The Jack & Les Blog Fest

Mamma always told me...

2012-02-16T14:55:00.000-08:00

If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say nothin' at all.

The Most Amazing Essay...EVER!!!

2012-01-15T08:29:00.001-08:00

I know I've said it before, but kids at Henderson Collegiate really are amazing. They work hard and they are starting to understand life lessons. It so neat to actually witness the evolution and development of their minds.

Recently in writing class the kids wrote essays on a time in their life when they were disappointed. As they were finishing up the final draft I happened to see an exemplar essay from one of our top students about how she failed a science test. I have included the essay below, if anything else, take a look at the cover page. Amazing.

Top 11 of 2011

2012-01-01T07:35:00.000-08:00

2011 was an interesting year. If I had to sum it up in one word, it'd be...UNEXPECTED(ING). For example, I didn't expect to abandon plans to attend law school again. Celeste didn't expect to teach a third year, and she didn't expect she'd leave her school and find a new one. I certainly didn't expect to stay in education - that surprised even me. I didn't expect (and I don't think anyone did) that the USU football team would have a winning season and go to a bowl game. I didn't expect Mission Impossible 4 would be so disappointing, or the Sherlock Holmes sequel to be so...uh...appointing. And while the world around us seems to be expecting (sisters Sarah, Bonnie, and Jen), we are....(drum roll, please)....UN-expecting. (And I'm not expecting a dog any time soon, either).

So with that as a tantalizing backdrop, I reveal to you the Top 11 of 2011, the 4th part in an ongoing series of blog entries highlighting the biggest and the best stories (in no particular order) from our lives over the past twelve months. Enjoy.

1. Mamma Britt Comes to North Carolina

When Cindy Britt turned 38 last year, her husband (who poses as a paleontologist but secretly works for Obama's re-election campaign) decided to get her the greatest birthday present of all time - a trip to visit her favorite daughter and son-in-law in North Carolina. The week was filled with magic and wonder. For starters, we ate at Cookout, a glorious experience on its own. Then we took Cindy on a tour of fancy Henderson and our luxurious schools. Then we spent the weekend at the Emerald Isle Coast lazying it up on the beach in the hot summer sun, and topped it all off with a Durham Bulls game. I can't wait till Obama is re-elected so Brooks will get that "victory bonus" and send Cindy out again.

2. Meeting a Hero

In February, I attended Teach For America's 20-year Anniversary Summit in Washington, D.C. It was a star-studded event. That is, if you consider political, educational, and social leaders "stars." During the 3-day summit, I met and heard from some very famous and influential people (TFA founder Wendy Kopp, Michelle Rhee from "Waiting for Superman," author Malcolm Gladwell, and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan). But the highlight of the summit came on day two when I had the opportunity to listen to, then MEET John Lewis.

That name may not ring a lot of bells - John Lewis is a current member of the U.S House of Representatives. But what makes him a hero of mine is not what he's done as a politician, but what he did as a young activist in the Civil Rights Movement. He participated in sit-ins and Freedom Rides, he spoke at the March on Washington and helped to start SNCC, the student arm of the movement. He was a close personal friend of Dr. King, and is probably the most underrated contributor to racial equality from those turbulent years in American history. On top of all that, he's the author of one of my all-time favorite books, Walking With the Wind.

3. No-go Lawyer, Yes-go Principal

In 2009, I turned down the opportunity to go to law school to pursue a wild experiment in public service with Teach for America. In 2011, that wild experiment was supposed to come to an end, and return me to my previously chosen path of becoming a lawyer/bigshot. But the fates wouldn't allow it, and in 2011, with the same law schools offering me admission (and a few new ones as well), I turned away from the path of law once again to pursue a master's degree in school administration. I am currently in my first year of something called the Northeast Leadership Academy, which is basically like a special fellowship program within N.C. State's College of Education that puts emerging education leaders on the fast-track to becoming principals.

So how's it going so far, one semester into this new wild experiment? When people ask me if I like the program, I tell them "No....I LOVE it." And I do.

4. The Strange New World of HENDERSON COLLEGIATE

After two years of teaching in Vance County, Celeste and I were well-accustomed to breaking up fights, dishing out failing grades, and recognizing the all-too-familiar aroma of reefer. And while I'm still in the midst of the aforementioned elements, Celeste has entered a strange new world of teaching where students greet you with a handshake, tell you what year they graduate from high school, and where they plan on attending college. Celeste took a new teaching position this year at Henderson Collegiate, a charter school in the same town we've been working in for two years.

Henderson Collegiate is amazing. It's just a great school. Celeste is also amazing. Therefore, the marriage between the two has been, well, amazing. Celeste's kids ADORE her. Seriously. They ache for her approval. They get giddy if they're assigned after-school tutoring. When she asks a question, virtually every student puts their hands in the air. You heard me. Hands. Two of them. It's like it's American Idol in there and Celeste is David Archuleta.

5. La Republica Dominicana - En Vivo!

This trip was amazing, both for the fact that the DR is an incredible place to visit, and because we had gone three months without a day off from school. It was as good as morphine to wash away the pains that come from life in the education trenches.

While staying at an all-inclusive resort is nice, our favorite moments from the trip came when we adventured away from the all you can eat bacon and virgin pina coladas. Whether it was taking a motorcycle taxi to downtown Puerto Penasco, riding ATVs through the jungle, or cliff jumping down the 27 Charcos de Damajagua, we always came away with a smile.

6. Welcome to Wake Forest

After two years of living in the quiet rural town of Oxford, NC, this summer we moved to Wake Forest to be closer to N.C. State for my graduate program. Wake Forest, a suburb of Raleigh, is a GREAT place to live. Just the other day I told Celeste while driving through the historic district, "I heart Wake Forest."

Wake Forest itself was a big improvement, but moving from a tiny apartment to a cute little house has probably been the single biggest factor in the improvement in our quality of life over the last twelve months. The house itself isn't much, but it's a beautiful thing to have neighbors, a lawn to tend, and to not have the smell of stale cigarettes seep through the drywall every time you use the dryer.

7. The Unlikely Success of Aggie Football

We watched or listened to every single Aggie football game this season. And while six of those games ended in classic Aggie heartbreak, seven of them went in our favor, and that is something for us USU fans to celebrate.

The Aggies first winning football season also allowed me to go to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. The game itself didn't end well, but it was worth it to see my family, including my new niece Sadie and my sister Josie, who had recently returned from her mission in Oakland, California. Sitting next to Josie at the bowl game was hilarious. About halfway through the game she confessed to me that she had absolutely no idea what was going on, and that she just cheered or booed when the rest of us did. It's funny how different we are in that way. By that point in the game I had already suffered three minor heart attacks, and had lost several clumps of hair.

8. Divorcing Dessert

Ten days into 2011, I came to a very simple conclusion: I consume too much sugar. Like, way too much. Like, unless someone is there to stop me, I will "accidentally" eat an entire plate of brownies by myself. It's ridiculous, but not surprising, as I was raised by two well-known sugar addicts.

So, in an effort to curb my dependence on the white gold, I issued myself a challenge: no candy or dessert for rest of the year (except for a single piece of birthday cake). As of today, I have yet to indulge on a single Skittle or slice of pie, but that will all change tonight when I break my confectionary fast. CAN'T WAIT!!!

9. Summer in the Wild West

We had a great trip out west over the summer. We spent time in Utah, Oregon, and Washington. It was filled with wakeboarding (my favorite), family reunions, rock climbing, and anxious hours of being a passenger in a car piloted by this man:

The best part of the trip was definitely the Oregon Coast. After a few hiccups with a mighty hailstorm and a few bouts of car-sickness, the Britt family descended upon the overcast beaches of the Pacific Northwest like ants on a discarded Twinkie. We tested our hand at cheerleading, played in the sand dunes, and even raced crabs in the low tide. But let's be honest, folks. 90% of the trip was dedicated to and focused upon Lynlee, our princess niece who exceeds the traditional definition of "cute" or "adorable". She is angelically precious, and precociously hilarious, and unquestionably in charge.

10. Autumn in Appalachia

"I want to see mountains again, mountains Gandalf!" Now there's something we and little Bilbo Baggins have in common (that and the feet). Mountains are one of the things we miss the most about Utah. But luckily, the Appalachians aren't far, and for Halloween this year, we took a trip with our good friends Pat and Sarah O'Shea to see them. And not only did we see them, but we saw them at the peak of the fall colors, and that was a truly picturesque experience. There was something magical about being there, like the mountains were speaking to our souls.

11. A New York Christmas

A tradition now two years running, we spent Christmas with our New York family this year instead of going to Utah (only because we're going out there in March for Josie's wedding. Huzzah!) Dan and Jeanne Cooper, Celeste's uncle and aunt, could easily win awards for hospitality. We ate like kings, slept like babies, and were spoiled like an only grandchild.

After a few days in upstate New York we headed south and endured two exhausting days in the city, spending time sightseeing and hanging out with my cousin Danny. It was a great time, but sometimes I wonder how I could have idolized the Big Apple like I did when I lived there as a brash and naive 18-year old. After the claustrophobia of Times Square and a subway car decorated with homeless people and scented with urine potpourri, we were both very happy to return to the Tar Heel State.

Henderson Collegiate prepares for the Holidays

2011-12-24T06:08:00.000-08:00

The weeks leading up to Christmas break Henderson Collegiate had one goal - blow the audience away at our annual Parent Pride Night. PPN is an evening of entertainment put on by the students at HC. The fourth graders performed academic chants - including chanting ALL the times tables in rhyme and telling the story of Frindle, one of their class novels. The fifth grade put on an original play - A Christmas Carol in a version written by my team leader about how Scrooge hates reading. We honestly practiced about 3 hours A DAY for three weeks. I was in charge of the props and the back drops. I designed 5 sets (they are SOO impressive) and the kids painted them. They play may not have been perfect, but it taught our students a valuable lesson. If you want something to be great you MAKE it great. These kids worked their hearts out and got to experience the feeling of satisfaction that comes from putting in the effort to make something amazing.

I have attached below a 10 min clip of the play, it was about 25 mins long. If any of you are DYING to see the rest, just let me know and I'll include more in a future blog.

And now, in their YouTube debut, here is Henderson Collegiate performing their version of A Christmas Carol.

Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time!!!

2011-12-04T17:26:00.000-08:00

Our Festive Fireplace!

The Saturday after Thanksgiving Jackson and I really got into the Holiday spirit. We spent the day prepping our house for Christmas. We have a beautiful fireplace that we strung with an evergreen garland, I picked up a fresh Christmas tree, and Jackson hung lights on our cute little house. It was an all day effort! After I finished stringing the lights on the tree and Jackson returned the latter to a neighbor we decided enough was enough. We thought it would be nice if we saved trimming the tree for family night or other evening together.

Our Holiday House after Saturday's efforts!

Monday came and went. No ornaments on the tree. Before we knew it, another weekend was upon us. Friday after school we were determined to have a festive evening - watch Elf and trim the tree. We grossly over-estimated our energy level after a long work week. We popped in Elf at around 7:00 and before we were ten minutes in, we were both sound asleep on our loveseat. Don't you hate it when you fall asleep on the couch??? Sometime in the midde of the night we drug ourselves to bed.

Last night there were no if's, and's or but's about it. That evergreen was transformed into a Chistmas tree. Below are some pictures of the results.

A creepy picture of me decking the halls... can you guess the photographer of the evening?

Ahh, me enjoying the finished product: a trimmed tree, Elf and a cup of hot cocoa!

Now the Holiday Season can officially begin!

The Third Year

2011-11-27T08:16:00.000-08:00

The following is an excerpt from a book I haven't written yet. One day, one day... (general warning: this is not a cozy, heartwarming, family friendly blog entry. Just sayin'.)

Everything started out so well. The year was full of promise. I was going to be a third-year teacher, and everyone in teaching knows that your third year is supposed to be your best. The first year is a mess for a number of reasons. The second is where you make several calculated corrections, improving your teaching skills and quality of life enormously. But the third year is where you really hit your stride…at least, that’s what they tell me.

I can't say that I was taken by surprise when things started to go south. In fact, there were several tangible warning shots fired across my face early on that should have awakened my fears and brought out the survivalist in me. There was the fact that we lost four teaching positions due to massive state-mandated budget cuts, increasing the average class size from seventeen to twenty-eight. There was the fact that our new science teacher was new to America, new to teaching, and had a Jamaican accent so thick that even I could hardly understand him. But the most foreboding telltale sign of them all was the fact that Mr. Fenner, the former Marine Corps drill sergeant-turned-principal, was going to "take care of the 8th grade personally," rather than have one of his assistant principals do the job.

"If you have any problems with any students on your team, Mr. Olsen, you send them to me." Mr. Fenner's rough and booming voice sounded like it still belonged on the exercise fields of a military base.

"Sounds good," I said. And it did.

Now I understand how confusing this may sound to an outsider, especially an outsider unfamiliar with the inner workings of Henderson Middle School. When the head honcho of the house says he's going to personally handle all disciplinary and academic issues for your grade level, that sounds like a good thing. However, it's the exact opposite of a good thing when the head honcho of the house decides to spend 80% of his time out of your class, out of your school, and for all intensive purposes, out of your world. Instead of having a watchful, helpful administrator on our side, we 8th grade teachers were marooned to a desert island in the middle of hurricane season.

After the first two weeks of school, I didn't think we'd be needing Mr. Fenner's help. The students were working hard, behaving well, and I was personally teaching the pants off American history. Students came into my class smiling, and left smiling even bigger. The other teachers on my team seemed to be doing okay as well, but somewhere in week three, I began to grow increasingly concerned about the students. They started to slip. Their homework got neglected. Their scores dropped. Worst of all, they started to get sassy. Then rowdy. Then downright disrespectful.

I knew things were reaching a critical point when our new science teacher brought a stack of discipline referrals (pink slips, write-ups, call them what you will) and dropped them on my desk after school one day in early October. There must have been about twenty of them.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Dis is jus' from dis week, Mr. Olsen. I'm not sho' what to do."

The referral on top of the stack detailed the story of student telling the teacher to "go f***" himself. The second referral resulted from a student telling the same teacher that he was going to "shoot him up." As I fumbled through the stack of referrals, I got sicker and sicker as they got worse and worse.

"Wow," I said in disbelief after reaching the bottom of the stack. "Have you told Mr. Fenner about this?

"I've tried, Mr. Olsen, but I can' seem to evah catch 'im in 'is office."

I told the teacher I'd take care of it. Wearing my frustration on my sleeve, I stormed out of my room with the referrals tucked under my arm like a football, and headed straight for the office of the head honcho himself. It was high time we taught these kids a lesson.

When I arrived at Mr. Fenner's office, I was understandably miffed to find his door closed, his lights off, and his office silent. He was not there. That was the second day in a row I hadn't seen him at the school. I walked to the front office and asked the school secretary when he'd be back. She didn't know. Dejected, I returned to my classroom and put the stack of referrals on my desk. They'd see Mr. Fenner's desk first thing in the morning, I vowed.

Three weeks later, the referrals were still on my desk. Mr. Fenner had only been to a full day of school three times in fifteen school days. He was always at a meeting, or somewhere else that would produce the broken record of "I don't know" from our school secretary. I did happen to see him in the hall one day, and was able to tell him about the referrals, and how his urgent attention to the matter was needed. He assured me he'd process the paperwork to punish the responsible students that same day.

"Bring the referrals down to my office at 2:00 and we'll go through them, one by one."

"Thank you, Mr. Fenner. Thank you."

At 2:00, I arrived at his office with the referrals in hand, except now the group of twenty had multiplied into a group of over thirty. I knocked on the door to his office, and as sure as the sun rises, I was stood up.

Meanwhile, it seemed like the entire school was beginning to fall apart at the seams. The students were starting to impose their will on an inexperienced faculty and a spineless administration. Students could be found running through the halls without passes, cursing in front of teachers, and getting into fights without remorse. Each day we teachers wondered when, not if, fights would occur. One particularly creative rebellion came in the form of two students jumping on the hood and roof of a teacher's car. The teacher's crime to deserve such a punishment? He wrote the students up for cursing.

While many of us learned to roll with the punches, several teachers had had enough. The first quit the first week of school. Then one in September. Then one in October. Then two in November. Our numbers began to dwindle, and the students were emboldened by their victories.

But don't worry. There's a silver lining to this story. Mr. Fenner finally reappeared in the midst of his mutiny last week, and kindly, lovingly, and respectfully informed the staff and students that he, too, was quitting. Tomorrow is his last day.

It's not always true what they say about that Third Year. Sometimes it's better. Sometimes it's worse. Sometimes I'm grateful for these challenges, and try to turn them into lessons learned for someone who will spend the rest of his life in education. And then sometimes I think things can't get any worse. Of course, then I simply remember one thing: it's only November.

Autumn in Appalachia

2011-10-30T17:24:00.001-07:00

John Denver is in my blood.

We drove through West Virginia for the first (and only) time in 2009 on our way to Chicago for our training as new teachers. On the way, surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains and their majestic skylines, I busted out the ole John Denver classic, "Country Roads" and sang my heart out. The song is a tribute to the Appalachian Mountains, country music, and simple livin' (notice I took off the "g" there). This weekend, Celeste and I took a little excursion to the mountains of North Carolina, and let's just say there was a lot of "g" droppin'.

Friday after school, we packed up the car and drove due west from Raleigh. Joined only by our good friends Pat and Sarah O'Shea (Pat and I taught at HMS together, and Sarah and Celeste teach at Henderson Collegiate together) and their beautiful pup Eleanor, we began to see the surrounding colors turn from green to gold and to feel the air thinning as we drove into the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. After only a few hours, we arrived at our cozy little cabin after driving up winding roads to the top of Powder Horn Mountain.

The next morning we awoke to some of the most stunning autumn vistas God has ever crafted. The rolling mountains glowed in the morning sunlight, as their reds and yellows and oranges popped from the mountainside like spring blossoms. I mean, it was BYOO-tiful. Celeste probably got sick of me saying how beautiful I thought everything was. But I couldn't help it. I was in love.

