It's not right, but it's okay...

So this "Chip In" thing is not accurate!
Our donations are NOT at 0%! I have already received donations from some very thoughtful and caring people. My first three donations came in one day! I couldn't be more excited! Everything seems to be happening so fast and I like it :)
I know I have not been blogging frequently, but that will change in the new year. My birthday is coming up...and Christmas...alot of distractions, but I promise..."I'll be back"!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
We have alot to look forward to in the new year and a great deal to be thankful for from this past year. Great things are coming. Great things.

Love,

The Gypsy

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

So we got our first donations yesterday! Yittidee!!! I am overjoyed, seriously. Felt the need to add this to the blog :)
"Its the FINAL COUNTDOWN!!!"

Everything Happens For a Reason...

This past Friday was one of those days where nothing seemed to go right.
I was freaked out about so many things like my car (Candy) for instance. The day before I have to go out of town she starts with all sorts of new warning lights and carrying ons....I couldn't do it. THEN, I tried to print those donor letters and it was a no go. The printer wouldn't cooperate. I was losing it. Fast.

Thanks to Super Genae, the car thing wasn't a persistent problem. She got me to Nashville in record time on very little sleep.  I owe her a nice seafood dinner, lol. And my lovely friend Kristin offered to print the letters up for me when I got back. (I'm definitely taking you up on that, Kris - by the by, lol.) So we get to Nashville, everything goes well, got tons of information and met a really nice group of people. I met a wonderful guy named Stephen, who was so honest in his own experience. He told me good stuff, bad, stuff, hard stuff, culture shock stuff, it was phenomenal. He changed my mind about a couple things and set every possible  fear of moving abroad at ease. This is a setup of sorts, lol...nothing harmful but you guys know something is coming, right? Ha...

I came away with two major amendments to my plan this weekend. Prior to this, I really wanted to be in Tokyo. I would say, "Oh, I'd be happy to go anywhere!" but really be thinking, "I really hope you send me to Tokyo." But I am completely sold on going anywhere. I don't want to discount my experience by placing any limitations before I get to Japan. I want to go with an open mind, ready for anything. I also learned that I was deluded in my previous financial goal (here's the something), my startup expenses are actually more extensive. That's the most polite way to put it.  Stephen says I need 500,000 yen to start (I am really talking around this, aren't I?) Okay...so its $5000. As opposed to the initial proposed $3,500. I know, that's a big difference...but we can TOTALLY do it!

Now let me tie in the title...My donor request letters were asking for $3500 and I would have sent those out already if the printer hadn't given me a nervous breakdown on Friday. Let me also say that this printer is infamous for handing out nervous breakdowns at Jolie...I just wasn't strong enough on Friday. I felt like Samir on Office Space, "Why does it say paper jam, when there IS NO PAPER JAM?!!?!" And how embarassing would that have been, "umm....I sent you this letter but, yeah...."

Woo freaking hoo! I lost this entry like, a week ago guys! I just found it! Indeed, everything happens for a reason. So I'm going to publish it right now, before something else happens.
Love,

The Gypsy

PS...I got the job(s)!
PPS...I don't even know if this makes sense, ya'll I was so happy to find it :) Good luck...LOL

It's Magic

Hey...look over there...to the left... down....down...right there! See that?! Little yellow button? THAT is the magic button that enables you to contribute as little or as much as you can, to help me get to Japan (I told you I was going to ask lol).
Our goal is $3500 for travel, start up expenses...and money to live for the first 6-8 weeks whilst I learn to earn my keep as a language teacher :) Whatever you can give, I thank you in advance because every little bit helps. So if you can, give the magic button a little click-see..its magic, you know.

Pilot-Magic

Love,

The Gypsy

Working for the weekend....

Hey guys!
Hope all is well...its another confusingly beautiful week here in Atlanta, lol. I think we're supposed to see 70 degrees this afternoon. Wasn't it 30 degrees on Saturday? Lol...Sorry that it has been a few days since the last entry but this weekend was crazy, busy and super informative.

I met so many cool people this weekend! I met a young man who taught in Japan a few years ago. His story was particularly interesting because he signed on to a language school at the precipice of the economic downturn that affected soooo many Japanese language schools. He taught for two months before his school went belly up. He didn't get paid and ended up "hanging out" (that's what he called it) in Japan for another four months. I thought it was cool that he was still teaching, giving it another shot after such a horrifying experience.

