Let’s Get
Started
How appropriate I should
receive the Sunshine Award challenge from two colleagues up
North, experiencing an Arctic blast while I am in Florida for
Intersession break with balmy temps in the 80's.
Here are some shots of a walk through
the nearby Morikami Japanese Gardens, right down the road from where I am
staying in Delray Beach, FL. I’ll also include one of the Delray Beach to bring
some ray of comfort to my friends up North. How the Canadians do it in the
winter, I don’t know, but each time I come down here for a week or two in
December-January, I notice more and more plates from Ontario and the Canadian
provinces.
 |
| Morikami Japanese Gardens |
 |
| Bonsai, Morikami |
 |
| Just Another Day at the Beach in Florida |
The second came about a
week later from Wamogo High School English Department Chair Colette Bennett, hailing from the northwest corner of Connecticut. You can
read her Sunshine Award post following this link: “Zero Degrees F, Spreading the
Sunshine”:
just that title reminds me of how fortunate I am to be in Southern sunshine.
It's funny how in today’s
world we often meet people online before we do in person. I met both Pamela and
Colette face-to-face at the fall 2013 National Council of Teachers of
English
Convention in Boston. I knew both from Twitter and Twitter English chats
(#engchat), and also knew Pamela from last year’s Educational Technology MOOC,
spearheaded by the University of Regina Professor Alec Couros, who was one of the first people I followed on
Twitter.
Although Colette teaches not far from where I am in CT, we met at the Council
of English Leadership opening session at NCTE. She tapped on me on the
shoulder and introduced herself after we heard Eric Sheninger’s dynamic Opening Address about the power of
social media. We promised to meet again in our home state. As for Pamela way up
in Calgary, the last time I was up there was for a Calgary Stampede and to camp in Banff and Jasper National Parks. Hope to make the trip again,
though more likely, I’ll find Pamela at a professional conference.
The Basics
As for the “rules” of the
Sunshine Awards, I like how Pamela framed them in her post “Spreading the Sunshine.” Thus, I am mimicking
what she did here.
Here’s how this chain letter of
inspiration works:
1.
Acknowledge the nominating blogger & let him or her know when
you complete your post.
2.
Share 11 random facts about yourself.
3.
Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger authored for you.
4.
List 11 bloggers to pass along the challenge. [I listed more in
hopes of spreading Florida sunshine further.]
5.
Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer, and let
all them know they have been nominated. (Obviously, don’t nominate a blogger
who has nominated you.)
6.
And Pamela added criterion, which is good advice: embed links and
visuals that personalize the post.
My Journey
Begins
Now, on to the tasks.
“11 Random Facts” The first three are about
crashing stereotypes.
1. Statistics:
When I was in my doctoral
program, focused on English-Education, my advisor told me to take the two
required quantitative research courses last because most of the English folks in
the program found them a challenge. Following that advice, I held
off. I enrolled in both at the end, opting for the 6-week summer format, but
accidentally missed the first week of the first course. The prof told me to
drop the course, but figured I would hold out for a week to see if I could brush
up and get caught up. When I attended the first study group, I found myself
tutoring the others, including some with math degrees and some who were
district superintendents. I went on to earn an A+ in both courses. Don't let
anyone tell you English majors can't do statistics.
2. Science:
In high school, I
completed a physics course in 6 weeks in the summer and became the first female
in my school to take AP Chem. Both of my teachers did not appreciate
having a female join the "all boys’ club." Luckily, my lab partner
for the physics course was the captain of the wrestling team, and he defended me
fiercely. Again, another stereotype broken; that is, girls can succeed in
science.
3. Athletics:
Non-athletic types should
not forsake the challenge of running marathons. I ran 5, and my time in all but
the last one, which I ran in 100-degree heat, was decent. Prior to training for
marathons, I swam 2 miles a few times a week. But I did flunk the
lifeguard-qualifying exam because the test administrator put me up against saving a
200+ pound, muscle-bound hulk when I weighed in at 106 pounds. My lack of
athletic skills did not serve me well in this matchup.
4. School:
Way back as a young kid, I skipped a year of first grade.
Actually, I was accelerated after a half year of kindergarten and advanced
to the end of first grade. This meant I graduated high school at 16 and
student-taught when I was 19, teaching high school seniors, when I barely
looked 16. The next year, I completed my master’s work and went on to teach
middle school, moving from upstate NY to CT. Opting for the younger age group
to compensate for my age, this worked well. Management issues were never a problem.
