Holi Festival of Colors

This last Saturday I went to the Festival of Colors. Every year it takes place at the Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork.

The festival celebrates the arrival of spring but also is a celebration of the death of Pootna, a mythological creature in the Hare Krishna religion.This year was my second year going. I went last year but got there late so I missed the throwing of the colors. I didn't get much color but it was still fun. This year we planned so we could get there in time to buy colors and be there when they threw them. We parked at the Spanish Fork fairgrounds and walked about 2 miles to the temple. We were there in time for the celebration at 4pm. It was a BLAST!!! I loved learning about the culture, singing and dancing, forgetting my worries and just having fun! Except when the guy body surfing fell on my head and I just about passed out.

If you click this link it will go to a You Tube video of the throwing that I was at. On the video, at 21 seconds, there is a place in the huge crowd that throws colors, I am in the middle of that color. You get pelted in the face, in the ears, eyes, mouth, EVERYWHERE! You definitely get paint in your mouth and it's not the best taste but it's all worth it.

Here are some pictures I took from BEFORE the big throwing

Triton, Garrett, Matt, Garrett's girlfriend (forgot her name), and Trevor

Triton

Garrett and Triton

My cousins Jessica and Erin and their friend Emily


Garrett


Erin and Emily


My cousin Jessica



This is AFTER the big throwing

From L-R: Me (my shirt was once white), Jackie, Alyssa, and one of there friends.


My cousin Hayley and her boyfriend Keate got there late so they just thew the color at each other. My good friend Alyssa in the background.

New Job

I started my new job almost a month ago and I absolutely LOVE it! I haven't had a job since October of last year. I applied to Carmen B. Pingree (school for children with Autism) three times within a years time and finally got it on the third try.

The first time, I applied and observed the kids and was told to call the next week to schedule an interview because the lead teacher wasn't there that week. When I called they told me that they had just put on a hiring freeze and to keep calling.

The second time, about three months ago, I had an interview set up and was hopeful. I had the last interview spot of the last day. As I was driving to the school what seems to happen? Car trouble! I was fifteen minutes late and the interviewing teacher was already gone. I was so bummed.

This last time, Wednesday, I got a call from someone I know that works there asking me if I was still looking for a job. She told me that they needed three assistant teachers in the classroom she works in and to call the school to set up an interview if I was interested. So of coarse I called and made an appointment for the next day. I went to the interview fairly confident and was told I would hear back from her the next day if I got the job. Not three hours later I received a call telling me I got the job if I was still interested. I started the following Monday and have been working there since.

I love my job, I love teaching, working and having fun with the kids. There are some kids in my class that don't talk and some that you can't even tell they have Autism. Most days I feel I am working at a preschool, not an Autism preschool. They are all just kids to me, they all have their own fun personality. Don't get me wrong, it's hard and stressful at times and there is a lot of multitasking, but it is all worth it. I LOVE it!