Positive Impacts of Social Media In My Life

Thursday, September 12: Discuss ways that blogging or social media has changed you.

 

I like to think I'm only mildly addicted to social media.  There have got to be heaps of people who waste spend more time with these things than me, right?  Either way, I use social media, I love it, and I don't plan on cutting myself off from it anytime soon.  The social media I use includes: Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and of course, blogging.  Here's a little on how each has impacted my life... and for now, I'll focus on the positive impacts.  :-) 

 

Facebook: I think I was a Junior in college when Facebook first started to become popular... back in the day when you had to have a ".edu" email address, so it was strictly for college kids only.  To be completely honest, I wish it would have stayed that way... but that's a story for another day.  I guess I wouldn't categorize myself as a very "active" Facebook user.  But that's not to say that I don't waste a ridiculous amount of time on FB (my husband can assure you that I do)... it's just that I'm more of a"lurker" if you will. I don't post a whole lot about myself... pictures a few times a month, status updates maybe once or twice a month.  I use it mostly just to keep in touch with people and to see what is going on in people's lives.  Sometimes I learn more about their lives than I'd like to, but I'm not a shy user of the "hide/block from my news feed" option, so that's easy to fix :-) 

How It Has Impacted My Life: Because I have lived far away from my family and closest friends basically since I was 18, FB has been priceless for me and a very positive addition to my life I'd say.  It lets me stay (and feel!) connected to those that I love and care about, even when I'm hundreds or thousands of miles away. 

 

Instagram: It took me a while to jump on the Instagram bandwagon, but I LOVE it!  SUCH an easy way to get a look into what's going on in other people's daily lives.  And I love that it's mostly just pictures, so you (usually) don't have to deal with all the ridiculous political dramas, etc. that people seem to love to start over on FB.  Even my mom, dad, and 84 year old grandmother now have Instagram accounts, which I was a little nervous about, but I LOVE it actually!  It's an easy way for them to keep track of what's going on with their children who live across the country and world. 

How It Has Impacted My Life: Probably corny and cliché, but I really find it to be true that Instagram really helps me focus on and appreciate the little, but beautiful and meaningful things and events in daily life. 

 

Once of my recent favorite Instagrams

 

 

Blogging: I only started this little blog of mine about 11 months ago.  However, for about 2 or 3 years leading up to that, I was slowly becoming a blog-reading addict.  I had a growing list of blogs that I kept up with in my Reader- mainly DIY, Cooking, Lifestyle, and even some Mommy Blogs (I love these ones more than is probably normal for someone who doesn't have kids herself).  Whatever.  Since I started out just reading blogs, I think I had a really great opportunity to see what blogging is all about, the community that it can build, the connections that you can make, and the value of documenting your life.  I had wanted to start a blog for quite a while, but honestly, until we moved abroad I felt like I didn't have anything interesting (or blog-worthy) enough to write about.  So with our move to Australia, I was so excited to finally start my own blog.  There were two main purposes I had in mind when I began this blog:

1.) Stay in touch with family and friends and share about our new life on the other side of the world 

2.) Document, for myself and my husband, the many adventures we would have as we lived and travelled abroad.

However, like most any blogger will tell you, I didn't anticipate fully that blogging would also become something that would help me feel connected to a greater community. 

How It Has Impacted My Life: After moving here, I quickly found a handful of "expat blogs" that I followed along with, and that number has grown!  I still keep up with my other blogs, but at this time in my life, these other expat blogs are the ones I identify with the most- for obvious reasons.  I mentioned recently, that it really was only about 3-4 months ago that I started to feel like I had started to form a group of friends here in Australia that I saw regularly and really identified with.  So until that time, I really relied a lot on my "expat blog friends."  It was so helpful to be able to connect with people who were going through the same things as me.  It actually helped me feel really proud and excited to be an expat! 

 

I do hope that this blog stays with me through the years... even after we move back home.  Blogging has been a real gift for me this year, and I hope to continue this new hobby for years to come! 

 

 

USA Foods

Wednesday, September 11: Share links to your favorite online shops, preferably with a few photos of your favorite items in each shop.

 

In the US, I was a huge online shopper.  It's just so easy (probably too easy).  I frequented sites like Amazon (they seriously have everything), Ann Taylor LOFT, Nordstrom, etc. 

