With the New year here...Jewish New Year upon us, I decided I needed to start blogging again and continue to let people czech up on Ali. So much has happened in the past year and it's amazing how time flies. I guess I can sum up in a paragraph things that have occurred in my life since my last posting. My last blog was about being the Hawk whisperer where I rescued an injured hawk that had a broken wing, I never found out what happened to that hawk even after calling Project Wildlife to see how the bird was. However, in the summer, my family and I were eating outside on our new backyard patio and a hawk appeared on the wall. Now it could have meant one of two things, it was the hawk I rescued saying what's up and thanks or it was after my sister Senegal parrot. I guess I will never know but I like to think it was the hawk I rescued saying thanks.
So that's the end of that story, other than that I have been busy trying to reach my goal to be a full time teacher again. In January 2012 I was very lucky to get a part time position as the English Language Learner (ELL) aide at a great school district in northern San Diego. I absolutely loved it and worked with some amazing kids. The majority of my students come from South Korea and Japan. After working with such delightful students, I really want to visit Asia and by making some friends with school parents might get some free tours out of it ;) .
I'm still at the same school and still trying to reach that long awaited goal of being a full time teacher. It's very tough right now, as you might/hopefully are aware, for teachers right now. I graduated at the wrong time when there were major budget cuts and many experienced teachers laid off. I have a lot of views of our education system and it's really a shame that people aren't more vocal about our schools. Not because I can't get a job and our generation will be the skipped/lost generation in teaching, but the kids who can't wait and being pushed through the system. It frustrates me that districts are leaning on technology to help our schools and there is nothing wrong with "updating" schools with newer technology; however, technology should never replace a good teacher. There will be a crucial proposition for November 2012 elections regarding education, Prop 38. If this does not pass, the education system will have to make MORE cuts. So make sure you vote this coming election! Ok, that's enough politics for me.
Let me tell you what I've been up to with my hobbies. I am still cooking and baking and learning new recipes and techniques all the time. I am still in love with Ina Garten and very excited she is coming to California in both LA and OC in November to do a book signing for her new book. I'm HOPING I can make it to either of those as she is a huge inspiration for me. Not only is she incredible smart (working in the white house in nuclear energy) but a strong business woman who worked hard for her success today. Plus her recipes are delicious and I love the way she carries herself. I still dabble with the idea that baking will be in my life one day. My aunt just opened a bakery in LA called Breakaway Bakery. It is an amazing new twist to baking where it is gluten free, dairy free, organic, kosher, healthier, tastier, ok I can go on and on but she did a great job making pastries and breads we love for those with those dietary restrictions. I don't even have dietary restrictions but I still find her pastries delicious. I have seen how much hard work she has put into the bakery and it's all paying off with much success and success to come in the near future.
What I have been focusing on recently is my love for art. In college, my minor was studio art where I took classes in art history, ceramics, life drawings, watercolor, and photography. I really loved working with charcoal and pencil drawings. I created one of my best drawings at Redlands with a self portrait of me stretching my butt before a basketball game. My parents were proud and framed it and displayed it in their house for all their friends and family to see. Let's just say I make them proud in more than one way.
My sister, who is my best friend and very lucky to have, has inspired me to get back into the arts and gave me the most precious present of sending me to art classes. I took advanced drawing in the winter where I made some great pieces. Then for my birthday, she gave me another round of classes to take painting. I have always been intimidated of painting and could never understand how it works. With drawing, I just see and do and do not have to wait. Painting, you have to mix the right color, wait for it to dry, learn different brushes and techniques. I absolutely loved my painting class and happy to say I am no longer intimdated. Although it took me a long time to paint one canvas. I painted a boat and an ocean. That had significance because I was in Spain with Sarka (my czech roommate) and I snapped that photo. Wish I was back in Costa Brava.
Now classes are over, I decided to continue my art and keep finding new hobbies. I enjoyed blogging and will continue to blog things that I think you would learn something about me. Thanks for reading and welcome back!
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