keep updating!

I will try to update this while out on the road in East Africa...however, I'm not sure how often I'll have internet access. Please check back for updates! also, feel free to send me e-mails to update me on what's new and good in your lives...I'll be back in the states by March.
My email address is: danasoprano@gmail.com

me and my bike

Keep on L-I-V-I-N

So, I have finished grad school and my teacher certification for grades 1-6...hooray! What an accomplishment. It sure feels good. :-)

Now, I have some extra un-commited time on my hands to play around with life a little bit before I settle into my own classroom that will demand my 24 hour/day 7 days/week attention...So its off to Africa to roam, eat, play, bicycle, and mingle with Ugandan culture and landscape.

I'll be bicycling around southwestern Uganda in a tour of 7 other people, which includes 6 other Americans and one local Uganda tour guide. After the tour I plan to stay for a few weeks to soak in some more Ugandan/East African culture and experiences. I would love to do some of my own professional development by exploring the educational system in Uganda or another East African country. So much of what I've read says that the entire continent is severely lacking in properly trained teachers which obviously puts a slow on the acquisition of knowledge by students in their classrooms. I would love to see what the situaiton is really like and who knows, maybe I can be some kind of consultant to a school and share my Western education, if its valued and accepted of course.

Anyway, for those of you that are visual learners, here are some recent pics from me in real life.


Steven and I on a December 29th Bicycle Ride in Cortland, NY! Wow, the weather was so nice, before the sun went down. I am so thankful to have found Steven who shares my love of bicycling...without him I wouldn't have made it up those hills!
This is the latest picture of the three BFFs on Leslie's Birthday night, December 24, 2008.

And Life Goes On...

Well, so I have made a lot of changes in the past couple of months. I'm living back in Cortland with a classmate, Erica. We have a nice, affordable little apartment with lots of space to store my junk! I love it. I love being in Cortland, near everything and everyone. It takes 5 minutes to get to work driving and only 30 walking. My next student teaching placement starts on Monday and geeze, am I nervous for those fifth graders!

I am really liking being on my own and in Cortland. I've never felt so independent and proud of what I'm doing. I can't wait to keep on livin'!

This is a picture from Spain a few years ago. It reminds me of how fun it was to just be roaming around another country, taking advantage of being a young American girl learning Spanish...Hmm, thoughts are brewing...

Fall 08...

Well, this past week was the start of the new school year and with it I started student teaching. I am in a second grade classroom, with 19 students. My cooperating teacher is a fantastic mentor and teacher. I hope to someday achieve what she has. I go through so many emotions in one school day, happy, excited, anxious, nervous, sad, frustrated, overwhelmed, eager, etc...Its hard keeping them all contained within me at the appropriate times...Its a very challenging job, but I just keep telling myself what a great learning experience this is to be with a verteran teacher for 8 weeks...I'm keeping my head up for a vibrant and successful week ahead. week 2.

These trees are up-rooted all over the place where Ben and I like to mountain bike near our house. We haven't really figured out why...? Ideas anyone? It's like Giants came in and pulled the trees up out of the earth and just threw them back onto the ground...strange.















These are our three kitties (from left-vinny, leo, and jack). They're great. :-)















These are a few of my wonderful classmates during our day of fun in the woods...all soon to be amazing teachers!

Photos from this summer...

In Cleveland, OH visiting my favorite Dutch FES--Ayrel and I are so close now!

My time spent with Ayrel and her husband Ben was fantastic as always. I enjoyed the 6 hour drive with only the company of my own thoughts and the buzz of the radio. It was such a great way to officially start my summer, as my classes just finished a week ago! Although, I wouldn't have minded having air conditioning in the car. :-)








This is our Great Race Team 2008
We came in Second place in the new rookie division.

Betsy was our runner-10K
I was the biker-19 miles
And Molly and Ted were our canoeists-4 miles

It was one of the most rewarding and enjoyable team events I have ever participated in.






Ben and I took a hike around Buttermilk Falls in Ithaca on a beautiful summer afternoon.
We love living so close to Ithaca because of the falls, fantastic choices of cuisine, and the theater of course!



















A lily in full bloom in the backyard. I love summer flowers! The backyard is active all summer. Veggies in the garden are now getting ripe and the sunset is phenomenal!

Re-uniting with some of my best Fredonia friends at the infamous North Collins Jamboree! Finally I got to experience Angela's hometown at its finest!
With me-megan, angela, and kimmie, the best college roommates I could have ever asked for.

This is my first official attempt at being a blogger! The purpose of this is to keep far away family and friends updated on the happenings of the fast moving life of me, D.