Erika S. fun stuffs, trips

a California weekend

With our move to the east coast looming, B and I are trying to squeeze in as much Northern Cali as we can. I want to do all my favorite things and see all my favorite people as much as possible before I leave. My list was hella long, but I’ve been working on whittling it down. checked two off this weekend.

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10 mile hike through Robert Louis Stevenson state park by Calistoga. I struggled a bit with the climb, but in the end it was worth it.

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Next up was a trip to Great America. Last time I came here it was on a physics class field trip. Rides haven’t progressed much. The biggest change was the names of the rides. Paramount doesn’t own Great America anymore, and they’ve changed the name of my favorite ride from “Top Gun” to “Flight Deck”. meh.

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Sandy won me a Domo 🙂

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Erika S. teaching

Leaving

As many of you know from Facebook or my post from New York, I’m leaving my hometown, my city by the bay, San Francisco.  I’m off in search of newness, excitement, a challenge and a new chapter in my life, all in the big bad city of New York.  I officially told my advisory class today about my move.  With a heavy heart, I told them that I was not going to be there for their senior year, that someone new would be the one to have the privilege to hand them their diplomas.  I have seen these kids grow and I have grown alongside them.  It was my first day of teaching and their first day of high school.  My advisory class of 35 has shrunk down to 21 students over the years, many have transfered schools, moved or dropped out.  But these 21 kids…it’s hard to explain how I feel I about them.  I’ve written letters of recommendations, heard about their relationship woes, they’ve schooled me on teenage trends and they’ve laugh at me and with me.  I’m going to miss them.  Hopefully someone will Facetime with me next year when they walk the stage so I can cheer on from afar.

Word is spreading around school that Ms. Schenck will not be at Marshall next year.  Some kid asked me, “So does this mean we can add you on Facebook now?”

Aimee and I during our staff meeting today.  weeeee aaarrr keeewwwlll.

Erika S. outfits, teaching

little victories

I have a student who is super shy.  So shy and unsure of herself that all year, she has barely said more than a few sentences in class.  I was also a very shy kid, so I can empathize with her.  Well, this shy kid had to do a solo power point presentation last week on the integumentary system.  She could have chosen to do a mini-book project instead, but alas, she opted to challenge herself and speak in front of the class, all by herself.  The day came, and she froze on the spot.   Really froze!

My class, as good as they are, kept encouraging her with “Don’t worry C__, you don’t have to be shy in front of us” and “you can do it C___, just pretend we’re not here at all” and other supportive things.  Still didn’t help.  She was still standing there frozen with large eyes.  I suggested that everyone in the class turn around so that C_____ wouldn’t feel like all the eyes were on her, every single student whipped around in their seats and stared at the wall.  After a 3 minutes of tortured silence, C____ began to speak, read her note cards and did her presentation, switching slides for the backs of heads.  It was a mini victory.  I wanted to hug each one of my 5th period students that day and stick them all in my pocket so that I could pull them out routinely and tell them how proud they make me.

On an outfit note, I bought these black jeans this past weekend at Uniqlo in NYC.  Love that store.  Cheap, good quality basics with a touch of designeyness (I just made up that word).  Just when I plan on moving to the only US city that has a Uniqlo, they announce that they’re opening one up in SF.  Bah.  I  have two paris of the same jeans, black and blue, mid-rise skinny tapered.  They are super stretchy, thick, super comfortable and holds its shape well for at least 3 wears.  All for $40.  Can’t beat it.  other than the jeans, my teaching outfit was pretty boring and basic.  T-shirt and jeans.

glasses: warby parker – jacket: h&m (old) – v-neck: thread for thought via nordstrom rack – belt: gap – jeans: uniqlo – shoes: bass – bag: j.crew

 

Erika S. outfits

my friday

Today is my friday….and friday for seniors (12th graders).  Tomorrow is senior cut day.  Senior cut day is supposed to be a secret, but of course we teachers find out eventually.  Usually it’s the meek straight A student asking for the work she/he will be missing because “uhh, I’m going to be sick.  cough. cough.” We all had a senior cut day when we were in high school right?  No big deal kid, I wasn’t planning to teach an empty classroom!  When I told my health class kids (mostly 9th graders) that they were going to have a sub tomorrow and that I expected them to behave and do the work I’m leaving for them, some kid yelled out, “it must be teacher cut day tomorrow!”  No, it’s not teacher cut day, I’m just going out of town….to New York!  Just for the weekend.

My favorite booties of all time.  I just got them back from the cobbler, heels refreshed.  I had worn them down to lopsided stubs in the years I’ve worn them.  I love them so much and have yet to find any other black bootie to even come close to how awesome these are.  Durable (the top still looks good!), comfy (I’ve walked all over Philly, DC and LA in these on various trips), and of course hella cute.  If there was a fire and I could save only one pair of shoes, these would be it.  I’ve searched high and low for a pair just like them but without any luck.  I’ve even purchased other black booties hoping I would like them as much as these.  But nothing comes even close to the awesomeness that are these booties.

glasses: warby parker – blazer and jeans: madewell – shirt: anthropologie (old) – belt: jcrew – booties: BP by Nordstrom (old) – bag: f21

Erika S. outfits

three days strong

I’ve worn these sandals three days in a row now.  Still comfy.  score.

