Boston Higashi School

My dream job! Years before moving to Massachusetts, I learned about this amazing program for students with Autism. I looked at their website, and thought well I will never live in Boston so I am never going to work there. Much to my surprise, I ended up moving with my partner to Mass! And I was even more surprised to see that they had an art teacher position open. I knew that this was my dream, combining art and special education. And even more specifically working with students on the spectrum. I feel so lucky to be working with amazing students everyday, and so lucky that I get to work at an amazing school.

Graduation Days!

Our two lovely graduation days came and went! I couldn’t have done it without all these lovely ladies.

Cross the GRE Off the List

I successfully completed my GRE on Saturday! Because it is computer based the scores pop at the end and they were not too horrible! And to celebrate after, and because I was already pretty close, I drove out to Jones Beach. So that is one more thing off the list. I cannot believe that I am checking thing's off for graduate school. 

Yesterday I registered for classes, and I had a department meeting last week. It feels surreal to be getting ready to start up again. I feel like I am still in College on this extended break and at the same time, as if I have been in the "real world" forever. It will be challenging to be in the classroom full time and going to school almost full time. However, I am up for it! 

Next year, here I come.

Missing Home

Today marks three years since I arrived in my forever home. Even though many wonderful things have happened since returning to the US, my heart is truly still in this beautiful village. There is something magical about the sloping rooftops; the rolling hills; the perfect rows of the orchards, the lavender fields, and the vineyards. The culture is kind and good-natured. I miss it terribly. 

A connection with place and home is something I often think about. What is home? Home is where you are comfortable, where you are with loved ones. And sometimes it is neither it is a place that you connect to so strongly even without the connection to family, or familiarity. 

After college, I moved back to my family house, my home. I am working in my old school district, my home. And next year I will be going to school at Teacher College in the City, where I feel like I can breathe again every time I get out of the subway and breath in my first breath of city air, my home. I have been back to Savannah where its charm, and warmth swallow you whole, especially in the spring, my home. Through all these places and people that I miss when I am away from them, I cannot help but feel that I miss my true home. 

Is there a distinction between feeling at home and being at home? Can we have more than one home? 

Being a Sub in Your Hometown

As a substitute teacher in my hometown, I know many of the students, and most of the teachers. I have been in my old High School and Middle School, waving at teachers as they pass by in the halls. However, there is nothing like being a substitute in your old Elementary School.

Today I got up and ready for work, the only difference was that I walked my old familiar route up the hill, a whole five houses, to my Elementary School. Walking into this beautiful old building was like coming home. The day was full of hugs and catching up with familiar faces. I was with a fantastic 1st grade class all day. They looked at me like I was crazy when I told them that the teacher standing next to me was in fact My 1st Grade Teacher. "How old are you?", they asked us both. You can tell that they are thinking: pretty old. I feel so incredibly lucky that I am able to go home again, and that my Elementary School is such a wonderful place, for learning and lasting relationships. 

In honor of this day spent back in Elementary School, please enjoy this picture of my brother and me on my first day of Fourth Grade, and my super fashionable pink slip-on sneakers.