Little Vacation

Eh, I realized I haven't written for a quite long time! Okay, I'm back, I think. Last week, I had an opportunity to have a little vacation with my friend, Annie. We decided to go beach for our little vacation before my job steal my life for another year.

We found a cheap house to rent for a week. It was a small house with some mold on ceilings, dust on ceiling fans, crappy couch, etc.. That's why it was cheap house and affordable for us to stay for a week. It was worth of it.

During the week, I saw lot of Coquina clams which was common on the beach. I saw some small fish, dolphins, Ghost crabs, few different kind of birds, and even some small dead jellyfish without legs! I was fascinated one specific animal. This animal made me smile every time the bird ran toward the shore to get food but ran away from the waves when it hits. Gee, that bird really moved so FAST! The birds looked so small and cute, so I asked Annie if she knew what it called but got no luck from her.

I only saw the bird three or four times during the week. Last day of beach, Annie wanted to stop by bookstore to find some historical books about the shores, people, etc. I was surfing around while waiting for Annie to find a book. I saw a book with many different animals on North Carolina beach. I decided to see if I can find that bird what I saw on the beach.

Hooray! I found it! Now I learned the bird called Sanderling. I also found a not bad video on YouTube you can watch and get the idea why I was fascinated. The beach wasn't the same one we were on, but the bird was the same what I saw.

Loved the beach tent! Worth of money. 

Look what I found something! It was a dead jellyfish! Serious, a dead jellyfish without legs.. Maybe fish or dolphin were trying to eat jellyfish--but loved the legs the best..

Let's get closer to the cool dead jellyfish body... Amazing it can see through to my fingers. 

Walked on the beach while beautiful sunset.

Argghh! Ghost crab... Often see this everywhere. 

Anyway, my point is.... I loved my little vacation, I really need that. I wish I could stay there longer before go back to work. Bummer, fall semester will start this week. Another year with stress, tired, etc. If I did last year, I guess I can do it again this year.. 

I got....

Well, it's not really permanent job yet but the person who hired me said it might become permanent if I did a good job with the position. I do not know when it will become permanent or will I keep the position for sure. At least I have a full-time job for ten months with benefits, an office, a computer, not great salary to start with but it's something to support myself for now, and happy to know that I'm alive for ten months.

It's sort of funny how I got a full-time job. And it's sort of long story. I'll make a long story short for you.

I'll create names so you wouldn't get lost in this long short story.

Bossest: Sabrina
Bosser: Judi
Boss: Ben

I applied a full-time position at University and waited for Judi, the bosser, to tell me the date for interview. About two or three weeks ago, Judi told me that I wasn't invited for an interview because they found better. I was disappointed because I was qualified for this position but I assumed the person must have PhD or something "wow" Judi and Ben.

Judi offered me to teach Tuesdays and Thursdays morning (two more classes, right now I have two night classes). I had to turn down the offer because the pay wasn't great and what if I got a job offer and would not able to work full-time because of that. So night classes would be considered to be extra $$ for me if I got another job offer.

So I applied another position at high school to teach American Sign Language (ASL) as foreign language. I was very impressed with their program. I felt that their program was organized and much better than the University. I thought maybe that one would be better for me. And much less commute! University would be 40 minutes without traffic.

I had to go through pain of screening, first interview, etc. for high school. During the screening I hit the score what they wanted from me, but I learned that high school principal does not want to hire any deaf teacher. She thinks deaf are not able to handle high school students because of communication. She does not want to hire interpreter because they will have to pay for it. AND ASL teacher, she is hearing, was going to retire (that's why the position was open) and told the principal that deaf cannot teach ASL classes. Principal believed her.

The worse part that the principal said if they (HR, etc) want to hire a deaf teacher, she might drop the ASL program. OHHHH! (Rolling eyes)

So during the screening, I met her and she said nothing to me. NOTHING! Serious, she just ignored me. The person who screened me was so embarrassed and explained to me what happened. Uh oh. Somehow I wanted to show them that I can teach and do not need interpreter for my ASL classes. I never need one for eleven years! I was qualified for first interview AND invited for second interview. Both turned out GREAT! Now I had to wait for third and final interview--that one will have to interview with THAT school principal.

