Blog #2: Connecting School & Home Experience

Connecting School and Home Experiences In junior high I started studying French as well as playing competition soccer. In ninth grade I joined the high school cross country team. I enjoyed taking French because it was a fun class for me but my life really was sports. I identified myself as a runner. While running I got a few stress fractures, had to wear a boot, and sit on the sideline. I kept on waiting and waiting, but my legs simply became more and more painful. My running coach recommended I go see a sports medicine doctor. I had multiple tests run over multiple visits including a MRI, nerve testing, and a very memorable compartment pressure test which involved needles the size of pencils. No one knew what was wrong, but they knew one thing: I was not to run anymore. I was devastated. I cried for two weeks straight. I felt that my identity had been ripped out from under me and that I had nothing. It was that summer in 2005 that I first went to France. My uncle was gracious enough to take his three nieces (two of which were graduating and I because I was the only other niece) to Paris for a week. Paris was simply magical. I didn’t think once about running. There I realized that the sun still came up every morning and that life went on with or without running, with or without everything that was familiar to me. That first experience in France was pivotal for me and has pushed me to become a teacher. If I can help students to learn that there is a world out there bigger than them it is worth it to me to teach. I want to help students get out of their heads and their little worlds and realize that there is more to life than high school, sports, drama, or girls. There are other countries, other people, other cultures, other foods, other ways to do things “right.” I want to help students discover the world in which they live and how they fit in that bigger context. Studying abroad in France also shaped my thoughts on the French people. It is one thing to visit the city of love for a week, and an entirely different matter to live in a French city for a year on your own. I loved speaking with them, eating with them, spending time with them, and taking classes from them. I learned a lot about the culture and the people there whom I respect. I understand why they can be annoyed with Americans (I began to be annoyed with Americans towards the end of my stay- we are so annoying and disrespectful!), why they may appear cold, as well as what is important to them. Having such an in-depth understanding of the people will help me in my teaching because I will be able to debunk myths and help students to understand why people do things and act differently than they do. This is a critical skill to learn in our ever growing multi-cultural society. Culture is something so complicated yet beautiful and I feel that many problems in the world would be resolved if we could learn to understand others. Learning to communicate in a different language also helps people to understand others better and how they think. This knowledge and these skills are part of the foundation of my teaching. For those of you who are wondering what happened to my legs I can run again. I found out I had a rare syndrome that cut off my blood supply. Here is a picture of what my legs looked like after surgery.

The Engagement

Stuck on You Leighton flew up to Utah on Friday, September 13th. My parents picked him up and I drove my aunt Becky and my grandmother down to Brigham City where we went and had lunch at Maddox together. We then did some car switching so Leighton and I could go up to Island Park, Idaho (about 20 miles from West Yellowstone) in the same car. We stopped by the gorgeous waterfalls of upper and lower Mesa Falls. We got to Island Park in time to make dinner and watch a movie. Saturday morning my parents kicked us out of the house and sent us off to Yellowstone. While I was in the shower my mother was telling Leighton all the good places that we could go in Yellowstone and Leighton really liked the sound of Norris Geyser Basin so he planned our Yellowstone adventure that we would end there. We packed our lunches, our rain coats, and umbrellas and headed off. We talked a lot as we enjoyed going to lots of different places. We saw many elk as well as rivers, swimming holes, mountain ranges. When we were at Firehole River I thought Leighton was going to propose and I was really nervous. He didn’t propose there, but I did find the ring box in his jacket while we were getting out. Note: Now don’t think this isn’t romantic; Leighton and I went ring shopping in July but I never knew that he bought the ring and carried it around for a month until the last day of our summer when he told me (and showed me!). I’ve been dying to have it ever since so we all (parents included) kind of knew that it was coming the next time we saw each other. I think it turned out perfectly too because I don’t do well with change, so I had some time to stew and mentally prepare. Bless Leighton’s heart though; he got so much teasing. We then went to Old Faithful to have lunch. I started teasing Leighton about how he could propose there (I had already told him I did NOT want to get engaged there.) “My love for you is more faithful than Old Faithful!” I told him. We continued the cheesy Yellowstone pickup lines throughout the day. It was raining and cold so our picnic lunch turned into an in-the-car lunch. We meandered around the gift shop and the lodge while we were waiting for Old Faithful. Leighton’s friend Marc called while we were waiting for Old Faithful to go off so I answered it and told him Leighton was busy trying to figure out when to propose.

