Winterim Fair!

Tonight is winterim fair and I'm so excited. Putting together my presentation makes me really miss New York and the amazing friends I made there. My first host sister Allie really brought me into the group and my second host sister Sarah made me feel really at home. Without all of the people I met I wouldn't have felt comfortable away from home so long and I couldn't have done this without them. In every class I was surrounded by friends. Going to classes really made me feel grateful to go to Maumee valley, not that their schools were anything less than great but I feel very privileged to be in a community where everyone knows everyone and we can have they personalized experience that larger public schools lack. I'm also very grateful to have winterim and have the opportunity I visit other schools and countries and broaden my horizons. I know I will get to see everyone again and I won't lose contact with any of the friends I made in New York. I really have a greater understanding of what I need to do to get the best out of my education and I can't wait to share my experiences with everyone at Winterim Fair tonight. Everyone should come to the library and to the theater to 8:00 to see me perform the songs from my debut album The Trouble Is... :) see everyone there!

Studio Work

For the past week (and the last week of my winterim) I've been back at MV recording so that by the end of the week I'd have an album of my own. I had been writing songs while I was in New York and preparing in my voice classes at school so that when I got back I would have songs to record. The first day I had to make a layout for how sound signals pass through all of the system in our recording studio and how that changed the outcome of the sound. It took a majority of the day but it was really cool to finally have a clear idea of how our recording studio worked. I could probably record any instrument in our studio because of what I learned. After that I started recording my songs. It took the rest of the week to record everything and edited it. Every song goes through a process. First I recorded the guitar, next the vocals, and then I edit each clip using gain to make it as loud as possible and compression so that each clip doesn't peak and sound weird in the the final recording. Each song took about a day to edit entirely, although the editing process took a lot faster as I became more experienced. By the end of the week I had 3 completed songs burned into a disc that I like to call my debut album. It was the most amazing feeling having an album of my own that I can show to people. I'm so excited to show it to everyone although I have a really hard time listening to myself sing... But that's okay, it's all about having something to show to someone when thy ask, "What are you interested in?"

LAST DAY! :(

Today was my last day in we York and its devastating. Sarah and I woke up this morning to eggs and coffee cake, courtesy of Mrs. Flynn. We bought tickets to go see a semi- professional performance of The Sound Of Music for today so we saw that. It was really good. Watching all of the actors up there on stage really made me miss being a part of theater souvenir decided to try out for roles at other schools. Try out sound like they ate going to be soon (possibly the week after I get back) so as soon as I get home I must start practicing. These theater kids at PMHS really inspire me to reach out and try for different theaters when my own drama department isn't what I want. Needless to say I cannot wait to bring thief ideas to MV's drama clubs and see what kinds of improvements we can make to our own shows. ANYWAY! After the show we went back to Sarah's and got ready for the party. Everyone showed up at 6 and we ate fondue (THANKS MICHAEL!). We hung out all night, laughing, telling jokes, and singing of course, until 45 minutes before I had to leave. That's when things got serious and everyone started to get sad. They asked me to play... So I did. And Rey cried. It was heartbreaking. They kept asking me not to leave, like so had. A choice. Thankfully, everyone promised to visit and we exchanged address so I can write everyone letters, and the Flynn's drove me to the train station. When we got there we found out my train, which was supposed to leave at 11, wasn't leaving until 1 am, so I plan on sleeping all the way home. Wish me safe travels and goodbye New York. You've truly been amazing. I am going to miss all of my new friends tremendously. The experiences I've had here cannot be duplicated and I am so grateful to have done it all.

WENK WENK!