Our first order of business of the day was to visit Mast General Store in Valley Crucis, NC. This is a famous historical and cultural landmark. In fact, Barack Obama even visited it last month when he came through town. The store was first built in the late 1880's, and has stuck around ever since, attracting hillbillies and tourists alike with its local produce, glass-bottled sodas, handcrafted whatnot, and live Blue Grass music every Saturday.

After our trip to Mast General Store, we decided to ascend even higher, to one of the highest peaks in North Carolina: Grandfather Mountain. When we arrived, the temperature had dropped dramatically (32 degrees), and the peak was covered in dark, ominous clouds. But we decided to go up anyway. When we finally reached the top and the famous "Mile High Bridge" there was an inch of snow on the ground, the wind gusts were blowing over 50 mph, and the temperature with the wind chill was about 5 degrees. But that didn't stop us from slipping, sliding, and stumbling our way across it the bridge and loving our time on the mountain.

We topped off the evening in relative elegance and fine dining. Now, Celeste and I are not fancy folks, so when I say elegance, I mean we paid $25 for an entree at a restaurant - that's saying something. The restaurant was in Blowing Rock, NC, which is a mountain town comparable to Park City or Aspen, just with smaller mountains. There was, however, have a Halloween festival going on that evening in town, so it felt like child in the village was on Main Street filling their bags with candy. It was hilarious.

This morning we took a hike near our cabin, packed and cleaned, then said goodbye to the wonderful world of Appalachian Autumn, then took the scenic route home via the Blue Ridge Parkway, the only national park in the country that happens to be road.

Our bodies and minds are back at the grind, preparing for another week of school and the inevitable challenges that come with it, but we left our hearts in Appalachia.

Wonderful Visitors, Awful Airlines...

2011-10-23T16:09:00.000-07:00

Ever since our last trip to Utah, Jackson (a UNC fan) and one of his best friend's Bryant (a die-hard Miami fan) have been planning for and epic weekend of couple bonding, football, and quality time with friends. Last weekend was the big game - UNC vs Miami at UNC and we had tickets!! Bryant and his amazing wife Alexis (also a huge Miami fan) were making the ulimate sacrifice - taking a red eye flight from Utah to NC arriving early Saturday morning with a little bit of down time planned before kick-off at noon.

Everything was going to be perfect - an amazing game, the State Fair in the afternoon and then time to crash and enjoy a peaceful Sunday together before they were to head back on Monday morning. Little did Bryant and Alexis know they were to spend 24 hours in airports all over the country (from SLC to LA to Memphis) before arriving in NC after 7:00 p.m. Long after the Hurricanes defeated the Tarheels.

After arriving they were really good sports - we all enjoyed the State Fair that evening seeing amazingly huge produce, experimenting with food that I believe took nutrients out of our bodies and standing next to what appeared to be the tallest horse on the planet.

On Sunday after church we went to Duke University and toured the Chapel and, of course, beautiful Duke gardens.

It was lovely to see them, but unfortunate that it was such a short visit. While this getaway did not work out entirely as planned, do not let their experience deter you from planning your own trip to come out and visit the Olsen's!

Mrs. Featherbottom- er, I mean, Mrs. Brita.

2011-10-02T07:52:00.000-07:00

Celeste is notoriously bad at foreign accents.

Several years ago, bored out of our minds on a drive from Orem to Logan, we started testing our skills at accents: British, Aussie, Russian, French, Mexican, etc. It was hilarious. Now believe me, I was no Marlon Brando, but every time Celeste opened her mouth to try a new accent, she couldn't get through a complete sentence before we were both busting our guts laughing. She couldn't keep a straight face for more than a few awkwardly formed words, then we'd laugh till our faces turned red and our stomachs hurt.

With that in mind, you might be as shocked as I was to learn that Celeste decided to teach one of her classes this week in a British accent. Yes, you heard me. She taught a class full of malleable, impressionable minds with a voice and rhythm that was eerily akin to Mrs. Featherbottom, the beloved British nanny from the TV series Arrested Development. In fact, upon further inquiry, Celeste said that Mrs. Featherbottom was her inspiration for the character she created: Mrs. Brita.

Now, you're all probably wondering the same thing I was: WHY? Well, that's where the story gets good. For those of you who don't know, Celeste teaches 5th grade science, and part of their curriculum is units of measurement. She was teaching them the difference between the standard and metric system, and rather than just lecture the kids, she brought in a guest speaker - Mrs. Brita, from Blackstone. Mrs. Brita (Brita=Britain, get it?) told the wee lads and lasses about how "streets ahead" the metric system is, and how much easier it is to use. She was in character for about 45 minutes, and according to Celeste's account, the kids were wide-eyed and captivated by every minute with their foreign visitor.

This is just proof that Celeste is an amazing teacher, and deserves way more credit than she receives. "In the most delicious way!"

UTAH STATE... HEY, AGGIES (almost) ALL THE WAY!

2011-09-10T14:49:00.000-07:00

I don't know what I'm doing in this picture.

Chuckie Keeton, a true freshman, doing his thing against the pitiful Auburn defense.

Every year, around the beginning of September, Jackson starts to get anxious, giddy, excited and all together animated... That's right, it's football season, his favorite time of the year.

Jackson and I at Jordan-Hare Stadium

To start the season off right we headed to watch the Aggies' season opener LIVE... in the home stadium of the reigning National Champions. On the way down to Alabama, Jackson and I were preparing for a pretty big loss. We talked about how we would be happy if we lost by less than three touchdowns and hoped that we wouldn't embarrass ourselves on ESPN. Little did we know the Aggies were ready for battle.

A field goal made by the Aggies

The Aggies led the game early, fought a good fight, and certainly kept the game interesting. We were ahead by 10 with less than 4 minutes to go, but with a miraculous onside kick the Tigers prevailed and squeaked out a victory, 42-38.

The game was more than enough to make the 8 1/2 hour journey worthwhile, but we had a few surprises along the way that made the trip one to truly remember. The first surprise occurred as we were walking to our amazing seats inside the stadium we were coincidentally sat next to Grady Brimley, a good friend of Jackson's from his days in USU's student government. Grady's not very tall, but what he lacks in size he makes up for with a cool wife, Lauren, who we learned was pregnant! Congratulations, Lauren!!! We hope the child gets your features!!!

Short Grady.

The second surprse was how amazing the Auburn fans were. They were truly hospitable, curteous, supportive and generous... Southern Hospitality at its best. After the game they cheered our team off the field, commended us on a good game as we walked out of the stadium, and we were even invited to join a group of tailgaters. These guys insisted that we join them and share their amazing Alabama BBQ ribs and brisket, boiled peanuts, and home-baked casseroles. Good people down there. And a good time all in all.

Driving through Atlanta on our way home

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-28T14:41:00.000-07:00

First of all, THANK YOU everyone who called, texted, e-mailed, and Skyped us out of concern these past few days. We heard from some very old, dear friends, and all the contact made us feel like celebrities. It was great talking with you.

Secondly, you should all know that we're fine. Not only that, but our house is fine, and so is our car. We were very blessed throughout the duration of the hurricane. In fact, for the most part, it just seemed like a regular storm except for the wind and debris everywhere. Of course, we have friends that were closer to the coast that had a very different experience. Millions of North Carolinians were without power yesterday, and a few even died. Luckily, the power went out all around us, but ours stayed on. Roofs blew away, but not ours. Trees fell, but not on us.

This morning at church, just minutes before sacrament meeting began, our bishop and one of his counselors walked into the chapel wearing jeans and t-shirts. They smiled at folks, shook hands, then took their place behind the pulpit. It was strange sight, but it was also heart-warming to know that they had been at work all morning, helping people put their lives back together.

In other news, Jackson started teaching this week, and I start my new science class on Tuesday. And perhaps most exciting of all, we're headed to Auburn, Alabama this weekend to watch the USU play Auburn University in football. Pictures to come!

Cute Kiddos

2011-08-07T06:35:00.000-07:00

It's true that we are uncle and aunt to probably the 11 cutest kids under heaven. Most uncles and aunts probably say that, but in our case, it's actually true. And if you don't believe us, the proof is in the puddin'. Here are some niece-n-nephew highlights from our recent trip out West:

Sonoma, 1, (a.k.a. Noma) showing us she can stand.

This is Peter, 3, about to run "a hundred fast."

Eliza sang, danced, and even rapped for my in-laws (complete strangers to her, not a problem). Then she gave me my birthday card.

The same Peter, now rock climbing in Logan Canyon, asks me, "Hey Jackson, do you want to see me climb a hundred fast?"

Eliza showing us how tough she is.

Some girls are just born with "it." I'd say Lynlee is their leader.

This picture reminds me of when Lynlee was about to be babysat by her Aunt Ariel. Sarah, her mother, was about to walk out the door and told Lynlee, "Now when I'm gone, Ariel is in charge, okay honey?" Sarah left the house, but before her car had even left the driveway, Lynlee turned to Ariel and said definitively, "You're not da boss. I da boss." No messin' with that girl.

The wild side coming out.

Celeste arrived to the beach a few minutes after Lynlee and the rest of the gang. When Lynlee saw her approaching, she ran at a full sprint to greet her favorite aunt. Notice a jovial grandpa in the background.

Ahhh...

Now that's what I call a Kodak moment.

Even when she's pouting she's cute (just like her aunt!)

Can you find Celeste in this picture?

Slip slidin' away.

Playing with balloons from Grandma Chleo's birthday party.

Chloe (in my arms) and Leif (at my side). They led a gang of kids on a trail through the forest during family camp. When they all got back, Ruby ran to her mother and exclaimed, "Mommy, there's like a million natures up there!"

The Cowkids, prepping for a ride on Zip the Horse.

Ruby (a.k.a. Rooster) hiding no emotions on her first ride of the day. Additionally, this is one of the only known photographs to show my Uncle Terry's actual face. Such photos are rare and priceless.

The cowkids meet some of the barnyard animals. This here is Marissa.

Chloe Rain and Grandma Cozy shortly after their Pioneer Day Parade.

Gideon, the newest addition to the family, is also the smiliest. He's not even trying here.

Chloe, Leif, and Isaac, saying goodbye on our way to the airport. They don't make 'em any cuter!

Oh, except this one. She might win the prize. This is Sadie, born just a month ago in Belfast, Ireland while my sister Mandy supports her husband's sweet job writing for HBO.

Life is Good

2011-07-31T15:16:00.000-07:00

When time and life allow, Celeste and I often sit and think about how beautiful life is. We ponder our heavenly blessings, our temporal luxuries, and the loving families we consider ourselves lucky to be apart of. On top of that, we marvel at our opportunities that most could only dream of. Being a part of the Teach For America family, having financial security through the Great Recession, and now embarking on what will be a life-changing journey with NELA - all bear testimony to one simple fact: life is good.

Of course, there are costs to our chosen course in life, and the one that weighs in the heaviest is the omnipresent fact that we are a 3-day drive or an all-night (and rather expensive) flight from most of our family and some of our dearest friends. It's not easy being separated by such a vast geographical gulf. We miss birthdays and weddings, recitals and soccer games. We miss nieces and nephews saying their first words, showing off their repertoire of tricks on the trampoline, and the shared heartwarming moment with their parents (of course, I don't mind missing diaper duty). In the end, it's the little things we miss. The beautiful evolution of life and character can be as slow and meticulous as the growing of hair.

It's true, we do miss a lot living on the East Coast while the majority of our family remains in the West, but life is a train station, and we boarded our train years ago. Though it's taken us far from home, it has also taken us places we would have never otherwise seen. It's showed us things we didn't know existed. It's taught us things we would have never otherwise learned, and there's something equally beautiful and satisfying about that. At this point, our train is still running with a full head of steam. Perhaps one day it will slow down. Who knows - perhaps one day it will return to the West. Until then, we live life to its fullest, keeping the old adage close to our heart: distance makes the heart grow fonder.

All that said, here are some photographs from our most recent trip to Utah, Oregon, and Washington:

Lazy Bloggers

2011-07-03T17:49:00.001-07:00

Okay folks. It's been over a month, and we apologize for our cyber-silence, especially to those of you who check our blog like religious zealots and feed on new posts like Judge Judy on a ignorant redneck. Despite the title of this post, we haven't really been lazy at all. Just busy. So instead of overwhelming you with all of it at once, here are three bite-sized posts to fill you in on the month of June. Enjoy, and Stay Classy.

The Big Move

2011-07-03T16:25:00.001-07:00

When it was decided that I would be attending N.C. State University, Celeste and I knew that it was time to move. Geographically, it would have been a nightmare trying to commute from Oxford. For those of you who don't know, N.C. State's campus is in the capital city of Raleigh, which is about an hour away from Oxford. But we couldn't really move to Raleigh either, because we're still going to be teaching in Henderson next year, so we needed a midway point. That's when we decided to live in Wake Forest, North Carolina, a suburb of Raleigh just 30 miles from Henderson. Basically right smack dab in the middle. Basically perfect.

Wake Forest is a beautiful, Southern town, full of charm and history. It's a little bigger than Oxford, but much nicer in comparison - stronger economy, less poverty, and more pizazz. We were thrilled to find out that it had restaurants, malls, gyms, movie theaters, and even a TARGET within a 5-minute drive. We forgot how luxurious life could be!

But the nicest thing about living in Wake Forest is not the city itself, but the house in which we live. We found a perfect little house for rent right in the downtown area. You know, you never realize how awful apartment living is until you leave it for a house. After being in the same complex for the past two years, we thought things were fine there. But after only a week in our new place, it's like the sun is shining on our pale faces for the first time, and the dark clouds of mediocrity have finally parted. Okay, that may be a little dramatic, but I tell you what, it's nice not to share a parking lot, a mailbox, and a dumpster with 400 other people. It's nice to not hear neighbors music through the floors. It's nice to have a yard and a garden, and a driveway. I guess it's the little things. Whatever it is, we love it, and are excited to spend the next several years here. I told Celeste we'll stay as long as our family can fit in it...we're planning on having a lot of dogs.

HOME SWEET HOME

Girls Camp!!!

2011-07-03T16:23:00.000-07:00

Mayo Reservoir Lake

The day after returning from Casey's wedding I was whisked away to Mayo Reservoir to spend four days camping with around 60 girls between the ages of 12 and 18. I spend the week avoiding bugs, singing songs, swimming in the lake, hiking and playing games in the moonlight with my 8 Henderson Branch Young Women. I was fortunate to have an energetic assistant and some fun-loving girls.

My Henderson Girls

Being in charge of girls camp for a ward or branch is usually a dreaded calling - filled with months of stress, planning and constant encouragement for sometimes reluctant campers. While I did have some planning, a little stress, and some not so happy campers, I really enjoyed being at camp in charge of my little flock. I was fortunate to know most of my campers fairly well before camp started - with two of them being students of mine all year at school. The younger campers really had a ball and they all had some great experiences that have them looking forward to camp next year!

Paige and Makayla - I taught them both Earth Science and Spanish this year!

This little dog tagged around camp all week

Girls showing their true nature

When the girls lost something, they had to sing this magical song to get it back. Both of our first year campers are in white t-shirts on the left.

Beach Wedding

2011-07-03T16:15:00.001-07:00

We met Casey 2 years ago. She and Celeste were both brand new teachers at Northern Vance High School, and both teaching Spanish. Casey also lived in Oxford in our same apartment complex. She and Celeste became quick friends, and I made quick friends with her dog, Mika.

After a few months, Casey introduced us to her beau, a fella named Brent. He was studying education at UNC-Greensboro, training to become and English teacher. Brent and I bonded over sports and films while Celeste and Casey talked about...who knows what. Probably their periods. That's all girls ever talk about.

Anyway, Brent finally proposed, Casey said yes, and the two were married the week after school got out. They chose a beautiful beach destination for the ceremony, and a hip loft in downtown Wilmington for the reception. It was a good time. W ilmington is probably my favorite place in all of North Carolina. Beaches, Civil War forts, and historic Southern mansions that would make Oprah jealous.

Memorial Day Weekend with Mom

2011-06-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

For my Mother's birthday in January, my father gave her the gift of a trip to come to North Carolina to visit us! When we heard the news we were elated and over the past few months we worked on arranging the perfect time for her to visit and the details of how to make her stay memorable.

She finally came a few days before Memorial Day to get a firsthand look at our lives in rural North Carolina. We eagerly anticipated her visit and meticulously planned an itinerary to ensure a good time. The day of her flight she called to let us know that the weather in he Midwest was crazy and she was unsure if her connecting flight would leave that evening. There were tornado warnings, intense storms and the airport was looking more and more like a refugee camp. Despite all of that, her flight only arrived 3 hours late. Unfortunately for us, that put her arrival time around 3:00 am. On a school night.

The first few days were dedicated to rest and a tour of Oxford (where we live) and Henderson (where we teach). She enjoyed the Revlon factory store, Cookout, and plenty of time to relax while we were at school. Friday, right after work we headed out on our adventure to the beach. Anticipating overwhelming crowds and horrendous traffic at the more popular beaches of the Outer Banks and Wilmington, we headed to Atlantic beach. It was perfect.

The drive was less that three hours and we traveled on a highway, not a freeway so we passed through beautiful scenery, rural towns, and saw about 15 Bojangles restaurants. Our hotel was brand new - so new in fact that the road to get to the hotel actually passed through a gas station parking lot. No joke.

During our beach weekend we enjoyed fresh seafood, amazing weather and all of the perks of being on the coast. We spent most of Saturday on the beach. The sun was out, the water was warm, the sand was amazing and the waves were just big enough to knock us over. At one point we were all in the water playing in the waves, and we got further and further away from our spot on the sand. As we tried to make our waves back, fighting the waves, mom got knocked down over and over. At one point as she was being knocked and she exclaimed "I give up!!" I walked over, took her hand and we eventually made our way back to where we needed to be. It was hilarious.

