Exploration Destination: North Carolina, Feb. 2-9

I've booked the ticket and heading over. I'm excited and want to share. My friend of 35 years is flying down from Ithaca, NY to be my "chauffeur" and common sense. We're staying first at the Microtel in Hillsborough, and on the 5th I'll attend an education job fair at NC Greensboro. For the next two nights I've booked at the Microtel in Shallotte (downscalebabe has promised to meet me and explore, too.)

What else, what else? I feel like I should bring plants or something. No round-ups in the middle of winter? tsk!

Is corduroy appropriate for February in NC? I live in it here in the winter.

Yes, corduroy is appropriate...but you may want to bring a coat, too. We find that layering works well...Today is an example of how unpredictable the weather can be...High in the upper 60's . Hardly the norm here.

Layering always, and I'll definately have a coat. Your zone is colder than here and I always need a coat.

How fun that you are visiting the Carolinas soon! I fell in love with the Carolinas years ago and finally made the permanant move here about 4 yrs ago. I hope you have an awesome time!!!

I bought a half a house of furniture up there. If you need a bunch of furniture that area is where to get.

I've heard about furniture, and know I won't be moving any. My primary concern is my dogs.

I'm happy to see there is a Trader Joe's within a half hour of the first motel. :-) Love that store and there is not one for hundreds of miles. (There isn't even a Walmart for over 100 miles!)

Don't worry 4Paws--Trader Joes is expanding into our area in a major way. Their first store last year set a company record for highest volume grand opening sales, or something like that, and we now have two (Cary, NC and Chapel Hill, I believe), with a third set to open this year in Raleigh. I presume that means there will be plenty more. Yippee! That, too, was the one thing I missed when we moved to Raleigh---I found everything else to be either the same or better as in the Bay area of California.....This is such a great place, with the exception of the weather, at times, and the mosquitoes. Good Luck in your search!

Thank you...

I think there is another Trader Joe's planned for the Charlotte area too. I love TJ's and have no qualms about occasionally driving 5 hours to get my groceries. :-)

Good to know they set a sales record in NC; maybe they will consider a store a bit further south for the rest of us TJ addicts.

I've missed TJ's too, since we moved to SC from CT. I'd love to have one open around here!

I sure hope I can find a school that suits my style. I'm learning in my current job how important it will be for me to also interview the school. I love my job, temp as it is, but dislike the overall method of teaching. It's not inclusive and relevant enough and doesn't tie in so many learning opportunities that it could being workbook based. I hate workbooks! It's good to have one for a master with a program, but not to live on. Like geting a lot of starch in your diet, but not a good variety of vegetables and dairy.

Your going from CA to NC as a teacher? LOL. School is going to be totally different in NC.

LOL. Very different to say the least, prepare for culture shock.

Our public schools here aren't generally all that progressive (and I think with NCLB schools are under that pressure), there are charter schools and private schools just like anywhere else if you want more flexibility.

Shallotte, my outlaws moved there not long ago...lol..I'll stop there

Oh, no, don't stop - tell me more.
I haven't taught much in CA and this is culture shock for me-I think you know, Tropicanna from other times our paths have crossed on DG....

I want a simple place within a couple hours of a decent airport, where I can do good work, have my dogs, garden, and space and not bother anyone. Thought I might tie teaching in with a group home, eventually, also experience I've had and enjoyed.

I've found some interesting real estate listing north of there. Wilmington has two interesting independent schools. I can address NCLB, no problem, I'm just not a workbook, drill and kill teacher, I'm a research based, whole curriculum, centers enhanced, child oriented/individual paced as much as possible teacher who incorporates lots of hands-on enrichment experiences. For example, when learning multiples of 8, I bring in octopus and wok it, but not before we examine the 8 tentacles and estimate suckers (can get baby frozen octopus at asian groceries), which always leads to a lot more learning. WOrkbook oriented curriculms give me stomach pains.

I've been spending my day looking at the map and thinking about which districts reps I want to talk to at the job fair on Feb 5 at UNCG. I'm working on my "philosophy" statement, which is as important, in my opinion, as my resume. I have to go where it is immediately affordable and most likely to get work, at least as a substitute.

Seems like Wilmington is an area that is facing some difficulties, but that folks might be working on them getting better?

Any comments?

4paws,

I can't believe you're coming our way! I live 10 minutes from where you're stayng in Shallotte! Can you believe it? I've been wanting to meet downscalebabe, too, so maybe I can meet up with you guys! That would be so much fun! I'm supposed to be going out of town on the 2nd for 6 days, but it may not happen since my friend has a tendency to cancel things.

Now don't get real excited about Shallotte since there's really nothing there, but it's about halfway between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach. Downscale is about an hour south of Shallotte and south of Myrtle Beach.

What are you referring to about Wilmington?

Tropicanna,
Where are your "outlaws" in Shallotte?