The last day of school was so bitter sweet. In every class I had I had to say goodbye to everyone. Every teacher said it was a pleasure and I told them I had a lot of fun (even if I didn't) and I was sad to go. At lunch, I sat down, finally satisfied with the food that the cafeteria had made. It was chili and baked potato day and I was pumped. I sat down and put my tray on the table... And then the fire alarm went off. I was PISSED! I got up and started toward the exit when Michael and Kevin stopped me. They handed me my tray and told me to take it outside, so I did. I waited for the fire alarm to stop with my tray in hand and Michael and Kevin laughing at me and taking pictures. Needless to say, I had a good lunch and I did get to get my chili and baked potato. After lunch I went to ceramics and got my pieces out if the kiln. It all looked perfect. After ceramics I want to my voice lesson instead of drawing and painting II, It was my last lesson and it was frustrating. My teacher decided that I needed to start singing with feeling and I know I can do that, but only when I'm confident with what I'm singing, and I was not confident at all. She was getting frustrate because I wasn't singing with feeling and I was getting frustrated because I couldn't sing. By the ended it was good and I was sad to not have lessons anymore, but those lessons were so frustrating. Maybe I'll take voice lessons when I get back. I feel like I should. After my lesson I walked around Eastman and got to see the theater and the music library. It is really beautiful downtown and around that area. That night we went out be saw a girl who goes to PMHS. She was singing at a enemy for breast cancer. She sang jazz music and she was amazing. Afterwards a couple of us went back to Sarah's house and hung out. It was an exhausting last day of school and tomorrow is my last day in New York al together. I can't wait for my party tomorrow!

Just another Thursday

It actually felt a little weird waking up on Thursday morning and not having Allie screaming "IT'S THURSDAY!" and throwing a party in her room. I got ready and the Flynn's drove me to school just on time (one thing I've failed to mention is the Flynn's uncanny ability to arrive at school between the first bell and the second bell. I'm used to being half an hour early to school at MV!) US history is the same as always. We read all of the amendments and the kids have a rest tomorrow... Which I will NOT be taking (no way). AP Lang was exciting because the kids have to read Hills Like White Elephants and Hemingway is one of my favorite writers of all time. We read this story last year in my sophomore class and so I already know what the meaning of it is. It will be interesting to see what the PMHS kids have to say about it. In choir, we sang the song about Jericho and made Spongebob references until Mrs. Rice threw a fit. Michael, Kevin, and Justin were screaming, "Chocolate! He's selling CHOCOLATES!" For a good 15 minutes. In voice class, I practiced my piece for tomorrow's performance. I'm really nervous but at the same time I can't WAIT to finally get my chance to sing for the class in a way that I am comfortable. At my Eastman lessons I have to sing higher than I'm used to with songs I'm not very familiar with so being able to sing in my style (for the most part) in a song that I feel comfortable with is a blessing. At lunch, we talked to the theater director for a really long time about Fiddler while Michael and I made a beautiful piece of abstract art out of ranch dressing, squash mush, and a poor art. I wish I had taken a picture to share with all of you. You would have been disgusted. After lunch I went to ceramics but I couldn't really do anything because all of my pieces were in the kiln so I sat around and helped Todja with her coil pot. In drawing and painting II, I finished my Chuck Close interpretation of the picture of Dylan and Natasha. I would take a picture if it but its a surprise so you ALL have to wait. After school I had a voice lesson at Eastman so I went home and practiced my song. The lesson went pretty well. I sang through Someone Else's Story, a song from the musical Chess, a few times with my teacher and she told me I should buy a book like the one she was letting me borrow. I don't know a lot of musicals but I did recognize a song from the musical Nine (thanks Joné!) and I tried to sing it for my teacher. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be for a sight singing so maybe I'll try it tomorrow too. The song is called My Husband Makes Movies and its a really good song. After voice lessons I went home and took a nap on the couch while Sarah and Sean had their voice lessons in the basement. After that we skyped Kevin and watched YouTube clause is until I just couldn't stay awake anymore. Tomorrow is my last night in Pittsford and I'm so sad. It really hasn't hit me all the way yet that I'm leaving. Everyone is coming over Saturday to throw me a party before I leave and I'm almost dreading it because I know it will get really sad. I just have to remember that everyone is planning on visiting so this won't be the last time I see them. Thank goodness for that. I've made some true friends here in New York.

TIRED!

I'M SO TIRED! WHY?!

