Every teacher has their own ways, from switching activities every couple of minutes to breaking up class with a lab.  I guess I need to keep watching and determine which of these I will try when I take over.

This is going to be a short post because I need to get to bed, but one thing that I thought was awesome was from the teacher I am working with third block.  Some students were remarking they “Can’t do Bio.”  Her response was “In this classroom, that contraction [can’t] stands for ‘Can Try.’  That is one of the coolest things I’ve heard in a classroom so far.

This video sums up what’s happening now with social media; it’s becoming one of the most important tools for companies to sell goods.  We use social media to sell products now, and it’s really important to understand the techniques are required to sell your products.

I’ve written some manuals on the best practices of adding individuals on social media, and I’m willing to share some of these tips with you.  I work part time in the social media industry right now, but am hoping to get more hours.  These tips and papers I share will hopefully be shared on my linked in and I am really hoping that I will be noticed for my success in social media.

What makes me different in social media?  I put my psychology degree to work when examining what I see.  I use my biology degree to examine the correlation between the way I work and the results that are produced through numbers of fans added on Facebook and numbers of followers on twitter.  This translates into exposure and ultimately sales of the brand I am working with.

1. Be Respectful

2. Be Responsible

3. Be Accountable

4. Be a role model

5.Be Engaged

The new Sol Lewitt art in the lobby was also discussed.  If you aren’t familiar with what happened with that, check out this story http://www.recorder.com/story.cfm?id_no=7855220

The students were very respectful, for the most part.  There were those students who were being disrespectful and trying to “get a rise” out of teachers and administrators.  It was interesting, because I had never been one of those students in school.  It was dealt with accordingly…as in “Thank you for showing us an example of not being respectful.”  This is an interesting way to show how to use different ways to show the rules.  I will investigate this more.

The day went very fast, and before I knew it, lunch time arrived.  We ate as a department which was really nice.  All in all a great first day of school.  First long day tomorrow!

We had a day full of meetings, and it was interesting to see the relationships behind the scenes, the things that students may not be aware of.  I saw this in a variety of ways- teachers talking about their summers and asking about how their families are (everyone knows each other, and I absolutely LOVE that sense of community.)  Phil had a long bike trip this summer, and it was really cool to see the community interested in it, maybe I can see if he has notes I can post about it.

You remember the first day of school, where all the students are excited to see each other and there’s a ton of energy?  It was like that today with the teachers, and this was the most surprising observation I made.  I love it when teachers are ready to go for a new school year.  The students come tomorrow!

Today was a day to set up the classroom, and was a big day of learning for me.  I now know how the school is set up, met some of the other teachers, and began to look over what exactly I’ll be doing here over the next year.

I think a huge problem with first year teachers is that there is so much going on, it’s hard to “keep your head above the water.”  I am very lucky to be working with a great mentor teacher and support staff to help me get through this year, while getting a ton of experience in the school setting.

Tomorrow should be a day of meetings, getting more things in order, and getting ready for Wednesday- the day the students come.  I am so excited!

After 3 days, I restarted the trip.  I was fine the initial day getting to Spring City, PA.  However, the following day I was unable to pedal after about 8 miles, the pain being much worse than before.  The hypothesis at this time is that my knee is slightly dislocating while I am at the top of the stroke pedaling, and comes back together at the bottom of the stroke.

After crying on the side of the road and being disappointed that I would not be able to continue without irreversibly damaging my leg, I remembered all of those people who helped so far, and all of those who were pledging to further help at future stops.

I want to thank everyone for all the support that you have given me.  I had an amazing week meeting strangers, making friends and traveling the Northeast.  I wish I were able to continue at this point in time, but my health needs to take priority.

A great thing I learned on the trip is that the Lions Club is like a family.  There were people always willing to take me into their homes, feed me and befriend me.  It is amazing how Lions are so eager to help any cause, and that they look out for strangers that they haven’t even met.

I will be meeting with doctors very soon to see what can be done about my knee, and I’m hoping to hear that this can be fixed.  I don’t want to leave this as an attempt; I hope to restart this trip in the future.

