Another Month, Another Session @ ACE

This week is the end of yet another session at the ACE Language Institute.  This will be the 5th session I have worked for ACE since quitting the merchandising position last fall.  It has gone by so fast.  It also means it is about half way through the spring quarter.  Classes are going well.  I meet with my History of the English Language professor this week to discuss a paper for his class that I want to do though it is extra credit so I may have to set it aside for other things.  The assignments I have done for my Teaching ESL Writing class have all recieved the highest mark, and I'm also a few days ahead on the readings.  All-in-all, things are going well.  When I finish this quarter I will have 1/5 of my MA program done, and be on my way to having 2/5 done when I finish out the summer quarter.

At The World Rhythm Festival

もう４月半ばなのに、シアトルでは今年に入って１３度を超えた日が２日しかないという、記録的な寒さです。でも今日は久々にお日様が見られて気持ちよかった！こんな日はずーっとガーデンで除草してても苦にならない。

ガーデンではマグノリアが青空を背景に綺麗に咲いてます。昨年の夏が異常に涼しくて雨も多かったせいで、シャクナゲの蕾が少ないのが残念。でも、今日ガーデンを歩いてたら、今年初のヒマラヤの青いケシの花が咲いてるのを見つけました！

このケシの花は、私がスコットランドにいたときに見て一目ぼれした花。透き通るような青い花は、信じられないくらい美しいです。
シアトルの気候は、アメリカ国内でこのケシを育てられる数少ない気候です。それでも育てるのが難しいといわれてて、植物園ではこのケシの花のために遠くから訪れる人もいます。私は去年仕事を始めたのは、この花が終わってから。今年見られるのが楽しみー！

ガーデンでは、インターンを２人新しく雇って、私は初めてボス、という立場で仕事をしてます。自分がインターンシップしていた３年前は、植物園で仕事してる人たちのことをかっこいいと思ってあこがれてたけど、今は自分がその立場にいると思うと嬉しい。確実にやりたいことをして、夢を叶えていけるのは素晴らしいこと！次の夢は、プラントハンティングの旅に行くこと。いつ行けるか分からないけど、夢は大きく持ちます！

It's Sunny, And Summer School

It is sunny today.  I can't believe it at all.  You can see blue sky and everything.

I signed up for summer classes yesterday.  I will be taking an intensive ESL grammar course for one week from 9am to 3pm each day.  I am told that while boring it is an easy 3 credit hours... hurray!?  I will also be taking Teaching ESL Grammar, and Teaching ESL Listening/Speaking.  One will be online, the other only two days a week from 4:30 to 7:30pm.  I don't think it will be too bad.  I was really afraid my summer classes were going to make it hard to find time to work and ACE but I think I will have no problem with making time to tutor 3 or 4 students.

Atsuko With Flowers From Pike Place

Two Weeks Into The Quarter

It's been two weeks since the spring quarter started.  I'm full swing into both classes and working out a schedule to get all my classwork done.  I don't have much in the way of tutoring so it makes it a little easier, even though I am not getting paid as much.  At least I am meeting people and making connections.  History of the English Language is an amazing course.  ESL Writing is a little nerve wracking due to being online, but the materials are easy to read.

I was able this week to also grab a board game to play here and there.  Atsuko and I played last night.  We had fun.  We had played the original version of this game on our XBox 360 constantly up until a few months ago.  I have been itching to play in on a table instead of a TV, and now I have my wish!

Darma, are you hungry?

Darma cocks her head when we ask her if she is hungry. It's too cute!
ダーマに、お腹すいてる？って聞くと首をかしげるの。かわいい！

Spring is here...?

Well, supposedly, spring is here. But the weather here has been so depressing. The news this morning said we haven't had a sunny day for 38 days straight. 38days!! Come on sunshine, come out already!

Working outside when weather is like this is not the joyful thing. I can't wait to work outside and not have to wear my rain coat! 

 春のはずだけど、天気はずっと悪いです。今朝のニュースでは、３８日連続で晴れの日がないと言ってた。３８日！お天道様、はやくでてこーい！！

こんな天気の中外で働くのは、決して楽しくない。雨具を着ずに外で仕事できる日が待ち遠しい。

Video Taken On The Beach @ Lincoln City, OR

 

Atusko walking along, and my uncle with the dog.

Bad Weather, Good Grades

The weather here has not been the greatest this week.  Last week was amazing.  Sun, nice temperatures, and everything.  This week has been cold and rainy.  I had to walk Darma in very cold rain this morning too.  It wasn't fun at all.  Even with all the bad weather, I was able to snap this photo yesterday though.  This is just down the hill from our building on the main road into the complex.  Darma doesn't seem to mind walking through all the petals, and even with the cars it is pretty looking.