Mom and I enjoying the sun at Atlantic Beach

The board walk in Beaufort - tons of sailboats!

Where we enjoyed an amazing dinner overlooking the Harbour

A town just north of Atlantic Beach on the Southern Outer Banks

Downtown New Bern, the town we stayed in

Mom and I after a day at the beach in New Bern

Enjoying the sunset in New Bern

Mom and I throwing the frisbee

Jackson with the "bee"

After traveling home we spent Monday in Durham and enjoyed a Bulls baseball game and walked around Duke Campus.

Mom and I at the Durham Bulls game

It was tough going back to work on Tuesday, but it was nice to come home and still be able to spend an hour with Mom before droppig her off at the airport. Mom, thanks for coming out! We had an amazing time and hope that you'll come back soon!

Staying on the Education Carousel

2011-05-29T17:22:00.000-07:00

To be clear: we never meant to become teachers. And to be even more clear: we never meant to stay teachers.

That said, fighting against the will of God or pushing back against the call of destiny is as futile as foolish as backing a gimp donkey at Churchill Downs. The events of the last month are added proof that no plans are concrete until they're concrete, and that all things are subject to the cosmic omniscient will of a Higher Power.

Let me start by saying that I always intended to go to law school. I just seemed destined for it. Growing up, I was very interested in history and politics, and law completes that triangle for many people, including all of my role models: my dad, Abraham Lincoln, and Rod Blagojevich. So going to law school seemed like the natural vehicle of choice to allow me to pursue my passion for civil and human rights. That said, I don’t know that I ever wanted to be a lawyer per se, but rather I wanted to obtain the tools with which I could launch a lifelong fulfilling career in public service. It was never about being a lawyer, but rather having the education and the qualifications to serve my community, my state, or my country beyond the basics of voting and respecting traffic laws.

Then, of course, there came a detour in the form of Teach For America in 2009. I always saw it as a noble form of service that would broaden my experience and help me get into (and save for) law school. Things seemed right on track two years later when the law school application process had begun anew. Teaching was fine, but I was to be a lawyer. I was my father's son, and I meant to follow his path into the legal realm of dusty thick volumes of code, courtrooms, and deposition protocol.

Everything was going according to plan. Then, in mid-February, I was recruited to apply for a competitive principal program at N.C. State University. It's called the Northeast Leadership Academy (NELA), and it puts emerging leaders on the fast track to principalships in the rural counties of North Carolina. It included a full-tuition scholarship, education conferences with travel and lodging, books, and a brand new Macbook. In the arena of the intangibles, it offered a great deal more than that - the opportunity to be a community leader, an agent of social change, and a catalyst for an educational Renaissance in the poverty-stricken Piedmont. But despite all its bells and whistles, I didn't really think much of it at first. Still, just like I did with Teach For America two years ago, I decided to apply as a backup plan. It felt nice to be recruited, and I figured it couldn't hurt to indulge them with an application.

I teetered back and forth between law school and the Master's of School Administration quite a bit over the ensuing months. Each had clear benefits and risks. Each had merits and weaknesses. And, perhaps most importantly, both would allow me to become a valiant public servant. The question was which, if any, was better.

Then, on May 1st, the pendulum really took a swing in the M.S.A. direction. A flurry of events occurred in succession just before that fateful day. I had a dream. I talked with a friend who just graduated from law school, who told me horror stories about thousands of law school graduates having nowhere to work. Then came an e-mail from another friend saying that the job he thought he’d have after law school just got cut, and now he doesn’t know what he’s going to do. More importantly, as Celeste and I prayed about what to do, NELA just kept making more and more sense. The reasons against law school started to pile up, and quickly, like the feverish pounding of keys in a Rachmaninoff piece. Then, as if to provide a peaceful postlude and a fitting conclusion to an especially intense composition, on May 1st, I received notification from the people at N.C. State. Sure enough, I was offered a seat as one of twenty NELA Fellows. By that point, the decision was easy. The choice was clear. Our hearts and minds were at peace with our destiny. We were meant to be teachers.

Shortly after our big decision, some other big things happened in our worlds of education. Celeste took a new job at a charter school called Henderson Collegiate. She was also recruited (yeah, we're kind of a big deal out here), and was offered a post as the new 5th grade science teacher. She's thrilled. You have to see this school to understand why. After two years of fighting kids to do their homework or just sit down in a desk like a normal human, she's going to a college prep charter school where the kids are as eager to learn as they are to eat cupcakes. They're not rich, they're not priveliged, they're not especially gifted - they're just committed to their education and to success, which is a rare trait in Henderson, North Carolina.

To top it all off, just last week, Celeste and I "graduated" from Teach For America. We're now officially alumni - not corps members. Our school year is not yet over, but our commitment to Teach For America is now complete. We had a beautiful little ceremony at Duke University, and I was asked to speak. Celeste is pictured below with her diploma. Fun stuff.

So cheers to education. Now y'all be good and come and visit us out here in North Carolina.

Return to Capitol Hill

2011-05-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

After months of grant-writing, arranging, calling, e-mailing, approving, scheduling, and vigorous planning, it finally happened. D.C. 2.0 got off the ground, soared with the eagles, and landed safely, with no major turbulence to report. And by that I mean, I just successfully took a group of my students on an overnight, 500 mile round trip adventure to our nation's capitol for the second year in a row, and not a single student died, was robbed, or became pregnant. That's a pretty big deal.

It all started early last Thursday morning. And I mean EARLY. I was out of bed at 2:30 a.m. After a quick shower and shave (and my routine bowl of cereal, eaten while reading the historical autobiography of John Lewis), I was out the door and en route to Henderson Middle School. While most folks would be groggy at such a ridiculous hour, my mind was crystal clear, and I was eager for the days events to unfold.

The kids began to arrive at about 3:45 a.m. with their pillows and blankets in hand. The bus arrived a few minutes later, and before long, kids were saying goodbye to parents, all of them with excited expressions. It would be the first time several of them would spend a night away from their parents, and while the kids seemed rather enthused about this, the parents were still victims of that paternal and maternal worry.

"Bring back my baby, now, y'hear Mr. Olsen?"

"Yes ma'am, Ms. Rodwell," I responded. "You've got my guarantee on that."

"Don't you let Ricky get into any trouble, coach."

"I'm on it, Mr. Howard. I'll have in him on a tight leash." And so on, and so forth...

At approximately 4:07 a.m., we were on the bus - a bumpy old Activity Bus that maxed out at 55 mph - on our way to Washington, D.C. We were 22 of us total: 15 students, five parent chaperons, me and the bus driver.

Five long hours later, we arrived on Capitol Hill, and our whirlwind tour had begun. We met with representatives from Senator Richard Burr and Kay Hagan's office (the two NC senators), then took a tour of Capitol Hill. Just outside Ted Kennedy's old office, I told my students about how Mr. Olsen used to work on Capitol Hill, and how he had left that job to come and teach them. I got a lot of nods and raised eyebrows. It wasn't until a few minutes later that it seemed like nearly every member of our group came up and asked me the same question: "If you used to work here, then what in the blazin' tarnation are you doing teaching in Vance County?" I tried to tell them that I was happy to be in Vance County, even happier than I had been on Capitol Hill, and then they tried to tell me I had a few screws loose.

From Capitol Hill we went to see the White House, the Jefferson Memorial, and then ended our day with a tour of the Holocaust Museum. I can't tell you how powerful that experience was. I mean, it's really beyond words to describe what it felt like to take a small group of my most eager learners, and walk through the Holocaust with them. Students were magnetized to me, and wouldn't stray more than a few feet. For every picture, video, or artifact we would come across, three or four of them would ask, "What is that, Mr. Olsen?" And then, the most satisfying part came when I wouldn't even have to answer the question, and those same students, or students who simply heard the question, were able to answer. Kristallnacht, Auschwitz, Polish Ghettos, Hitler, Propaganda, The Final Solution - they knew it all, which was a validation of my efforts as a history teacher. At one point, I was literally brought to tears as my students and I stood in one of the train cars used to transport Jews to concentration camps. As I began to explain how they were herded like cattle and crammed into a death box for a 3-day journey, my emotions got the best of me, and my kids showed me a new kind of respect that I had never felt or seen in a classroom.

From there, we ended our very long day and made our way to the motel, a modest establishment in Northern Virginia. Now, to any Tom or Molly, this place would have seemed simply adequate. Nothing to write home about. However, to my kids, this place was magical. Many of them had never spent a night in a hotel, so this was a new experience. The were excited when they saw the waffle bar of the continental breakfast, they were overjoyed when they were told they could make free room to room calls, and they were all aflutter when they saw the vending and ice machines on every floor. I'm not kidding. They thought those ice machines were awesome. "Free ice!" I heard Alfredo yell.

Now, I realized full well the risk I was running doing an overnight trip, and putting a small group of budding pubescent kids into a hotel for a sleepover. The whole scenario is riddled with promiscuous land mines, not to mention credit card charges for broken windows, broken lamps, or flooded bathrooms. That's why I made sure that every room had a parent chaperon in it, so I wasn't too worried about any incidents occurring. Luckily, the worst the kids did that night was stay up late making crank calls to each other.

The next morning we woke up early, had a decent continental breakfast (decent in my opinion, "crazy cool awesome" in my kids'), then boarded the bus and headed back to D.C. Day 2 consisted of a lot more walking and sightseeing, including a trip to the National Mall, Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, and the National Archives. At each step along the way, I was able to gather my kids like a mother hen (or father hen?), and teach them, show them, and explain to them the significance of each site, which is something I couldn't do last year with a group of 80. With 15 students, I was a tour guide, not a zookeeper.

And the kids? They loved it. They soaked it up. They were so mature and scholarly, but they were still just kids. Eighth graders are great because they're just old enough to appreciate something like democracy, but still young enough to be entranced by a merry-go-round. They loved seeing tall buildings, they loved asking questions that made them sound smart, and they loved stopping at souvenir stands or to watch street performers. For several of them who had never been beyond the borders of North Carolina, this wasn't only a trip to the Nation's Capital, but to an entirely new world they had only heard about or seen in books.

Finally, at about 3:30 on Friday, it was time to go. We left the National Archives where we had just seen the The Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution, and walked back to the bus. It was an exhausting two days, with round the clock meetings, sightseeing, and miles of walking. When we finally boarded the bus to go home, most of our participants (including the chaperons) passed out within minutes like they had drunk a bottle of chloroform. Perhaps I drove them a little too hard. I like to think I was just an ambitious tour guide.

The sun soon fell, and before long, we were ALL sleeping on the activity bus, a rickety old coach that didn't provide the most quiet or comfortable setting for sleep, but that didn't seem to matter. After what felt like only minutes, I awoke to the slowing of the bus. I lifted my head and peered out the window to see us exiting the Interstate, hang a left on Andrews Avenue, then arrive at Henderson Middle School. It was nearly 9:30 p.m. The parking lot was full of cars with parents eagerly awaiting the safe return of their children. The kids - who were so happy to be away from home the night before - seemed just as excited to see their parents again.

I gave hugs, shook hands, and waved goodbye as students dragged their suitcases - now bulging with overpriced souvenirs and D.C. memorabilia - to their cars and disappeared in the back seats. The bus pulled away as well, and soon there was only one car left in the parking lot. I approached the passengers door, opened it, and got in. Then Celeste drove me home and put me to bed.

Welcome to Paradise - The DR

2011-04-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

We knew we were in for a good week when we looked out of our airplane window, and saw that picture above. Maybe it's cause we didn't grow up near the coast, but there's something magical about the ocean, especially when it looks like that. The aqua green-blue colors, against the sandy beaches and palm and coconut trees...it's paradise.

Last Thursday morning, Celeste and I drove in the darkness of the early morning down to the Raleigh-Durham airport, where we boarded a plane bound for the Caribbean. Several hours later we landed in the city of Puerto Plata, which is on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic. We were greeted by a comfortable heat wave and a lively 4-piece mariachi band, singing their hearts out, enthusiastically welcoming us to their country, and, of course, asking for tips. Any doubts we may have had about a sweet Spring Break pretty much evaporated right then and there.

We drove about a half hour along the coast until we arrived at our all-inclusive resort that, while it couldn't hold a candle to the resort we stayed in during our honeymoon in Cancun, was very comfortable. Sure, it didn't have a mini-golf course or free bikini waxes, but it's hard to complain when pina coladas are abundant and free and unlimited bacon doesn't cost you a dime. These are the beauties of an all-inclusive vacation.

The first full day there we decided to hit the town and get a taste for the Dominican culture, even though we were encouraged by our resort staff not to leave unless it was on an "official tour." Hogwash. We knew the language, and wanted some adventure. So we walked a half mile to the entrance of the hotel, and found a bunch of locals sitting on their motorcycles. Before we knew it we had been "Amigo!"-ed by about five guys at once, all desperate for our 100-peso-business, and were on the back of one of their tiny motos - all three of us. At first we were a little nervous (I'm not a heavyweight yet, but I'm getting there), but we made it to the city safely, and on the way, we discovered that pretty much everybody gets around that way in the DR.

We quickly discovered that as lush and paradisaical the country's landscape is, the truth is that the DR is a nation crippled by poverty. On our commute into the heart of the city, we saw thatch-roofed huts that passed for homes, and houses sided with nothing but rusted tin. Tiny shacks passed as homes and businesses, usually simple fruit stands selling coconuts or pineapples to support a family. The city itself was nice, but there were plenty of beggars and stray dogs to pull on our sympathy strings.

The next day we decided to take another adventure - this time on our own set of wheels. We signed up for an ATV tour of the countryside. The machines were a little smokey, but plenty of fun. We rode through bamboo forests, small villages, shaded jungle, until we finally reached our final destination of a beautiful sprawling coastline. It was pretty sweet. I kept on imagining that Bagera or Sher Khan were going to jump out at me, but our tour guide assured us that the only dangerous creatures indigenous to the DR were the women. (Zing!)

After some R&R (and by R&R I mean drinking smoothies, swimming in the ocean, and scaring people with my outrageously pale skin), we decided to embark on one last adventure before leaving the DR. Our final excursion led us back into the mountains and remote countryside south of Puerto Plata, where we discovered the unrivaled natural wonder of "27 Charos de Damajagua" - otherwise known as 27 Waterfalls. This place was incredible. I've never seen anything like it.

We met up at base camp with a fellow named Augusto - best guide ever, by the way - and started making our way up a mountain. After hiking for about five or ten minutes, we came to a crystal clear pool of water sitting below a beautiful waterfall. Following Augusto's lead, we jumped into the water (a little cold at first - I think I squeaked like a girl after jumping in) and swam toward the waterfall. Once we got there, we began climbing to the top of it clinging to rocks and, occasionaly, Augusto's outstretched arm. From there we swam through a calm stream of this green water until we got to another waterfall. Again, we climbed, and again found ourselves in another pool of beautiful green water.

This process continued for about an hour or so. Sometimes we would be climbing the face of a rock, sometimes we'd be swimming, sometimes we'd be hiking, or pulling ourselves up a rock on a rope or makeshift ladder. But all methods led us to the same place, which was the natural spring waterfall from whence all this natural beauty spewed. Using a rope, we climbed to the top of the waterfall and did our first cliff jump of the day.

From there, we started making our way down. But we were no longer forced to climb ropes or rocks. No, as much fun as the way up was, coming down was even better. It was one big cliff jump after another into beautiful clear pools of water. In some cases, jumps were replaced by descending down natural waterslides. Either way, we just kept splashing our way down the mountain, whooping, screaming, and laughing, until we finally made it back down to the original pool and waterfall at the base of the mountain. It was amazing.

Okay, this video is a little weird, but it gives you taste of the 27 Charcos. Just embrace it.

So...where to next?

Channel One News Presents...

2011-04-13T07:06:00.001-07:00

An excerpt from an up and coming novel by Jackson Olsen

2011-04-03T11:36:00.000-07:00

From behind her black-rimmed glasses, she peered with evil eyes onto her subjects before her. She deemed them deplorable.

"Work, you pitiful scoundrels," she yelled at the helpless children. "This isn't summer camp, and we ain't makin' no boondoggles."

"But Ms. Olsen," a student bravely protested, with trembling hand raised, "how are we supposed to copy the entire textbook in one hour. It's impossible!"

"Really?" She responded, disdain boiling in her throat like hot soup. "Really? Whatev." She put her hands in front of her, making a "W" sign with her thumbs and index fingers, then turned her back to her class and started computing their failing grades, chuckling lowly beneath her breath.

"The plan is coming together," she thought silently. "It's only a matter of time..."

DC 2.0 - Applications

2011-03-13T19:13:00.000-07:00

As many of you may remember, last year I took a large group of students of mine to Washington, D.C. on a field trip (see 5/2/10 post). It was a crazy experiment in the laboratory of my first year as a teacher. Eighty raucous and hormone-hyped teenagers can be crazy enough in the classroom, but put them in a big city and allow them to bring candy and cell phones, and you just bought yourself front-row tickets to the circus. That's how it felt, anyway. Don't get me wrong - I loved that trip and I'm glad I did it. The smiles of the kids faces as we approached the 25-foot statue of Abraham Lincoln, or the look of wonder in their eyes as they peered toward the top of the Washington Monument, the tallest building they had ever seen, made the trip worth every annoyance.

This year is going to be different, though. This year is going to be better.

Why? Because I'm a seasoned vet, in part. But also because at the beginning of the school year, I applied for a grant for an overnight field trip to D.C. through Fidelity Investments. It was around Christmas time that I was notified that my grant had been approved to the tune of about $1,700. Holla!!!

With $1,700 dollars in my pocket, I'm going to make this year's trip EPIC - way better than last year's. We're doing everything we did in 2010, but we're adding the Holocaust Museum, the U.S. Capitol, the Charters of Freedom, and if things go right, a guided tour of the White House! And on top of all that, we're staying in a motel. That might not sound like much for you and me, but it's got my kids so excited they can't walk straight.

