"Real" World

Started my career last month. I am officially introduced as, "Mr. Reyes". Don't laugh. The little people know that I mean business with them. However, my instruments for my music class have not yet arrived. I'm a little anxious... but I know it'll work out. I just want to be prepared for this Thursday, for that's when the students start music.

Teaching elementary school kids is fun. I am challenged to continually come up with various ways to keep the young scholars engaged. What you say and do matter so much because their minds are like sponges that soak every small detail that your body produces. From your mouth moving, the quality of your gaze, defined facial expressions, words coming out of your mouth, gestures that match your words, and even the breath that you take to pause for a moment - EVERY single detail counts.

It's also very interesting how some students would stare at different parts of your body as you teach. Some of them watch your eyes, some of them watch your mouth, and some of them watch your hands. And then I realize that adults talk in various ways combining all these 3 things. A "full" conversation means observing the persons eyes, mouth (words) and hands. All of us can tell a story with just our eyes, and I've yet to meet someone who doesn't tell a story without moving their hands. And we not only try and listen with our ears, but our natural instinct is also to "listen" with our eyes. Most adults know that looking at the person who is talking to you is being polite. Most of the kids, unless talked to on a one on one basis, gives you their eyes (looking at your eyes). During class time, they perhaps give you that attention for only about 15 seconds... but at least their natural instinct is to look at where your instructions (sounds) are coming from (your mouth). "Listening" with our eyes makes non-verbal gestures really powerful. In my opinion, when kids are able to follow directions through non-verbal gestures, that's when they have developed utmost efficiency for their classroom/school procedures.

Anyway, Caroline and I are trying to send out our save-the-date cards, but I've yet to finish e-mailing my relatives from the Philippines for addresses. I wonder if any of them will be able to make it. I doubt it though. It's too expensive to fly nowadays. And it's really hard to try and get a VISA to get into the USA from the Philippines.

But wedding preparations are going well! We're going to be booking the Inn On Broadway on Labor Day, and we already booked our date at the Cathedral!!!

AWESOMENESS.

And Manchester United did well against West Ham. :)

Go life!

Graduation & Our New Apartment

As the days roll by, I slowly unearth and put away the recently "packed memories" from the dorms to our new apartment. The pictures, cards, shirts and small gifts were all tucked away in a couple of boxes. In many ways, these boxes not only contained "memories", but also trials and tribulations of my life in the past five or six years. These memorabilia encompasses what I was and what I have become. And letting go of some of these sentimental possessions was difficult, but when all was said and done, it mattered more for me to move on and look towards the future. I've learned how to stay "in the now". Besides, living in the present has proven to be beneficial.

The Graduation ceremony was fancier than I thought. I finally hold a degree, and it is a degree I can proudly say that I have achieved from a prestigious music conservatory - The Eastman School of Music.

During that day, my parents (and some relatives) and Caroline's parents (and grandparents) met for the first time. While having dinner, the tension of silence between them in the first ten minutes was unbearable. Thank God for alcohol. As soon as the waitress finished serving us wine, the joyous conversations began. I think our folks get along well with each other. That makes the both of us really happy.

We set a date for our wedding day. August 19, 2011. I hope that all our preparations pull through!

A Dash To The Finish Line

Caroline and I are baby-sitting this weekend! It's exciting, since the both of us have talked about having kids. It'll be good practice for the both of us. :)

I can't believe I'm graduating this May. I'm thinking that Senioritis has hit me finally, because I've been nostalgic recently. I realize how much growing I've gone through in the 4 years that I've been at the Eastman School of Music. And I'm also grateful that I have a job after graduating!

I'm starting at True North Rochester Prep in August. I'm excited to start the music program there, and work in a team that truly cares about education. It'll be a great experience for me, to help my students who mostly belong to a low-income family. I hope they end up enjoying what I have to offer them - music.

I can't wait to move into our new apartment. It is so spacious! We have two walk-in closets, an eat-in kitchen, and a huge living room! It's a great starting point for us. Hopefully, in a couple of years, after getting married, we'll have enough money to invest in a house. :)