Birthday!

My birthday is coming up tomorrow and for the first time in 26 years, I will be spending it without my family. It's a bit upsetting, but I am holding my head high. I will hopefully, be spending it with my best friends. I do not know where I would be without these people. With all of us being on Thanksgiving break, some of the friends dispersed throughout the states to enjoy not having school and be out of Bowling Green for a while. It really made me miss them and it made me grateful to have them in my life.
The pictures below are of the people who mean the most to me. They are either in my immediate surroundings, I see them on the weekends, I talk to them on the phone or I text them. Either way, I am somehow attached to all of these people by a string hanging from my heart.
Pictures are of (in order): Anna, Casey, Kim, Anel and Nader.

Without these people, I would be spending my Fridays and Saturdays at home in front of the computer probably playing some mind numbing game on Facebook. Without these people, I'd be miserable with no one to talk to, no one to be obnoxious with and no one to accept me as I am. They make me laugh til I cry, they upset me sometimes, they make me think about life, and they make me happy.
To add a couple of others that are not in these pictures but are in my heart and life: Mohammed, Goran, Adel and Fikre.
If I could take people with me on my trip to Spain, this group would be the group I would choose. Maybe I can figure out how to put them in my pocket? :)

Family!

Thanksgiving is coming up, my birthday is coming up and with all these important events in my life coming up, I miss my family. They left for two weeks to Bosnia, and I frankly don't know what to do with myself. I mean we argue, we bicker, we get so mad at each other but regardless we are always a family. Thinking about family, it reminded me of a poem I wrote in Block I (list of 3 educational classes). The poem is about where I came from and what important things blended to make me who I am.

"I am from open doors and loud voices"

I am from war torn countries, family far away and sleepless nights

Tears shed, horrific images for a child to see

Second language learners and hard workers

From "We're safe now" and sighs of relief

I am from family secrets, unspoken words and divorce

"Speak when you're spoken to" and "Don't sass me girl"

Respect your elders, no attitude

Russian salad, pita, sarma cooking in my mother's kitchen

From fabulous family holidays and love

I am from strong women and even stronger men

Stubborn as a mule, "You get it from your daddy"

Loving with my entire being, "You get it from your mother"

Open mindedness, honesty and outspokenness

I am from raising myself and what a good job I've done

To my mother's instilled morals and my father's analytical mind

I will raise my children like this someday, if I could only learn how to cook

I am me, and that is all I will ever be

My very first blog!!!

Hey all! My friend, miss Emily Shell posted a link on Facebook a couple of days ago and I decided to follow it. She posted the link to her blog. This is all her fault. I am now addicted to blogger, and blogging. Since I am going to have to blog about my student teaching in Spain, I figure I may as well post it now. There are lots of teaching ideas, projects, books, resources that I can and will post on here. In order to actually blog and make it interesting, I have to introduce myself a little bit more into detail. I'm Gabriela, everyone calls me Gabi. I'm 26 years old (in 5 days), and I am a 5th year senior. Elementary Education is not my first major. I was a Medical Assistant before, graduated from Draughons Junior College with an Associates in Science. I will be student teaching in Barcelona, Spain. I am beyond excited! The picture below is an aerial view of Barcelona, Spain. I CANNOT WAIT! This was truly a great opportunity and I am glad I made it happen for myself. Application handed in, interview won and all that is left is paying my way! :)

Currently, I have been in Briarwood Elementary school for Block II (a set of 3 educational classes in which we teach two lessons and spend 10 days in an elementary school). These are my kindergarteners at Briarwood. I miss them already!