It was slowly getting more rainy and later in the day so we decided to stop at the smelly paint pots with a whole bus of Asian tourists as well as Gibbon Falls, another giant waterfall and walked across the mini wall of China. We then went to our last stop, Norris Geyser Basin. It was raining again and I think we got the last parking spot. Leighton turned to me in the car and said, “I was going to propose to you here but the weather isn’t good and there are all these people…” I told him that that is okay and that he could propose a different day but that we might as well go see the geysers since we were there. He put on his bright orange waterproof jacket, I left the Canon Rebel in the car, and we went out on our last adventure in Yellowstone. We started walking around the Porcelain Basin and the rain stopped. We found ourselves alone and there was a bench. Leighton wanted to sit on the bench so I knew something was coming. He prefaced his proposal with the fact that we had already picked a date and a temple, that he had my dad’s blessing, and that he now wanted to formally ask me. He got down on one knee and told me that he loved me so much. He then asked, “Mari Lisa Lindstrom, will you marry me?” I fought back the tears gave him a hug and then whispered in his ear, “Yeah.” He slipped my super cute ring on my finger (finally! He had been teasing that I could just wear it and he’d propose later) and then people came by again.

We drove back home and ate dinner. After about three minutes dad burst out and said, “So, is there an announcement you two want to make?” I was waiting to see if they noticed the ring. I guess they did. We went swimming after dinner and it wasn’t as romantic as we were hoping. Cue 7-year-old girl, “Are you guys in love? That’s gross.” Cue four-year-old Maxwell, “Do you guys want to see a magic trick?” “Yes.” SPLASH! It was a wonderful day even if everything wasn’t ideal. What is wonderful is finding someone who can love me like Leighton does. Leighton wishes that he waited until Sunday (we went on the most beautiful walk and sat on a dock and watched a moose and a bald eagle). It was so beautiful and calm and indescribably beautiful. Now we’re engaged and we are going to be sealed forever and ever. I love Leighton because he is so wonderful and just loves me so much. He always tucks me in the blanket and makes me his priority every waking moment I am around him. He puts up with me when I am grumpy and laughs at my angry face. He eats my sandwiches when I don’t like them and he knows how many carrots I eat for lunch. I was in the back seat when he was driving us and my grandma and Becky home and he reached back and held my hand while driving. For four hours straight. Just so he could hold my hand and let me know he was thinking of me. That’s love to me. Leighton is love.

