gaga oh la la....

Anyone that knows me, knows that i LOVE to dance. and what better music to dance to then Lady Gaga. A few months back Taylor texted me and asked me if I wanted to go to the Lady Gaga concert in San Diego in December, I immediately said yes. There was no way I was going to miss out on seeing Gaga in all of her craziness. My roommates especially know that i like the song "Bad Romance" OK. Lets be real. IM OBSESSED!! Jessica made fun of me because I pretty much played it every single day. No joke. Well this past Saturday I was able to finally see Taylor and go to the concert! Taylor and I were able to meet up in Anaheim. Our day started with a much needed catch up conversation and then made our way on a mini road trip to SD.

We made a stop at the San Diego Temple.

Since we got to San Diego pretty quickly we also toured around downtown for a bit. Taylor and I loved it! It was super fun to drive around downtown with no real destination (besides Petco Park of course!) and just explore.

Then it was back up to the arena to get in line for the concert. Now Taylor and I knew that the concert was going to be crazy cause Gaga is crazy. But i didn't really think about the fans--wow. Now they were CRAZY! The most interesting group I literally have ever seen. At one point I walked towards the front of the line--to see how long it was--and i was literally scared. ha.

After the long wait outside, sitting on the floor, getting pushed by crazy girls, GAGA finally came out. Accidentally called San Diego, San Jose but she was crazy and beautiful. Sang all of her big hits, including the new ones and danced like crazy. It was so much fun!! And for the encore she came out and sang Bad Romance. Needless to say, I went crazy. I was so excited!! It was a great show, I have a girl crush on lady gaga and continue to love her.

"Monster"

"Speechless"

"Paparazzi"

Thanks Taylor for a great trip--filled with great driving skills by you, good jams in the car, a great sleep over in Murrieta, and of course going deaf after the show and continuing to the next day. for a great review of the concert, check out Taylor's blog, in which shows that he really needs to be in the music industry!

here are some videos from the concert! not too shabby if i do say so myself.

imma let you finish but uhhh...

This weekend has been so bittersweet. Although I have been so sad to leave, its hard to be too sad because I have had the BEST weekend ever. So great to leave DC with a bang. All weekend long I have been so happy, all I could say to my roommates as we were going around town was how incredibly happy I have been. As I expressed in my last post, Friday was my last day at Wilson High. And although I was incredibly sad to leave my amazing students, it was hard to be too sad because Friday was just so great!!! I wasnt too sad to leave 1st Period, that class is full of a bunch of punk kids. But there were a few girls in there that I love and will miss. Now 2nd Period. This class I love them. I have been teaching them from pretty much the beginning. They are all such great kids and i cant even begin to express how much fun we have together. So I stayed up till about 1 the night before and made a ton of cookies for their class (none for 1st period suckers!). I did the usual in the class--reading "Today in History" which included "Dec 11, 2009- Ms. Robins' last day" Ha. they thought that was funny. Then i went on to read all of the horoscopes for that day. I usually only read one a day but since it was my last day, I read them all. And it was SO fun. Some of them applied so well to the kids that we were laughing so hard. Then we ate cookies and had a legit dance party in class. That was the only thing on the agenda for the day. I took photos with so many of my students. They are so great and so many of them all wanted their own picture with me, which made me so happy. We just laughed and danced and had a great time. My favorite moment of the day was towards the end. I called every ones attention to the front and just started to tell them how much I loved them and how I was going to miss them. I told them that they are all so great, to keep working hard and to go to college. At which point someone yelled out "group hug" and before I knew it my whole class mobbed me into a group hug. Its like we are a family in that class and I loved that there was no hesitation from any one of them to come and all of us be huddled together. As the bell was about to ring each one of them gave me a hug and told me they would miss me as they walked out the front door. One student, Dwight, even came back in after he left class cause he didn't get a chance to give me a hug. I also told them to add me on Facebook. Ive had about 10 friend requests. ha. So i was so sad, and i will miss them, but moments when we are all taking photos together and having fun, it was hard to be too sad.

First Period: U.S History

Second Period: World History. i love them!

Kamal. Seriously, my favorite student.

Friday night we went and saw the Christmas tree at the White House. WOW. I WAS SO HAPPY. Jessica was getting so mad at me cause I was literally running around on the streets of DC. It was just incredible to be right outside the White House looking at beautiful Christmas lights with the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial in sight. I dont want to leave this! Im pretty sure my roommates and I couldnt stop laugh the entire night either, which helped fuel my happiness. Good thing we were able to capture my death stare on camera. Which immediately put us in a complete uproar of laughter and a demand to make it my profile picture. Which it is.

