Trip to Indiana

One of my bff's Kelly picked me up from the O'Hare airport on Sunday afternoon.  She came with another good friend of mine named Christy.  Christy is my former workout buddy, and a fellow math teacher.  She's also someone who I can talk to about hard issues, and we've been sounding boards and support systems for one another throughout various times in the last couple years.  It was so good to see Kelly and Christy.  Kelly has the scoop on all the office drama at my former school since she is the secretary, and Christy has access to more detailed drama being a front line classroom teacher.  They filled me in on how things have been going at JYMS this year.  I learned:

1. As a teacher we can no longer write students up for gum, being tardy, not having supplies, or cheating.
2. Students are now allowed to bring bags into the classroom, and coincidentally there have already been 2 knives brought to school this year.  Each kid only got suspended for 5 days.
3. One kid said to a teacher "I'm a hit you in your fucking face if you don't back up" and only got suspended for 3 days.  This same teacher filed a police report on the incident, which is supported by the union, however was discouraged by the wonderful administration.
4. Since we went from 6 academic teams down to 5, class sizes are maxed out and one specific teacher has one class with more students than desks, so one child has to sit on the floor for class.
5. We went from 3 secretaries down to 2, so now whenever a teacher needs to call down to the office, it is nearly impossible to get a hold of anyone.
6. On a positive note, I learned the 8th grade math scores went up 14 points from last year, vs the 7th grade scores which only went up 1. 
7. Certain teachers are still getting away with dressing ghetto fab, coming in late daily, double dipping on getting paid, and getting paid to hardly work instead of working hard.
8. Lunches got shortened from 39 minutes down to 30 minutes.

The list could go on and on but I will stop it there.  OH and while I was in town a Mishawaka teacher made the news for duct taping a special needs student's mouth shut.  But hey, Mishawaka has a winning football team so everything else can slide....

Monday I actually went to the school to visit my former co-workers.  It was REALLY good to see everyone.  I'm kind of a celebrity there... so everyone was really happy to see me too.  Everyone kept commenting on how happy I seem now!  Some fools asked if I miss it (teaching), and my response was an adamant ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!  One of the best parts about being back at JYMS was getting to eat a cafeteria lunch.  It was pasta bar day so I was stoked =)

I went to visit my old classroom.  Room 603 - it still says Miss Bulger outside of it.  But my room has been turned into a computer lab, with laptops on each desk.  The door was locked but I took a picture through the window.

The very first friend I made at JYMS 7 years ago was Michelle McCoige.  We were both coaching volleyball at the time before the school year even started.  She had me over for dinner on Monday night with her family.  Back when I first met her she was a newly wed, and now she has 2 little girls.  I was grateful for the offer, and super grateful for the food and catching up.

I stayed at Kelly's house for a couple days in Mishawaka.  I love love love love her kids and they seem to love me too.

I met up with an old friend from Michigan City, who now lives in South Bend, for lunch on Tuesday.  Tuesday night Kelly, Haley, and I went out to eat at Bar Louie.  The three of us used to get together once a week to vent, share, laugh, problem solve, and cry.  It was good reminiscing... we were there for 5 hours!  I know one of the guys who rents my house out works at Bar Louie so I was going to introduce my self and feel him out for how serious he is about buying my residence, but he was not working that night.

Wednesday morning my mom came to get me from Mishawaka to take me to Michigan City.  I dropped her off at work and then went and visited an old friend from high school, who just had a baby about 5 months ago.  I probably haven't seen her in 3 years so it was good to catch up.

Later that night my mom and I went to Jazzercise.  When the class was over I told her I thought it was really hokey and a joke of a workout.  My inner thighs received the karma of that comment the next day - they were burning! 

Thursday my mom and I went to Jazzercise again, around noon, and again, I thought "what a joke".  My obliques hurt so bad still 2 days later that I have learned my lesson about complaining about Jazzercise!!!  That afternoon I FINALLY got to meet Miss Kennedy Elise Baker.  She is the newest addition to my family and the only girl!

That night I went out to eat with my bff cousin Hillary.  We got kicked out of the place we were there so long talking!  It's nice to be able to get one on one time with her since she has a husband and 2 kids of her own.  It is a rare opportunity, and one I gladly took advantage of!  Same thing with my other bff cousin Leslie.  She now has 3 kids and a husband but just the two of us got to go out for lunch on Friday.

I spent the rest of the day Friday night and Saturday over at Doug and Leslie's and Hillary and Troy's.  Overall I got to spend a ton of time with my family... my mom, cousins, aunt and uncle, cousins' kids, and CC.  Brian even made a brief appearance!  It's easy to take advantage of, or not appreciate, the relationships you have when they are so close by.  Being gone has made me value their importance in my life and how lucky I am to have such a great family.

In fact, there is nothing more heartwarming than my Godson Jack jumping up and down the first time he saw me, running up to me yelling, "Welcome home, Courtney!  Welcome home!"  And he ended my trip with "Bye Courtney.  See you at Christmas.  I love you!"  That greeting and farewell alone made my trip!!!