"Like a real motel, Mr. Olsen? Like with a pool and a maid and stuff?"

"Yes, Jakwan, a maid..." I can understand his confusion. Most motels in Henderson have an hourly rate and have about as much drug traffic as Amsterdam.

The only downfall to this whole trip (yes, there is one), is that because it's an overnight trip, and because we're limited on funds, I can't take a big group like I did last year. In fact, according to my math, I only have enough money to cover 15 students.

So what did I do to narrow the field to the elite candidates? I made applications - long applications, with lots of tough questions to help me weed out the chaff. The applications were due on Friday, and Celeste and I have spent the weekend reviewing them. If you ever need a good laugh, just come hang out with my kids. Here's a little sample of what they're capable of:

Question #1 - What would you bring to this trip that is unique or special about you?

"I will bring candy and a portable dvd player." -S.J.
"Just quietness and I stay up late sometimes." -J.A.
"I'm a one-man party." -T.J.
"I am smart so I can use my smartness." -J.W.
"My mentallity of course." -V.H.
"I don't snore. I am a uplifting person. I follow directions and obey rules. Also my feet don't stink." -A.R.
"I would say my bible, to make sure I'm safe and so that in my free time I can read the word of the Lord." -D.P.
"I will bring clothes, toothbrush, tooth paste, towel, rags, and socks." -B.T.

Question #2 - We might meet some important politicians. What would you ask them if you had the chance?

"If I meet a bodyguard I would ask for tips on being a better bodyguard." -S.J.
"I would ask them for their autograph." -J.A.
"I would ask many good questions, like 'When was this building built?'" -M.A.

Question #3 - We'll be walking a lot. What will you owe me if you start complaining?

"I will owe you a 750 typed essay on how I messed up the trip." -S.J
"I will owe you $5 and 30 sentences saying I will not complain." -J.A.
"Pushups. Like up to 50." -R.V.
"I would gladly run the rest of the way or carry your things." -A.M.
"I would owe you about 20 or 30 jumpjacks." -L.R.
"If I start complaining I owe you my Ipod." -C.L.
"I won't complain. Walking was the only transportation before bikes and horses were invented." -D.P.

These kids are priceless, and I cannot WAIT for this trip.

Spring Sports

2011-03-06T12:32:00.000-08:00

With Spring upon us, schedules around here have become pretty hectic. Both Jackson and I are coaching a sport this season with Jackson returning to baseball for his second season for HMS and I am embarking on a new adventure as an assistant coach to my high school track team. Practice is every day after school, and we now never get home until after 6:00. That may not sound too late, but it makes me exhausted.

For those of you who know me well, are aware that I am nowhere near qualified to be a track coach, but don't tell my athletes. For all they know I was a champ at regionals, when in all honesty the last time I ran track was in middle school. I vaguely remember trailing behind all the other kids while running the 800 and 1600, awkwardly jumping the triple jump and being too chicken to try to high jump. Luckily, I was a swimmer in high school, and some of the workouts follow similar routines, and since I coach the medium and long distance runners the real trick is just making them run. A lot. The other assistant coach (shout-out to Claire!) and I mostly just make stuff up, and since the head coach hasn't said anything to the contrary, we must be doing okay.

Jackson's first game is on Tuesday. They are hoping for improvement from last year's record - I believe they only won one game... It kind of reminds me of Aggie football, they have the opportunity to double or triple their wins and the fans will have something to brag about. I'll take some pictures/video and hopefully have something to post in the coming weeks.

Our team doesn't have a meet until mid-March (we can use all the time we can get!), but I'll keep you posted.

They Call Her Celeste

2011-02-15T04:15:00.000-08:00

The story begins in a far away land,
Where Eskimos dwell and bears have command.
Canada’s nice,
If you don’t mind the ice,
Or the milk of a yak in a yellow tin can.

In the town of Drumheller near Willow Point Way,
A young girl grew older with each passing day.
With her nose in a book,
In a comfortable nook,
She drank up her stories as time passed away.

But more than her stories or books that she had,
She loved being home with her mom and her dad.
Playing games with her sisters,
Like Uno and Twister,
‘Twas life’s simple gifts that made her quite glad.

The family soon moved to a land full of mountains,
With towering cliffs and river rock fountains.
And our story’s young girl,
With gold hair and no curls,
Grew up like a weed as the days kept on countin’.

With age came her beauty, and oh how divine!
Her splendor extends from her toes to her spine.
Her eyes aqua blue,
Such a heavenly hue!
God made her with care. She was one of a kind.

The only thing gone from her splendid existence,
Was someone to love without passive resistance,
Then it happened one night.
When a boy caught her sight,
And they went on their first date with his keen persistence.

He was handsome and kind, with a quick-witted tongue,
And he fell for her quickly despite being young,
At first she thought no,
But love started to grow,
When a ballad of love he had wrote had been sung.

“No” turned into “yes,” and “like” turned into “love.”
At times things were rough but when push came to shove,
He knew he loved her,
And he knew she concurred,
Now nothing could stop them except God above.

With the Big Man’s endorsement they were ready to hitch,
There were flowers to order and dresses to stitch,
The big moment came,
Without fortune or fame.
'Twas a magical day without one single glitch.

They’ve traveled the world and had many adventures,
They’ve tried soul food and seafood and many thirst quenchers,
They know Barcelona,
Like experts fide bona,
And the good times won’t stop with old age or cheap dentures.

The man's love for his lady burns brighter and brighter,
Than kerosene mixed with dry paper and lighter.
They call her Celeste,
She’s not good – she’s the best.
And the bond with her true love forever grows tighter.

He's Baaaaaaack!

2011-02-01T17:34:00.000-08:00

When I busted out a groovy rap for my students back around Christmastime, I told them it was the last time they'd have a teacher rap for them, and that they should thank their lucky stars for the once-in-a-lifetime experience I had just given them.

And I meant it.

Then, about a month later, I had my students writing some pretty intense research papers about the contrasting philosophies of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois. As I was proofreading a student's essay, I looked down and saw my finger tapping rhythmically against my desk. Before I knew it, my head was nodding mindlessly to an invisible beat, and words started to creep to the forefront of my mind, completely unbidden. Before I knew it, stanzas with rhyming endings had taken full form in my brain. And when they came, I knew that I couldn't turn them back into the dark recesses of my brain. I had no choice. I had to share them.

But I didn't want to just want to do the same thing I did in December. So I upped the ante. Or I tried to, at least. In the words of EminOlsen, "I guess it's up to you to decide..."

Southern Mormon Talent Show

2011-01-30T11:27:00.001-08:00

These two cute old men performed a piano duet. What duet, you ask? Chopsticks. Hilarious.

In the Mormon Church, there are two types of congregations - wards and branches. Wards are larger congregations with enough members of the group to easily divvy up the responsibilities and assignments to help run the church. Branches are smaller congregations, leaving a larger load to be carried among the few faithful members of the church in their geographical area.

Living in rural North Carolina, it is no surprise that Jackson and I attend a small, quirky, Southern branch. Belonging to a branch has its challenges, but we have immersed ourselves and liken our little branch to our Southern Family. They look out for us, rely on us, give us rides, visit us, and make us smile every week (for example, one time our Sunday program had instructions on the back in case we wanted to write the only missionary serving from the branch at "the Mission Base." That's Southern code for the MTC, I guess.)

So last night we had the privilege of attending our branch talent night - showcasing the talents and personalities of our branch family. In the back of the room were displays of talents - including paintings, drawings, cross stitches, trophies and a lego room built by a little 5 year old. Super cute.

This little girl did an Irish jig.

This kid blew us all away. Jackson is getting his first Karate lesson this Tuesday!

Talents performed included poetry, acting, singing, martial arts, gymnastics, and of course, a missionary performing a Primary song on the recorder. Pitiful, really. Jackson shared two of his talents - one of his compositions of a Hymn "God Speed the Right," and he also shared his talent of U.S. Presidential trivia. While his piano-playing was beautiful and moving, the trivia was mind-boggling. He challenged the audience to either call out the name of a President or any number between 1 and 44. He then stated the name or number of the President, his party affiliation, and at least one interesting fact about him. I called out number 27 and he explained that William Howard Taft, a Republican, was so fat (over 330 lbs) that at one point he got STUCK in the presidential bathtub and it took SIX white house aides to pry him out. True story.

This guys last name is Jester. Is this a talent?

Jackson also signed me up to share a talent, so I taught the audience the Spanish alphabet using a song that I teach to my high-schoolers. Mind-boggling? Probably not. But at the very least, entertaining.

It was a wonderful evening, and a great time to reflect on how fortunate we are to have such a great support system so far away from home. While all the acts were special in their own way, the highlight of the evening was little Jonathan Abbott and his Papa performing a Southern gospel song that brought down the house. He is 11 years old and has one of the most powerful voices I've ever heard. Enjoy.

Becoming HERM

2011-01-23T11:47:00.000-08:00

I've always been compared to my father for various reasons, and to be completely honest, I've always considered that an honor. My dad's an amazing guy, and I hope to measure up to his hulking example one day. For years, family members have poked fun at me for being my dad's "mini-me". I would vehemently deny the label, but quietly, I delighted in the comparison. My father's moral fabric is of the highest quality, and his hairline has yet to show any signs of receding.

I admit, the allegations of our uncanny similarities are not unwarranted. Among other things, I inherited my father's appearance more than any other child, his zeal for tennis and handball, and his obsession with politics and history. Yes, one could say that the apple fell not far from the tree in our case. But beyond the obvious correlations, four events have occurred in the last 48 hours that have made me realize that, with age, and now more than ever, I'm evolving into a Herm-it.

1. The Shoes

I just got a new pair of gym shoes. Now, you might not think that's a big deal, but they happen to be New Balance gym shoes. For those of you who were previously unaware of the product, I'm convinced that they were made with nerdy old men in mind for their primary consumer (why do I wear them? Comfort, not style). My dad's been wearing them for as long as I can remember, and I've been wearing them for longer than I care to admit. So why am I just now drawing the comparison? Well, I was walking to the gym on Friday in my new New Balances, and I caught a reflection of me in a glass door. With my new shoes that seemed to scream "resting home!" with every step, shorts that were just a tad too short, and a Utah State Aggies t-shirt, I couldn't tell me from the old man himself.

To my credit, I haven't started wearing the New Balances around town or on vacation the way he does. Just look at any photograph taken of he and my mother on vacation - Bahamas, Europe, South America - and you'll see my dad wearing pleated khakis, a polo shirt, and a pair of white and navy blue New Balances. Think I'm exaggerating? The proof is in the pudding.

The elements are all in place: shirt, pants, shoes.

The polo-khaki-New Balance ensemble is perfect for any occasion!

Don't let the blue color fool you. Them's 're khakis.

With such a stylish wardrobe, why WOULDN'T you want to impress the attractive airport employee with a few sit-ups while you wait for your plane to begin boarding?

2. The Career

It seems only natural that my passion for history and politics would translate into a job in that arena. Teaching these subjects over the past year and a half has been a priceless experience, but yesterday morning, I received an e-mail from a law school saying that I had been accepted into it's program. They even offered me a partial scholarship to boot. Now, it was just my safety school, so it wasn't like I was banging pots or speaking in tongues with excitement or anything. But the mere fact that it happened reminded me that I am now ready and increasingly excited to follow in my father's footsteps, get my J.D., and then spend the rest of my life serving my country, family, and fellow man, just like my dad.

3. The Drink

With the New Year, I resolved to give up candy and soda. I started to notice that my metabolism, once a tenacious machine that could turn bacon fat into weight loss faster than I could spit, has started to resemble a tired old man feeding ducks at the park. My body just doesn't absorb fat and sugar like it used to, so I decided to eliminate the junk food (not bacon, of course. That would be heresy. Just the sugars).

Celeste and I were at one of our favorite burger joints (Cook Out, baby!) when I ordered my first pink lemonade instead of my usual Sprite or milkshake. After drinking it entirely, Celeste and I discussed how there was way more sugar in that lemonade than there would have been in a can of diet soda.

"Diet soda?" said I. "I've never bought a diet soda. The only reason I've ever drank diet soda is because my dad consumes it like a diabetic consumes insulin, and as kids we were obsessed with pop, regardless of its quality or flavor." For dad it was like insulin. For us it was like cocaine.

My dad in his youth.

"Well, it's probably a heck of a lot better for you than that lemonade you just drank," Celeste responded.

Three nights later (last night), she came home from the grocery store with a 12-pack of Diet Dr. Pepper. I drank one with dinner, well aware that I was as I did, my genes and DNA strands were mutating with a fierce aggression. Part of me tried to resist; tried to convince the firing synapses in my brain that it was no good - a bad match. But the contents of the can continued to drain and mingle with the fluids of my system until the can was completely empty. The worst part of this twisted chemistry experiment? I liked it. In fact, I'm having one right now.

4. The Team

My dad's been taking me to USU Aggie games since before I can remember. Many of my earliest childhood memories were at Romney Stadium or the Dee Glenn Smith Spectrum. I accompanied my father to countless games, including the 1993 Silver Bowl in Las Vegas, the 1996 Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, and several Big West Tournaments at UNLV. The son of the former USU Student Body and Big Blue Club President, I was born to bleed Aggie blue.

This has made living in North Carolina difficult at times. Not only because I don't get to see the games in person like I used to, but also because there's no way for me to listen to the games over the radio. The occasional Aggie game will be televised on ESPN, but woe is us, we can't afford cable with our meager salaries.

Therefore, over the past year and a half, I've gotten into the habit of sitting at my desk glued to my computer screen, watching the score from Aggie games be updated in 30-second intervals by ESPN.com. For the average person, this is quite possibly the most boring activity known to man. I literally stare at a computer screen that offers me no pictures, no video, and no sound - just numbers - to see if my team has more numbers than the other team.

Last night's game against New Mexico State was huge for a lot of reasons, the main one being that there's a darn good chance USU will be ranked in the top 25 this week with the victory. As midnight rolled around, I finally gave into sleep and went to bed. The Aggies had a comfortable lead and I had meetings early this morning. So I conceded to sleep, confident that we would win, keep our impressive winning streak alive, and crack the top 25 come Monday.

But in the recesses of my mind, as my body lie motionless and the rhythmic pace of my deep, slumbering breaths filled our dark room, a nightmare came upon me. I dreamt that New Mexico State had come back in the second half. I was in the stands watching, horrified at the prospect of losing to our hated conference rival. There were only a few seconds left in the game, and Utah State had a slim 2-point lead. New Mexico State inbounded the ball to their all-star Troy Gillenwater. Gillenwater launched a deep ball from well beyond the 3-point line. As the ball floated in mid-air, suspended in slow motion, the red light of the buzzer kicked on, and a loud horn signaled the end of the game. 10,000 terrified fans, including myself, watched the ball as it came closer and closer to the basket. Time and space seemed to disintegrate, and all that was left was that ball, moving on its journey to triumph or tragedy. Then, after what seemed like minutes, the ball fell through the basket with perfect trajectory, kicking up the net without bothering to touch the backboard or rim. Chaos ensued as the New Mexico State team rushed the court to hoist up their champion, and fans began to curse and spit and shake their fists at the heavens. I was ready to weep my way through sorrow when, quite suddenly, my face lifted off my pillow, and I found myself in our silent, dark bedroom once again.

I immediately stood up, walked over to the window, and grabbed my phone. The clock read 3:20 a.m., but my mind was as sharp as a butcher's meat cleaver. With pedantic accuracy and purpose, I finger-tapped my way to my ESPN.com and summoned the final score from last night's game. I exhaled heavily and my heart rate normalized as I saw that the Aggies of USU had, in fact, pulled out the victory, a solid 59-49 win in front of a national audience.

So what does this have to do with my dad? Well, not much at first glance. Sure, he was at the game, and was cheering the way he always did. But then this morning I was thinking about it, and I thought to myself: "Who, besides myself, has probably had nightmares about the Aggies losing something as trivial and eternally meaningless as a basketball game?"

Only one person came to mind: my dad.

The Top 10 of 2010

2011-01-02T11:47:00.000-08:00

The year 2010 has come and gone with the speed of a juiced-up jackrabbit. Let's revisit some of our finest moments, shall we? This is the Top 10 of 2010, in no particular order:

1. European Vacation
While we did have a few moments that felt like they could have fit into a National Lampoon’s film (full sprints through the Barcelona airport, nearly getting run over on the left side of the road, jet lag that lasted a good 400 hours), for the most part, our first trip across the pond together was one for the ages. We spent time in Ireland, London, Paris, and Spain. We toured castles, climbed to the top of Notre Dame, swam in the Mediterranean Sea, and spent two nights in what felt like an abandoned Parisian brothel – you know, the basics.

2. Year One Done
There were times during the first year of teaching where I honestly couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, like while threatening a student with a baseball bat, or while sitting through a faculty meeting that was about as productive as microwaving a gerbil. Nevertheless, we made it through the wild and crazy year, and we count ourselves fortunate to have made it out alive. First year teaching highlights were...um…sparse. But I did take my kids on a field trip to D.C., and that was pretty dang cool.

3. Special Guest Speakers
Celeste and I both feel blessed to have fathers who know their stuff. My dad is an encyclopedia on the subjects of American history, government, and the law, and Brooks is a world-renowned geologist/paleontologist. And as luck would have it, both of our fathers are experts in the subjects that we teach. So in October, Herm-Daddy came to North Carolina and gave a discourse to my students on Native Americans, specifically the Navajo. Not only did he bring arrowheads, sand paintings, and dreamcatchers for the kids to hold and see, but he also brought them Utah State t-shirts, so that their love for USU could soar like eagle.

Brooks came in December, and gave Celeste’s students a crash course in digging up dinosaurs, and brought in skulls and fossils for them to hold and handle. Brooks explained how dynamite is used to blow away the rock above fossils, and asked one unsuspecting student what would happen if a giant rock fell on them because they weren’t practicing good safety techniques. The student responded with perfect scientific eloquence: “It ain’t no more you.”

