Seven things about me : Meme

I have been tagged by my Plurk friends Alica and Nedra to share with others seven things about me that you might not know. The rules are to link back to the person that has tagged you and then tag seven other people. If you would put your name for others to see on this wiki then you can see all of the other social networking people that have done this so far :)


One: My husband was seriously dating my roommate in college. When I returned from Taiwan to do my stateside student teaching I needed a place to stay for just 8 weeks. I contacted John, who was in rental real estate at the time, to help me find a place that did not require a lease(I was going back to Taipei). He was no longer dating my old roommate and asked me to dinner. We met for a fish fry. I was wined and dined and over a few months convinced that staying in Wisconsin was the choice to make. It is one that I don't regret. John waited until he was 35 to get married - he likes to say that he just had not met the right woman. We have been married 22 years this Valentine's day.

Two: In 1984, I went on a semester abroad program my senior year of college. I chose China and Taiwan. I ended up staying an entire year, doing half of my student teaching at the Taipei American School there. This experience gave me such an appreciation for diversity. Fifty five different countries were represented with students all getting along, learning together, having fun together and respecting each others cultures.

Three: As a freshman in high school I was the first girl on the golf team. As a young lady of 11 or 12, I caddied for Fuzzy Zoeller at the Greater Milwaukee Open at the Ozaukee Country Club. I gave up playing golf when I started to feel the pressure that others were putting on me to be great. It took me more than 20 years to pick up a club again. It is kind of like riding a bike, you don't forget how. I played for a few years but have not gone these last 2 summers.

Four: I was a stay at home mom for 10 years. It was the best decision for our family and one that I would make again in a heartbeat, which isn't to say it was easy. I think that there is a lot of pressure on women to do all and be all. I was lucky in the sense that I had a supportive husband and though we did not have much money we could get by. It is isolating and certainly a sacrifice. You worry about getting back into the work force when it is time. I was lucky to get a kindergarten teaching position when Katy was in 1st grade.


Five: Although I teach computers now, it was my sons that got me thinking about going into this field. From the time that they were quite young, they knew more about computers than I did. I could not sit on my hands as the world was changing around me. In high school I had not even taken a typing class. I was not going to be a secretary, I was going to be the boss! I needed a masters degree to move up on the pay scale. A program was being offered in my school district from Lesley University, all on site, one weekend a month for 22 months...in Technology In Education. It was perfect. After just two classes my principal called and asked if I would change my position from kindergarten teacher to elementary computer teacher. I have not looked back.

Six: I get worked up after reading a book or watching a show and feel like I have to do something. It is not enough to just sit idly by for me. I read the book, "The Education of Little Tree" and felt like I could never have a live Christmas tree in my home ever. I watched Frontline on PBS probably 10 years ago that was investigating the diamond mines and I learned about the blood diamonds in Africa. It had such a profound effect upon me that I could not look at my engagement ring without thinking of the horrific things that were being done so that people such as myself could have pretty bling. I decided to trade in my wedding ring set and get a simple gold band. I lost the gold band very soon after I got it.

Seven: We do have a fake Christmas tree decorated with lights and ornaments. We also have a menorah and have played dreidl for Hanukah. These are not religious symbols of the season for us but instead a part of our cultural heritage. I was raised a conservative Jew. I had a Bat Mitzvah and attended Hebrew school for more than 6 years. I began questioning from a very early age the existence of god and the irony of religion. I slowly moved away from feeling comfortable with religion and now am an atheist. My husband was raised southern Baptist. Our children have attended things in both churches and synagogues. It is up to them to decide what spiritual path that they are going to choose.

I would like to learn more about each of these people. I know that they are busy so don't feel obligated...But if you could take the time and blog about seven things that your PLN does not know about you, then pass it on to seven others, our personal learning network and the blogosphere will be a more personal place. I tag:

David Kapuler
Gina Hutchins
Scott Flaming
Carol Skyring
Brent R. Jones
Caroline OBannon
Daisy Okay