Christmas :)

Merry Christmas!! Hope you all got everything you wanted from Santa this year ;) I know that my Christmas was wonderful. I was trying to take it all in because I will be in Spain next year for most holidays, it's a little bitter-sweet

Early in the week I took a two-day trip to Chicago with Dan to see Wicked and go to Dinner (dinner was actually a late Birthday present because I had my wisdom teeth taken out when we originally planned on going). We were walking around Chicago looking at the lights and the tree... and he proposed, so I am now engaged! The wedding will not be for a few years so no worries there (it will not hurt my grades Dad!). We want a long engagement and for both of us to finish school first.

-Insert information about Dan: He is a senior at WIU, we meet last year because we lived on the same floor in the dorms (and we live on that same floor again this year). He is Majoring in Law Enforcement and graduating this Spring. He is planning on attending Grad School next year but he has to get permission from the National Gaurd (which he is in) first.

Well back to the blog... That was my biggest Christmas present but I got some other things as well. I got boots and mocisons that I wanted, a book, money to iTunes, Target and Walmart gift cards, purses, purfume, a 12 language translator (YEAH! getting ready for Spain), an adaptor (yeah Spain!), pajama's, make-up, a coffee thermos, etc. etc. etc. It was so nice being home and it was a white christmas!!! Of course the house is filled with other toys from my sisters and brother's gifts which were all opened as soon as they could be! The house was crazy this morning and I am sure it will be for about a week longer :) They all seem to be very happy with all of their gifts, I think we all had a very nice Christmas here.

As well my grades were posted this week for the semester and I recieved a 3.4 GPA. WIU recently changed to a plus/minus grading scale which messed us all up a little bit and if it weren't for the new scale I would have gotten a 3.6. But I guess it's all woulda, coulda, shoulda. I also was sick with Bronchitis for all of my finals so I think I could have done a little bit better if it were not for that. I am only just now getting over Bronchitis :( but at least it will be over soon!

I am working while I am home of course, saving up money! I have no other big plans this year.. We will have to see what 2011 brings!!

Merry Christmas Again and Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

LOVE,

Paige

Another Semseter Down..

and still many more to go. This semester was by far my most crazy! I have 6 classes, tutored for and hour and a half each week, was President for one organization, and secretary for another!! I am surprised I survived. I am lucky that I have people here and at home that keep my spirts high and always encourage me. To top it all off I am getting all the paper work ready for my Study Abroad experience beginning next fall. So after weeks of classes and 4 final exams I am offically ready to go home and have a relaxing break.

Speaking of break I have some wonderful things planned. I will be traveling to Chicago with my boyfriend to see Chicago! Of course there is the Christmas Eve party at my house with family, Christmas at Grandmas, but this year I have an addition to the line up.. I'll be going to Christmas with the boyfriends family the day after Christmas. Of course I will be working all break at Steak n Shake. I will eat too much food, watch too many movies, sleep in way too much, and not think about school one little bit!

Well with that there is not much else. I need to finish packing, of course no matter how much I double and triple check I'll still forget something, grab food, and hit the road!!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Finally a break!

So long no post. School and my organizations are keeping me really really busy. I have turned in multiple lesson plans, planned many meeting for my ABBES group, and studied a few to many spanish words. I am improving very slowly in my spanish though, I can now (almost) confidently write 250-300 words in Spanish about a story or stories that were in Spanish and get a B on the test... and to me thats AWESOME! I still need to improve and Studying Abroad will be very helpful. I have been doing very well on my lesson plans as well. Although, I will never have to write as detailed lesson plans again. All of my classes are getting me PUMPED to become a teacher.. only 3 more years to go!

I still try to have a social life while I am here and its going well. My roommate and me get along very well (which of course means that we talk more than we study some days :/) and me and my boyfriend Dan just celebrated one year of being together. I know I always have people to talk to and to distract me from that pesky homework.

But after all of this.. I GET TO GO HOME TODAY!! I am so excited for a break.. although I still have homework to do! I am looking forward to seeing my family and a little excited to work as well. I miss some of my co-workers. It will be nice to get away from all of this here in Macomb and see some other loved ones!

Phonics, Lesson Plans, and Study Abroad Planning OH MY!