 

However, online shopping is not a big thing at all in Australia so there are very few options for online shopping.  This is extra unfortunate since we live in a small town where being able to order things online that we might normally only be able to find in big cities would be really convenient.  Oh well.  I guess the good thing about this situation is that we're saving money in that category! 

 

One online shop that I DO love and use here in Australia is USA Foods.  This is a website that exclusively sells foods only found in the USA right here in Australia.  The product markup is seriously INSANE, but sometimes you really just need things like pumpkin puree, green chilies, Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, Hot Tamales, etc., and you are willing to pay any price to get them. 

 

The contents of my USA Foods order this time last year. 

I'm about to place an order for pumpkin puree (among other items), and I'm already way too excited about it.  Yes, it is really weird to be making pumpkin-flavored goodies when it is Spring here and already feeling like summer temps, but I just can't NOT.. especially when Pinterest is currently dominated by nothing but pumpkin recipes.   Any pumpkin recipe suggestions to add to my list?!... 

 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies from last year

 

The Moment I "Met" My Husband

Tuesday, September 10: Describe a distinct moment when your life took a turn.

 

I think I've briefly mentioned a few times on my blog that I met my husband through my former roommate.  As in, my husband is my former roommate's older brother.  I got a husband and made one of my closest friends my sister-in-law in one shot!  Pretty good deal if you ask me :-)  Although I've made reference to this, I haven't really written much about how exactly that happened... and the start of the whole thing is truly a very distinct moment that changed my life forever.

 

After college, I had moved to Los Angeles for my two year teaching commitment with Teach For America.  During our month-long summer training (teacher boot camp, if you will), we were placed with a roommate by the very sophisticated method of alphabetical order.  My last name began with G, and her last name began with H.  And so we became roommates for that 5 weeks.  Lucky for us, we got along really well, became fast friends, and then decided to live together for the next two years. 

 

I had seen several photos of Renee's brother, and had always thought (and I think even mentioned to her once or twice) that I her brother was pretty cute, but of course thought nothing more of it. 

 

One evening just a few months after we became roommates (I wish I remembered the exact date), Renee was talking to her brother on the phone in our main room.  I was talking to our other roommate, Kayli, and at some point in their conversation, he heard my voice over the phone and told Renee to put her roommate on the phone so he could say hello.  Renee sort of shoved the phone in my direction, saying that her brother wanted to talk to me.  And I shook my head no, and frantically waved my hands indicating that she better get me out of this one. 

 

Nearly three hours later, I hung up the phone with David.  We talked on the phone several times a week and eventually every night after that. 

 

That moment and that first phone conversation absolutely marked a significant turn in my life.  I remember very clearly the panic I felt when Renee pushed the phone into my hands.  Of course, I never could have imagined all that would come from that moment: the start of a 1.5 year long distance relationship, a move to Houston, our engagement and wedding, and even a move to Australia. 

 



Renee, David, and I at our LMU/TFA graduation



 

The Evolution (or De-evolution?) of My Introverted-ness

Monday, September 9: Take this short personality test and respond to your results. (at the end, find the detailed profile of your personality account - click "click to view" under "You" and "self awareness and personal growth."

I actually ended up taking the test twice, because I accidentally closed the results window the first time- oops.  I took the test for the second time one day later, and actually got the same results.  So at least I know the test is somewhat reliable! 

My results: INFJ - Introvert iNtuitive Feeling Judging

I would say I agreed with about 70% of the description of my personality and tendencies.  What I found most interesting was that the test results stated that I show a slight preference (22%) of introversion over extraversion.  I have always identified as an introvert.  I've always enjoyed being alone, it takes me a while to feel comfortable around people I don't know well, and I tend to be a pretty private person. 