4 more days

It's already Wednesday and it feels like a Monday. Same old same old with classes except today in US history we talked about the election. In English we talked more about Orwell and stared up a discussion about a short story by Malcolm X. In chorus we sight sang and I learned the tenor part of a song about Jericho. In voice class I practiced the piece that I will be performing for the class on Friday and got some good tips from Ms. Rice. After my free period I went to honors physics and that's when I blogged about my opinions on teaching methods. (Still I apologize for the frankness if my teaching methods blog.) Lunch was great but I do miss Organic Ann, Allie's mom, packing my lunch every day. Sarah and I were standing in line for lunch (it was chicken parm day) but by the time we got to the front of the line there wasn't any chicken parm left :( it was very disappointing. In ceramics I glazed my bird. I tried to pick colors that were both realistic and beautiful (which isn't that hard because nature is often beautiful). When I get it back I will post a picture so everyone can see my ceramic skillz (that's right skills with a z!). In drawing and painting II, instead of working on my nearly finished drawing of Dylan and Natasha, we had a critique day. Everyone in my class went upstairs to the library and we talked about each others pieces and gave compliments and ideas for the future. It was fun but I would really like to finish my art project before I leave. I learned early today that I will not be at school for my last drawing and painting II class and so I have to finish my drawing piece tomorrow. I hope I'll be able to finish it in time. After school everyone came back to Sarah's house and we watched the first half of Fiddler On The Roof because the theater club is putting it on in a few months. Apparently Fiddler is 3 hours long and none of us knew that so we didn't get to watch all of it but, enough to get an idea. After everyone left, Sarah and I layed around all night playing guitar and singing as well as watching Adventure Time. Her father requested that we learn a song and perform it for him before I leave on Sunday. I think we are going to do it. Tomorrow I have a voice lesson at Eastman and I'm so nervous. I guess I'll just have to wait and see how it goes. Only four more days in Pittsford, New York and I know now that I'm really going to miss it.

In class blogging: Respect in the classroom

In conceptual physics all eyes are on the teacher. There is no talking and the teacher demands the respect of the students and their constant attention. In honors physics the kids talk, they text, they pay very little attention to the teacher and he doesn't ask for it. I've noticed a serious lack of respect in this school between students and teachers. Students maybe talk about their teachers positively; they do like a majority of their teachers but they don't treat their teachers appropriately. I believe that, partially, it is the fault of the student because it is their job to learn, but also the majority of the fault falls in the hands of the teachers. They teach to a noise class, they don't necessarily engage their students in the material, and they let the students walk all over them. Perhaps the students don't respect the teachers because they feel they don't always deserve respect. I've witnessed an unprofessional teacher first hand today.
Today a teacher, who shall remain nameless, was talking about similar triangles and his students started to refer it to CPCTC (corresponding parts of congruent angles are congruent). This is a geometry term that you use when solving proofs about congruent triangles. The kids were explaining to the teacher what CPCTC meant and his immediate reaction was to call it useless. He told his students that CPCTC sounded like a waste of time and that you should stop memorizing it now. He basically called it a waste of memorization and brain space. Immediately after he said it I was VERY offended. I found it so unprofessional to denounce another subject and say that another teachers curriculum was useless. I'm sure I overreacted a little (not that I said anything anyway) but I was very angry when he said this. I felt that I needed to share it because I would hope that no teacher in any school, needless to say PMHS or even MV would ever let a teacher denounce another teachers subject. It was very unprofessional.
Furthermore, as a student, I can say (off the top of my head) that their are three key things that teachers must have/do to be an effective teacher. Teachers must know their subject material, engage their students, and demand respect. If the teacher doesn't know their material, then they are not qualified to teach. If the teacher doesn't engage his or her students then there is no guarantee that the students are learning and that puts too much responsibility in the students to learn (though they do deserve some responsibility). If they do not demand respect then the students may not be able to find a logical reason to pay attention. As a teacher you are the head of the class. It is your job to educate your students in their subject and also teach them about how to function in the real world. If a student doesn't learn to respect their teachers then when will they learn to respect their bosses? Also, all of these key components lend themselves to each other. If your students respect you then they will want to engage. If you know your material your students may want to engage and they may respect you. I'm sure there are other key components to teaching (as I am not a teacher and I may not know all of the work that goes into teaching) but the three I listed seen to be three of the most important from a students perspective.
I apologize for the rant-like style of his blog. As part of my stay in New York, I've decided to note the different teaching styles of teachers and I felt it necessary to write down that I witnessed today before I forgot it. I hope this blog doesn't offend anyone and it can be viewed solely as the opinion of a traveling student.