I met another young man, recent college graduate, who was pretty set on going to Korea but felt torn between the two opportunities so he decided to research teaching in Japan. He was cute, he had that fresh out of college energy...so carefree, but still quite a sense of accomplishment because he's achieved his greatest goal to date.
I also met ESL teachers who started teaching in the 90's and are still doing it, and still in Japan after all these years. I even met a teacher who was born in Japan, left for school and returned to Japan to teach English after graduating college.

It seems to me like Japan is the place to be! I'm so grateful that I had such an insightful experience and got to meet all these wonderfully interesting people. If I didn't know before, I'm certain that Japan is where I want to be! And soon :)

Love,
The Gypsy

PS...I totally did this from my phone today...I hope the format isn't jacked lol...sorry...the word is that I'll have a repaired laptop in hand by Friday so, until then....
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Rain, rain...go away...

Happy Day!

Rainy days are complicated for me...I hate driving in the rain (you Georgia drivers know what happens out here when it rains, its like ARMAGEDDON!) and I hate being out and about when its raining...but I get the most done on rainy days. I don't know, I guess my mind stops racing long enough to focus on tasks as they present themselves, rather than working on several things at the same time. I'm not saying I look forward to rainy days, but they don't dampen my spirits too much.

It rained yesterday...and I got tons done.  I spent most of last night listening to Jodeci (yo, iLove Jodeci!), working on lesson plans and reading articles about becoming a good ESL teacher. Now my mind is in a constant whir with new ideas and questions.

I asked Genae to come by so I could use her computer (in my Balrahj voice) because I feel lost without my laptop. It really is true, you never know what you've got 'til its gone. Fail. I mean guys, I can't charge or sync my iPod, I can't get on that internet from home, I feel like I'm back in the early 90's for pete's sake! (who's pete? And where does that expression come from?) http://wiki.name.com/en/Name_idioms

Suneye has helped me tremendously and I have recently enlisted Genae's help as well...she's like my own personal cheat sheet. Its perfect. And so in all this preparation (lesson plans and swags) , I have inadvertently been helping Genae with her lesson plans and last night she said to me, "...so tell me, teacher, how would you do...." And oddly enough, I had an answer. A pretty decent one.  And she is actually going to amend one of my lessons and use them for her music class. The other day we planned a blues lesson for the babies...that was fun too. As long as Genae will let me, I'll keep sticking my nose in her classroom business, so to speak.

I confess last night wasn't all business. We spent way too much time on YouTube watching videos of this R&B group. I thought it was a fluke when I saw the first video, like oh no...they can't be THIS good but they are so amazing...best thing I've found in a minute...and, AND they covered my favorite NSYNC (yes, NSync...say something!!!) song, "I Thought She Knew" with another favorite, sweet little Aj Rafael. And these voices...my, oh my...So their name is AHMIR...and they are the bees. knees. Check 'em out!
AHMIR & Aj Rafael

Off the Wall...

"When the world is on your shoulders, gotta straighten up your act and boogie down..."
-MJ

Hey guys...I voted today. Hope you did too.
This is like my third time voting. I got my citizenship (yes, I'm like, a "real" Jamaican) in December '05 so I missed a couple good elections. I remember when I was a freshman, there was a huge movement among students encouraging other students to vote. I always ended up explaining myself, well...I'm not a citizen so...it was just awkward. I hated that.  Now that I'm able to do it, I get excited every time.  And what a time to be voting, huh?!? Heated, controversial election? WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? (in my Uncle Sam voice) LOL I'm JUST KIDDING...just wanted to add to the serious tone...Seriously, voting is a privilege. Get to that.

Okay...enough about that. I did a little research today about teaching ESL lessons. Frankly, I've been listening to quite a few horror stories from friends about their classroom experiences, so I started to second guess myself...can I really teach English all day, every day? Am I cut out to be a teacher? How's my English? Am I REALLY qualified to do this?