I never thought about them: just taught and loved every minute with the
students. I also took on the job of directing the Drama Club and put on 6
plays, though I had no prior experience in acting or stagecraft. Luckily, the
middle school students had talent and led me on the way.
5. Powder and Ice:
I learned to ski in
powder at Jackson Hole joining a UConn ski team trip while a student in
the doctoral program. The first day on the slopes, we were all asked to
demonstrate our skills. Imagine someone shaking as the ski team members wiped
down the moguls.
 |
| Jackson Hole: Wishful Thinking |
I stuck it out for the
week. Now the ultimate challenge was: Transferring those west coast skills to
skiing the icy, hard-packed slopes of Vermont! (Remember, I said I was
non-athletic. Won’t include any self-portraits at Killington.)
6. Island Fun:
I grew up on an island where the top competitive sports were
sunbathing (who could get the best tan) and surfing. I excelled at the first,
and won't mention how I did with the second.
 |
The Dunes, Near the End of the lsland
|
 |
| Beach Across from My House |
7. Spur of the
Moment:
When
I was 21, after my first year of teaching in CT, I acquired a small pack-back
and comfy sleeping bag, hopped a plane, and spent the summer trekking the Greek
Islands, sleeping at night on the beaches under the stars. Although I did this
solo, I met up with groups, such as Peace Corps volunteers on break, hiking
with them to remote parts of the island of Ios.
 |
Santorni,
Just One of Many Islands Where I Camped |
 |
Ios
|
8. British or
American:
While
at York University, England, taking three 20th century British Literature
course, I studied the works of T.S. Eliot. Just the semester before, I studied
him as an American author in an American Poets course at State U. Albany,
NY.
9. Poetry: I once memorized the full
of William Wordsworth's “Ode to Immortality." He remains one of my favorite poets,
and on another sojourn to England, sat at Ullswater Lake, imagining Wordsworth composing the daffodil poem (“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”), apparently penned
there on the shores. Visited his home, Dove Cottage, in Grasmere, and took a photo with a grand
niece of his who at the time was the caretaker of Dove.
 |
| Dove Cottage |
10. Globe Hopping:
Fortunately, I have
visited more than 40 countries--have stopped counting. I've spent time in almost all the US states: have only about 5 more to go. Won't mention places that are my
favorite: the list is too long. I did manage to make a few videos of my visit to Hawaii two summers ago. Here's one.
If you want to hear a narrated one about Kauai, check this one on You Tube. My narration is monotone, but the photos are worth seeing: "Our Adventures on the Island of Kauai."
11. Transportation:
Would much rather fly to
a destination than drive, and I mean for distances not too far. Sure flights
get canceled and airports have turned to human zoos, but the skies are
friendlier than the byways. Not mentioning the NJ Turnpike, but you get
the picture.
“Eleven Questions for Bloggers,” posed by Pamela in her
Sunshine Awards challenge. I received these before Colette’s, and doing 22 will
make this post even longer than it already needs to be. (Sorry Colette, but did
like your questions, and there’s some overlap.)
1. What do you do to escape or for relaxation?
Travel and disconnect
from the Internet to enjoy the beauty of nature. I did this when I was in
Costa Rico four years ago. Here is a shot taken from the porch of my hut while
in Arenal and a shot of a wild orchid, the national flower of Costa Rico.
 |
| Orchids, Grow in the Wild in Costa Rico |
 |
Active Volcano, Arenal, Costa Rico,
Zip Lined Over the Rainforest Canopy, Nearby the Volcano |
2. What film or
play has captured your heart?
Not recommending to all,
but The Great Gatsby converted me from
chemistry major to an English, so it holds a special place in my life. For high
school students, I recommend All Quiet on the Western Front to gain an understanding of war from
a teenager’s perspective. The more recent The Book Thief does the same. Both stories ultimately reinforce the theme
of world peace. I’m a fan of Hemingway and Faulkner (I know white
males), but also of Richard Wright and Maya Angelou. I
recommend two of my favorite books, but know others would decline to put
them on a list of must-reads: The Sun Also Rises and Absalom, Absalom.
I also recommend something
by the lesser known author, Andre DuBus II, especially his “A Father’s Story,” and the
puzzling works of Flannery O'Connnor, including her story,
"A Good Man Is Hard to Find," and Joyce Carol Oates’, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You
Been?" This Oates' story teams well with "A Father's Story.”
