have but it would no longer be valid to take the exam. This is a great idea but for right now it's very frustrating for me as I have to figure out where I will be going to receive a Bachelor's. Yet another change of schools and paperwork to fill out.....endless paperwork....

Sigh.

But in the long run, it's a great idea. I just now have to decide if I will stay at SPC for interpreting while also attending another school for my bachelor's OR attend a school that offers a bachelor's in interpreting. While I love the instructors at SPC, I'm not a fan of how the place is run so I'm definitely leaning towards a school that offers a bachelor's in interpreting.

Here are some of my options: St. Catherine University
Columbia College Chicago
William Woods University
Gallaudet University

While St. Kate's is in my native state of Minnesota, the one major major drawback of attending school there is money. I believe it is roughly $40,000 a year to attend school there. That's a lot of dough. A LOT of dough!!! It is also an all-girl school which means that my ASL classes will most likely be even more female-dominated than they already are....which is sad. Other-wise it is close to everyone except my sister and her family and I would be able to live at home and commute to school (which I already do).

Columbia College Chicago is in (surprise!) Chicago. I've been there only once or twice and have no real collection of it. This school seems really awesome, I would not need a car, it is close enough that I would be able to go home every once-in-a-while, and I could live on campus. It's around $20,000 a year which is really great for a private college!

William Woods University is located in Fulton, MO which is about an hour and a half away from St. Louis (where my sister lives). This is also a private school and the tuition would be about $23,000 a year, but I would also have to factor in either investing in a car that is reliable or plane tickets to come home and see the family. I would definitely spend many weekends at my sister's (which they might not like...) but would probably live on-campus. My sister has a friend who graduated from this school and she speaks very highly of it.

And finally Gallaudet University, the only Deaf university in the nation. Gallaudet is located in Washington D.C. and is roughly $22,000 a year. I would live on-campus, would most likely not have a car, and would have to factor in plane ticket costs. They are extremely selective when it comes to hearing students which is one of the reasons why I am not jumping down their throat to join them - I would most likely not be accepted unless I had very strong backing from my ASL teachers here in MN. When I was younger and first learned about it, I was very adamant that this is where I wanted to go to school and I still do, I'm just being more realistic about being able to attend.

Each of these schools offer a Bach in interpreting and each have their pros and cons. I want to be able to make the best informed decision for my future in ASL and the Deaf community as well as a decision which I will be happy with. I was thinking of applying to Gallaudet for a master's later on but right now, everything is still up in the air.

There are a few other schools with ASL/Interpreting options that I am still looking into, but for now, these four I feel really strongly about.

Monday I have a meeting with Doug Bahl, one of my instructors who is very well-known in the Deaf community. I'm hoping to have positive feedback from him and to hopefully receive help in deciding the best option for my future.

If anything, I can simply stay at SPC and go to Metropolitan University for their major in Psychology or try to get into the U for one of their programs (most likely psychology, social work, geography, family and consumer science, or apparel design....I can't make up my mind but I'm pretty positive I'll also try to get my teaching certificate......argh decisions decisions!).

And one last little wrench that has been thrown into my plans........remember those last two classes I need to take for my certificate? Only one of them is being offered this summer so unless I can somehow convince them to offer both, I will be one class short of getting my certificate. Really?!?!?!? Just one more thing to figure out I guess!

A quote which I will be living by for the next few weeks:

"Courage means to keep working a relationship, to continue seeking solutions to difficult problems, and to stay focused during stressful periods." – Denis Waitley


Wish me luck!

Oops, a Bit of a Break

I can't believe it's been over a month since I've been on! Not good!
So much has happened but I'll just give out some quick highlights:

~*~ I'm now on a "leave of absence" from the restaurant and do not have to go back until the end of May.....if I go back at all (which I don't really want to...)

~*~ School has been going good, I feel like this is the first semester since being at SPC that I have actually had to work at getting good grades and sometimes it kicks me in the butt, I do like the challenge though :)

~*~ Had a dentist appointment and everything looked good! Just have to keep doing the teeth cleaning regimen!

~*~ Spring break happened last week and it was waaaaayyyy too short! Steven and I were able to purchase tickets and fly down to Missouri to visit my sister P and niece AJ.......I'll write a proper post with pictures in the next few days!

~*~ I've applied to the Interpreting/Transliterating program at SPC, now to finish the other school applications....I need to get on the ball with those!

~*~ And I recently found out that this summer, my school will not be offering the one course I need to complete my certificate. Frustrating. And it just complicates my decisions about where to go to school next year even more so.....different post about this later as well :)

Over all everything has been going pretty good! Just another manic Monday with work and classes......which reminds me, I have homework to do...... :)

A Lil' of This and That....

Steven treated me to a movie today, Avatar in 3d.

It was A M A Z I N G.