ELECTION NIGHT

THE RESULTS CAME IN AT 11:20-something last night. Sarah and I were laying around my room, she was in her computer and I was in my iPad, and we were just watching the election results on the Huffington post website all night. By the time that Obama hit that 273(I think) in electoral votes, we had turned off all the lights and Sarah was in her bed and I in mine. The second the numbers hit over 273 we both screamed. Sarah opened my door and screamed a series of joyful profanities and then we went to sleep. Congratulations Barack Obama on four more years.

What day is it? (I keep forgetting)

I'm really starting to fall into a pattern. Everything in New York feel so normal. This is starting to feel like home. This morning Sarah woke me up and I went to school. I had history like always and Ap Lang after that. Today in Lang I even raised my hand to throw my opinion into a debate we were having about George Orwell. In chorus I sang along with the tenors as they learned a new song and in voice class I sang for the teacher and she helped my technique a little bit and we decided on a performance date for the class (Friday). During my free I starting reading my over winterim book for LK and my new friend Justin talked to me about life. It didn't occur to me until ceramics started and I had to stop working in my piece today so that it would be ready by Friday that Friday is my last day here at PMHS. I took my art piece home for drawing and painting II because it has to be finished by Friday and tomorrow we won't be working in class. It feels so weird knowing that my time here is almost up. My new friends are starting to realize it to because they keep making plans to come see me after I go home. Allie and Mary Pat are planning to come see me when they visit Oberlin and Sarah wants to go on a business trip with her mom to Ohio just so she could see me for a little while. Michael keeps telling me to live here forever and right now I kind of want to. The people I've met here and the experiences I've had are like no other and it feels amazing being in New York and knowing that there are still more days here to come. Unfortunately I also have to remember that those days to come are numbered and I will be back on the midnight train Saturday. It's sad to think that, even when I do come home, my friends will not be home to see me. They are all networking and out of town and will not be back for another week. I guess his gives me some time to pulling everything together and be alone after my two weeks of constant contact. After school Sarah, Allie, Mary Pat, Michael, and I went to a new restaurant called Hungry's where they put all of your meal in a styrofoam box and you shake it up and eat it. It's called a garbage plate and it might be the most disgusting thing I've ever seen, but it was also the best tasting thing ever. I took a picture (its below) with everyone sitting at the tiny little bar in this tiny little restaurant, leaning over their garbage plates and looking crazy (as usual). When we got back to Sarah's house, everybody took naps while I started writing music and lyrics for my week home (where I will be recording the songs that I have written over these past weeks). The election is tonight and the votes are coming in right now and I know I should be watching it but I'm exhausted. These kids are always on. They have all the energy in the world and sometimes it's really hard for me to keep up. I'm trying though. Sarah had someplace to be tonight so it was relaxing night. I ate a lot of candy and took a long shower and layer in my bed and watched Netflix, just like being at home :). I'm so torn about leaving. I'm going to miss this place so much and all of the people I've met, but at the same time, I really miss home. I miss my friends and my family and my new puppy, Cassuis, and my bed. I REALLY miss my room. I guess the good thing is no matter where I am I know I'll be happy. Having such a great time here in Pittsford, New York I almost don't want to go home.

In class blogging: GEOMETRY

Shadowing a geometry class is a blast from the past. Currently, the freshman honors geometry class is learning about how to prove parallel lines. While the kids are reviewing, I start to notice a bit of a lack of method while solving the proofs. Mainly, the kids don't know they can label their diagrams; if I had not known that during my geometry experience, proofs would have been MUCH more difficult. On the other hand, there are quite a few similarities in this class and my geometry class with Ms. Posta: this class is very organized. They have packets of problems just like Ms. Posta's binders and they have pre written notes like Ms. Posta's. (I only compare this class to Ms. Posta's because I found her teaching style very effective for my learning style.)