One thing that I still hope is that you are willing to donate to the cause, as it is wonderful and I would love for you to help in building something that is needed in Haiti.

You can still do so by sending a check to:

Lions Haiti Fund

P.O. Box 483

Gardner, MA 01440

Thanks again and hopefully see you later.

Jason DeFuria

To My Fellow Lions and Friends,

I have known Jason for the past ten years and recently sponsored him into the Lions Club.  As he began his journey across country, I had peace of mind knowing that the Family of Lions was there for him each and every step of the way.  What amazed me was early on in his trip he realized what it is to be a Lion when he made the statement: “Life lesson 1: Always give to others, because you get taken care of too. Things come back tenfold.”   You, the Lions that took him in and watched out for him, taught him this lesson.

Jason took on this journey to raise funds for “Forward in Health”, a medical mission to Haiti started by Lion (Dr) John Mulqueen and his wife Paula.  Lions of Massachusetts have set up a Lions Haiti Fund to raise $75,000 and will seek a matching grant from LCIF.  Once the funds are raised and the construction complete, the Lions International Emblem will be adhered to the building.

I am very proud of Jason and the mission that he set out to accomplish.  It says a lot for his character and that of being a Lion.  I made many new friends while seeking accommodations for him and I thank you all for your kindness and hospitality.

We will let you know how he is doing.  Thank you once again!

Sincerely,

Paul N. DeMeo

Massachusetts Lion MD 33-A

www.gardnerlionsclub.org

www.forwardinhealth.org

Today I resumed the trip. It was nice of Shawn and his family to take me in for 3 days and have me as part of their family. If you are down on the Jersey shore be sure to check out the Seakist.

It was a lot of cornfields today…not anything worth noting. There was nuclear cooling towers towards the end. Its always iinteresting to see those.

I also got a picture of Wawa for those of you in MA. Too bad they don’t franchise…me and Shawn had talked of franchising one in MA.

My hosts tonight are fantastic. I’m in a two bedroom apartment upstairs. Its a rather historic house, belonging to a paper mill owner originally.

We went out to a lovely dinner and they gave me a tour of the house when we got back. It was really cool.

Tomorrow I’m heading on PA23 for the entire day. I might see some Amish…but I will not take pictures of the people out of respect. I will post more tomorrow.

Avoided: Gerbil ball

Total miles:395

Today was the start to a set back in the trip. I started peddling in Frenchtown, NJ and my right leg was not feeling so good above the kneecap. I stretched it out but it was still hurt.

I had to walk my bike down a gravel path so I didn’t pop the tires. About 4 miles down this path in the middle of the woods was what I think was one of those secret federal prisons.

I ended up on the side of the road sitting down. Another cyclist, Dale, reccomended that I go to the e.r. I went via ambulance and Dale took my bike for me.

They did an xray and didn’t find any broken bones, and concluded it may be a muscle injury or tendonitis. I was instructed to rest for 2 days and see how it is.

My roommate Shawn, his sister Ashley and his girlfriend Christine came to my rescue. We went out to dinner and I’m staying with them while I rest the leg. We will see what Thursday brings, but I am optimistic.

Quick update before I go to bed! Got up, tried to say bye to Jim but couldn’t find him. I left and it was quite the climb to milbrook village.

I biked through the woods in the delaware water gap today. There was a ton of wildlife everywhere.

I was held up by a thunderstorm and tornado warning in Portland, PA. It passed and I managed to navigate between the rest of the storms.

There was a 20-25 mph wind from the south all day. While it did take it’s toll on me, it really helped strengthen my legs.

I ate a lovely italian restaurant. There were really nice people there.

I biked to Frenchtown, NJ in the dark tonight. It was on backroads and there were few cars. There were a million fireflies out, which was cool. Ik had to put on a longsleeve shirt because it was cold.

Oh, and saw some sort of mountain cat hunting dear today.

Random object avoided: a pack of deer at night grazing
Mileage today: 76
Mileage Total:352