I loved it. It's no surprise that it's been doing really well in the box office, because I'm sure people keep going back to see it. I know I want too! Hopefully my dad and I can go before it's done in the theaters, I think he will really enjoy it. KM, after watching it, said that it was like "Ferngully, but for adults". I can definitely see a slight parallel and I loved watching Ferngully when I was younger, so I was pretty certain this movie would be good too, at least after hearing that!

And I'm not going to lie, I really like the name "Neytiri", hahaha.

In other news, the Super Bowl (the 44th? I think?) was won by the New Orleans Saints, who beat the Indianapolis Colts. I was cheering for the Saints because not only have they never won a Super Bowl, but they had never been to one either! So congratulations to them, good job!

And some of my resolutions are slowly but surely taking effect. Like I talked about in my previous post, I've started to phase out of the restaurant, and I'm counting down the days! I'm going to try and stay out of the food industry, and am thinking about places to apply, including some quilting shops - which would be soooo much fun to work in! Not only would I be making money, but I could also learn more about quilting and sewing.....we'll see what happens though, they might not even be hiring, especially someone with little sewing experience. And taking better care of my teeth is going good as well, I'm now brushing my bottom teeth for around two minutes, then brushing my top teeth around two minutes - new paste each time. Then I floss, use Listerine with fluoride, and if it's before I go to bed, I put in my retainer. The brushing for four minutes separately was an idea from one of the girls at school who's sister is a dental hygienist. Hopefully I'll get good results! Steven and I also talked about starting p90x, which is a work-out program. Looks like Feb. 22 is the starting date, since I'll be done at the restaurant, giving me plenty of time in the morning to exercise. And he suggested that I start eating healthy now so I won't have such a hard time....probably should do what he says :)
And finally, my taxes are being turned in, so I just have to get hopping with the applications for schools! Little by little, things are getting there....fingers crossed!

And I don't have my test score back from my on-line class yet, but I think I did pretty solid on it. And C, L, and I got together last night to study for our expressive test in Linguistics, I think it'll be okay. I received the rest of my loan money yesterday so I'll put it in the bank tomorrow, purchase the rest of my books, and be all set for the rest of the semester! Finally it will be all organized :)

Have a good Monday!

Big Step

So I've decided to take a big (to me) step. I'm taking a 'leave of absence' from my restaurant job, starting Feb. 17 and ending May 26.

I'm not sure I will be going back.

My excuse is school and after this weekend/upcoming week, I'm definitely realizing how much time school is going to take up this semester. Now I don't feel as bad for using it :)

But really, I had an on-line test tonight, then Monday night we have our 'receptive'* and 'expressive'* tests in ASL Linguistics and same on Thursday for Fingerspelling and Numbers. Plus I will have homework due by Saturday for my on-line class, as well as three discussion posts, and then homework and a rough draft for a paper for my other residential class. I underestimated the time I would need to spend working on each class and I know the demand will only increase.

It's not just not really wanting to work there anymore. It's the constant driving back and forth and watching my gas gauge drop down by about 5 gallons, round-trip. Working at the restaurant is actually costing me money some days, other days I will just barely cover the gas expense. I've worked there for almost four years now and I'm pretty burned out. I don't know how I went to high school, did sports year-round, worked at the dealership two nights a week, and was the closing host every single Friday and Saturday night, often working until 2 in the morning. I worked my butt off and was ranked the #3 employee of the restaurant out of everyone and yet the salary I make there right now is only $7.50 (I started at $7.25). Granted, I moved to the 'car-side' position and yes, to serving (which I dislike) and really, just had no patience for it anymore. Instead of the smiling, happy, and personable person I usually was, I was just done with it. I think I realized (and I'm still realizing) that this is not going to be my job for the rest of my life. I don't want it to be and it won't.
Granted, that was a very short phase where my patience was thin and I'm back to my normal self (pretty much), I think it's because I realized that I was spreading myself thin and for what? I definitely didn't feel like they really appreciated me, rather they found someone who was willing to comply to everything and anything.

I try hard to not feel guilty about leaving, but it's difficult not to.

I'm going to miss everyone (well, mostly) =[

But, I'm probably going to take a few weeks, get some VERY important items taken care of (applications applications applications!) and then probably start looking for a new job. Those few weeks will be really nice, especially for school, but I know I'm going to start feeling guilty if I'm not making more money....and that I'll have all of this free time for a new job......

Hopefully I'll even be able to find a new one! Oh well, I can always just go back to the restaurant after my leave is up and work there until I find something......


*A receptive test for an American Sign Language course is where the instructor will sign the questions to the students who have to write down what the instructor is signing, thus allowing the teacher to see how much the student actually understands and is taking in.
*An expressive test for an American Sign Language course is where the student signs for the teacher, thus allowing the instructor to view how the students' signing skills are increasing.
You will never have one test without the other.

Quick Up-Date About Haiti....

This is a map of the damaged areas of Haiti along with where the epicenter was:

Although time has already made Haiti seem like a thing in the past, they still do need relief. Please remember to keep them in your thoughts and prayers.