I can't believe in this whole big world that 2 of you in this garden would end up in little tiny Shallotte!

BDunn, I'm not exactly sure, someone on a golf course on the sound. I've only been once and most of the time I wanted to be somewhere else...lol

4Paws, every state I've visited is completely different and NC is home so...it's just different here. And Wilmington, and NC in general have their problems just like anywhere else. kinda tough to explain without going on a rant but we do have a lot of poverty, etc. and education doesn't get always get proper funding

edited to cover up my improper education and speliing...lol

This message was edited Jan 13, 2008 8:28 AM

BDunn, it would be great if we could meet up! We'll get there on the 5th and leave on the 7th or so - perhaps if you go, you might cut the trip a tiny bit short? I read on a city-data post that the Purple Onion is a good place to eat. My room will be a good place for coffee - I'll be bringing my french press, Fogbuster and a hot pot- can't go anywhere without my one decent morning cup! The room should have a fridge and microwave, too, so that will keep my budget tight.

I don't need much as far as the town itself - I am used to shopping once a month (65 miles to primary shopping here) and use online resources whenever possible. I don't need a lot of outside entertainment - I seem to keep myself entertained and busy on my own. I do need a school and an environment where I can be who I am and part of the whole team. I found a school in Wilmington that seems to match my philosophy - the Friends School of Wilmington. I read its handbook last night and got all excited. I am not alone in my way of thinking. Based on research, no homework other than reading (alone, out loud, and read to) is assigned in primary as it has shown no benefit. The K-2 teacher I'm working with now - omd! HOMEWORK every night, workbook pages all day - rarely anything but, except with me for the morning opening and now she is giving me 80 whole minutes on Fridays (did I say that already?). It frustrates the kids and me.However, I have to keep my mouth shut for now, because I need current references (it's so hard to not speak up!) The children don't know anything different, but it's really not addressing all learning styles and it couldn't be more boring!

Cape Fear Academy looks interesting, too, and is planning to increase their student population by about 200 students in the future.

The Lumberton area keeps coming up, too. Many ads for teachers. There is an independent school in Red Springs, Flora MacDonald Academy and one in Lumberton, but I haven't researched it yet.

The trouble I refer to is poverty related, with drugs and violence. I have that here. I can handle it IF I can be an active agent for good change. Here I cannot because I am not an Indian and cannot vote or rattle cages of politicians.

I can also handle underfunded schools, if I'm allowed to be creative in my approach. All things are tools for learning and I have the basic tools I need. I've got my own classroom library so my students always have access to books, and I have the equipment and manipulatives I need to set up and GO except the room and the students. I don't even care how much money I make, as long as it is enough to have health care without worry, a simple home with at least a fenced acre, my dogs, and solid transportation.

There are quite a few independent schools. I'm mixed about working in one because though I think most public schools are messed up, I can HELP make them better and I'm one of those rescuer people. Have to always dive in and do the dirty work to make things good and beautiful (like gardening!). Folks without money deserve the best education, too.

So, what about inland from Wilmington, like Kelly and Ivanhoe? What's the dirt like?

Daydreaming I thought I could post an ad - teacher available to privately teach up to 6 children under 12 years of age for one full year in exchange for 1 fenced acre with a good barn and all utilities that can, if it isn't already, be hidden from the neighbors with trees and other living lovelies. (working on my creative visualization vision for this). I can pull my travel trailer into the barn during the winter for a while and slowly get to where I can build an eco-friendly house.

I'm not worried about weather, especially the harsh stuff. I've experienced most of what nature has to offer, except tornados and then I did experience mini-twisters in CO. Don't want to deal with ice and snow again, if I can help it, and I need more sun in the winter than happens here, but I'm also learning to manage that issue. Mosquitoes - they seem to not like me, but if they do, I have ways to keep them at bay. Here there are many mosquitoes, but toads in my dog free zone seem to keep them under control, and swallows take care of my back deck while entertaining me at the same time. I had intended on spraying my property with garlic spray, but didn't for a number of reasons. Seems a good solution.

There's my morning book!
I'm getting very excited!

Ok, countdown. My buddy is sick with the virus from Mars and her doc said it can take 4 weeks to get better-this is making me nervous enough to cancel if she doesn't go. However, I still need to be prepared.

Anyone familiar with these counties? Hoke, Richmond, Robeson and that area? Anyone know any elementary teachers who would talk/write to me?
Thanks!

It's really hard to find out what schools are about.

My grandaughters school in FL has a terrific website and you get a real feel for the school when you read it. Most of the teachers names and emails are listed along with pictures of their classes. Maybe some of the schools in the districts you are considering have such a site. Good luck and I hope your buddy gets well soon.

Me too, thank you. I totally need her back up-and the luck!

That's what I 've been looking at, ardesia, but there are soooooo many schools and the littler ones,which is what I am looking for, don't necessarily have websites, or ones that give information.