Random Friends

I was trying to ask my friend about this yellow post thing I saw at his school, and here's how he responded:

Me: "I saw this yellow bar thing sticking out of a hill on campus. Do you know what that is? Like artwork or something? Maybe just a construction thing?"
Blake H.: "Oh. Did you poke it?"

WHAT?! He said that without hesitation too. :P

Superman's Only For BOYS?!

Little Kevin (in broken English), pointing at my watch: "That's...boy clock."

haha. Cute.

I've gotten that a lot with my Superman watches and lunch pail. I used to have a Disney princess shirt, but I gave it to a little girl because it was too small. Anyway, I'm teaching these kids that it's okay for girls to like boy superheroes. Heck yes.

Wong Fu's Influence on Me

Some awesome artists I've heard about through Wong Fu Productions (Youtube site here):

In no particular order:

(1) David Choi: I love "That Girl" and "I Won't Even Start"
(2) AJ Rafael: "When We Say (Juicebox)"
(3) Kina Grannis: "Valentine," "Together," "The World in Front of Me" (the first song I heard of hers on a few Wong Fu Weekend videos), and "In Your Arms" are awesome.
>> She actually sings with David Choi too (See "My Time With You")

So Random

I always have to stop myself from laughing whenever the kids say things that don't make sense or aren't appropriate within a certain context.

I've noticed that M says two completely different things (that should be two separate sentences but aren't) in one breath, apparently assuming that the other person will understand both of his trains of thought. For example, the other day he said something that came out like this: "I'm going to Texas next week Albert and Jimmy have bikes now."

What?

Haha. I changed the boys' names.

Another time, I was reading a book to the kids when D raised her hand and said, very slowly, "Um, myy brootherr likes to eat chips."

That's nice! But...can we finish the story? She does this a lot. It's cute that she wants to talk about her brother so much, but her comments are so random. :D

Huh?

Sometimes it's difficult to accurately describe the funny or cute things I encounter with kids. Sometimes you just have to have seen their facial expressions, heard their giggles (like Samantha's), etc.


For example, the other day, E, who often mumbles and has trouble enunciating due to his little boy accent/voice, said something to D about her watermelon. I looked at D, who looked at me at the same time, a puzzled expression on her face.

I quietly asked, "What did he say?"
She shrugged, frowning slightly, and I couldn't help but laugh at our shared puzzlement.
I think E noticed (you have to be so careful how you react to things in front of kids!), so I asked him what he had said, he repeated himself, and I made it clear that I understood and agreed with him. Luckily the confusion D and I shared didn't phase him. If it had, we might have had to deal with a very upset little boy (he's known for reacting unpredictably to certain things).

Anyway, D's facial expression was priceless.

Caught Red-Handed

One of the best parts of being with kids is when you catch them doing embarrassing or cute things that they probably wouldn't do if they knew people were watching.

The other day, E. (preschooler) was walking to his cubby, and, being the hyper kid that he is, he did a kind of dance/waddle, shaking his butt left and right without realizing that another teacher and I were watching. So adorable. I wish I had that on videotape.

Earlier, I caught a male sixth grader dancing and making weird bodily and facial movements outside of his classroom. He saw me and stopped dead in his tracks. I smiled and stifled a laugh. Poor guy. Sometimes there are few differences between preschoolers and older kids. And adults, to be honest.

I had another story but forgot it.

Can I Adopt You?

Seriously...I love this kid so much that--without thinking through all of the logistics--I would seriously consider adopting her. That won't happen. I just think she is so adorable. I absolutely love all of the other kids though, to be honest. I wish I could babysit them all! Have I said that before?

Anyway, today, when the preschool girls were lining up in the bathroom, as I was getting ready to sing a song with them, I leaned toward S to more clearly hear her, and she jumped up and hugged me, almost breaking my back and knocking me over...and kind of hanging from my neck due to her tininess (I didn't know "tininess" was a word until just now).

Being a Teacher

.:Preschool:.

Yesterday (5/10/10) I asked A. (girl) on our way to the cafeteria if her mom liked the Mothers Day gift she made for her at school, and she said something about her really liking it, and then she said, after sighing softly, "You teachers are so great."

This is the same girl whose mom told me that ever since A started school, her behavior has improved significantly at home. It's nice to know that the kids and their parents like the teachers. :)

Maybe someday I'll be some kind of teacher again. In addition to what I already want to do.

Me According to Preschoolers

By S.:


By E. (below). What's extra cute about this is that he wanted to include our ages above our heads (he drew me and himself in his journal). I cut off the bottom part because it says my name (The teachers write what the preschoolers say about their drawings, and E. said, "This is you" to me, and I wrote in brackets which teacher I was).

Gray Hair

.:Today:.

Female 1st grader to male 1st grader: "What color is your mom's hair?"
Male 2st grader (in a soft, genuinely puzzled tone): "Uh...black. But sometimes it turns gray. It's kinda weird."

I'm on a Sheep.

If you haven't heard of Wong Fu Productions, go here now (they also have a Youtube page). :) They're awesome independent filmmakers/actors/designers from SoCal, and they just came to my hometown to speak and present their work. Such kind, hilarious people. Despite their very Chinese-sounding name, they don't limit themselves to just projects featuring Asian Americans, by the way.

Anyway, once you know who Wong Fu is, or even if you don't, watch THIS at 2:28 if you've seen that old spice commercial where the guy says, "I'm on a horse." Wesley/Wes does a hilarious spoof.

They even have a Facebook page that you can like here.

Here is the old spice commercial.