The kids are walking around, doing parallel line proofs to practice for an upcoming quiz and I've decided to do one if the problems myself. At first, my geometry skills are very rusty. I always had problems with geometry because I could see how the conclusion was true but I was always missing a step in my proofs. While I tried this first problem with supplementary lines I realized that that problem I had had not gone away. I had to look at the answer to find the correct way to phrase my statement (which was annoying AND cheating). I ended up being able to solve the problem (which I will show below) but I realized why it had been so difficult for me: there were congruent lines drawn on the diagram that were not in the givens. Ms. Posta had never done that before. I wasn't sure if that was something normal or not but it almost seemed like cheating because it showed you what you needed to prove to solve the proof. It also threw me off because its something that I wasn't used to. I wondered if this was something that the kids in geometry had been taught as normal or if this three some of them off too? I know that teaching styles change between teachers, and I'm not saying that one teaching style is more effective with the just by what I witnessed today, but in very curious as to which method of geometry is more effective in a new student. If some of these kids in class took Ms. Posta's geometry would they develop different weaknesses and strength than they have now under this teacher?

MONDAY MADNESS

But not really Monday madness because today was very relaxed. Same old morning schedule except in a new household. The Flynn's took me in yesterday and this morning neither Sarah nor I got ready on time. Although we were late to get ready we were not late to school ad I went to history and then AP lang just like normal. In chorus we listened to the concert and gave comments about the performance. In voice class I got to practice the song I just learned Friday and I will get to sing it for the teach, Mrs. Rice, or the first time to receive pointers. Lunch was awesome, as usually. In ceramics I continued to work on my beautiful coil pot, which I'm hoping will replace the pot I broke right before I left for New York. In drawing and painting II I got to work even more with detail as I started the value part of my drawing of Dylan and Natasha. After school Sarah, Todja, and I went back to Sarah's where we played and sang for almost 3 hours before dinner, shower, and bed. It was an exhausting day and I just want to sleep. GOOD NIGHT WORLD! (Below is a picture that Michael drew of me today. It is his version of me as my favorite character from a television show called Adventure Time. He girls name is Marceline and she is a vampire who plays this sick red bass. THANKS MICHAEL!)

One week

It's been a week since I left Toledo, Ohio and ventured into the strange (yet oddly familiar) streets if Pittsford, New York. Since I didn't do very much today I thought I would start my blog off with a little reflection. This week I've gone to a new school. Image tons of new friends and I learned that I will always be able to find friends no matter where I go. I've also learned that students can manage things on their own, like the drama department that Allie and her friends run, and that had inspired me to speak up and start taking advantage of my capability to run things on my own. Maybe I'll start a club when I get home. Maybe I'll revamp the drama department. I've even strongly considered getting a job because everyone here seems to have a job. Kids in New York are very independent. Maybe it's time that I start becoming a little more independent myself. I've also learned that not all schools are as personal and individual as MV and sometimes being individual like that is the best thing for my education (no matter how much I complain about that individuality). I feel very fortunate to go to a school where everyone knows my name and wants to be a part of my education and wants what's best for me. I'm very lucky to have people looking out for me no matter where I am. One week of New York has gone by and although I have made a lot of friends and had some great some great experience and I'm having a fantastic time, I still really do miss home. Maybe I don't necessarily miss Toledo, Ohio but I miss the people and the places in it. My friends and my family, teachers and other students, I miss being back in my own comfortable atmosphere. When I go off to college things are going to feel like going to New York. Hopefully I'll be able to create a safe place like Toledo wherever I end up going, if not I will know what I am missing.

Today, because it was Sunday, was a very relaxed day. Allie drove us around to the mall and to target so she could buy sweatpants for a trip she's going in soon. After we were all done, I was transferred over to Sarah's house. I ate dinner with the Flynn family, which was a blast, and Sarah and I covered some songs. The night ended with me laying on the most comfortable rug, wrapped up in a blanket, watching arrested development. I was very content. Another calm day in Pittsford.

