I am starting a new course on Distance Learning as part of my Instructional Technologies program. We have been asked to write random facts as a way of introduction to the professor and our classmates. Although I have been in classes with the same group for six months, I have already learned a lot of new things from reading their blog posts. Here are my random facts.
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My parents are Mary and Joseph.
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I once swam in alligator-infested waters while on a tour of the Pantanal region of Brazil. I was then interviewed on a Brazilian national news/entertainment program called Fantastico.
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I am the youngest of six siblings.
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I have two adopted sons, one “son” who is a former foster child and three grandchildren.
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When I accepted my first job overseas, in Bolivia, I wasn’t even sure where Bolivia was located.
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My father passed away in 2003 and my mother is living with Alzheimer’s.
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I am certified to teach ESL, but I have never officially taught it.
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I was once kidnapped for a short time in Bolivia.
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For most of my school career through college, I was too shy to ever speak up in class.
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I want to live in Africa someday.
For the second part of this assignment, here are some questions I will answer.
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Scariest thing I’ve ever done:
One of the scariest things happened last summer. I jumped off a four-story platform onto a giant airbag at a ski resort in New Hampshire. I was with three teen boys who did it without hesitation. From the ground, I thought it looked easy, but when I got to the top of the platform I was scared to death. I did it, and my legs felt like Jell-O for the rest of the day.
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How long does it take to get to work:
Eight minutes, even though I have to travel from Rhode Island to Connecticut. I love my commute.
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How I fell into teaching:
I was a psychology major with three semesters left and knew I wanted to try something different. After flipping through the college catalogue and stumbling on Education, I decided to talk to the department. I wasn’t sure if teaching was the right thing for me, but they convinced me to give it a try . . . by promising to have me graduate on time (with just three semesters left), and “bribing” me with the possibility of doing my student teaching in England (which I ended up doing). Twenty-seven years later I’m still teaching.
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Where am I right now?
Sitting close to my wood stove on this frigid day. Enjoying the view of the freshly fallen snow.
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Can I play a musical instrument?
No, but I have a secret dream of learning to play the violin.
cc image by: manwithashadow
January 4, 2014 @ 21:45
I would think that being kidnapped would be the scariest thing…. is that a story you are willing to share?
January 5, 2014 @ 15:01
OMG… Tim! You are quite an adventurer. Swimming with alligators, my husband would be jealous! He's always wanted to wrestle an alligator. You will have to fill me in on the kidnapping, details please!