Well...It was a day.

Day after Spring Break...Hm, forgotten rules and procedures, flopping hands and feet, noises coming out of mouth, nose, and ears, yawning mouths from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m....well, just about everything happened today. To top it off, I received a brand new student. Yeap, 9 weeks before school is out. I really don't understand why parents do not try to finish up at one school...Nothing should be more important nor crucial. The adjustment of the new student was a total challenge. I'm not sure how well either of us handled it. I just hope tomorrow brings better luck...(not that it will since April fools is a HUGE thing for 2nd graders..)

On the other hand, some of my sweet kiddos noticed my "stressed, worried, concerned" face..so I received a special note at the end of the day.

P.S. I'm super impressed the fact that my students can use an analogy..:)

Spring Break...Coming to an end

Spring break was fabulous. Simply fabulous. For the first half of the break, Milan and I spend quality time together. Movies, lunch, park, shopping, and just the things that ordinary people do. It was very relaxing because we weren't in rush (as it seems like we always are when traveling back and forth). It made us realize that little things are what life is all about.

"It all depends how we look at things, not how they are in themselves."  - Carl Jung

And then there was my first time in California (bucket list, check!). It was GORGEOUS! San Diego had the gorgeous beaches, stylish beach houses, friendly people, and the perfect weather. It really is picture perfect. And then, there was my sister who made it even better. Spending time with her was priceless (from the moment that she spelled out D-I-P instead of reading the road sign DIP...to the bird instance in the parking lot). Throughout the trip, we had great conversations, and we made memories throughout the trip. But then, there was the 4 and half flight that was delayed 5 hours, and the late arrival at 2:10 a.m. to Nashville. Hollywood was also a big disappointment (just as LA was).. not very up-to maintance, rude people, and just crowded for nothing (except the Walk of Stars).

However,I must say, if you have a chance to go to Cali, go visit San Diego! You will love it!

& here are the most beautiful places in California (according to this teacher!)

 

La Jolla Cove, San Diego

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laguna Beach, Orange County, California

Coronado Island, California

 Spring break is slowly ending. It's 10:00 p.m, and I should probably head to sleep...Tomorrow will be nothing but easy. A day after 2 week break is always full of challenges.

Oh, I couldn't forget this...A little gift for myself and my classroom from Cali. I'll definitely try to use it tomorrow.

The Bucket List

Since 2009, I've kept a tiny piece of paper in my bookshelf that contained my bucket list. Often, I forgot to "reference" it due to the pace of life. However, as things are somewhat settling down, I keep realizing I need to reference it more..Thank you Sanja for the inspiration! :)

Then, there was a person who inspired me to start tracking it. The sudden death of my father affected me like no other. It was a low point of my life. It was sudden, unexpected event that caused sorrow that would last forever. Yet, something inspired me to love the life you live.. to enjoy the little things.. to go to new places...to live everyday as your last..and never be scared  of  challenges and never to think about death. Dad was so  courageous through the process that he TRULY lived every moment. He was positive and full of life every day.. even when the worst news came from the doctor, he refused to show his worries to me. He was a believer, and I strive to be one as I encounter challenges and obstacles in my life.

Indeed, in name of my Father, I am determined to start tracking my bucket list. He wanted me to achieve all of my dreams, and I know I have the power to do so.  So here it is, a list I composed in 2009..(no worries, I am being inspired every day by little things, and soon enough new things will be added to it..)

2009 Bucket List

1. earn a Bachelor's Degree 
2. swim in Pacific Ocean
3. visit all 7 continents
4. visit all 50 states
5. bungee jumpee  
   
6. skydive 
7. swim with a dolphin
8. find the love of my life
9. run a marathon
10. see the Egyptian pyramids
11. ride an elephant
12. do DYI project at least once a year
13. spend NYE in New York
14. have a wedding in Serbian church
15. go to a cruise
16. teach, teach, and teach
17. have children
18. take a spontaneous road trip with no destination
19.  fly a plane
20. have a walk-in closet in my house
21. attend Ceca's concert in Belgrade
22. inspire children to have big dreams
23. volunteer for a non-profit organization 
24. have a flower garden 
25. visit Paris, Venice, and London 
26. work in an orphanage in Africa 
27. enjoy the little things in life 
28. smile every day 
29. take a yearly vacation to the beach
30. Visit one new place every year
31. obtain the journey of my life by having enormous amount of pictures
32. visit Vegas for my 21st

& finally the most important on the list is to by live this quote..

"Love the people God gave because 

he will need them back one day!"  

 ______________________________________

#8 The love of my life..Thank you for loving me through the worst and best times..volim te najvise!

Once a Year, Go Someplace You've Never Been Before.

Tomorrow I head to San Diego.. my first time in Cali! (Indeed, one of my things on the bucket list - to swim in the Pacific Ocean!) As I am really looking forward to it, I can't stop but to remind myself of the famous Dala Lama quote "Once a Year, Go  Someplace You've Never Been Before."

Little things fill our hearts up, and indeed, seeing new places/people usually makes us content. It makes us appreciate the things we have in home. It makes us humble. On the other hand, it makes us inspired to be  present in those amazing places. 

Let this adventure begin! 

PS. Bucket list coming up shortly - the one I composed as as freshman [2009] in college.

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Well, it would not be my blog if I did not share things from my classroom. In celebration of Dr. Seuss's birthday, we read Oh the Places You'll Go.. Then, the kids shared their "bucket lists" as to where they want to go in the future. For 2nd graders, they have elaborate reasoning behind these places.

Life is fleeting...Very fast.

I wish I was persistent in blogging. It's still pretty new to me. Beside the diary I kept in 7th grade, I am not sure how frequent your entries should be. I am just wishing it happened more. Month and half passed, and here am I,  updating my blog (and only because it is Spring Break!) The last 7 weeks flew by. With all of the testing and grading happening in the school, it has been little crazy to catch up. We had 3 snow days in March...(What is happening to Spring weather in Nashville is beyond my understanding). Indeed, we celebrated Saint Patrick's Day on March 17th during our  snow make up day. Yeap, it was a joyful feast. All to say, time is slipping out of our hands and it is disappearing..

Yet, I sit here and think..only 2 more months, and I am sending off my precious 2nd graders. Ah, life is fleeting. I wish there was a time machine to keep some memories on-going. Since there is not one around, I am capturing those moments with pictures, videos, and stories. Here is one of the reasons I simply adore the life of teaching. On the roughest days, these kids will make you smile.

An ELL student who is barely reading on K level in 2nd grade.

And then, I could not help not to share our beautiful new hallway display (So Many People are Worth more than GOLD! )

And this...an 8 year old boy writes a story using "or/ore" words. Pretty unique. I am so humbled for these things. They make my job really interesting and rewarding.

6 more days of Spring Break..Then, I am back to teacher's routine. Hooray for 2 week Spring Break!:)