Guy's Might

Saturday was our first full free day. No homework for anyone. Nowhere to be. Well Allie had work Saturday night... But besides that we were FREE! Saturday morning I woke up in a reclining chair in Sarah's theater. That night's sleep was probably one of the best sleeps I've ever had in a chair before. I woke up to a ton of whispering. "Should we wake her up?" "I'll throw something at her!" "NO DON'T DO THAT! That's the Worst way to wake up!" "Here I'll wake her up. Watch this." And then Allie jumped on too if me and started to hug me like a koala; both arms and legs were wrapped around me. "Good morning sweetie!" I woke up laughing. After that we cleaned up and Allie drove us back to her house. As soon as we got home Sarah and Allie stared planning my first trip to Wegman's, the biggest supermarket in Pittsford. While they were explaining it to me it occurred to me that it sounded a lot like The Anderson's. Wegman's was owned by a local and rich family. There were a few Wegman's in the area but they were slowly spreading out to other states. As we pulled up to Wegman's it had started to snow a little. Honestly it looked like Hogwarts. It was huge! The supermarket part of the store was about the size if Anderson's but also attached to the supermarket was a GIANT homemade food court and a cafe. We went there to eat lunch and when we reached the food part of the store I just stood there screaming WHAT DO I DO! It was so busy and Sarah, Allie, and I were all just running around and freaking out because it was my first time and I was in shock! I ended up eating from the home style section and the Asian wokery (which I'm still convinced is not a word). After our little freak out at Wegman's, Allie drove us all back to her place and Sarah and I took a 2 hour nap. It was very pleasant. When I woke up Allie was going to work and Sarah's dad was picking her up and taking her home. Then I got a text from Michael. He invited me to go see Little Women with himself, Sean, and Kevin. I had just gotten invited to Guy's Might. Guy's Might is what eVeryone calls guys night. The 'might' part came from a typo in a text that Allie won't let due and it stuck. Now whenever the guys plan a party (even if you're not a guy you're allowed to come) its called Guy's Might. So we went and saw Little Woman and it was probably the worst play I've ever seen in my life. Worse than any MV play. The mics kept going in and out. There was so much feedback. The set was not very nice. The acting was mostly mediocre except for the two girls that we had all gone to support. On the way home we were all harsh critics and I felt bad but apparently they never say bad things about shows so this was a first for them. When I got home I passed out on my bed. It was a great night. Every night is a great night here in New York.

IT'S FRIDAY PUMPKIN!!

(Yesterday I didn't get a chance to blog so this is Fridays blog a day late.)

"IT'S FRIDAY PUMPKIN!" Caroline says that in my favorite movie Nick and Norah's infinite playlist. Today I got to say it to everyone while we were on our way to school. Today I was going on a field trip and (after school) I would be hanging out with my new friends without Allie for the first time. Everything about today screamed new and exciting. When I got to school I went to my first two classes of the day. In US history we watched a video about the group of army men who shot Osama bin laden. Apparently the second man to shoot him wrote a book about the entire experience and all of the research that went into finding him. After history was AP Lang where Doc talked about all of the literary elements of The Scarlett Letter. He talked a lot about symbolism. As soon as Lang was over Allie and I went out to the buses and drove to Nazereth, a college in the area, to watch a play called Letters Home. It was a play full of monologues of real letters that soldiers sent home from the war in the Middle East. It was so awful to watch and everyone cried. Well everyone cried except Allie; Allie only cries when Angel dies in Rent. After the play and a short question and answer we went to back to school and ate lunch. After lunch were the arts classes; I worked more on my ceramic pot and finished the outline of Natasha and Dylan in drawing and painting II. After school I went to my voice lesson at Eastman. Again, it was an uncomfortable and heart breaking experience that ended in the shedding of tears when I got home. My voice teacher gave me a song to practice from a musical called Chess. I had to sight sing it in front of her and, even though I felt like I did a terrible job, she told me I can sight read pretty well (THANKS MR. BROWN!). after the traumatic voice lesson we went to Sarah's house for a little Friday party. Allie didn't show up until later that night so it was just me, Sarah, John, Erin, Michael, and Sean. It was a little scary at first being with all of these people because sometimes I still feel new and a bit unwelcome. It's probably all in my head but I'm trying really hard to be comfortable and fit in. We ate dinner and watched High School Musical. John, Sarah, and I sang every word of every song and we just made fun of the musical and the cast the entire time. Allie, Erin, and I ended up sleeping over at Sarah's house. We went to sleep in the reclining chairs of Sarah's HOME THEATER! It's so cool! Friday was a really good time and I can't believe my trip is almost half over already!

Portrait

ALSO, here is a picture that Michael drew if me today. It makes me look like a sly, sneaky, sleazy, sexy, salamander and I like it very much.

The first Thursday!