I have been waiting for that interview more than two months. I have emailed and asked any idea.. The HR person said they have to find a place for ALL current teachers to make sure they have a job before they hire new teachers. Oh boy, they are STILL working on it. Blame on Union. :S

I even told one elementary school that I'm interested for a position to take one teacher's position. So far I applied three jobs. I was about to apply some more jobs.

Last Thursday late afternoon, I got an email from Sabrina, Bossest, and asked me if I'm interested full-time job but it will be a temporary visiting position for two semesters. Sabrina hopes they can renew it for a few years then make it permanent. So that sounds good, they will pay me little better than adjunct pay. But the position will require more work than just teach ASL classes. I will have to attend the meetings (blah), advise undergraduate students, assist with helping new ASL 1 instructors, etc.. AND I'll have an office and computer to keep myself busy.

Sabrina also said I'll teach four ASL classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays morning. (Umm that's what Judi offered me before...) Not bad. But Sabrina wanted to know the answer---now.. I had hard time to make a decision if I really want that job or not. It is so far to drive and not great pay but better than adjunct. Yikes Yikes Yikes! The next day, I knew the offer was best one so I accepted the offer. Now I'll start my full-time job starting this fall. It's a bit overwhelming because I will need to learn many things new to prepare myself to advise undergraduate students, etc. But same time I'm excited to improve my skills through serve the students, staff, and myself. :D

Well, I made it long story short. I now have a full-time job for ten months and hopefully everything will work out with staff. That one I haven't share the juices with you. Juices are unimportant, but the important is I HAVE A JOB!  Heehee.

Literacy Power

Last Sunday Annie and I have prepared our primary lesson for today. (We teach 9-11 kids.) We skimmed the lesson and know which paragraphs who will do. We put it down until yesterday. I wanted to read scripture and asked Annie if she wanted to join with me. We started reading Mosiah, Book of Mormon, chapter 2. We takes a turn to sign five verses to each other. Recently Annie used her voice while I was reading the scripture so I can practice listen and read same time. Today I cannot able to do that since my bilateral mixed up. It was not good time to do this. It was no big deal.

We took a few turns until it was her turn. She read from verse 6 to 10. When she read verse 8, she stopped.

"And it came to pass that he began to speak to his people from the tower; and they could not all hear his words because of the greatness of the multitude; therefore he caused that the words which he spake should be written and sent forth among those that were not under the sound of his voice, that they might also receive his words." Mosiah 2:8

She told me what she realized about this verse. Those people who listened King Benjamin were able to read and write even it was 124 B.C. We both discussed about literacy and why Heavenly Father wanted us to learn write and read. Of course, we know why we need to have literacy in our lives. There are words everywhere. I was thinking about their time and the most important was able to write and read so they can read the Lord's word in the scriptures. This verse was perfect example that they were able to read what King Benjamin have spoken to the audience near the temple. Imagine if those people were not able to read, then they must missed lot of important messages from King Benjamin. It must be very frustrating if couldn't able to hear King Benjamin especially when you came from far places.

It's really interesting because we remembered from our primary lesson about the saints moved to Jackson, Missouri. Most people who lived there were not able to read or write. It made me ponder about it. Truly, the literacy is power. We are able to read the scriptures and others things. And able to write our experiences about scriptures, church, study, journals, etc. It took me to Nephi that he wrote in the book of mormon and explained why he wrote this brass. He told us Heavenly Father has purpose for him and for us. Again, everything makes sense to me. Heavenly Father knew we need literacy to progress our education and use our minds to think, to ponder, to express, to show, to proclaim, and to learn.

I am thankful Heavenly Father gave us a command that we should read and study the scriptures that leads us to learn how to write and read. Without them, how can we do our jobs? Remember the steps? How to fix up things without a direction? The questions will go on. I better stop my hands before it started type into blah. That's my thoughts for now.