5 Days Down 175 To Go!

It was a great first week of school! I love my students. I love their parents. I love my principal. I love my partner teacher. I love my school. I am so excited for my new job. The language is still a challenge, but it is wonderful! I love this job. I know it is a blessing from God and I can't forget that even if it gets rough!

Marriage

My best friend got married last week. I am so happy for her. She married a great guy whom I really like. They are very compatible for each other. They love each other. I couldn't wish anything greater on the two of them. The problem is...I'm sad. I am going to miss my best friend because she has a new best friend and won't need me as much. The mixed feeling are weird, but the excitement will win out!

The Happy Couple

Some friends

The Beginning

I am now settled into my new house, I taught summer school in Chinese for two weeks, had a week to get my room in order and prepared for the start of school, and now it will all begin. I start school tomorrow. I have so many feelings going through me, BUT I know it will all be okay. I know this is the right decision and that although I need to work hard this year to make sure my Chinese is perfect and students learn the concepts, it will be worth it. The two weeks of summer school were an adventure, but they really helped me prepare for tomorrow. Tomorrow, it is tomorrow, it all starts tomorrow. I've had 4 months to prepare for tomorrow. I knew it was coming. I thought I knew what to expect, but I am still nervous. I know how to teach, but Chinese. Really? What have I gotten myself into? I honestly have no idea...but I know it is right, so I will do it and I will do it with a smile! Pray for me!

CHANGE

Change can happen without even knowing it, and sometimes it takes a lot of thought and then a final decision. It seems like I have made a lot of the later types changes in the last few months...new job, moving, new ward,...but when I went to my 10 year high school reunion it seems like over the past ten years there have been some gradual changes too. People didn't recognize me. At first I was a little offended, but then I realized I look different then they remember me. Let's see, when I was in high school I had blond short hair, now I have long brown hair and with an added bonus I have bangs. I had one person come up to me and say "When you're just sitting here I didn't recognize you, but then when you started talking and smiling I knew it was the same old Tessa." So there you have it, I have changed in many ways but not all ways...I'm still me!

The reunion was great! At first I was a little scared and didn't really want to go, but after being there a little while I realized I wasn't the quiet, reserved, intimidated girl I was in High School, and I started talking to everyone. It was great to talk to people and see what they are up to. I graduated with some amazing people. To say the least I came home from the reunion refreshed and renewed. I am so glad I went.

Life is Busy!

Before....


After...

Last weekend Jenny, Carlye and I trekked our way up to Idaho for the SPUDMAN TRIATHLON! Yes this is the triathlon I did not train for. It was an olympic too...1 mile swim, 26 mile bike and 6 miles run. I'm not sure what I was thinking, well except that I was the one that convinced Jenny and Carlye to do it, so I couldn't really back out...to say the least, I finished. Without training I beat my goal time and should be happy with that...but I am not and I want to do it again next year with training. Let's see what happens! And just to let you know we had the best living accommodations. My good friends the Harman's invited us to stay with them, and they definitely treated us well...beds, food, good company... it was wonderful. A great big thanks to them! Here are some more pictures to show the fun we had!





On another note, I haven't even been back from Taiwan for 2 weeks and I feel like I need another vacation. I am now completely moved into my new house. Of course I am just renting because I am too afraid of the responsibility that goes with owning. I also started teaching last week. I am doing two weeks of summer school with the Chinese dual immersion students at my new school. This week was second graders and I am exhausted. It is Saturday at 1:1 PM and I still haven't gotten anything done. I just want to relax...and I had so many plans for today....:( But I do enjoy it and next week I have 1st grade (the actually students I will be teaching), so I am kind of excited!