IT'S THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Thursday is Allie's favorite holiday. Every Thursday she comes to school happier than ever and carries actions this little stick with a hand on it and touches people. I'm going to take a picture with her at some point with baby hand (which is what she calls it) so that everyone can see just how creepy it is. Today was just like yesterday with a few exceptions. First, second, third and fourth periods were normal; history, Ap Lang, chorus, voice. Next was my free where I caught up on other people's blogs because Allie had gym ( which is something kids in New York have to take all four years). After free is my roaming period and today I went to a freshman honors geometry class and leaned the coolest thing. When I had geometry, Ms. Posta taught us how to do two column proofs. Two column proofs were the only proofs I'd ever seen and the only way I knew how to do geometry. Today in honors Geometry, Mrs. Gunther taught me about these new type of proofs that look like diagrams. Each proven side or angle has a section of blobs and lines (because my explanation is so vague and confusing I will provide a picture at the bottom) that show your method of proving. It was SO weird to see a different method of geometry because Ms. Posta was a strict teacher with only one method (not that this is a bad thing). The kids were also doing some basic algebra and it was fun to help them and see what I remembered about slopes from my freshman year. (I found out, unfortunately, that it was not as much as I should.) Monday instead geometry, I might go to an honors physics class and see how it differs from conceptual physics, which is what I take. I say Monday and not tomorrow because tomorrow in going on a field trip with Allie's US history class to go see a show about history. I'm not sure what its for yet but I'm excited to see what historical event we are going to see acted out ( and also I'm a little excited to skip some school). After roaming was lunch, and my two arts classes. I had to start out my cool pot today because it caved in on itself. It was incredibly disappointing. In drawing and painting II, I officially started to draw the picture of Natasha and Dylan in full costume from Chekov in Yalta. It's going to turn out great. After school I went to my first voice lesson at Eastman and, although it was incredibly informative, it was also a drag. I was late because I had NO idea where I was going and after she heard me sing she told me I was singing all wrong. She laughed when I told her I was a tenor. Apparently I'm supposed to sing in what I call my head voice and what she calls my normal voice... Which is quiet and lifeless compared to what I call my normal voice and what she calls my belt voice. Belt voices are reserved for 23 year olds and up and therefore I'm not supposed to sing like that yet. Of course upon hearing this, my world was crushed, my feelings were hurt, and I went home and cried (I'm a total overreacter). I never took criticism well and hearing that was heartbreaking since I just recently gave up all of my extracurriculars and all I have left is my guitar and my voice. I was so upset that after dinner Allie took me out for the best froyo I've ever had. I had Mocha Java with cookie dough and graham cracker crumbs . I was happy. After froyo was the much awaited chorus concert that I had been watching rehearsal for during school this week. Everyone was dressed up so dance (see pictures below) and they sang very well. Before the choir section there was a strong ensemble. Our strong ensemble at MV was better than then and it made me secretly happy because I have a lot of friends in strong ensemble at MV and I truly how talented they are now. After the choir section was the wind ensemble (which was basically a marching band). That section of the concert was longer than any concert Mrs. Seiberg has ever put on. Overall it was a great night and Sarah is sleeping over agains (YAY!) so pumped for tomorrow and the rest of my stay here in Pittsford. I love everyone. They have made this the best almost full week ever. HAPPY THURSDAY!

Here are pictures of Halloween

Halloween

(Disclaimer: I already write this post once and it got deleted so I apologize if this one is a little half-hearted. I promise tomorrow will be better.)