Well it is now the middle of the third week of school already! My classes are going well, very busy, but well. I actually am starting to understand quite a bit of my spanish which is exciting. I have my first ever lesson plan due next week which is slightly scary. From there I will have countless more to write and work on for sure. My planner not going to waste this year! Two of my classes also require us to take tests on the material that the students actually take, such as the state capitals (thats later on in the semester) and my Phonics test is a week. I would like to say that I can speak English pretty well, but breaking it down and doing all this Phonics stuff is a little harder. This weekend will be devoted to studying for that.

I have also made a big decision this past week or so... I am going to, cross my fingers for approval, study abroad fro the entire year next school year! I am just beginning the process of figuring it out, but I am finding a lot of people very supportive of my decision and I am getting very excited!!!! I will keep everyone posted on that progress of course!

My clubs are going well, we had the activities fair this past week and I went between both of them, thankfully they were only a table apart.

Well its off to start my day of classes and homework! I'll post again soon.

Watch out WIU

Hi Everyone!

I am back at WIU again! After a summer of working once again at Steak 'n Shake, an eight week speech class, taking a beautiful and relaxing trip to Florida, and having my wisdom teeth out I am back at school. This semester is honestly a little scary for me. I definitely have a full plate, I am once again taking 6 classes, 2 of which are Spanish, and 4 classes on writing lesson plans. But I am also on the E-board for 2 clubs which I have been active in for 2 previous years. I am excited about the opportunities that I will receive and I know, as with everything, there will be obstacles, but I also know that I have wonderful people in my life that will help me through those.

I have also officially been accepted into my Teacher Education Program here due to completing the before mentioned speech class. This is exciting and means that I am one step closer to my future. It's so weird to think of all of the things that have brought me to this point in my life, but also of the path that is front of me. In a year I will be Studying Abroad in Spain. ECK! A semester (possibly a year) in a different country! So much is ahead of me!

For now I'm going to tackle the tasks that are in front of me and take things one at a time. Below are some pictures! See you all soon!

(Above)

Beach on my Vacation to Florida

(Below)

Pictures of my side of the room this year

Home Sweet Home

I am home, well have been for a couple days now, everything is unpacked and as organized as it will get and work has already begun. I have actually began a new adventure in my life, yesterday I went job hunting for a day care position. I have applied at 4 places and hoping to get a call back soon. As much as I love my job at Steak 'n Shake I need to continue on with my life and prepare myself for my career, I am planning on staying at Steak 'n Shake on weekends for that extra mula for the time being though. I am crossing my fingers for this day care job and anxiously awaiting a call from!

Wish me luck!

Summer is Here!

The smell of flowers, the shinning sun, the swim suits on the racks, all these things can mean only one thing.. Summer is here! This means the end to my fourth semester at Western Illinois University, four semesters, where did the time go?! It seems like yesterday I was starting classes, growing accustomed to my new found freedom, and meeting tons of new people. Now, I have created bonds with not only my fellow peers, but with professors as well, I have served on executive boards for two groups, and traveled out of the country without my parents. I have learned many lessons throughout these two years here and I know there are many more. I have learned about time management, perfected procrastination, and found what study habits work. I still have three years ahead of me but I know that with the support of my amazing family and friends I will excel and succeed.

Now we all get excited about this wonderful season, the season of bathing suits, BBQ’s, vacations, and pools. This summer has much in store for me; I will be taking Speech this summer at RVC two nights a week, working at the good ol’ Steak ‘n Shake, and trying to work someplace with children. I also have quite a few concerts I am planing on attending, Tim McGraw at Summerfest, Fantabulouso (Ke$hs, Orianthi, Jay Sean, Trey Songz, Ludacris, B.o.B), Old Settlers Days (Gavin Rossdale, Danny Gokey, Uncle Kracker, and Justin Moore), and Rodney Atkins (Boone County Fair). Along with the array of Summer festivities that will naturally occur.

I am excited about starting my Junior year of college in August as well. I have recently been names President of my organization A.B.B.E.S (Association of Bilingual/Bicultural Education Students) and Secretary of S.H.H (Students Helping Honduras). I will also be taking classes aimed more towards preparing me for teaching (such as methods which is writing lesson plans for separate subjects).

Hope you are all well as well! Looking forward to seeing you all this summer!!

Love you,

Paige Whalen