For middle students, I
recommend the popular The Fault in Our Stars, and for elementary
school students, and for even younger students, starting grade 4, Out of My Mind has been a hit.
Most of all, I recommend that elementary and middle school teachers get
involved in the Global Read Aloud, an annual event, each
fall. To find out more, check Pernille Ripp's blog devoted to the
project.
4 What has been
the best vacation you ever had? Greece (see 11 Random Facts above)
Although the Greek islands
are now overtaken with tourists, their beauty is undeniable.
I also loved a trip to the Swiss Alps and hiking the peaks.
Got to spend 4th of July atop snow-covered Junfgrau, and the next week,
traveled to Matterhorn at Zermatt.
Perhaps the most exotic was Morocco, with its vast stretches of deserts and the Marrakesh spice market. Even enjoyed a cup of tea in a
nomad’s tent.
 |
Matterhorn, Zermatt
|
 |
| Marrakesh: Snake Charmer in the Spice Market |
5. What are some of
your guilty pleasures?
I am a night owl. I can
stay up all night reading a book, writing an essay, surfing the Internet. I
hate going to sleep. I used to think sleeping was a waste of time. Functioning
on 4 hours a sleep a night, I was told by friends I gain a few extra days in
the week. Now, I love to catch a dark, rainy or snowing morning and sleep till
noon.
6. If you could
travel to any one place in the world, what would it be?
This is a hard one
because I could spend the rest of my life on the road and be perfectly happy. I
would like to explore Asia, Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific
islands including Mt Fuji and Bora Bora. Also, have yet to get to Machu Picchu.
.
 |
| Mt Fuji |
7. What is your one
life mantra, motto, or credo?
A cup or two of dark
roast coffee a day keeps the doctor away. I also like this quote attributed to Thomas
Edison: Genius is 95% perspiration and 5% inspiration. And this
maxim from Ben Franklin, “Early to Bed, Early to Rise makes a good man healthy
and wise.” Have heard by that he meant getting to sleep early in the morning,
which makes sense to me.
 |
| Photo Courtesy of Niece Lauren, My Soul Mate |
8. What is
your favourite season and why?
 |
| Litchfield, CT, 2012 |
 |
| Walk in the Woods, Down My Road, Fall 2012 |
It used to be fall,
especially living in New England, with all the glory of the colors as the
leaves change to magnificent shades. But now that season reminds me winter is
on the way, so am opting for the fresh beginnings of spring.
 |
| Talcott Ridge Walk, Near My House, Fall 2013 |
 |
Horse Barn Taken from Inside Window,
Not Yet Ready to Go Outside |
 |
Winter 2013,
Used My Body Instead of Shovel to Empty Deck of Snow |
9. What is your
favorite band, musician, artist of all time?
Because I love the poetry
and feel of “Fields of Gold,” I guess I would say Sting.
Ask me on another day, I'll have another choice.
10. Who or want
inspires your writing?
The keyboard and an empty
screen. Like to tap on the keys, and then hours later discover the screen is
filled with words.
11. What metaphor or
simile describes your writing process?
It gushes like a stream.
It used to be a dried-up lake in a sun-soaked desert because I could never get
past the introductory sentences. I learned that kind of self-editing is
counterproductive.
Your Turn Now
Play it Forward: Here is my list of other bloggers
to keep the chain going. Their names are hyperlinks to their blogs, and links
to their Twitter Profile pages are in the parentheses. I included those links
in hopes that they’ll all hook up with one another on Twitter.
11 Questions for these
Bloggers, but first remember to give the 11 Facts about yourself and don’t
forget to play it forward to other bloggers and to generate your 11 questions
for them.
Here’s the set
of questions for the above bloggers.
1) What teachers inspired you and why?
2) If you could change your college major, what would it be and why?
3) What is the best part of being a connected educator and how do you
stay connected?
4) If you could make one significant change that would shift the
course of education, what would it be?
5) What are your favorite tech tools and why?
6) What do you do to escape?
7) What fields/careers would you recommend to young people today?
8) If you could live your life as another person, from history or
living today, who would you choose and why?
9) Would you rather be a kid or an adult, and why?
10) What is your favorite charity, and why?
11) What do you think is your greatest strength?
Image credits
for photos from Flickr