Blog #1: Introduction

About Me Me in France in 2010 My name is Mari Lindstrom and I am not a True Aggie. I am currently a super-duper senior at Utah State University. I am double majored in French Education and School Health, both with an emphasis in Secondary Education as well as a minor in linguistics. I claim to be trilingual through knowing English, French, and Latvian fluently. I have a university diploma in French as a Foreign Language from the University of Nantes. I served a LDS mission in the Baltic States from 2010-2012. I am a NFL member and I’m not talking about the football league. My interests include: Running, reading, cooking, traveling, guitar playing, and ceramic making. My First-Choice Discipline I first began taking French in eighth grade. I had heard that many colleges required two years or more of foreign language study. At my junior high all of the Spanish teachers spoke very poorly, the German teacher scared the whole entire student body as well as teachers and that left French as the only possible language to take. I soon fell in love with the language and the culture. I continued taking French in High School and had the best French professor I have ever met. He was not only humorous, kind, and hip, he also knew French very well, spoke the target language with students, told stories of his own experiences, brought in French food, and taught grammar like it was nobody’s business. It was this high school French professor, Mr. Miller, who inspired me to become a secondary educator. What is French to me? What is French to you? French to me can be a way of life. French to me is a way to see the world through different eyes. I feel that one has to have an intimate experience with France, to be in France, to know what French is- the sound, the smells, the sights, the food (most definitely the food), the people, what is spoken and unspoken. To me French is also a beautiful form of communication. French is a personality, a way of life, it is so encompassing. I feel that this clip from the film, “Paris, Je t’aime,” describes these sentiments better than I can. Literacy Literacy is complicated. I wouldn’t say that I have a specific definition of literacy. It, like French, is something different to each person. To some it is being able to read, write, spell, listen, and/or speak. To others it is to be able to perform specific tasks (functional literacy). To others it is more of a cultural literacy where one knows idioms and other specifics about a particular culture. Also worth mentioning is critical literacy which defines literacy as being able to critically analyze and view information differently. Literacy in French to me includes several facets. First and foremost is the simple reading, writing, spelling, listening to, and speaking in French. This bleeds into the hope that students become functionally literate in a French-speaking culture- that they are able to ask for directions, order food, etc. all in French, the target language for functional literacy. Beyond that, which in some ways I feel is more important and one of the overarching reasons languages are offered, is to create what I’ll call a cultural-critical literacy. Through studying a culture a student can learn to analyze and view not only French, but their own culture differently. Teaching languages to adolescents provides them with a different point of view and helps them to be more tolerant of others. Taking French language classes truly opened up my eyes to the world around me. It helped me to get out of that teenage “spotlight” effect and realize that there is an entire world out there besides my life—a world that is big, beautiful, and diverse. I want to make language & culture learning an interest for my students. I want to help them discover passion and respect for cultures and people different from them. My French classes helped me improve my grades in other classes and created within me a desire to reach out and be more inclusive. I want to provide students with a safe learning environment where they can learn that we are all different and that it isn’t bad to be different. I want to show students the world of possibilities that lie before them. I simply want to be the teacher that every high school student wishes they had; one who is intelligent, enthusiastic, caring, motivational, and unforgettable. Teachers really do make a difference and I want to be that one teacher that we all remember who made a difference in our lives. By teaching children well a legacy of future leaders who can help to stabilize our decaying world is created. Every day we are in need of more and more strong and talented people leading out in our community and I want to help shape our future’s leaders. My teaching philosophy is to teach French and to teach it well. I believe in allowing all children an equal opportunity to succeed in my classroom. I believe that this can be achieved by striving to attain as many forms of literacy in the classroom as possible. Critical literacy through a cultural perspective: A different way to create change. Are French people wrong for going on strikes?

The Last Toast to Us.

The Last Toast to Us. We fit, like a pair of old running shoes or that favorite pair of jeans. Two peas in a pod. Peanut butter and jelly. Right shoe, left shoe. You get the idea. Together a complete whole, more exciting and meant to be together and just not quite complete nor functional when apart. I should have seen it sooner. Put one and one together. It crept up on me I guess. I didn’t realize until my best friend was getting married that I had already lost her. Just think of it as being let go, that life's going in a different direction, that my body's part of a permanent outplacement. I’ve been demoted, let go, fired, she’s moved on; she has a new best friend. Don’t get me wrong, he’s great and I’m so happy for her, I just forgot about the part that she would move on and I wouldn’t be moving with her. If I had one person to be with on a deserted island, it’d be her. I like to think that back in the day she’d pick me, but now she’d pick prints charming. We used to not be able to live without each other, used to make ourselves laugh until we peed our pants, and went on the most awesome adventures. Sisters, connected at the hip, inseparable. You invite one to a party and know it means you are inviting the other. But my best friend is upgrading to a different kind of lifelong best friend. She won’t need me anymore, she’ll have her Prints Charming to make her laugh when she is sad, make her soup when she is sick, go running with her, take her on adventures, and take care of her. I’ll fade into the background like those faded old photographs that frame my walls of the good old days. A distant memory past. We’ll still be friends, catch up when it is expected, reminisce about the old days and those good times we once had. But there won’t be any more old days to talk about from now on because she’s already gone. So let’s toast to us. We had some good times and some great dreams but it’s time to grow up and move on with life because life always does move on, even if we aren’t ready for it. So a toast to us. Peanut butter and jelly. Sisters. Friends. Adieu. Anyone seen a left shoe? I lost mine. “Someone Like You” by Adele has been my favorite song of late. Switch the lyrics up a bit and it isn’t bad about talking about our friendship. I know that you're settling down That you found a boy and you're married now. I heard that your dreams came true. You know how the time flies Only yesterday was the time of our lives We were born and raised In a summer haze Bound by the surprise of our glory days Nothing compares No worries or cares Regrets and mistakes They are memories made. Who would have known how bittersweet this would taste? Old friend, why are you so shy? Ain't like you to hold back I hate to turn up out of the blue uninvited But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it. I had hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded That for me our friendship isn't over. Never mind, I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best for you too Don't forget me, I beg. Never mind, I'll find someone like you I wish nothing but the best for you.