So at first the low percentage of preference for introversion (22%) kind of surprised me.  But as I reflected on it more, I came to the realization that I have really become less and less of an introvert during my adult life thus far.  I think this shift probably started during my college years- moving away from home for the first time, meeting all new friends, discovering more about who I am, etc.  But each "phase" of my life since then has also helped me become less and less introverted (not that being an introvert is a bad thing by any means).  Some more events/changes that have made me less of an introvert:

-As a teacher, you basically perform in front of an audience all day, everyday.  Sure they're "just kids," but you are still on display and whether you're faking it or not, you sure as heck better appear confident and comfortable in front of them!
-Moving to Houston to be with David was the first time that I was in a new setting where social structures and opportunities for making friends and socializing weren't "built in."  College is full of these, and in Los Angeles I had the structures and network of Teach for America to help me meet people and make friends.  In Houston, I didn't have any of this.  It was the first time I realized how hard it is to make friends as an adult.  Admittedly, I didn't really do a good job of putting myself out there while in Houston, but at least I had that experience to show me what I would need to do the next time. 
-Becoming an expat has also made me less of an introvert.  While there are thankfully some structures here (through my husband's company) to assist in the friend-making process, I still struggled with this here.  My introverted-ness actually has been useful here since I do spend the good majority of my days alone (stupid long long work days and 6-day work weeks), so it's a good thing that I really don't mind being alone.  However, I've exercised my "extrovert muscle" here more in the past 3-4 months than I have in the year I've been here.  I finally found a group of girls that I really can call friends here.  Initially, I had to really push myself out of my comfort zone, but I am so glad I did! 

I don't think I will ever re-take this test and find that I have turned into an EXTROVERTED anything.  But it really is interesting to see how the degree of this characteristic has changed as I have changed and experienced different things in my life. 

Movie Night With Some of My Gladstone Girls!

Burglary

Friday, September 6: A story about a time you were very afraid. 

The first thing that came to mind when reading this prompt was my bungy jumping experience.  But I already wrote about there HERE.  That was absolutely terrifying.  My stomach still drops just thinking about it...

After thinking a little more, I remembered another time I was afraid- the time our apartment in Houston was broken into.   Before buying our house in Houston, we lived in a large apartment complex in Uptown Houston.  When choosing which unit we wanted, we specifically chose the top floor (3rd floor) for many reasons, but partially because of the fact that being on the top floor makes your chances of a break-in pretty slim.  Right?  Unfortunately, we were wrong. 

I came home from work about an hour earlier than normal one afternoon, because I had been at a training that day that finished earlier than scheduled.  I walked down the outdoor hallway toward our apartment door, and as I got closer I saw that the door was cracked open slightly.  For a second, I thought maybe I hadn't closed the door all the way when I left for work that morning.  But then I saw that the door had obviously been opened by force.  I obviously wasn't thinking clearly at this point, because I made the very stupid decision of going inside our apartment.  As soon as I opened the door all the way, it was obvious that we had been robbed.  Our stuff was thrown everywhere, drawers open, TV missing, etc.  I didn't take more than a couple steps inside before I finally panicked and realized I needed to get out of there quickly.  I ran down to the apartment leasing office where I called the police and my husband.   

Luckily, there was no one in the apartment when I entered.  And luckily, we didn't lose too much- mostly just electronics, both our computers, cameras, TV, a few minor pieces of jewelry, luggage/sheets/pillows that they used to cart our stuff out of there with (which infuriated me!), etc.  It's just a really scary and unsettling feeling to know that someone has been in your home, rifling through your property and personal items.  What scared me even more is that the police said that they thought that I probably came home while the burglary was still in progress.  They didn't think anyone was in there when I walked in, but they did say that because the second of our TV's was wrapped in blankets and pillows just near the doorway all "ready to go" probably meant that whoever had broken in was most likely taking the first load of our stuff out and meaning to come back for the other TV and who knows what else.  So that means that whoever it was probably saw me going in to our apartment.  They also thought that because I had come home earlier than usual, it might have meant that whoever robbed us knew my schedule and thought they knew when neither of us would be home.  That still just gives me the creeps.  Such an unnerving feeling!     

What Is "Normal?"

Thursday, September 5: Pass on some useful advice or information you learned and always remembered.

This prompt reminded me somewhat of one of the prompts from the "Blog Everyday In May" challenge where I wrote about some of the pieces of advice/things I've learned that no one taught me in school.  You can read that post here.  So for today's prompt, I thought I'd focus more on a piece of information I've learned and always remembered. 