Saturday was filled with other great moments that continued to make me so happy. We finally got breakfast at Eastern Market! Blueberry pancakes! Yum! And I was finally able to buy some good photos/ paintings of DC. I cant wait to hang them up in my apartment right next to my London photos. Next stop Ford's Theater and the Holiday Market. The best part of the day was singing and dancing alongside my favorite metro singers. These guys are always outside the Crystal City Metro stop singing A Capella and i LOVE them. Another thing that makes me so happy everyday as I come home from school. On Saturday we saw them at Metro Center and I couldnt pass up on the photo opp. And dont worry, we caught it on film too. Then the Air and Space Museum (or is it the Aaron Space Museum? Jessica's not sure.) This museum was great! Im glad we went. Chanel was so thrilled to explore the Wright Brothers exhibit. Next was a little photo opp by the Christmas tree at the Capitol. Seriously, how can you not be extremely happy looking at Christmas things right by the amazing sites of DC?? Then off to Georgetown one last time with Allie, Amber and Kim. We got Georgetown Cupcakes. So good!

The only way to sum up my weekend was that I was just so happy. Which is weird since I'm leaving, but Ive just loved every moment that I have been here.

I just need to give a little shout out to how great my roommates are and how much fun we have had together. I remind Jessica often of how much she is going to miss me, but in reality Im going to miss these girls a lot too. We laugh so hard together, are constantly mocking each other and love it when each other run into walls and doors. Chanel pointed out to me yesterday how they helped me discovery how quirky I am. Finding out the following about me:

1. Ive got a speech impediment. I end all my words with an A sound. Im sorryaaaa alright!?

2. I give "laser eyes" or the "death stare" which i do A LOT. but never been called out on before. my roommates love it.

3. i make so many weird noises!! whenever something crazy happens you can depend on me to give some EEKK noise or something. ive always done this, never been called out on it before! so freaking funny. and my roommates are gonna miss this.

alright, so here is a little insight into the dance party we had in class on friday. footage of me doing the jerk in class. "go ms robins"

this post could have gone on and on. but its been a great weekend. i have SO many more photos that i cant wait to share.

imma let you finish but uhhh....im a college grad.

this is it.

As i embarked on this journey to DC, my last day of school seemed like an eternity away. I thought of all the days of school that i had left, the countless amounts of lessons that i had to plan, papers to grade and hours to spend with rowdy high school kids with way too much attitude. and it seemed like i would never make it. December 11 seemed so far away. And now, before i knew it, my last day is tomorrow. Ive tried to soak it all in. The ride on the metro, the walk into the school, down the hall ways and time with my kids. as i looked into the eyes of my students it broke my heart that after tomorrow i will never see them again. it was hard. really hard. there were many nights that i cried because i didnt think that I could do this or keep going. For awhile I doubted if this is what I really wanted, if I really wanted to be a teacher or not. During the hard days I had to keep telling myself to take one day at a time. I even made a list of things I loved about teaching to keep me going. And then I would get to school and have a BLAST. i would have so much fun. I love being called "Ms. Robins," I loved dancing in class, teaching my students and realizing they are learning about history and its because of me. That I was teaching them. Through this I realized that I loved being a teacher, that this feels so right and that I could not imagine doing anything else. As I sit in my classroom for pretty much the last time, all by my self, I feel so sad. I do not want to leave Wilson High. How did this happen? How is already time to leave? Days that Chanel and I moon walk or do the Jerk in class just makes it too much fun. Moments where my students say there are going to throw a revolution against the school so that I can stay on as their teacher. Or walking down to the metro, hearing my students scream "Ms Robins!! This isnt California! We were coats in DC!" As they mock my frequent lack of, despite the chilly weather. And then the next day having Kamal tell me "Ms. Robins, just dont go back to Utah." Leaving tomorrow is so surreal, I just seriously cant believe it that its over. Ive loved being in DC. And Ive loved teaching and I love each one of my students. Greatest three and a half months of my life.

thanksgiving

I dont think I had ever been so excited for thanksgiving break then I was this year. Ok, maybe if i went home I would have been even more excited, but nevertheless, I could not wait. Mostly because it meant two days of sleeping in, not having to plan lessons and just hanging out in DC. Jessica and I had a great time hanging out together all weekend and just chilling. Thursday started off with a little pre thanksgiving work out--so i would not feel guilty about eating so much! Jessica and I spent thanksgiving with the Barker family! I have been friends with Allie and James for a few years now since we all lived the lanai and then Allie and I were roommates over the summer and it was seriously the BEST ever. I seriously have been SO glad that Allie has been living out here while I have been here. Although I definitely wish we could hang out more! It was great to be with a family on thanksgiving and especially to see James! Thanksgiving was SO great. Great food and great company. Although I was sad I didnt get to help bake or get any leftovers.

The rest of the weekend was super chill--Jessica and I roamed around the streets of DC, randomly walked to the White House and was able to see the Christmas tree delivered by a horse and buggy. We had a great time just walking with no real destination. We came across a "free stress test" and I immediately took advantage of this as Jessica claims I am way too stressed out all the time. However, the stress test was super bogus and just a way for us to buy their book. But it was part of our adventure. nothing else too exciting to report. oh except that Jessica and I definitely didnt wake up before 10:00 all weekend. absolute bliss. this photo is to prove that my brother in law matt, is indeed not special although my past post's picture may have led you to believe.