(no subject)
Well its been quite some time since I have made an entry...seems that I am just not on the computer quite as much as last year.
Yesterday I started practice teaching again. I am back at the same school as last year, which is nice in a way. I have a different teacher, who is amazing, I love her already. She seems so helpful!!! I am in a 2/3 split. They seem so much younger than the 4/5 class I had last year. Speaking of which, I saw some of my students from last year and they seemed happy to see me, as I was happy to see them. I am looking forward to teaching this year. I think it will be quite good.
People have been asking me about the plowing match so I figured the easiest way to answer questions was to just type my experiences here. Wow, I thought I had fun last year in Lanark, but I had an absolute blast in Meaford. My plowing was not as good as last year, or so I think, but the land I had was tougher to plow. It was very sandy and a lot of tree roots that would sometimes stop the tractor. My interview went so well this year, I was focused and knew what I wanted to tell them and I seemed very much at ease. The speech was on Saturday, and I relly liked my speech. The theme of the plowing match was "future of tradition" so I wrote a speech on the future of tradition. I talked about my grandfathers and great grandfathers plowing, plowing with horses and hosting the International Plowing Match. I also talked about dairy farming and traditions in that, harvesting crops and community organisations which all deal with traditions and that traditions live on in the future and then I ended with this awesome quote from Michael Novak "tradition lives because young people come along who catch its romance and add new glories to it". I knew my speech so well that I didnt look at my cue cards once. We also did many fun activities during our stay, like waterfall tours, free time at the match and my favorite was the harbour tour on a new one million dollar, 60 foot yacht. It was such a beautiful boat and setting, can't wait to see those pictures. Saturday night was the crowning banquet, it is so fun seeing everyone all dressed up and all the dresses. After supper the names were read for the five finalists. My name was the first to be read, which was shocking in a way, but I just seemed so calm. Once all 5 were announced and we were sitting on stage, the other 4 girls left the room so I could be the first to answer the impromtu question. This was nerve racking and I don't know where the answer came from, my mind was blank, but then I held the microphone and I just started to give an answer. The question was about how agriculture in Canada seems to be facing the worst crisis since the Great Depression. Offer solutions to this problem that can be implemented now, but also help in the future. I managed to ramble some stuff off and then watched the other 4 girls come in and answer the same question. The judges then left to pick a winner. I was able to go talk to other people...the shock was starting to wear off at that point, and I couldnt believe had been chosen. During the competition I was hoping I would be a finalist and thought I had a good shot at it, as I felt I was doing a good job. After like 30 min, the judges came back with their results. Heather was called as 2nd runner up and then I was first runner up, which was a little disapointing, but still quite impressive. Abby was named as new queen. I snagged a bunch of cool prizes for being first runner up, and if Abby is unable to do something, I will be called on. In talking to the judges after, they said it was very close, and I didn't win because she beat me in plowing, by a fair distance, not huge, but enough of a difference to earn her the crown. I am happy for Abby and think she will do a good job as Queen. I think that I may give Queen one more shot, I have one more chance left to go for Ontario..and in a couple years I think I will. It is something that I really want to do. If I try again and don't win, then I guess it wasn't meant to be, but for the moment I want to try again, but plans may change. I had so much fun, and will not regret anything about my years as queen. It was such an amazing experience.
Well, there is the plowing match story...I probably could go on, but really that is the basics. If there are any questions, feel free to ask.
School is keeping me busy. Since it is a long walk, I stay at school whenever I have breaks. Some days are really long and I am so tired when I get home, I keep putting work off, its not good...but I will get there.
Anyways...toodles....hope everything is good with everyone else!!
Yesterday I started practice teaching again. I am back at the same school as last year, which is nice in a way. I have a different teacher, who is amazing, I love her already. She seems so helpful!!! I am in a 2/3 split. They seem so much younger than the 4/5 class I had last year. Speaking of which, I saw some of my students from last year and they seemed happy to see me, as I was happy to see them. I am looking forward to teaching this year. I think it will be quite good.
People have been asking me about the plowing match so I figured the easiest way to answer questions was to just type my experiences here. Wow, I thought I had fun last year in Lanark, but I had an absolute blast in Meaford. My plowing was not as good as last year, or so I think, but the land I had was tougher to plow. It was very sandy and a lot of tree roots that would sometimes stop the tractor. My interview went so well this year, I was focused and knew what I wanted to tell them and I seemed very much at ease. The speech was on Saturday, and I relly liked my speech. The theme of the plowing match was "future of tradition" so I wrote a speech on the future of tradition. I talked about my grandfathers and great grandfathers plowing, plowing with horses and hosting the International Plowing Match. I also talked about dairy farming and traditions in that, harvesting crops and community organisations which all deal with traditions and that traditions live on in the future and then I ended with this awesome quote from Michael Novak "tradition lives because young people come along who catch its romance and add new glories to it". I knew my speech so well that I didnt look at my cue cards once. We also did many fun activities during our stay, like waterfall tours, free time at the match and my favorite was the harbour tour on a new one million dollar, 60 foot yacht. It was such a beautiful boat and setting, can't wait to see those pictures. Saturday night was the crowning banquet, it is so fun seeing everyone all dressed up and all the dresses. After supper the names were read for the five finalists. My name was the first to be read, which was shocking in a way, but I just seemed so calm. Once all 5 were announced and we were sitting on stage, the other 4 girls left the room so I could be the first to answer the impromtu question. This was nerve racking and I don't know where the answer came from, my mind was blank, but then I held the microphone and I just started to give an answer. The question was about how agriculture in Canada seems to be facing the worst crisis since the Great Depression. Offer solutions to this problem that can be implemented now, but also help in the future. I managed to ramble some stuff off and then watched the other 4 girls come in and answer the same question. The judges then left to pick a winner. I was able to go talk to other people...the shock was starting to wear off at that point, and I couldnt believe had been chosen. During the competition I was hoping I would be a finalist and thought I had a good shot at it, as I felt I was doing a good job. After like 30 min, the judges came back with their results. Heather was called as 2nd runner up and then I was first runner up, which was a little disapointing, but still quite impressive. Abby was named as new queen. I snagged a bunch of cool prizes for being first runner up, and if Abby is unable to do something, I will be called on. In talking to the judges after, they said it was very close, and I didn't win because she beat me in plowing, by a fair distance, not huge, but enough of a difference to earn her the crown. I am happy for Abby and think she will do a good job as Queen. I think that I may give Queen one more shot, I have one more chance left to go for Ontario..and in a couple years I think I will. It is something that I really want to do. If I try again and don't win, then I guess it wasn't meant to be, but for the moment I want to try again, but plans may change. I had so much fun, and will not regret anything about my years as queen. It was such an amazing experience.
Well, there is the plowing match story...I probably could go on, but really that is the basics. If there are any questions, feel free to ask.
School is keeping me busy. Since it is a long walk, I stay at school whenever I have breaks. Some days are really long and I am so tired when I get home, I keep putting work off, its not good...but I will get there.
Anyways...toodles....hope everything is good with everyone else!!