I finished third grade with Mrs. Munro. That was a fun grade, after I got over the initial hiccups beginning of the school year. I learned to manage the much heavier work load. I got nominated for GATE. I wrote a song with my friends and sang it for the School Talent show. I took part in the middle eastern dance for School International Night. I got to be lunch helper in the cafeteria one week, and even got free lunch! I enjoyed working on the various projects, reports and class plays we did in third grade. I was sad to say goodbye.
After a wonderful summer when I took interesting classes like cooking, public speaking, and ice skating, I started fourth grade. I joined Mr.Dugoni's class. That has been quite an experience so far. It is the 4th grade class with the most work and most fun. We went on a lot of field trips - the water treatment plant, the recycling center, Mission San Jose, and so on. Our class runs the school Friday show. I got to be the camera person for the very first Friday show of this school year. I also got to be the newscaster for two weeks, and once even do a special report on Barack Obama, when he won the elections in November. I had to work on one or two book reports every month, and write lots and lots of essays. I managed to get straight As throughout the first trimester and was on the top of the Honor roll at the end of 2008. Being in the intermediate section in school meant other privileges too. I ran for Treasurer in the Student Council. Though I didn't win the election, I did get selected as the class representative to the council. I also got selected as a school conflict manager. As I lead primary kids to their classrooms on rainy days, and solved little fights on the playground on Tuesdays, I felt really grown up! I joined the band and started playing the drums and mallet. I learned to play the recorder in the school music class.
I continued with my piano classes with Ms.Sylvia. Started taking Carnatic music classes. Continued with my art class. Graduated from Fremont swim school in summer. Picked up an interest in basketball after I attended a camp. Started playing basketball with friends on Friday evenings. Did a Jazz dance performance at Yoko's dance school annual show. Attended a few Lego robotics classes. Enjoyed those, especially the animation movie ones. Started learning some Spanish from Ms.Maria at the Y. Me and my friends set up a small shop at the Y, selling our paintings and craftwork, and rasing money for charity.
I had a busy social calendar as always. I had fun play dates, parties, sleepovers, and so on. I continued writing emails to Appachan and Sandhya aunty, and started sending to more friends too. I enjoyed reading a lot of books. I got my first video game, a Wii. I enjoyed playing Wii Sports and the Super Mario galaxy game.
We did some travelling in 2008 too. Went to Disneyland during spring break. In summer during our yearly India trip, went to Delhi and Agra, and saw many sights including the Taj Mahal, one of the modern Seven Wonders of the world. During the Christmas break we went on a fun cruise to Baja California, with friends.
Good times flew by so fast......