I played the doubts to the left and dove into ESL lesson planning, teacher tips and articles which opened the door to a slew of fun sites for teachers. I found a million resources for ESL teachers and even forums for teachers coping with living abroad. As I sifted through all this new and useful information, I started to burst with ideas incorporating music into ESL lesson plans. I started a little book of ideas. I can jot down my thoughts as they come to me and develop them later. That made me feel better.
Aahh...reassurance.

Can I really teach English all day, every day? Am I cut out to be a teacher? How's my English? Am I REALLY qualified to do this?
Yes, yes, pretty darn good and heck yes! (in that order) I can totally do this! And I will. I said that to my mom the other day. She looked like she wanted to argue with me but I think she knew more than I did, there was no point. Its not that she's not excited, she just wants me to be careful. And prepared. Nothing wrong with that. I'll do both.
I'll be careful and prepared.
And then leap :)

Love,
The Gypsy

Mobile Blogging

So...this mobile blogging thing, not as easy as I thought....while getting it together, my mommy was like, blog FOR me...umm, no Mommy! Lol...
My mom should definitely blog, she has tons to say, mostly about politics and Uncle Obie. She like flips between MSNBC and CNN and interjects her opinion when necessary. She just got a blackberry so I'm going to make that happen for her.
In the meanwhile, I think I have got blogging from my Blackberry down! Back to work...

Love,
The Gypsy
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Marilyn never made it....

Hey guys! Happy Monday :)
I don't have a functional computer right now so I have recently learned how to blog from my blackberry! Yay! I am VERY excited about it.
Marilyn never made it out this weekend. I was so tired on Saturday that I just came straight home and got into a good book.

Before the book, I got a call from a friend who is a poet, namely spoken word. He would kill me if he saw me put him in a box like that...anyway, super talented guy. He listened to some of my work and gave me some great feedback and he wants to write together. So yay! Another pot on the fire! Look out for that, I'll be sure to put it here first.

Today I was supposed to go the doctor but I don't think its gonna happen...so I plan to write all day today. Last entry, I told you guys I'd be handwriting my announcements. So I'm still tossing the body of the letter around but the beginning and end of each letter will be personalized.
So I'll do that today...still haven't found the stationery I want but I can do first drafts and transfer the letter to stationery at a later date.

If and when I get bored, I'll write a poem. Or a song ;)
Hope you guys have a great day. Mondays usually set the tone for my week so make it a good one and everything else will fall into place!


Love,
The Gypsy
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Early in the morning...

...I put breakfast on your table...iLOVE that song! LOL...good morning! My neighbor woke me up at 5:34am with a big BANG! He does this all the time. Genae was here to experience it...so as we shouted expletives at each other (really at my neighbor) from separate rooms, I lay awake with no hope of getting back to bed.

So...here I am. Still awake. And have been for a while now. My laptop is in a coma right now so I stole Genae's for a moment. Today I'll be working on announcements. Aside from the blog, I'm sending letters to my friends and family to announce my departure. I'll also be using this to ask for support. I know somebody read that (like me) and saw "money", and I am not here to refute that. LOL.

I do need money, and I can't be shy about it. But I really do need your support. Your prayers, well wishes, votes of confidence, are all really helpful right now. The thought of leaving is scary but I haven't really conceptualized that yet...it will be nice to figure it all out with you guys.

Back to these announcements...I, wait, we (me and Suneye) decided on hand written announcements. I know it sounds like a lot but I think its a good look. I can get cute stationary from Target and personalize each announcement. Let me know what you think, we also thought it was time consuming, but cost efficient and I don't mind the time.

Its a little after 8, and as my neighbor opens and closes his patio door over and over again  for no reason at all (i'm sure there is a reason but come on!), there's no hope of falling asleep again so I guess I'll get my costume ready. I'm Marilyn Monroe today :)

Happy Halloween because I probably won't say it tomorrow hahaha! Be safe, have fun - I'll have pictures tomorrow!

Love,
The Gypsy

Feels like the first time...

I'm doing something new and I wanted to share it. This new phase in my life has me feeling like life's little virgin concubine. New place, new opportunity and a chance for a new me. I recently decided to leave the country. And soon. I'll be teaching English in Japan in 2011.

This blog serves as your inlet to my journey. So right now we are in the beginning phases...job interviews and fundraising. That's the name of the game.

Stay tuned, because more than anything, I need your support.

Love always,

The Gypsy