4. Seein’ the East
We traveled a lot in 2010 (about 45,633 miles, to be precise), and much of that travel took place on the east coast, including Maine, New Hampshire, Boston, Charleston SC, Savannah GA, The Outer Banks NC, Asheville NC, Tampa FL, New York (twice), Williamsburg VA (thrice), and Washington, D.C. (thrice). They say you’re never too far from anything on the east coast, and we’ve done our best to cash in on that doctrine.

Charleston, South Carolina

Portland, Maine

5. The Holy Union of Bonnie and Matt
A sibling’s wedding ranks right up there with baby births, anniversaries, and the Super Bowl in terms of eternal significance. And Celeste’s sister Bonnie’s wedding was no exception. We flew out to Utah in October and met Matt for the first time, and quickly discovered that his unpredictable, off-the-cuff personality was a perfect fit for our Boopers. We fully endorsed the marriage, and any children they might produce. Love you guys!

6. ‘Tis the Season
Thanksgiving and Christmas were very special this year. Maybe it’s because we stayed out of Utah (du dun, chsshh). Maybe also because we spent Thanksgiving with my cousins in Florida who I haven’t seen together since I was probably 10 years old. I also saw a long-lost aunt, and an uncle who I hadn’t seen in years. What a perfectly wonderful reunion that was.

Christmas was equally exquisite. We spent it with Celeste’s Uncle Dan and Aunt Jeanne in New York, then spent a couple of days in Manhattan visiting old friends. All the holiday fun without the cross-country pilgrimage.

7. Law School Applications…again
You know you’ve had a pretty lame year if applying to law school makes the highlight reel.

8. Missionary Visits
In March, my little sister Josie came to North Carolina to pay us one last visit before she left on her mission to Oakland, California, where she is still currently serving. In December, Celeste’s brother Ben came out for a long weekend to pay us a last visit before his mission to Santiago, Chile (he leaves in about a week). Also, my brother Clay and his wife Jen came out to visit us in April, and he used to be a missionary, so I guess he fits in this category.

9. RALLYing the Troops
Politics is messy, confusing, and even deceiving business. Thank goodness we’ve got Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert to tell us what to think…and do! When they told us to come to their Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear on the National Mall, we didn’t think twice. Neither did my two sisters, Mandy and Kristen, who both flew to North Carolina to spend a few days before the big show. It was a good time, and I’m pretty sure I’m 20% more patriotic now.

10. An Outpouring of iLove
On Christmas morning, 2010, I received an iPhone 4 and an iPad. Holla!!! Now, I know some of you just rolled your eyes, but for you techy nerds and gadget wizards out there, you understand that such a boon for one man in one day is very Top 10 worthy, maybe even Top 5.

It’s been good, 2010. Be good, 2011.

A House Full of Britts

2010-12-18T07:36:00.000-08:00

We toured the North Carolina State Capitol Building with Dad - and we discovered the State Geologist room on the third floor. He was so excited!

For those of you who don't know, my brother Ben is leaving on his mission to Santiago, Chile in January. I'm so proud of him! Because we aren't going home for Christmas this year, we decided that he should visit us before he leaves. After we made the travel arrangements, word came through that Dad had some business to take care of in Washington, DC around the same time and so he decided to visit us before heading up to DC. It was so great to have them both here and to get to show them some of the highlights of life here in NC.

This is an actual piece of "art" proudly displayed on Henderson's Welcome Avenue. We thought Ben and Dad should see it.

The first highlight (and the main one in our lives) is school. Dad not only came to school with me - but he taught all of my classes all about Dinosaurs. It was so amazing. He was a great guest speaker and had the kids laughing and askin questions. That's what happens when your Dad is a world-renouned paleontologist and you happen to teach Earth Science. Thanks for sharing your great wisdom with us, Dad!

On Saturday we spent the morning playing tennis and bacci ball. It was a little chilly, but a great time. Dad got to use Andre Agassi's raquet and played like a pro! Ben showed off his tennis skills recently acquired during his Senior year. We hadn't played together since he joined the team last spring, so it was really awesome. Check out some sweet action shots!

That night we all went to a University of North Carolina basketball game. Jackson got us some "upgraded" seats at half time and we enjoyed the game in comfort.

Saying goodbye to Ben at the end of the weekend was hard, but I'm so proud of him and I know that he'll be a great missionary. I love you Ben!! Thanks for coming out and spending such a wonderful weekend with us. Dad, I hope you'll come out again soon!

EminOlsen

2010-12-09T18:10:00.000-08:00

Teaching is a battlefield of the mind. You've got to find ways to keep the students engaged and invested in their education. If you don't, the streets will provide a Cornucopia of illegal alternatives.

So as a teacher, I've always tried to keep my material fresh, even when it comes to topics seemingly booky like the Gettysburg Address. How does one get a gang member to give a flying crap about Lincoln's tribute to a blood-soaked battlefield?

Speak their language.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!!!

2010-12-05T15:35:00.000-08:00

The first snowfall of the year

When we first arrived in North Carolina, I remember asking a colleague if we could expect snow during the winter.

"It hasn't snowed once in the six years that I've been here," was her reply.

Shortly thereafter, we were hit with a (child size) blizzard. Five inches of snow covered the central region of North Carolina. School was canceled for three days straight, and all the essential food items had been ransacked from the grocery stores as though the War of Revelation had begun (see our post on 2/6/10). Celeste and I didn't mind our old wintery friend snow, while those around us treated it as though it were extra-terrestrial - strange and threatening.

Fast forward to last night, when we received our first (and maybe last) snow of the season. This time it was a modest 1-2 inches, but it still kept people locked in their houses and off the streets. Needless to say, it was a lonely drive and a meager crowd at church today.

For us, we couldn't be happier. Seeing as we won't be returning to Utah for Christmas, this little skiff may be the only taste of a "White Christmas" we'll have. And call me old fashioned, but I've always had a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit when it's 70-degrees outside and people are driving around with their convertible tops down like they're some kind of bigshot. Snow makes the spirit of the season come alive, and it's a joy and a privilege to build a snowman, make a snow fort, or put a snowball down your little sister's shirt. While this storm's snowfall won't last through the night, it was a baby Christmas miracle just the same.

To go along with our Winter Wonderland out here, we decided to buy a Christmas tree and decorate the crap out of it - something we didn't do last year, probably because holiday decorating seemed too luxurious and comfortable for the sweat-soaked, feverish lives we were living. This year's been much easier on the body and soul, so we drove into town and found a man selling trees he had grown on his own farm in the boonies of Carolina. He was a good ole country boy with a Southern accent as thick as a heffer. I pretended to be one too, despite the fact that I had driven up in a Honda Fit. I even brought gloves to make me look like I knew what the heck I was doing when it came to Christmas trees.

Our first North Carolina Christmas Tree

We brought the tree home, busted out the Christmas decorations, then started hanging lights and ornaments while "Elf" played in the background. We even had cookies and milk. It was on that night, during that cute little moment of tree trimming, that we finally started to feel the Spirit of Christmas.

The other major event of the week was our one-day weekend getaway to Washington, D.C. We've had plenty of these over the last year and a half, but never before to watch a Utah State sporting event. When we found out USU was going to be playing Georgetown at the Verizon Center in D.C., we couldn't help ourselves (or Celeste would say, I couldn't help myself).

The game didn't go the way we wanted, and we ended up losing by 17 points. But the game was close for the entire first half, and it was fun just to watch us play such a talented team (they were ranked 16th in the country at the time). The game also allowed us to reconnect with dozens of old friends and alumni from Utah State: Pres. Stan Albrecht, VP Ross Peterson, former VP Michael Kennedy, and my old friends David Lee, Tanner Cooley, Chris Barney, Nate Needham, Scott O'Dell, Jason Soffe, Tristan Anderson, among others. But for the game itself, we had a wonderful time. Next time we'll just have to remember to score more points.

Pregame Alumni Breakfast in downtown D.C.

If only we could have kept that lead.

In the Land of the Palm Tree, Orange Grove, and Boiled Peanut

2010-11-29T11:17:00.000-08:00

When a southerner asks you if you want a bowl of peanuts, there's a good chance you misunderstood their drawl. A "boiled" peanut is a Southern delicacy and a staple in the Southern Food Pyramid. It also tastes like wet cardboard wrapped in a soiled diaper.

While we didn't eat any boiled peanuts this weekend, we sure had plenty of opportunities. On our whirlwind Thanksgiving tour of the southern states, we passed boiled peanut vendors, orange tree orchards, and more fireworks superstores than you could shake a stick at. For a moment, I was back in my mission, wearing a black name tag and gaining weight by the minute. You'd think North Carolina would be the same, but it's not. It's very Yankee in comparison.

Our first stop was Savannah, Georgia. Sweet Moses, what a beautiful city it is. It's a lot like Charleston: full of cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and authentic Southern homes that predate the Revolutionary War. We didn't stay long, but in our brief 2-day stint, we fell in love with that city.

City Hall, Savannah, GA

We then headed further south, into uncharted territory. Neither Celeste nor I had ever been to Florida. We had seen enough pictures, though, that we weren't surprised at the fruit stand at every mile marker, the palm trees that lined the roads and the highways, and the 85-degree weather at the end of November. We felt slightly guilty when we received news from Utah that they were facing a bona fide blizzard and sub-zero temperatures. It sounded so awful and we got so cold that we may have even turned the air conditioner off. I don't remember.

We had the BEST time in Florida, and not because of Florida itself. I mean, sure, it was nice, but it was truly wonderful to be with family for Thanksgiving - something we missed out on last year. This year we stayed with my cousin Rob and his wife Janelle. The fact that they had two 5-month old twins at the house was a huge bonus in our favor. We got to play with the boys all day long, and I don't remember changing a single diaper (although I was vomited on).

Dylan is dazed, Nickolas is ready to fire.

Thanksgiving Day was exactly what it should be: family, food, and football. I saw family from my dad's side that I hadn't seen in over a decade. My cousin Michelle, my Uncle Mike and Aunt Sherry, and my Aunt Cathy who I hadn't seen since I was seven. Crazy how we let time get away from us. The next thing you know, you're twenty years older.

The Fam

On our way back to North Carolina, we stopped in Charleston, South Carolina, where I served 16 months of my 24-month LDS mission. Charleston will always feel like home, in part because of the wonderful people who remain there. One such person, Sarah Buggs, is one of the best friends I will ever have. I taught and baptized Sarah in 2005. During that time and since then, she has been burdened with more medical problems than most people experience in a lifetime, from cancer to knee replacements. On more than one occassion, doctors have braced Sarah and her family for the bad news that death was no longer knocking, but in the kitchen. With the faith and patience of Job, Sarah has braved the storms, beat the odds, and kicked death to the curb. She is a walking miracle, and on Saturday, Celeste and I were able to visit her again and spend some time with her in her home. It was an emotional but happy meeting. Every time I see her, I say to myself that it might be the last. Every time I say that, she proves me wrong.

It was a long and wild trip, including 4 states, 5 cities, 1,500 miles, 2 twins, 2 cousins, 2 aunts and an uncle, lots of food, lots more pie, 7 football games, and about 50,000 calories a piece. We couldn't have written it better ourselves.

Beautiful downtown Charleston, SC

Sick as Dogs

2010-11-21T17:42:00.000-08:00

If you were to walk into our front door right now, you'd see Celeste lying on the couch in her pink polka-dotted bath robe and her black stretchy pants. Surrounding her is a garbage bag, empty cups of herbal tea, discarded Dayquil packages, and an army of used tissues. It's not a pretty sight.

Celeste got decent for the photo shoot.

And while Celeste is in the thick of a sickness bubonic in nature, I have only just escaped from its coughy, achy, soar-throaty grip. We each missed a week of church, and we each missed two days of school. I could have probably used three days. I know this because on the day that I came back to school, a colleague walked in my room to tell me about an upcoming field trip. Our conversation went something like this:

"Hey Mr. Olsen. How you doin'?"

"Not great, Miller. But I'm here."

"Well, you look like sh*#. I'm just going to throw that out there."

"Thanks, Miller. Thanks."

Me, giving up on life.

Now, while the last seven days have been anything but a parade of puppies, but we're hopeful and optimistic going into this week. On Tuesday, we'll be driving 11 hours to Tampa, Florida where we'll be spending the holiday weekend with the extended Olsen family. We can hardly wait. This 70-degree weather has gotten a little too brisk.

How we feel.

Musical duels, Law School, and We Are the Champions!

2010-11-13T16:37:00.000-08:00

We've been lazy with the blog lately, and I'm sure you've all been chewing your fingernails into bloody stubs in anticipation for more news. Rubbing alcohol should do the trick. Our lives are a robust mixture of mayhem and meetings, juvenile misfits and zealous Mormons, with just a dash of balance and a pinch of sanity. C'est la vie.

So for starters, Celeste and I had some visitors a few weeks ago. My beautiful sisters Mandy and Kristen decided to come to North Carolina to see our schools, experience our classrooms, stay in our luxurious apartment, and in general, sponge up the splendor of rural North Carolina. Oh, and the fact that they came at the same time was a complete coincidence. And the fact that they happened to arrive on the very same weekend of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear was just a surprise. And, as you can guess, they had NO idea that we only live 3 hours from D.C., where the rally was held. Well, seeing as we had no other major plans, guess where we ended up going? That's right. Waffle House. Oh wait, that was just me. I meant WASHINGTON, D.C.!!!

Good times were had, and the rally was incredible. It was basically like a two-hour episode of the Colbert Report and the Daily Show mixed with Shakespeare in the Park. There were several bits, skits, and musical guests, including the most amazing musical duel between Cat Stephens and Ozzie Osbourne (Peace Train vs. Crazy Train). It was...scrumtralescent.

Once the insanity of the sanity rally wore off, I finally had the time (and the sanity) to submit the last of my law school applications. As in, they're IN. Those accursed, painfully drawn out applications are finally in the hands of the schools to which I seek admission. Now all we have to do is endure another painfully drawn out process: waiting for their response. The schools we've applied to are as follows:

-University of North Carolina
-University of Utah
-Northeastern University (Boston)
-American University (DC)
-Howard University (DC)
-Catholic University (DC)

We're taking bets on predictions, so cast your votes now!

And finally, last week I coached what will likely be my final middle school football game. I know, I know. You're all saying, "Contract extension, salary increase, blue chip recruits". Trust me, I've heard it all before, and I just can't see myself doing it again, despite the glamorous perks that would most assuredly be mine. On the brightside, however, the HMS Rams finished the season with a 7-1 record, clinching the MAC-9 Conference Championship. Here's a link to a story ran by our local paper: http://hendersondispatch.com/view/full_story_sports/10156194/article-Rams-win-MAC-9?instance=main_article

All is well in Tar Heel Country. Until next time, farewell.

A Wedding Story

2010-10-24T17:38:00.000-07:00

Jackson and I at Bonnie and Matt's reception

Last weekend Jackson and I were able to go to Utah in celebration of my sister Bonnie's wedding. We took off Friday afternoon and were able to stay through Tuesday! It was wonderful to be with family and enjoy all of the festivities of a wedding done right.

Not only did we get to see immediate family, but much of my extended family was able to attend and it was great to chat with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Enjoying a waterfall with my mom, aunt Anne, uncle Dave and aunt Beverly

Cute Lynlee on the swings

Tuesday was the main event. Bonnie and Matt are almost the cutest couple ever (second only to Jackson and I) and they were both grinning from ear to ear for the entire day. The ceremony was beautiful, and the celebration was a booming good time.

Lynlee dancing away in her pretty dress

Just what he's been waiting for...

Matt, always a jokster, couldn't help but pull this off in the midst of family and friends. He went in for the garter, and instead proudly displayed some surprising lingerie... I believe in Ireland they are also called sloggy pants (that's for you Mandy). I think it's safe to say there will never be a dull moment when Bonnie and Matt are around. I am so glad that he's officially part of the family.

Ariel, Sarah, Crystal and I before the reception

We danced the night away before rushing to the airport that night. My sisters and brother are amazing, it was sooo much fun to have the whole family together and have such a wonderful cause for celebration.

Sarah, Lynlee and I dancing with the beautiful bride

Aggies, Williamsburg, and a Very Special Guest Speaker

2010-10-14T06:02:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, my parents decided to pay Celeste and I a visit. My dad had depositions to do in Williamsburg, VA, and seeing as that's only a 2-hour drive from where we live in NC, my mom decided to join him and make it a family affair.

The party really got started on the evening of Friday, October 1st. Celeste and I had arrived a few hours before my parents in Williamsburg (they had flown into D.C. and were on their way), and had staked out a nice booth at the local Chili's Restaurant from which we could watch the USU-BYU football game. When my dad asked us to find a good place to eat, he gave us two requirements: good food, and a clear view of the game. Because of the horrendous D.C. traffic, their drive to Williamsburg took longer than expected, costing my dad the entire first half of the football game, which, as far as football goes, was as beautiful as Monet and as harmonious as Mozart. The Aggies were up 24-3 at halftime. When my parents finally pulled into the Chili's parking lot, I ran out to greet them, jumping and shouting. My mom remembers me saying something like, "I don't know if I'm excited to see you or just excited cause the Aggies are winning!" Either way, I was excited.

The second half was almost as good as the first, like having vanilla ice cream after just eating Cookies 'n Cream. It didn't measure up to the 1st act, but it was still sweetly delicous. My poor mother and wife tried to have a conversation with my father and I, but the two brutes at the table were so engaged with the game (and the fact that we were WINNING the game), that they couldn't get through a sentence without us grunting in disappointment or cheering wildly with approval. For once in a very long time, the Aggies produced more cheers out of us than grunts.