I took countless psychology courses as a Psych major during undergrad, then again while working on my masters in Special Education.  Some of the things I learned in these classes I found very useful, while some things of course, were quickly forgotten.  There is one theory/ piece of information, that has really stuck with me though.  I can't even remember in what class this idea was discussed... I wish I had saved the article or book from which I read this theory.  But I didn't... so I'm just going to attempt to summarize from memory and briefly discuss how this idea affects the way I view the world and the people I interact with. 

There is a theory that is gaining momentum in the psychology world that disorders, disabilities, "normalcy" exists on a spectrum.  So basically, rather than a very black and white idea of normal vs. disordered, there is lots of grey area that can represent a huge range of conditions.  The best part of this theory is that everyone, yes everyone, exists on this spectrum in terms of different personality characteristics, feelings, habits,  ability, thought processes, etc.  This idea allows for a huge amount of variance regarding what we consider normal and "not normal." 

I love this idea because I really think it helps take away a lot of the stigma of having a psychological disorder.  If everyone is on this spectrum, it's hard to categorize/stereotype along the lines of "normal" vs. "different/not normal/disordered" etc.  It also acknowledges that we can (and do) move along this spectrum throughout our lives. 

Being a special education teacher, this idea really helps frame how I think about and interact with my students.  I also think this idea is really helpful in the education world, because it falls right in line with the movement toward full inclusion for all students, regardless of ability... which I'm a big proponent of.  I also think this can help us in how we interact with people- both those we know and even strangers.  It can help us to be more compassionate, understanding, accepting, and forgiving. 

I wish I had an actual link to an article about this theory to share, but I just cannot seem to find what I'm looking for.  If I do run across it, I'll add it here. 
 
A pretty serious, somewhat academic topic that's a bit out of the ordinary for my blog, but I guess that's what this challenge is for- to get us thinking about, exploring, and sharing ideas/thoughts. 

Annnndddd because no post is complete without photos, here are a few teaching photos from my special education classrooms over the years :-)

A project my former middle-schoolers did about famous people with disabilities

 

 

Australia Bucket List

Wednesday, September 4: If you could take three months off from your current life and do anything in the world, what would you do?

 

When thinking of what I would do if I could do anything in the world, the first thing that comes to mind is travel.  Hands down. 

 

Truthfully, I actually already kind of feel like I'm getting to take an extended period of time off from "real life" to do and see some pretty amazing things.  While there are admittedly more things than I'd like to admit that I can find to complain about living here, about the challenging aspects of being an expat, and about living so far away from home, I do realize how lucky I am to be here and to have this opportunity of living and travelling abroad.  The pros absolutely outweigh the cons, and when I really get to thinking about it, I can't believe how blessed I am to, in a lot of ways, be practically living the life/situation described in the prompt. 

 

So I guess if I could take three months off from our life here, I would continue to do what we've been able to do so much of already this past year.  Travel!  Of course, this would be three work-free, budget-free months of travel :-)  I always have a running list in my head of places I'd love to see in the world... Egypt, South America, Greece, visit all seven continents, and on and on.  But lately, I've been thinking a lot about how much more there still is to see and do right here in Australia.  As much as I hate to admit it, the truth is that once David and I leave here, the chances of us returning to Australia are pretty slim.  Because of that, I really want to make the most of our time here and experience as much of Oz as we can!  So without further ado, here is my always growing "Australia Bucket List."

 

~The Whitsunday Islands~

...Whitehaven Beach, Hamilton Island, Airlie Beach, Hayman Island, Daydream Island...

http://pinterest.com/pin/567735096746706885/

~Humpback Whale Watching - Hervey Bay~

 

http://pinterest.com/pin/36451078204697314/

 

~Cairns~

 

http://pinterest.com/pin/182888434837616273/

  

~Swimming With Whale Sharks~

 

http://pinterest.com/pin/5277724536937863/

 

~Take A Surfing Lesson~

 

http://pinterest.com/pin/104779128803498092/

 

~Great Keppel Island~

...Sailboat from Yeppoon...

http://pinterest.com/pin/36451078206644448/

 

 ~Port Douglas and the Daintree Rainforest~

 

http://pinterest.com/pin/420171840204940342/

 

~Tasmania~



http://pinterest.com/pin/522276888007323193/



  

~Uluru and Ayer's Rock~

 

http://pinterest.com/pin/74872412528357737/ 

 

~Blue Mountains~

 

http://pinterest.com/pin/169799848420970312/