I really have nothing else to say today.  Except that I sent a kid (well, two kids) out from health class today because I just couldn’t take their behavior anymore.  I have mixed feelings when I send kids out.  First off, sending kids out is not a punishment to them, but a reprieve for me.  It doesn’t help them see the error of their ways, instead it denies them access to the lesson.  So in order to keep MY sanity, I have to take away their learning opportunity.  I feel bad about that.  But not until my blood pressure drops back down to normal.  These pictures were taken at lunch time, before I developed the perma-scowl that is inhabiting my face for the rest of the day.

sunnies and bag: f21 – v neck and belt: jcrew – skirt (last seen here), blazer and shoes: madewell

Erika S. fun stuffs

Pulp Envy

Pulp is playing a show tonight in SF.  One of my all time favorite band from my high school days.  Seriously amazing.  I was not one of the lucky few who got tickets within the first few minutes before they sold out.  I am so green with envy.

To console myself, I’m listening to as many Pulp songs as I can during the 40 min we have for lunch.  Students are already giving disgusted looks and asking why Im listening to country. Bah.  Kids these days don’t know good brit pop when they hear it!

I have to remind myself that in instead, I have Gotye tickets for tonight!

Erika S. outfits

blown to bits

My school is on top of a hill in SF, in the southeast section of SF.  This means it’s really windy up here, all the time.  So photographer Aimee and I were blown all over the place.  It was hella cold.  That’s right, I said hella.  I am a Northern Cali native after all.   Hella.

Those of you who follow me on pinterest (specifically my “things I lust after” board) know that I’ve been wanting these Madewell Whistlestop sandals for a little while now.  I saw them online when Madewell came out with them, and they are muuuch cuter in person.  B had to listen to me whine about how cute they were but how expensive they were at $138 for a few weeks.  I finally broke down and forked over the hard earned cash for them. Are these really worth a half a day’s pay?  The jury is still out on whether they were worth the $$.  They are cute, they are super comfy and they will be perfect for summer.  But I guess I could have settled with these or these that I already own or even Madewell’s own cheaper sandal here.  These better last at least 2 summers!  On Another note, I love my new bag!

cardigan (old) and belt: j.crew – top and sandals: madewell – pants: anthropologie (old) – bag and sunnies: f21 – necklace: hand-me-down

Erika S. outfits, teaching

in between the storms and the races

It stormed like crazy last night.  We don’t get real lightning and thunder very often here in SF, so when it does happen everyone talks about it.  City dwelling high schoolers reverted to grade school kids sharing their fears.  It’s funny here in SF: earthquake? “Meh, no biggie.”  Thunder? “OMG that was sooo scary!”  The storms cleared today, but it looks like another one might be rolling in this evening.  I took advantage of the lunchtime sunshine.  Too much blue?

My mom gave me this necklace about a year ago when she was going through a rough time.  She picked this necklace out when she was 12 years old in Saigon, Vietnam.  Her favorite uncle had given her money for something like this just before he died.  The character (in cantonese, which we speak at home) is “fook”, which means good luck or good fortune.  These necklaces are not meant to be taken on and off frequently, so I just leave it on all the time.  Wearing it all the time also means I tend to get sideways glances/stares from chinese people on the street.

Asian people tend to think I’m Caucasian and and vice versa.  Kids are usually obsessed with questions like “what are you Ms. Schenck” at the beginning of the year.  Last semester, I made it a point to tell them flatly, “I’m San Franciscan American” and left it at that, redirecting each time.  Mostly, they would get visibly frustrated and try to guess.  Eventually, after much explanation and discussion, they stopped asking.  They laughed when I pointed out that other countries don’t obsessively classify their residents by skin color (hello, I’m Chinese Brazilian!  or hi, I’m African Australian!).  They agreed that knowing my ethnic background would in the end have no relevancy.  But they still just wanted to know.  So they went out and asked around and eventually figured it out.  I understand when they talk shit in Chinese, after all.

shirt: levis (last seen here) – dress: many belles down (orange version seen here) – belt and tights: j.crew – boots: h&m – other necklace: unicorn crafts (last seen here) – bag: f21

Erika S. outfits

stripes and height

A kid said that I looked too serious today.  Must of been the new nude colored blazer I picked up from F21 yesterday.  It could have also been the height.  These Sweedish Hasbeens for H&M sandals put me at 6’3″.  Even the science department head remarked on how tall I was today.  Yeah, I’m tall.  But I still love tall-ish shoes.


glasses: bonlook – blazer: F21 – sweater: madewell – tank (underneath): target – belt: banana republic (old) – jeans: j.brand – shoes: h&m – bag: jcrew