Today is Halloween and Allie will not let me forget. She is dressed as a hot dog on a picnic table and its probably the most creative costume I've ever seen. She keeps screaming "IM A HOTDOG ON A PICNIC TABLE!" In crazy accents, but that's just your typical Allie; she's crazy. Allie helped me pick out my halloween costume (as I have previously mentioned) and today I came to school totally decked out in brown wearing antlers. Yes, I was a deer. Everyone loved it. When we got to school the first bell rang telling us that school was starting in 4 minutes. I'm not used to bells in the slightest. I'm not sure you can call the bell at PMHS a bell because it's just three weird beeps over a loud speaker, but its so unusual to me still. No matter how much I make fun of them though, one thing is for sure, they are really useful. Because the bell tells you what time class is over every teacher lets their students out at the same time. That's never happened at MV and because of that people are late to class all the time. My first class today was US history with Sarah and I was so curious as to how the teacher, Mr Larson, was going to teach. Was he going to be just like an MV teacher? I was really hoping so. It turns out Mr. Larson was kind of like an MV teacher because he seemed passionate about his subject but he just wasn't very good at keeping the kids engaged and because of that no one was paying attention. I felt bad because he was trying really hard. I think none of the students were paying attention because of the lack of phone policy at PMHS. The kids text and take pictures all during class. After US history I had AP Lang with Allie. Lang was just like MV. The teacher, Doc, was a mix of LK and Dr. Carr. The kids talked a lot with each other about The Scarlett Letter and they seemed to be able to analyze things very well. Next was chorus which was hilarious because everyone was dressed in full Halloween costume. Alive stood in the top riser wearing her hot dog hat, Sarah was on the bottom in a white flower dress because she was a flower child, and Michael (who's costume was my favorite) was standing on the left flailing around his hook hand because he was dressed as Buster Bluth from Arrested Development, one if my favorite t.v shows of all time. After chorus I went to voice class and started the process for picking out a song to perform in front of the class next week. This is my first time taking a class like this so I'm nervous to perform in front of these serious musicians. It's going to be so much fun though. Lunch was, as usual, the best part of my day. We took pictures with each other and made as much noise as possible singing and laughing. Occasionally Allie would remind all of us that she was ' A HOTDOG ON A PICNIC TABLE!' And everyone in the lunch room stared at us but we didn't care. I took a picture with a kid dressed as black mail. He made me laugh so hard. It's nice to have to ability to be myself at a new school even though being myself means being totally crazy and out of the ordinary. Post-lunch classes were the art classes where I made ceramic birds and pots as well as drawing pictures of Dylan and Natasha in full costume from the play we did last weekend. I'm really getting the hang of this school and I haven't gotten REALLY lost yet so that's good. After school Allie took me downtown to a coffee shop that was like bigbys but bigger and more artsy (if that were even possible). After we went to the coffee shop we all went over to Sarah's for a Halloween party. I had my first piece of buffalo chicken pizza (or buff chick as everyone here calls it). It was so good, especially covered in blue cheese (thanks Sarah!). Tomorrow I have school again and I just can't wait to go to Voice class and see all of my new friends again. I also start voice lessons at Eastman tomorrow so I'm excited for that as well. This place is truly amazing. Michael keeps telling me I just need to stay forever and everyone agrees. I love my new friends.

NO SCHOOL!

Today, because of Hurricane Sandy, I didn't have school. Instead of learning, Allie, Sarah and I drove around town and shopped and they told me what it was like to be a typical New York teenager. We also took Allie and Sarah's friend, Erin, who goes to the other high school on Pittsford. We had so much fun walking around the GIANT Marshall's and T J Maxx as well as Barnes and Noble and the other mall right outside of Pittsford. If I keep shopping the way that I have been there is NO way I will be able to take everything back to Toledo with me. While we were driving around the town I started noticing weird things about their stores. Everything looks like a house but its actually a chain restaurant. Their Tim Horton's was in an old, beach-esque house. honestly, it just kind if looked like Perrysburg. After Allie and I hung out with Sarah and Erin we went out to dinner with Allie's mom that everyone calls Organic Ann because she's studying nutrition and buys organic food for the family all the time. We went to a really nice restaurant that makes dinner and dessert crepes and wow was it amazing. So now I'm blogging and talking to all of my friends over Facebook and text message to see how their days were. Tomorrow will be my first REAL day if school with all of my classes and I'm so curious to see what they are learning about in US history and AP Lang. I also wonder how their teachers are too. I'm incredibly used to wild teachers who are really invested in the education of their children and I just don't know if that's a Maumee Valley thing or not. I say this, of course, without trying to sound stuck up or privileged but I guess I really am privileged to have such amazing teachers who really care about my education. Let's see if PMHS has the same kind of student-tracher structure. I figured I would leave this blog with a great picture I took of Sarah in JoAnn fabrics today. She's quite hilarious. I'm staying wig Sarah next week and I know it will be just as fun as staying with Allie. The fun times just never end.

I JUST WANNA BE A HOT DOG!

This is Allie in her Halloween costume... Even though it's not Halloween yet...