All the while, of course, we were in Williamsburg, Virginia, and the local crowd seemed a bit perplexed at the showing of jubilation that came from the strangers in the booth. In fact, everyone else in the restaurant was probably disappointed that there wasn't another game on, but for the four of us (or at least two of us) it was bliss. We cheered and hooted and hollered and didn't give a dang about what people thought. When the final seconds ticked off the gameclock, the Aggies had secured its first victory against our most despised of rivals in 17 years.

With the tone appropriately set for the rest of the week, the four of us enjoyed each others company while mini-golfing, playing tennis, watching movies, and touring Colonial Williamsburg, all of which would have felt a bit vacuous had it not been for the Aggies' win. On Sunday, we all traveled down to Oxford, NC, and my parents stayed the night at our cozy two-bedroom apartment.

Now for the guest speaker part:

Knowing that my dad would be in town, and with a few weeks of prep time, I was determined to have him come into my classroom and speak to my students. About what, I didn't care. I teach social studies, history, government, and civics, all of which I have considered my father to be an expert on since I was a child. We talked it over in the weeks prior and decided that the students would be most interested in his experience with and knowledge of the American Indians, particularly the Navajo. I tied this into my unit, arranged a lesson plan, and got the go ahead from my superiors.

That next morning, I was joined by both of my parents at school. I told my students that there would be a guest speaker that day, but I didn't tell them who. My parents sat at the back of the room in student desks, and as my students came into class, they looked at them suspicously. To my great relief, they were relatively well-behaved that day, making it appear to my parents that I was a good teacher, which we all know is a load of bull-jive. As I began to introduce the speaker, I said something to the effect of:

"We have a very special guest speaker in our class today, who has traveled over 2,000 miles to be in our classroom today. His name is Herm Olsen. Now, you might be thinking to yourselves, 'Hey, he's got the same name as Mr. Olsen!' And you might also be thinking to yourselves, 'Hey, he kind of looks like Mr. Olsen!' And you might be thinking to yourselves, 'That must be Mr. Olsen's dad!' Well, if that's what you're thinking, then you're dead right. The man in the back of the room is my father, and the lovely woman sitting next to him is my mother."

At this, every head spun around and every body turned to look at the guests in the room, this time with new eyes. My parents smiled and waved, and the kids turned back to me with smiles that dwarfed every other feature of their face. One of my favorite students, Jasmeika, then asked "Is that yo' fo' real daddy?" I responded, "Yes, Jasmeika. That is my fo' real daddy."

Then my dad - I called him the ORIGINAL Mr. Olsen - gave his presentation, telling my students about life on the reservation, the Navajo way of life, and of course, his infamous scorpion story. My students were generally fascinated, well-behaved, and on point with their questions. Even my mother chimed in after a while, telling my students what life was like for her when she lived on the reservation. My dad then passed around authentic Navajo artifacts (arrowheads, sandpaintings, and the like). As time ran out, he gave his closing remarks, and the students applauded his heroic presentation. It was awesome.

It was even more awesome for my homebase class. Remember, they're the ones that I nicknamed the "USU Aggies". If that doesn't sound familiar, look at the mid-September post that explains it all. Anyway, my dad, being the slick charitable type, arranged with the folks down at Locker 47 in downtown Logan to get Aggie t-shirts for all of my homebase. Just before my homebase transitioned to their next class, my dad passed out the shirts to a group of wide-eyed, smile-stuck teenagers, who I now call "Aggies-in-Training." They were touched at the kind gesture, and the following Friday, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY HOMEBASE STUDENTS WORE THEIR AGGIE SHIRTS TO SCHOOL!!! It was amazing. It was awesome. It was...so cool that I can hardly put it into words.

It's been a couple of weeks since this all went down, and I've had ample time to pause and reflect on how special that experience was for me. Thanks, mom and dad. Thanks for the visit. Thanks for your support. Thanks for being brave enough to come Henderson and meet our kids. Thanks for the t-shirts. Thanks for your love.

These, Our Lives...

2010-09-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

Celeste and I wake up every morning between 5:15-5:45. I'm usually up by about 5:15 to give me ample time to read. Right now I'm in the middle of "Founding Brothers" by Joseph Ellis (which won the Pulitzer Prize in 2001, FYI). I eat a few bowls of cold cereal, do a few pull-ups, then get showered and ready for the day. Celeste usually packs our lunches, which are almost exclusively assembled from leftovers from the night before. Grilled chicken and rice is always on the menu.

We're at school before 7:00. The drive from Oxford to Henderson is short - about 10 minutes - and is usually complimented by a stunning sunrise over the kudzu and pine tree alleys. We usually listen to NPR (or National Communist Radio, as my father-in-law would call it) and get our fill of the current events. Absent from this year's daily drives is the overwhelming panic in our hearts that used to nearly cripple us as we'd approach each new day. It's been replaced by some strange sensation that we're still getting used to. I think they call it peace of mind.

When the kids arrive, Celeste and I become experts in the fields of American History and Earth Science. I tell my kids that Columbus isn't necessarily the hero their previous teachers made him out to be, and Celeste fills their head with crazy ideas like the earth is billions of years old. Pshhh...where's that in the Bible? This week I get to teach about the Boston Massacre and the American Revolution. Celeste is moving on to plate tectonics. You can even check out her class website at http://nvhsearthscienceolsen.wikispaces.com. Celeste's students use that website everyday because they've each been issued laptops by the school as part of a 1-to-1 initiative. Pretty cool stuff.

When the bell rings at the end of the day, I put on my coaching hat and hardcore sunglasses to make me look tough next to the other coaches. All of them played college football. All are 250 lbs. or more. All are black. All have arms thicker than my waist. What I lack in size, I make up for with confidence, football know-how, and that big golden championship ring I got in high school for being the 3rd string quarterback when my team took state. Good times.

While I'm out on the field yelling my throat soar, Celeste is usually in her classroom, helping kids keep up or catch up in her academically rigorous course. She's a tough one, that Celeste, but she follows her stern disposition and high expectations with empathy and compassion, and is more willing than most teachers to go the extra mile to help a student in need.

When practice is over, Celeste picks me up (we still carpool everyday, and still only have the one car) and together we head back to Oxford. Where we once came home to several more hours of work and lesson planning for the next day, this year we've been able to enjoy our evenings together, doing any number of activities: cooking elaborate meals, hanging out with friends, or going to sleep before the sun sets. We still have the occasional evening where the demands of our jobs require our attention, but it's a far cry better than what it was last year. We also have church duties that require a lot of our time and attention, but the thought of giving God more time and service doesn't bother us. I go to meetings, do service projects, play the piano a lot, and Celeste gets to teach cute little primary kids.

We close each night with a prayer of thanks, grateful to God for such wonderful lives. We make a living out of making living better for others. We get paid to improve the lives of others, in a very real, tangible way. That's feels good. Really good. It's a feeling I've got to chase.

Proud to be an Aggie!!!

2010-09-05T14:35:00.000-07:00

Utah State hey Aggies all the way!!! Go Aggies, go Aggies, hey, hey, hey!!!

Okay, now some of you might think that I'm just hot on the Aggies because they played GREAT football against #7 Oklahoma last night, AT Oklahoma. Under the bright lights and in front of 90,000 screaming Sooner fans, the Boys of Blue really shined. We took it to Oklahoma, surprising them and the nation. Sure, we didn't win, but we kept it close until the very end, and sent Oklahoma fans home wiping the sweat from their arrogant brows. The truth is, I was going to blog about the Aggies this week anyway. This weekend's football game just got me more jazzed up than I had planned to be.

As a second year teacher, I've discovered that I have more time in my schedule and more free space in my brain to try new and fun things, now that much of the stress in my life has been removed like a cancerous tumor. I have the ability now to try to implement some outside-of-the-box thinking into my classroom. So, in that vein, this year I decided to nickname each of my classes by a different college (I assigned class nicknames by the alma mater's of each classes homebases classes - for example, their science teacher went to ECU, so they're the Pirates, etc...). The idea here is to open up a dialogue about higher education and remove some of the negative stigma that these kids have for college. My homebase happens to be very lucky. They are the Utah State Aggies, even though they live in North Carolina and wouldn't know Utah from the Strait of Gibraltar.

In addition to the nicknames, I have a corner of my room plastered with college paraphanelia (College Corner). I've also instituted an optional dress code in my classroom. It's pretty simple, really. The only real proviso is that every Friday is college day, and kids (and teacher) wear college garb if they have it. This was only the first week, but we did have a few participants, and I was pretty happy with the turnout.

To really spoil my homebase, I got in touch with my friends Jen and Whitney Putnam at the USU Admissions office, and they sent me a USU banner, pennant, and a mess of USU pens and stickers, which I distributed to my homebase. They thought it was awesome.

I've always loved Utah State. And though I left it behind for a new chapter of life, and will likely never return except to visit, my heart will forever yearn for its song and Spectrum, and the silhouette of Old Main against a setting sun.

GO AGGIES!!!

Night and Day

2010-08-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

Night and day. That how we would describe the difference between last year's first week of teaching, and this year's first week of teaching. Let me elaborate:

Last year, we were: stressed, anxious, nervous, sweaty, unsure, overworked, high-strung.

This year, we were: confident, stern, in control, proactive, funny (all our jokes landed), and generally happy.

Last year, we used to hear the 2nd year teachers go on about how much easier teaching is the second time around. As they would say these words, we would watch on with wanton faces and wishful hearts like Martin Short and Steve Martin in The Three Amigos, when Chevy Chase empties his canteen onto the desert floor. We so desperately wanted to feel the sweet relief so many 2nd years spoke of.

This week, we did. We attribute our early success to the fact that we've had a year to build up reputations as taskmasters, and also the fact that we're simply more confident. When you're not confident, your students leverage that against you. This year, students kept their mouths shut when we spoke, and didn't dare to test our mettle. Darn tootin'.

Now, we're not under any grand illusions that the entire year will be this way. The bashful nature of our students will begin to wear thin, and before long, they'll put us to the test. But there's no question that our days will be easier, that we're stronger teachers than we were a year ago, and that life is generally a little better.

Year 2: commence.

New England Welcomes You!

2010-08-11T10:48:00.000-07:00

Jackson and I have just spent the past week experiencing New England. When we moved to North Carolina we decided that we needed to take advantage of our proximity to the East and see all that we could. With a few weeks before school starts, we took off on our last adventure for the summer.

I woke up on my birthday to a wonderful breakfast and a nice spread of gifts from my adoring husband. Afterwards we picked up our suitcases and headed out the door off to Boston, a fun, historical town close (enough) to family and the beautiful New England coastline.

In Boston we walked around Boston Common, went to the JFK library and went to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. It's always nice to visit a new city and to learn the history and culture of it that makes the town come alive.

In front of the Massachusetts Capital Building

Jackson at the JFK Library

The Red Sox lost 1-9 to the Cleveland Indians... Ouch!

We then drove to Highland NY to visit my wonderful Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Dan and their family. It had been a while since we've been able to be with the Coopers, and it was so great to see them!

Jackson and I with the Coopers - Dan, Jeanne and Nate over the Hudson River

While in Highland I thought that I was going to die. Seriously. Dan showed me how to drive an old Ford tractor. I had the gears and stearing down fine... but he forgot to show me where the brakes were (an easy thing to do because they are obviously placed right under the right leg, but I guess I needed him to point them out to me). I went down the driveway (and a hill) and got a little out of control. I was going way too fast and the driveway was curving. I was overcorrecting at every turn and was not slowing down. I started yelling for help (maybe it was more like screaming) and Jackson and Dan came running after me. Luckily I got the tractor under control and brought it to a standstill. Needless to say I was a little shaken, for a few seconds there I thought that I would for sure be trapped between a tractor and a tree!

Dan teaching me how to run the tractor

Leaving NY was hard (I always have a tough time saying goodbye to family), but we were back on the road to spend our anniversary in Maine. We spent the night in Portland and spent the next day exploring the port town and traveling down the coast to New Hampshire. It was so beautiful!

The Portland Head Light

Jackson enjoying some fresh Haddock

Yesterday we arrived back home. Now it's really time to get back to business. Teacher work days begin in just a few short days and the students won't be far behind.

Bragg and the Burbanks

2010-08-01T11:50:00.001-07:00

Several months ago, my parents came to visit us in North Carolina. I had the pleasure of picking them up from the airport and bringing them back to our cozy 2-bedroom apartment in Oxford. As we casually chit-chatted our way home, my mother mentioned to me that Jarom Burbank, a family friend who had graduated around the same time as a couple of my older siblings, and his wife and kids were now living in North Carolina. Jarom had joined the Army, and was serving as a military dentist on Fort Bragg. I was pleased to hear of a few fellow Aggies being so nearby, and made a mental note to contact Jarom in the near future.

Fast forward 1 week.

While at a church function on the night before my parents left for Utah, we just happened to run into the very same Jarom Burbank in Raleigh, NC, about an hour from both of our houses! What are the odds?!

Jarom wasted no time in inviting Celeste and I down to Fort Bragg to visit, and Celeste and I wasted no time in taking him up on his offer. As soon as we got back from our travels in Europe and Utah, we were Bragg-bound.

It was a great little getaway, and it gave us a chance to make some new friends, see a stunning military facility, and to participate in one of my favorite pastimes: bashing BYU (Jarom and Desi, his wife, were both Ambassadors for Utah State, and both bleed Aggie Blue). It had been at least 10 year since I last saw Jarom, and had not at that point met his wife and kids: Anna, 3, a tornado, and Nia, 1, a tornado aggravater/playmate.

Fort Bragg was pretty incredible. There are 50,000 soldiers there, not including wives and families, which more than double that figure. It’s the home of the Airborne division of the Army, and is where many of the paratroopers of D-Day came to be trained, including the group in the HBO series Band of Brothers. It’s a very historic military base, and we were grateful to see it with the help of some very knowledgeable tour guides.

The trip was short, but sweet. And it had to be short, because in just another two days Celeste and I are heading to Boston, New York, and Maine to celebrate our anniversary and as a final hoorah before school starts back up. Now no one can say we didn't make the most out of this summer.

Home at Last

2010-07-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

Sweet Moses it feels good to be back.

Don't get me wrong, Europe was incredible and Utah was amazing, but anyone who has lived out of their suitcase for a month straight knows that it's a taxing affair. And oh the joy it was to come home and sleep in our bed. We actually napped for 5 hours on the day we got home, then slept in till noon the next day. I think we were "traveled out", if there is such a thing.

After awaking from our temporary sleep coma, I got a phone call from the stake presidency instructing me to be early for church today. You know where this is going, right? So anyway, you're talking to the new Elder's Quorum President/High Priest Group Leader (they just combine the priesthood bodies here on account of it being a branch. I'm sure that won't be time-consuming or challenging at all, right? Especially when school starts.

All is well here in North Carolina, where Celeste and I will enjoy a relatively carefree lifestyle for the next couple of weeks before we head to Boston/Maine for our anniversary. But when we return, it'll be all nose to the grindstone from there. Another school year lurks beyond the horizon. I can feel it in the water...

Europe vs. Utah - Who Wins?

2010-07-11T13:37:00.000-07:00

Canoeing on the Provo River

Europe and Utah...

These two geographic locations are rarely compared, probably on account of them being so radically different and distant from each other. We probably never would have done it either, but seeing as we just spent 2 weeks in Europe and are almost done with a 2-week trip to Utah, we figured why not?

EUROPE PROS: beaches (REAL beaches), castles, architecture, diversity, history (REAL history), crepes, Diagon Alley, chocolate, user-friendly public transportation, foot-traffic only streets filled with shops, restaurants, and street performers.

EUROPE CONS: public urination (mostly Paris), general absence of familiar faces, occasional language barriers, sketchy hotels

VS.

UTAH PROS: family, friends, childhood memories, wakeboarding, homemade rootbeer, Costa Vida, mountains, sunsets, mountain sunsets, shaved ice shacks, cheap matinees, 4th of July celebrations, driving on the right side of the road.

UTAH CONS: lopsided political system, Andrei Kirilenko, inversion, BYU

Well, we're a month into our summer vacation, and we've only spent 1 night at our apartment in North Carolina. We'll get back this week, but we still have a vacation to Boston/New England in a few weeks. Some of you might think that all this traveling is a little overboard, but ask yourself: what would you do if you had 2 months paid vacation? Doubtful any of you would just sit around. We figure we many never have the chance to travel like this ever again, so we might as well cash in while we can.

Jack, Les, and this place called Europe

2010-07-01T05:40:00.001-07:00

Last night at about 8 p.m., Celeste and I limped to our front door and stumbled through it, officially marking the end to our long and exhausting European adventure. What a fool I was to think that I would actually be blogging last night, as I had promised in my previous post. After visiting 6 cities, 4 countries, walking over 30 miles, having an airport sleepover, and finally learning the true meaning of jet-lag, blogging quickly dropped to the bottom of our priority list. Instead, our priorities went something like this: collapse, stand up, limp, collapse, shower, brush teeth, collapse.

All that said, Europe was INCREDIBLE. "Incredible" doesn't even do it justice. It was scrumtralescent. Seeing as there is no way to share everything with you without boring you and making my hands cramp, we're going to do a quick highlight reel, along with some rankings and just a sampling of the pictures we took that are sure to make you jealous.

STOP #1: Belfast and Derry, Ireland
DURATION OF STAY: 4 days
HIGHTLIGHTS: Seeing my sister Mandy and her husband Bryan, going to Bryan's work to see the sets and production offices of "A Game of Thrones", a new HBO series that will come out next year, eating a delicious meal in an Irish pub while local folk musicians filled the air with their music, touring Belfast City Hall, Dunluce Castle, The Giant's Causeway, seeing the most beautiful and emerald green coast under heaven, walking through Derry where "Bloody Sunday" occurred back in the early 70's (you know, the U2 song, British Army, the IRA and all that), teaching Mandy to play the guitar.
LOWLIGHTS: Being absolutely screwed up on sleep. Jet lag, coupled with the fact that the sun rose at 5 a.m. and didn't go down until about 11 p.m., was extremely unforgiving on our bodies. Never before had our internal clocks been so confused and angry at us.

