fiddlefiddlefiddlefiddlefiddlefiddlefiddlefiddlefiddlefiddlefiddle!

[dawn_felagund]

When I decided that I wanted to go for my teaching certification, I put a carrot at the end of the stick for myself: I have always wanted to learn the fiddle. I love the fiddle; it is my favorite instrument to listen to. I play the guitar, the trumpet, and two kinds of recorders but, aside from taking a class called "Exploratory Music" when I was nine years old, have never played the violin or fiddle. So, I told myself, once I got my certification, I would reward a job well done by acquiring a fiddle.

Yesterday, Bobby told me that he had a surprise coming by post for me today. I figured it was a book, since I've been looking for a decent book on medieval Irish history and I'm always in the market for illumination books. I came home from work today to find a huge package wrapped in Happy Birthday paper. No, it's not my birthday, but Bobby got it at the store the other day while shopping for the party in a rush and failed to notice the Happy Birthday writing on it. It adds to the charm, we both agree.

Well, I suppose you can guess what was in the big package wrapped in Happy Birthday paper. :)

No, I clearly don't have my teaching certification yet since I haven't even started classes, but Bobby saw a great deal for a fiddle on eBay and couldn't resist. And the note attached reads that it is a gift to celebrate starting back to school again, which we both know has meant an immense amount to me.

Of all the things I expected to come home to today, a fiddle was definitely not one of them! I'm not complaining, though. I still can't quite believe that it's on the counter right behind me. I have to figure something to name it now. I'm thinking, maybe, Daeron.

So, I told Bobby, this leaves me having to decide on a new carrot to put at the end of the stick. I'm thinking maybe a harp. >:^)

Comments

[mithluin.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's all kinds of awesome!

I mean, I love to listen to people play the fiddle, but I've never thought to learn it myself. The name you chose is perfect, of course ;). One of the dwarves probably had a violin in the beginning of the Hobbit, but who wants to name a musical instrument Dori? (I looked it up; Fili and Kili have the fiddles, for what it's worth.)

I had no idea you wanted to go into teaching. I highly recommend that career change! You're a motivated person, and I'm sure you'll do an awesome job. What do you want to teach? I'm a chemistry teacher myself :). The way things are now, you can sometimes get hired as a teacher and have the school pay for your classes (at least in part) as you work towards your certification. But that depends on which subject and which school, of course. I'd recommend taking a few classes first, so you at least know a little bit about what you're doing before you jump in with both feet. But seriously, if you want to talk teacher stuff any time, just let me know :).

[dawn_felagund]

That would be so awesome; I'll admit that it's a little overwhelming right now. Doesn't help that the Department of Education website is a little vague ... *grumblegrumble*

I would like to teach English. I am currently getting my second Bachelor's degree in English. My first BA was in Psychology, which means that I have numerous classes that would count toward a certification but not enough in any single subject area. (I was also a Writing minor, so I'm halfway there with regards to my English credits already and start classes on Monday to finish the rest.)

I have always been interested in teaching. In fact, I was on the verge of getting my certification when I was in university the first time, but somewhere between 16-18 credits a semester, working 25 hours a week, editing the literary magazine, volunteering as an adult educator, and acting as a research assistant for one of my professors, I just ran out of time. ;)

Incidentally, my husband is taking the same path. He, too, was interested in a teaching certification the first time around but also loaded up his schedule with classes and activities for a career he now hates. He's actually starting in the fall, teaching history and social studies at the Baltimore Youth Academy (#378); he will be getting his certification while employed there. Some of his coworkers had some ideas for ways I might also go about being certified (since it's so hard to work fulltime and take a full courseload at a brick-and-mortar college), but I'll admit that I'm nervous about the whole prospect. A bit. :)

But no matter what job I've ever done, I've always been drawn to teaching/training within it and also did a year teaching adult learners in Baltimore, a volunteer post I still regret having to give up. Never mind that this lets me use my love for English and language. So it just feels right somehow. We'll see. :)