...Meyonohk Version 2.0...

Who knows if anyone reads this anymore... but if you are reading this, pass along the news that the blog has FINALLY been updated.

I had some really really good news this March. I have a teaching job!! I will be moving to Calgary and teaching a Grade Four/Grade Five Split at a school called Harold W. Riley Elementary. I am really, really excited. Maybe we can even send letters from Harold W. Riley back and forth to Meyonohk.

The school is very neat, because it has no walls inside. (It actually has a few walls, but only around the office, washrooms, and gym). It's called an open area school. I had heard about these schools in university, but this was my first time actually seeing one. The students and teachers seem very nice. An Olympic medal-winning gymnist even went to the school.

Since my job doesn't start until after Spring break, I have been substitute teaching for other schools in Calgary. Teaching has been really great. It is a little strange teaching all by myself and being in a brand new city but it is also really fun and exciting.

I hope everyone is having an awesome start to their spring. Be sure to keep in touch!!

...Everybody LIMBO...

So, it's been awhile. You all need to tell everyone in the class to get on here, and post a comment so I know what is going on at good ol' Meyonohk.

I have to tell you that my trip to Banff was amazing. I stayed at the Banff Springs Hotel and it was like staying in a castle. I saw quite TONS of famous people and even had my picture taken with some of them. If you've ever seen the movie "You've Got Mail!" then you know who Meg Ryan is. I was on an elevator with Meg Ryan. That was a little crazy. I was with a really good friend, which was awesome, because the weather was terrible and if I was by myself on the roads, I might have been really frustrated. Friends are always really good at making anything manageable, even bad roads. (just so you know I'm not exagerating, there was an accident with 60 cars, on the highway we were supposed to take).

Right now I'm just working at the restaurant, and applying for millions of teaching jobs. One teaching job sounds like it *might* happen. So you'll have to keep reading to see where I end up. Some of the other student teachers that were at our school are applying for jobs outside of Canada, but I think I need to stay fairly close, at least for awhile. Well, I hope to hear from you; until next time, I'm Mr. Robertson.

2005 feels strangely like 2004...

Well I had an awesome New Years! We were at West Edmonton Mall's Waterpark Beach Party. It was really fun. There was a live band, mascots, and even INDOOR FIREWORKS. It was just a neat atmosphere being there at night. I was with some really great friends, and the night was really great.

I haven't really made any resolutions. I tend to make big decisions at the start of the school year and not at the start of the calendar year. I guess if I had to make one it would be to be more organized and to try and swim a little more often.

On Wednesday I'm going to Banff to a Celebrety Ski Weekend. I'm VERY excited. I get to stay at the Banff Springs Hotel for FREE. I'll let you know how it all goes. Until next time, I'm Mr. Robertson....

... and the goose is getting fat...

I think Christmas is pretty much here. Today I went shopping with some friends downtown and there were music and decorations galore. Tomorrow, I head home for 'official' Christmas festivities at home. I'm excited. Christmas is such an awesome time. There's an Anne Murray song that says "thank goodness the season just never gets old". It's so true. We never get sick of the traditions, carols, and warm fuzzy feelings during this festive season.

I'm already missing my students (today was the first day I would have been back if I wasn't done). These kids are amazing, brilliant kids. I know that in the near future I'll be hearing great and wonderful things about all of them. On Saturday, I had supper with all of the student teachers and it was wierd knowing that we would never be chillin' in the staff-room hot tub again in the mornings. Although, on Friday it was WAY too hot.

Well, I need to pack-up for the road trip home. Until next time, I'm Mr. Robertson...

kicking back in cowtown...

This weekend I went to Calgary and I think I'm in love with the city. Don't get me wrong, Edmonton is a wonderful and amazing place but Calgary just has a different feel to it. I especially like Downtown Calgary. It was a nice little two-day vacation.

The reason I went down was to see a friend from High School. He is getting married this summer and I will be his best man at the wedding. I just wanted to go say congratulations in person and spend some time with the happy couple, because it has been awhile. During the trip I ate the biggest Banana Split I had ever seen in my life.

Well someone mentioned my blogs are too too too long... so maybe I'll end things here. I think some people had questions in their comments so I'll check that out a bit later. Until next time, I'm Mr. Robertson...

Why my weekend was 'incredible'...

Saturday night I convinced my friends to go see The Incredibles with me and it was really really... well... incredible. It had been awhile since I had seen a movie at the theatre because things have been crazy busy with school. We loved it. The movie was really funny (I LOVE Edna), really well-written, and really really well-animated. My advice: see it! When I was there, I even saw another teacher from Meyonohk so now I need to see her reaction too.

Tomorrow is election day, and this will be my sixth government election that I have participated in. I have done a lot of research on who I am voting for and am excited about going and casting my ballot. Did you know that I did part of my grade twelve year in Ottawa to learn about government and a part of the government called "Elections Canada"? When I was there I was even able to sit in the Prime Minister's chair in the House of Commons. Also, during the program we had a mock-election and I won the Premier of Alberta election. I spoke in front of hundreds of people and everything I said was translated into French. At university I have also taken courses on government and laws. Sometimes people think I'm a little "politically crazy"! Oh, well. Until next time, I'm Mr. Robertson.

Saturdays are our friends...

Today is Saturday. I love Saturdays. It seems like Sunday, though, because I've already had two days off from teaching. It was pretty much just a relaxing day and a bit of a 'catch up on keeping organized' day. I feel good because I just bought my friend a small gift because he is having a rough week. I decided I really like buying gifts, and I think I'm going to do that more. Even if gifts aren't big or expensive, they always seem to cheer people up.

I read all of your blogs (at least the ones that were posted on the class website) and it's so fun to hear about your lives. I love reading your comments on my blog too. Someone asked the question, "Did you always live in Edmonton?" The answer is no. I grew up in a small town called Trochu. It is between Red Deer and Calgary about three hours away from here. There are about 1000 people in Trochu so it is a pretty small town. In fact, I only had 22 people in my graduating class. After I graduated I did two years of school in Red Deer and one year of school in Lethbridge. So, I've only been in Edmonton for a little over two years. I love Edmonton, though, and I'd really like to stay here if I can.

Until next time, I'm Mr. Robertson... :)

let the blogging begin...

Did you know that the word "blog" is short for weblog? It's kind of like shortening hot chocolate to "ho-cho" or frozen yogurt to "fro-yo". It seems like we need to abbreviate everything we write and say these days. How hard is it to type the "w" and the "e"? I guess it just sounds more hip to say 'blog.

Since the only people that will really read this page are my grade six students I won't bore them with the details of my daily Meyonohk routine... instead I will talk about my passion for "smiling burgers" and Buckles (the p.f.d.)". Confused? Well in order to have enough money to go to university I have worked at both Red Robin (hence, the smiling burger comment) and as a lifeguard and swimming instructor (hence, the friendship with Buckles).

Serving is an awesome job. It's fast-paced, fun, and never the same twice. Plus, people love to eat so they tend to like having you around. Did you know that one time I had a tray with five milkshakes and I fell so hard that there was milkshake on the roof? That was embarassing. I was a complete mess.

Lifeguarding is a great job too because you get to have fun all day. You get to swim, listen to the radio, meet great people AND get payed for it. My favorite thing to do as a lifeguard is teach Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross. It's neat to know that you are helping people learn first-aid so that they can save lives.

Until next time... I'm Mr. Robertson.