STOP #2: London, England
DURATION OF STAY: 2 days
HIGHLIGHTS: Spending time with friends Andy and Erin and listening to their evolving British accents, The London Eye, an organ performance at St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and Parliament, Buckingham Palace, one of those cheesy but well-worth-it double decker red bus tours, seeing J.K. Rowling's house, a stroll through Hyde Park, discovering the magic of a raspberry sorbet on a sugar cone (over and over again), highly impressive street performers, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Trafalgar Square, Picadilly Circus, riding trains, the beauty of the Thames.
LOWLIGHTS: Only having 2 days there, developing blisters on the feet.

STOP #3: Paris, France
DURATION OF STAY: 3 days
HIGHLIGHTS: Climbing the narrow winding staircase to the top of Notre Dame, a romantic night stroll along the Seine River, Le Saint-Chapelle with stained-glass that gives you a headache just thinking about how it was created, the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo at the Louvre, King Louis' Versailles Chateau and gardens, and taking a rowboat out onto his personal canals, The Musee de l'Armee and Napolean's tomb beneath the Golden Dome of Invalides Cathedral, the Arc d' Triomph, watching the sun set atop the Eiffel Tower.
LOWLIGHTS: Having our hotel lose our reservation on our first night in Paris, forcing us to scramble for a place to stay, the place we ended up staying, the pillows at the place we ended up staying, discovering on day 2 that our shower was no longer in service at the place we were staying (do you see a trend here?) Not speaking the language, the Orly Airport, adding blisters on the hands to the existing blisters on the feet from the rowing at Versailles.

STOP #4: Barecelona and Valencia, Spain
DURATION OF STAY: 5 days
HIGHLIGHTS: Seeing Mandy again (she joined us for this last leg of the trip), attending church in Valencia where Celeste served her mission, seeing Celeste's apartments and meeting friends from the mission, swimming in the Mediterranean, La Mercat de St. Josep, touring La Sagrada Familia and learning about Gaudi architecture, beaching it up in Barcelona, walking La Rambla and watching in disbelief at some of the street performances, The Gaudi Musem and Casa Milla, The Montjuic Castle, Palace, and Fountain, The Picasso Museum, authentic paella, eating Celeste's favoirte Spanish treats and candies, walking Barcelona's endless web of charming streets, alleys, nooks, and crannies, more raspberry sorbet.
LOWLIGHTS: Pain with practically every step, discovering how much this whole thing cost us.

I know that's a lot to swallow all at once, so if you want to sift through all the info and find out what we enjoyed the most, Celeste and I have created a Top 5 list of things we did:

CELESTE'S TOP 5 PLACES, SITES, OR ACTIVITES:
1. The Irish coast
2. Swimming in Valencia in the Mediterranean Sea
3. Visiting the Mission
4. Cathedral of Notre Dame
5. London Double-Decker Bus Tour

JACKSON'S TOP 5 PLACES, SITES, OR ACTIVITES:
1. Dunluce Castle and the Irish coast
2. Swimming in Valencia in the Mediterranean Sea
3. The city streets of Barcelona
4. Cathedral of Notre Dame
5. Versailles Chateau and Gardens

Also, of the six cities we visited, we've ranked them in order of which we enjoyed the most. Be it known, however, that we enjoyed them all immensely, so there's really no dishonor in being last on this list.

CELESTE'S EUROPEAN CITY RANKINGS:
1. Barcelona, Spain
2. London, England
3. Valencia, Spain
4. Paris, France
5. Belfast, Northern Ireland
6. Derry, Northern Ireland

JACKSON'S EUROPEAN CITY RANKINGS:
1. Barcelona, Spain (without a doubt)
2. Paris, France
3. London, England
4. Belfast, Northern Ireland
5. Derry, Northern Ireland
6. Valencia, Spain

Now we're in North Carolina, but not for long. Tomorrow we leave for Utah and another 2-week vacation. Behold the fruits of being a teacher.

At the airport, near the end of a long, long journey

Last stop: Barcelona

2010-06-28T02:33:00.000-07:00

We´re not going to write much now. Our trip is winding down and we´re in our last city: Barcelona, Spain, where Celeste served her mission. Spain is incredible. The Mediterranean is warm and inviting, and the weather is perfect.

We fly home on Wednesday. Check back then for a proper synopsis of the last week of our trip and many, many pictures to accompany it.

We love you all, Marta.

Europe Week 1

2010-06-20T16:26:00.000-07:00

Well, we've only been in Europe for 4 days and we've already had plenty of adventures. Far too many adventures to share with you now on limited internet time with extreme jet-lag still plaguing us on a daily basis.

To sum it up very briefly, I almost got ran over by a car just minutes after landing in Dublin. Weirdest thing: they drive on the wrong side of the road here. Silly Europeans. We saw the Northern coast of Ireland, and yes, it is as green and beautiful as you could possibly imagine. We spent the majority of yesterday afternoon picking our jaws off the ground while we toured castles, ruins, and the greenest coast God ever made.

After 3 wonderful days in Ireland with sister Mandy and brother-in-law Bryan, we headed to London, which is where we currently are. We've only been here a day, but have already seen the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, St. Pauls Cathedral, and the inside of a pay toilet. Pretty amazing stuff. Also, I'm constantly tempted to bust out my Irish/British/Scottish accent (it all kind of blurs into one). Dangerous, right? I'm just waiting for myself to slip up and get punched in the face by a drunk Brit bitter about England's rubbish performance at the World Cup.

Anyway, that's all for now. So much happening. So much to come. Including pictures that will make you jealous.

Cheers!

The Last Day of School

2010-06-13T19:40:00.000-07:00

I wasn’t prepared for this.

All year long, I’ve been thinking (and sometimes daydreaming) about the last day of school. It seemed as though it would never come, like a carrot luring a donkey on the end of a stick. It didn’t seem to matter how many plans we made or events we scheduled for the summertime, it felt as though the school year would never actually release its kung-fu grip on our lives.

Then, very suddenly, it did.

I knew it was coming, too. For the last several weeks, I’ve been administering end-of-year tests, attending promotion/retention meetings, and cleaning out my classroom – all signs that the end was near, and that my time with these kids was quickly drawing to a close. So how did I get blindsided?

Thursday was the last day of school. Kids came in wielding yearbooks with grins plastered onto their faces. There was a generally jovial spirit about the hallways. Kids sat where they wanted to for the first time all year, and laughed and talked through much of the day. They watched a movie in one class; made ice cream in another; they played a review game in mine. All in all, it was a low-key, low-stress day for everybody.

My last class ended at 1:30. The bell rang (just as it had all year) and kids began to file out of the classrooms and into the hallway on their way to their next class (just as they had all year). At this point, the reality of the school year ending still hadn’t hit me, and I stood at my door, watching students walk (and run) away from me.

I knew something was different, however, when students started coming up to me to say goodbye. Goodbye? This was new. Some threw their arms around me, some just yelled, “See you Mr. Olsen!” as they walked by my room. As these goodbyes occurred one after another, I finally started to realize that I wouldn’t see most of these kids ever again. And while I probably would have rejoiced at this news back in September, it was June now, and part of me wasn't ready for goodbye.

Then came Antonio. He had been one of my favorite students throughout the year. He was the kind of kid that said very little, but when he did, it was worth remembering. True to form, Antonio didn't disappoint:

“It has been a pleasure to have had a teacher like you.”

He accompanied these words with a bashful grin and an outstretched hand. I shook it, and responded, “Antonio, it has been a pleasure to have had a student like you.”

With that he walked away, disappearing behind a corner down the hallway. By this point, I could feel the emotion welling up inside of me. I quickly retired to my classroom and closed the door behind me.

I started breathing heavily and staggered towards my desk in the back of the room as images of my students faces flashed in front of me. I turned off the lights so that passers-by would think I was away from my room.

Soon my heavy breathing gave way to a sustained weeping that went on for longer than I care to admit. I was a broken man at that moment, and there was nothing I could do to fend of the tidal wave of raw emotion. My body shook as I cried. I dropped to the floor and sat with my back against the wall in the back corner of my classroom. My door didn’t have a lock, which meant anyone could have walked in at any moment. I was in no mood to be seen, so I sat on the floor, hiding behind my desk, crying like a child in the lap of my mother.

Many of the tears were happy ones. I rewound many of my favorite moments of the school year and played them back in my mind. I thought about Christmas cards my kids had made me, about our field trip to Washington, DC, and about the time I came back to school after missing a day of work because of sickness to Gabrielle’s “Thank you, Jesus! Mr. Olsen’s back!”

Of course, many of the tears were born of grief. I couldn’t help but think about how many of them will never outgrow their poverty, and how even now some of them hardly have a place to call home. Some of them have already started their lifelong and life-ending careers in drugs and crime and violence, and it hurt because I wasn’t able to change that.

It took me awhile to regain my composure. I eventually did, returned to my feet and started to clean up the mess my kids left as they hurried out of my class. What a year it had been.

The Finish Line

2010-06-06T15:06:00.000-07:00

For the record, I tried to get the "Chariots of Fire" theme song imported onto our blog. I was unsuccessful, as you can see, so please read the following post with that song in mind. You know: Dun dun-dun, dun dunnn, dun, symbol crash, etc...

It's finally here: the last week of school.

Looking back, there was a time when being at this point of the school year was unimaginable. Back in September and October, when we were battered and bruised by the day to day of teaching, we didn't even allow ourselves to think of June, for fear that its false hope and promised triumph would only depress us and further encumber our work.

It's been a tough year. There were days when I honestly had to ask myself, "What am I doing?" There were days for both of us when we were pushed to - and nearly over - the edge. We can both still remember the first time we were threatened by a student, the first time we felt unsafe at school, or those memorable moments when they call you things you wouldn't feel comfortable repeating in front of Satan himself.

Of course, it wasn't all bad. For every student I had tell me they hated me, I had 10 that told me they loved me. For every kid we had to throw out of our classrooms, we had 20 that stayed and listened and learned. It's impossible to paint a rosy, unblemished picture of our first school year as teachers, but looking back over the last 10 months, we can't help but be happy for our victories, for the success of many of our students, and for the learning experience this grand social experiment has been.

This week we reach the finish line. In August, we start the race all over again.

Asheville Vacation/New camera

2010-06-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd just include some pictures from our Memorial Day Weekend vacation to Asheville, NC. We just bought a brand new Canon Rebel SLR camera for our trip to Europe, and Asheville was the testing grounds for our new toy. Click on the pictures to enlarge.

The Biltmore is the largest house in America, with 200+ bedrooms, 60-something bathrooms and 4 acres under roof. It was built by the Vanderbilt family in the late 19th century.

These pictures were taken just off the Blue Ridge Parkway that runs straight through the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was refreshing to see mountains again, small as they were.

Freeze Flame!

2010-05-23T15:43:00.000-07:00

There is no justice.

This week in Jackson's classroom the temperature ran into the 90's. No joke, 91 degrees in a classroom while end of year testing was taking place. Kids were sweltering, stifled by the heat escaping from the vents. Windows were opened, but were of little use as the temperature outside was barely cooler than it was indoors, and heavy with humidity. Jackson has been a champ, still wearing a long sleeve shirt and tie every day even though it's been warm enough to teach in swim wear.

Over at Northern Vance, temperatures in my classroom have plummeted into the 60's. High-powered air conditioning has sent my students into a learning coma. You know, the kind of coma that forces their arms are inside of their T-shirts, huddling against their desks trying to muster any form of body heat in order to survive. I've become a layering queen, arriving to school looking like I'm ready to teach in the tundra. By looking at my wardrobe you would have no indication that the temperature outdoors is regularly in the 80's. I even keep an extra sweater at school and lend it to students as they try to stay focused on the class and not on the cold.

For those of you who know us well, the irony of this situation is cruel. I am perpetually cold, running about 10 degrees cooler than the normal human. Jackson is a human heater, radiating warmth reminiscent of the sun, or at least a distant star.

We battle our temperature demons by day and in the evening I wrap myself up in a blanket (usually a stylish snuggie given to me by my adorable mother-in-law, Norma), while Jackson stands under the air conditioner as we stabilize our temperatures and prepare to face another day.

Race to the Finish

2010-05-16T18:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry we haven't updated our blog for a couple weeks. The world around us is abuzz with end-of-school fever, and it's making our lives busier than usual.

Tomorrow our kids will begin their end of year testing. It's basically the tests to determine whether or not they get promoted to the next grade (or in some cases, graduate). Our superiors have been talking about this week since the first day of school, emphasizing its importance to us (the teachers) and to the students at every opportunity. In a way it kind of reminds me of the tests that the kids had to take in the movie "Lean on Me" with Morgan Freeman. The state is watching very closely, and a lot is riding on these kids to pass. Sometimes I pretend that I'm in the movie "Lean on Me" and go through my workday with an awesome old school hip-hop soundtrack. Speaking of which, they ought to make a movie about Celeste and I being teachers. They could call it "Double Trouble" with a tagline like "The students of Vance County thought they could run the show. Till they met..." I'm going to talk to some people about that. I think it's magic in the making.

In other news, Celeste and I have been gearing up for some major traveling. We're going to the mountains of NC over Memorial Day weekend to do some mountain biking and to see the Biltmore Mansion (which, if you haven't seen or heard of, just take a look: http://biltmore.com/ It's incredible).

Of course, this trip will pale in comparison to our version of European Vacation, for which we depart in exactly one month from today. We're starting to finalize our plans, buy our necessary items (like cool matching fanny packs, Hawaiian shirts, straw hats, etc.), and study our history to make this trip as memorable as possible. Right now our itinerary calls for Ireland, London, Paris, and Spain. We'll see everything from Buckingham Palace to Notre Dame, and we'll do everything from float the Seine River to swim in the Mediterranean. And all this is just the cake. The icing on top is that we're still collecting paychecks through the summer - we're just not working.

Well, that about does it for this week. Check back next week for more fun stuff and an update on "Double Trouble"'s productions plans.

Cheers!

Field Trip to DC!

2010-05-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

This week I finally made good on my promise to take my kids on a field trip to our nation’s capital. I first made the promise on the first day of school, when I didn’t really know what the heck I was saying. I was just trying to invest my students. Throughout the year, I kept telling them that yes, the trip was still going to happen, even though I hadn’t started the process of approval or planning. It’s amazing how many lies I’ve told my kids over the year. No major ones; mostly just ones to keep them at bay or to catch their attention.

But on Thursday, the one-time lie became a truth. With approval from the principal and superintendent, I took a group of 80 students to Washington D.C. We left at 4:45 in the morning, leaving from the Henderson Middle School parking lot and arriving at the Washington Monument at about 8:30 in the morning. The kids (many of whom had never been to DC, and some of whom had never been out of the state of North Carolina) were immediately dazzled by the size of the structure. Standing at the Washington Monument, they could see the Capitol building to the east and the Lincoln Memorial to the west. It was at this point that the long drive and the stressful hours of preparation paid off. The kids were beaming. They were so excited to get a glimpse of the world, and to be out of Henderson, North Carolina.

From there we walked down to the World War II Memorial, then alongside the reflecting pool until we reached the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, where we stopped for a group picture. It was also at this point where I showed the kids the engraved block of limestone that marks the spot where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. The kids were fascinated with this, and with the Lincoln Memorial in general. Of all the characters they’ve learned about this year, Lincoln and King were their favorites.

We then made our way over to the Vietnam War Memorial, the black wall that lists the names of the 58,000 soldiers who were killed or went MIA during that tragic 9-year war. Before leaving for the trip, I dedicated a lesson to the Vietnam Memorial, to let the kids know about how controversial it was back in the early 1980’s, and how many Americans were passionately opposed to its construction. I walked my kids through its history, getting them to think critically about why there was such controversy. By the end of the lesson, I was impressed with their answers. One went something like this:

“Well, the point of a memorial is to remember something or honor something. But for a lot of people the Vietnam War was a terrible thing, so why would you want to remember it?”

-Antonio Castillo, 14

After that lesson, they even understood the symbolism of the dark wall compared to the bright and gleaming monuments that surround it. Of all the monuments and memorials in Washington, it is the only one that is a black or charcoal color, while the rest proudly boast a clean marble, or something close to it.

We then walked over to the Smithsonian Museum of Air & Space where we had lunch and let the kids browse the exhibits. It was a long walk, and some of the kids started to complain of hunger and fatigue. Then, when we finally did arrive, we didn’t have long to do soak in the museum, as our buses arrived shortly after our arrival there, ready to take us back to HMS.

As I rode home on the bus that day, reading and daydreaming, I wondered if the kids enjoyed themselves. I wondered if the trip was worth all the work and stress and money I had to personally put into it. I would have been devastated if they spoke ill of it the next day, telling their friends who didn’t go that they wish they, too, had remained behind. But the next day, to my great relief, the halls were buzzing with stories and experiences and praise for the field trip that I had worked so hard to engineer. People were sharing photos and looking at each others’ cameras and laughing and generally having a good time. That right there made the difference, and I’m already in the process of planning next year’s trip.

Light at the end of the tunnel...

2010-04-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

This week marked the 1 year anniversary of the day that we signed a contract with Teach For America. We had just rented out our house, I was a week away from graduating from USU, and our future - although planned - seemed as uncertain as ever. What did we know about being teachers? What did we know about the achievement gap in America? What did we know about racial and socioeconomic inequality? The answer: very little.

We did, however, have the tools necessary to succeed in the program and make a difference in the lives of our students:

1. A college degree (suggests some degree of intelligence)
2. Experience in rejection (thank you, LDS missions)
3. A genuine desire to serve and lift up the under-served, the poor, and the needy

This year has been an eye-opening experience, and has challenged us in ways we never thought we would be challenged. We have been exposed to a new world, and a different America that we knew and grew up in. Here poverty is commonplace, crime is an occupation, and education is often viewed as an obstacle, not a solution.