We all make mistakes. I just hope yours isn't your front tooth.

The curious case of getting a crown for a tooth. Worst mistake of my life. Since I killed my tooth (too many soccer balls to the mouth) in 8th grade my lovely front tooth has been more yellow than my other teeth. Me, being the vain person I am, have tried internal and external bleaching to no avail. My wise dental friend said a crown would look so much better. I believed her and felt it was wise to take advantage of my parents’ insurance and get my front tooth crowned. I made my appointment. The doctor neglected to tell me some things like…your face will be numb for 5 hours, I’m going to shave off basically all of your front tooth, this is not reversible, you can’t floss, you can’t bite with your front teeth, or even wear your retainer. Umm…so if I can’t wear my retainer for a month my 3 years of braces and thousands of dollars just goes down the drain..right? No big deal. Nevermind the imminent threat that temporary crowns have a tendency to pop off at inconvenient moments, like in public. Oh. Fast forward nineteen hours from leaving the dentist office and I’m eating a sandwich. By eat I mean I am on my third bite and POP! Was that my tooth? Why yes it was. Is the dentist busy for the next several hours. Oh. So I’m supposed to go around with my fake tooth hanging out at work. Oh okay, no worries. The dentist fixes my tooth (it feels much more secure might I add) and he tells me to just eat oatmeal for a month. Out of a straw. New weight loss program?? I think so. Now I shouldn’t neglect mother. Mother thought it was very funny because it was the end of the world. I had made a terrible mistake, I want my old tooth back and it is in the dentist rubbish bin. Never mind the fact that I mourned my lost tooth with tears, my mother laughed. And laughed. Even at night prayer when I wasn’t doing anything she burst into a fit of laughter that lasted longer than the prayer. Let’s not forget Hal. He is the tooth color matching guy. My teeth are apparently off the charts white. And transclucent. He said he’ll have a hard time matching it and doesn’t think he’ll get it right on the first time. Hal has been doing this for 35 years and the PRINCE of Saudi Arabia has used him. The Netherlands have used him. And he doesn't think he’s going to get my tooth right. Has my regret increased? Yes. Do I think it will look better than my old tooth? No. Biggest mistake ever. To look on the positive side I do appreciate front teeth. Always chewing with the side and avoiding certain foods and not flossing sucks. Things I never thought I’d be grateful to do. We all make mistakes. I just hope yours isn't your front tooth.

May the Fourth be with you!

A long long time ago in a galaxy far away Saturday was MAY THE FORTH be with you (get it…May the force be with you…May Fourth). Naturally, a party needed to happen. I slaved away in the kitchen all day (after a morning run and labeling the tulips). Party food included: pizza the hut, pretzel light sabers (with chocolate and caramel), the dark side salad, wookie cookies (no bakes), Chewbacca croutons, padme popcorn, vader veggies, C-3PH2O, and so on. I dressed up as Princess Leia, Tatjana as Yoda, Amber as a Padawan, and Tyler as Darth Maul. After our delicious dinner we watched Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Tyler and Amber fell asleep but were very awake for their tickle war after the movie. Tatjana and I just watched and laughed. We then proceeded to talk for about two hours even though we were all ready to go to sleep. Aren't friends great?

Bang Party and St. Pattie's Day

We had a fun Bang party with Tyler, Amber, Tatjana, and the parental units. We all wore bandanas and talked like cowboys. It was a fun but very long game. Amber the outlaw ended up winning. I woke up Sunday morning to a trail of Shaun the Leprechaun's footprints. They naturally led to a box of Lucky Charms. Dad said that he followed the trail earlier and couldn't find them, lol. Sunday was an interesting church experience. We had a missionary who served in Ukraine speak. I was surprised at how much of his testimony in Russian I could understand. I like his advice about scripture study: you read until you feel the Spirit and then you read a little bit more. I wish I had that advice when I was a misisonary. At least I can apply it to myself now! He also told us, "What are you afraid of? You can be cleaner." In Sunday School we talked a lot about how revelation in the scriptures applies to all and about pride. The elders taught Relief Society and went over chapter six a lot. I like how they said that "Information leads to Inspiration." We had Tatjana and Amber over for green rolls, leprechaun casserole (green beans, tomato, beef, green mashed potatoes and cheese), and green seafoam jello. We then played several rounds of the vonderfullly gud game Dutch Blitz.