I don't remember any of that from my childhood. Sure, there were a few kids that I knew didn't have much money, because they lived in the trailer court near USU's Romney Stadium. And sure, there were a couple of kids who got in trouble with the police and ended up doing community service or going to an alternative school, but that was the case for less than 1% of my peers. Thinking back, I don't know that I can name a single classmate that dropped out.

So what does that say? What does that tell us about the world? The country? The education system? Well, to me it says there is work to be done, and I'm personally glad to be doing some of that work. It's not easy, it's often unpleasant, and it requires a stiff backbone. That's why I can't tell you how proud of Celeste I am. She has developed into a PHENOMENAL teacher. Her students respect her, and their test scores have climbed gradually all year long. She throws it down, people. I wish you could see her in action.

When we both started, we felt like we were drowning. Now we see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have only 3 more weeks of instruction before state testing begins. It's hard to believe this year is almost over. Many of our days seemed to drag on forever. But those days are behind us now, and we're looking ahead with enthusiasm and hope.

Teaching is not a glamorous profession, nor is it high-paying (or fair-paying, for that matter). But I love the feeling that comes from serving these kids, and it's something I'll never regret.

Spring Break!

2010-04-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

What a week we've had. Starting with Josie coming to visit, then Herm and Norma flying in from Utah, a trip to the beach and oh so much more. The biggest of the big was the fact that we had a break from all of our adorable students for a week. They're so adorable.

Our Spring Break was filled with many a fun thing, not the least of which was seeing that my sister is all grown up (she defended her master's thesis a few days ago, and was frantically working to prepare for that event while visiting us), and that my parents haven't changed a wit since we moved to North Carolina. Dad still does his old man version of push-ups and sit-ups every night, watches TV on mute until he stumbles upon a movie - any movie - in black and white, and never fails to wear his white gym shoes with pleaded khakis and a polo shirt. Mom still carries around a bag of black licorice candy, checks her facebook account whenever possible, and falls asleep the second she gets into a car. On top of all that, they both still make me proud to be their son. They're a wonderful pair, and I've been blessed to have them as my parents. Here are some photo highlights. Until next week, farewell!

DAD RUNNING FROM THE WATER LIKE A CUTE OLD MAN

CURRITUCK ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE, NC

CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSE, NC

MINI-GOLFING IN KITTY HAWK

WRIGHT BROTHERS FIRST FLIGHT MONUMENT

KAYAKING IN THE ALLIGATOR RIVER WILDLIFE REFUGE

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA LDS TEMPLE

Field Trip to the University of North Carolina

2010-03-28T15:09:00.000-07:00

This was a special week for my little ninyos. Working with the Tarheel Outreach Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 50 of our 72 students had the opportunity to take the 50 mile bus ride from HMS to UNC. It may as well have been on the other side of the world considering that Chapel Hill is a beautiful community filled with gorgeous houses, clean streets, and "Public Ivy" university. Henderson, on the other hand, has abandoned warehouses, public housing projects, and a lucrative drug trade.

It was a lot of fun, and we heard our kids arguing on the bus ride about which college they were going to attend. Those, I assure you, are the kinds of arguments a teacher loves to hear.

Here are some of the highlights of the day, which included games, activities, speakers, and a surprise encounter with Tyler Zellar, UNC's star 7-foot center on the basketball team:

Our Very First Visitors!!!

2010-03-14T12:57:00.001-07:00

Clay and Jen win the prize.

Ever since moving to North Carolina, we've offered the world an open invitation to come and stay in our roomy and luxurious 2-bedroom apartment and to taste a slice of the South with us. Well, this weekend, someone finally answered the call.

It was great to have Clay and Jen in our home and to show them a new portion of our lives. See, much of our dealings with our family friends only offers us the opportunity to give them the "surface" story of what goes on in our lives. It's hard sometimes to explain or describe what our lives are like on a daily basis, but this weekend Clay and Jen got to see our classrooms, walk through our hallways, and even meet some of our students. And that was just the beginning.

In their short stay, we saw Chapel Hill and Durham in all their glory (they seemed to really like the Southern-style homes), visited the campuses of Duke and UNC, watched a Duke-UNC baseball game, played tennis, and ate at all of our favorite restaurants. You'd have to ask them what their favorite part was, but for us, it was just being in the company of family. We're quite isolated from family out here in North Carolina, and it was nice to laugh and talk and spend time with them...other than on Skype or on a phonecall.

Now, they may have won the gold, but there is still plenty of time for y'all (and by "y'all" I mean everybody), to take silver and bronze, and any honorable mentions that may come after that. Don't be shy now. Come on out and let us show y'all what Southern hospitality is all about.

Knocking on Spring's Door

2010-03-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

The cutest couple in the world in front of the capital building in Colonial Williamsburg

As this week comes to an end, so does winter around these parts. We did experience a little snow on Wednesday night, but it looks like temperatures are steadily climbing with highs in the upper 60's for most of the week.

With spring just around the corner we are looking forward to bike rides, tennis, bacci ball, and of course, baseball season. (Jackson's first game as an HMS baseball coach is Tuesday!) But what we are most looking forward to are visits from family that are just around the corner! We can't wait! With the visits also comes SPRING BREAK which will mark the three-quarter point of our first year as teachers. For all of the hard work, sweat, blood and tears, looking back it has gone remarkably quickly so far.

While we await visits and the fun in the sun, we took another trip up to colonial Williamsburg. It does seem strange for us to go to the same place to vacation within a month's time, but we didn't actually plan this getaway. We put our names in a drawing at a local restaurant and surprisingly won. We enjoyed relaxing stay and some friends even came up to join us for a night.

Celeste enjoying a meal at the Victory Museum in Yorktown, VA

A tavern is a restaurant that serves colonial food with authentic entertainment and service.

Enjoying a meal at the King's Tavern with our friends Matt and Kay, good friends in TFA

Cute Jackson showing off the authentic napkin at the King's Tavern that was larger than a table cloth.

Hello, world!

2010-02-28T13:37:00.000-08:00

Jackson and Celeste "hiking" near Oxford, NC. At least that's what they call it.

Hello, and our most heartfelt greetings to all of you from North Carolina! We apologize that we haven't updated our blog for the last several weeks. On the ever-growing "to do" list of a modern-American teacher, blogging doesn't always claim a high priority. But today the sun is shining, life is good, and we want to share it with the world.

So the snow has melted (I just looked at our last post. Brrrrrr!), the grass is greening, and the air is getting more warm and welcoming by the week. Last Saturday Celeste and I played tennis outside in 60-degree weather. It has since cooled down a bit, but we're consistently in the high 40's to high 50's, which has been very nice. You know that smell that comes around every year that just smells like Springtime and happiness? Yeah, we've got that here. It's amazing.

Since our last post, quite a bit has happened. First of all, Celeste gave her students a Unit Test this week and her students did awesome. The class average was a 75% (up from 40% last semester!) Celeste has become an awesome teacher. Also in the classroom, I engulfed myself and my students into the Civil Rights Movement on account of it being Black History Month and all. The Civil Rights Movement has long been one of my favorite eras of American history, and this month only reinforced that. I got to teach my kids about Emmett Till, Rosa Parks, the Little Rock 9, the Greensboro Sit-ins (which took place just over an hour from where we live!), and much more.

It was amazing to see how well they responded, too. Many students who were failing or cared little about social studies suddenly came to life, and were some of my most engaged students. It was an incredible experience to teach the Civil Rights Movement to a predominantly black audience, in a school that used to be segregated, just down the road from famous Civil Rights battle sites. It was eye opening and yes, even a little life changing.

Kayshon and Stephanie, working on our Black History Month door decorating contest.

Early in the process.

Tonei, Stephanie, and Ki-Jana, still at work.

The finished product. If you look in the right upper corner, you'll see me smiling back at you.

Outside of the classroom, Celeste and I went on a romantic weekend getaway to Williamsburg, Virginia for Valentine's Day and had a ball seeing all the sights and traveling back in time. Williamsburg is a city everyone should visit before they die.

Celeste, ready to do battle at a Williamsburg gift shop.

Us at the Governor's Palace. Williamsburg, Va.

I also started coaching baseball. We're starting our 3rd week of practice next week, and have our first game on March 9th. It's a hoot to be out there with the boys, I tell you what. Hittin' and throwin' and catchin' and runnin'. "Ohhhh, man I wish I could go back in time. I'd take state." -Uncle Rico

Well, that about brings us up to speed. We have been truly blessed and are grateful to God for the opportunity to make the world a better place, one challenging day at a time.

A North Carolina Snowstorm

2010-01-31T13:43:00.000-08:00

We woke up early Saturday morning to the sound of sand-like snow pattering against our window. We had been told that it was expected to snow overnight, but laughed when the estimates got as lofty as 6-10 inches. Not here. This is North Carolina.

How wrong we were. We woke up to at least 6 inches of snow, not to mention the additional 2 inches that came sporadically throughout the remainder of the day. My hometeaching companion called me to cancel our visits, the Branch President called to inform us that church would be canceled. It was only a matter of time before we got word from our school district. It eventually came. No school tomorrow, and possibly Tuesday.

Celeste and I love to laugh at the common Southerner's reaction to a little snow, although we can't really blame them. It's a foreign concept and infrequent occurrence, so I guess their reaction is appropriate, albeit humorous.

What is their reaction, you ask? Well, at the sound of snow, my principal warned me to get to the grocery store, buy eggs, milk, and bread because it'd be gone soon. I thought he was joking, but as you can see from the pictures, he was being dead serious. People freak out down here, and figure that a snowstorm is a reason to cancel everything: school, work, shopping, living, etc. Seeing as we had all day to ourselves and we weren't really going to be doing much, Celeste and I thought it would be fun to take a drive to Wal-Mart, stock up on some goodies, and then watch movies under the cover of blankets. Below are some highlights from our trip to the store and back:

A barren, empty Wal-Mart (minus the Cherry Pepsi in the corner, of course)

These are homemade gators that Celeste made so her jeans wouldn't get wet walking through the parking lot. She's so cute.

See what I mean? People go CRAZY here at the rumor of inclement weather. But we're not complaining. Growing up in Canada, Colorado, and Utah prepared us for this kind of stuff. Now all we get to do is sit back, enjoy a day off of school, and watch the panic.

I Have a Dream...

2010-01-24T14:08:00.000-08:00

So to honor Martin Luther King and to celebrate his national holiday, I had my students listen to his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, then create one of their own. I told them to think about the biggest problems they see in the world, and then write a speech that targets that problem. Although I gave them a long list of options to choose from (world hunger, terrorism, the bad economy), I was amazed at how many students wrote about gang and domestic violence. I didn't really think about gang violence when I was in the 8th grade. Truthfully, I didn't even really know what it was. It's amazing the stark contrast of universes that I and my students grew up in. Not only do they know what gang violence is, they know what it looks like - firsthand.

I gave them 2 days to work on their speeches, and then they delivered their speeches at the end of the second day. After day 1, I was growing doubtful that any of the students their speeches seriously. But when I got back to class on Friday, I was amazed at how excited many of them were to share their speeches with the class. Of course, I couldn't record them all for you, but here are some highlights, recorded exactly as they were written by their authors:

"Now adays people are killing others for no reason at all like drivebys ad gangs. Whats your purpose? I live in Henderson and it not really the best city in the world. There is tons of violence going on here too. I have seen violence with my own too eyes. I have watch people died. I have lost people that were very close to me. We need to stop the violence."

-Kevonia Jones, 13

"The gang banging need to stop now cause people are getting killed for these different gangs. My cousin have been shot for no reason and he aint even in a gang. They shot the wrong person. But he is still living."

-Charlie Kersey, 14

"I have a dream that one day the struggle of violence will be over. Again and again we must rise up to the plate to stop all this violence in the world. Today in Henderson the school hallways are so that kis walk around and plan who they will kill. Martin Luther King Jr. once said "We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence." So we have to as a union stop this violence."

-Kedrick Person, 14

"This is the time for the change. This is the time for work. This is the time to put in so our children can get out. This is the time to wake up from this nightmare ad live the dream. This is the time for my dream, your dream, and Martin Luther King's dream to wake up and come to pass."

-Quindarius Dunston, 14

January in North Carolina

2010-01-17T14:34:00.001-08:00

This week was a little crazy. But really, what week isn't a little crazy in the life of a teacher. It was the last week before the end of the term, so students were restless, anxious, and raucous as ever. In fact, I had a student fly off the handle and tell me I had a "f***ing attitude" and that I could "f*** off". As you can imagine, by the end of the week we all needed a break - which is exactly what we're getting, thanks to Martin Luther King Jr. We don't have school tomorrow, and Tuesday and Wednesday are both teacher work days, so it's a 5-day weekend from our kids. Woo hoo!

In other news, we're loving January in North Carolina. It has reached the low 60's for the last 3 days, and Friday after school we dusted off the bikes we haven't used since moving here and took a nice little ride. It was beautiful.

This week was also exciting because we booked a couple of summer trips for ourselves. We had already booked a trip to Europe in June, and this week we added a 2-week trip to Utah in early July and a Boston/New England trip in August. We figure we ought to take advantage of these paid summer vacations (and the fact that we don't have children), because after teaching and after kids, things will just never be the same.

We love you all. See you next week!

The "Top 9 of 2009"

2010-01-03T09:45:00.000-08:00

Apologies, apologies.

It's been a while, we know. Over the last month, we were both so swamped with schoolwork and getting ready for the final tests that our students would be taking before Christmas break that our Blog had to take the backseat for a month. But now we're back, and so is the blog. We hope you enjoy our first entry of the 2010, which, just like last go around, gives a highlight reel of the previous year. Here it is, the...

TOP 9 OF 2009:
(in chronological order)

1. Our beloved Grandpa Fory passes away – January
Fory was a good man. He made my grandmother happy, and that was no small task. Grandma B. was a demanding woman, but not in a hateful way. More like if she wanted a to replace her regular staircase with a spiral one, that’s what she was going to get, and with little debate. He never complained or balked at her many requests. He did things will a jolly spirit and a kind demeanor. He never showed discouragement or frustration. In all my years with him, I never saw him angry (except maybe when he missed a “gimme” putt on the golf course).

2. USU’s Men’s Basketball team repeats as WAC Champions – February
All the pain and misery the Aggie football team causes me and the rest of the Aggie faithful seems to dissipate in the icy cold winters of Logan when the basketball resurrects our spirits and our school’s reputation. We won the regular season and the conference tournament. We lost in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament by a single point. I became good friends with our team’s MVP, Gary Wilkinson, who is currently playing professionally in Korea.

3. We are accepted to and join Teach For America – April
This has to be the top story. The decision to join Teach For America has profoundly impacted our lives and consumes most of our waking thoughts and efforts. In the thick of it now, we sometimes wonder why we’re doing this to ourselves. We are confident, however, that by the end of this 2-year service experiment, we’ll be better people and grateful we paid the price and made the sacrifice (Sounds just like a missionary, don't it?)

4. College Graduation! – May

After 7 semesters (2 spent at the City College of New York), I finally received what we in the enlightened community call a Bachelor’s Degree. And I couldn’t have received such a wonderful gift from a finer institution. I will always love and cherish my time at Utah State University. (It didn’t make the list, but Celeste and I became “True Aggies” in February.)

5. Working for the late legend Senator Edward M. Kennedy – May-June
The “Last Lion of the Senate” was already in very poor health when I came aboard the Kennedy train, which resulted in me never being able to meet the man. I did, however, get to know his office, his staff, and his history on an intimate level. The internship lasted only 5 weeks, but it was a memorable experience that I will remember forever.

6. Celeste and I move to Chicago for the summer – June-August
This one is kind of linked to #3, but was really an experience all its own. We were in Chicago going through the training program for TFA, but at 4:00 every Friday, we became patrons of one of America’s greatest cities. Chicago, which neither of us had ever visited before, was so impressive that it made it into the #3 spot on my personal Greatest Cities in America list, just behind Washington, D.C., and Charleston, SC.

7. We officially move to North Carolina – August
After a somewhat anxious and stressful 2-month period of not knowing where we would be working or living, Celeste and I finally got placed in the Vance County School District just north of Durham, NC. We quickly found a nice little apartment in a quaint little Southern town called Oxford. While somewhat sleepy now, Oxford was home to some of the most volatile race riots, civil rights campaigns, and KKK "midnight rides" in all of the American South back in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

8. Spending our Anniversary in “The City of God” - August
Speaking of Charleston, it became the destination of our 2 year anniversary vacation. Just a 4½ hour drive from our new home in Oxford, we drove down and spent a week in the city I called home for 16 months of my 24-month mission. We did see a handful of members and converts (we spent the night at Felicia Morant’s new home in Columbus, SC, and then had dinner and went to church with Sarah Buggs), I felt that I owed Celeste more of a vacation than a mission reunion. We saw it all, played on the beach, shopped the market, and visited the Angel Oak. As expected, it renewed my love for that special place.

9. Home for the Holidays – December
What would a Top 9 list be without mentioning our recent 2-week vacation to Utah, where every day was spent in the company of our most beloved family, friends, and desserts. We loved every minute of it, except our flight home. We are so lucky to have so many wonderful people in our corner. We love you all!

Honorable Mention:
-“Save Higher Education in Utah” state-wide student rally at which Jackson spoke on the steps of the State Capitol in front of 500 people and several news cameras.
-Jackson playing in and finishing 3rd in his division at the National Collegiate Handball Tournament in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

-Jackson going on a fishing trip with his Uncle Terry and Aunt Maxine to Green River, UT.

-Seeing Counting Crows, Guster, and Buddy Guy perform live in Chicago.
-Seeing an Ohio State football game and visiting Sarah, Jason, and little Lynlee in Columbus, OH.
-Jackson beginning his illustrious Middle School Football coaching career.
-Spending Thanksgiving Break at the beach in Wilmington, North Carolina.
-Learning how to play Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven” on the guitar.