Eleven

I've been tagged in a blogging meme by my dear friends Eva BuyuksimkesyanJanet Bianchini and Cristina Silva.

The task includes:
  1. Acknowledge the nominating blogger.
  2. Share 11 random facts about yourself.
  3. Answer the 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you.
  4. List 11 bloggers.
  5. Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate to answer, and let all the bloggers know they have been nominated. Don’t nominate a blogger who has nominated you.
So here I go:
11 random facts about me
1. I'm a proud mom of two boys who are now at university, studying mechanical engineering and ICT.
2. My husband and I swim 2 kilometers every Sunday. We've been doing that  for 12 years now.
3.  I travel a lot, but always on stand-by, which means that we can travel only if there are free seats available on the plane. It can get really nerve-racking, but it's worth it.
4.  Until last year I thought  jogging was not my kind of sport. Now I simply adore it.
5.  I like reading and always have my Kindle in my purse.
6.  I can't stand waiting in queues because I think that's utter waste of time. That's why I never leave home without my Kindle.
7. I can shop for hours without getting bored. It's not necessary that I buy anything. I'm happy with just browsing. 
8. I joined Twitter because of Ashton Kutcher. I'm still following him, but he's never followed me back.
9.  I'm a chocoholic. I can't say no to chocolate. I love all sorts, but I'm totally nuts about dark chocolate with whole nuts.
10. I think I've tried every diet. As a matter of fact I'm always on a diet. Except when I'm eating chocolate.
11. I can sew, knit and crochet. I used to make my own clothes - skirts, blouses, dresses, caps, mittens.
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My answers to Eva's questions:
1. Do you remember the first class you entered as a teacher?
Yes, I do. That was a long time ago, when I was still a student at university I was hired as a sub in a primary school. I was standing there petrified while the headteacher was introducing me to a class of 14-year olds.. The moment she left, I felt at ease. I still remember what I was wearing on that day - a striped black and white dress with big white buttons on the back - I designed and made it myself.
2. What is your favorite social media platform? Why?
Twitter because I learn so much from my PLN. Facebook, because it's fun.
3. How do you think blogging helps your teaching?
It's  a great way to reflect on what I have done as a teacher or as a teacher trainer.
4. Tea or Coffee?
Coffee by all means. I'm a coffeeholic too.
5. Who is your favorite singer, band, musician?
Robbie Williams
6. Do you attend conferences? Why? / why not?
Yes, I love conferences because I can meet people (usually from my PLN) fcf and learn, learn, learn. I'm addicted to learning.
7. Who were the most helpful tweeters or bloggers for you when you started blogging or tweeting?
Shelly Terrell, Karenne Sylvester and Burcu Akyol.
8. What will be the first goal in your New Year’s resolutions list this year?
Flip my classroom more often.
9. Where would you like to travel in 2014?
Buenos Aires.
10. How long does it take to write a blog post for you and how often do you update your blog?
Sometimes it takes so long that I quit. At other times words just keep flowing and this is an amazing feeling. Most often I have writer's block at the beginning, I know what I want to write, but words just don't keep coming. After a while however, there they are and I can write for hours on end. I write at least one post a month on each of my blogs.
11. What is your favorite food?
Chocolate :-)
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My answers to Janet's questions:
1. What has been one of your priceless 'aha' moments as a teacher?
In 2009, when I introduced my students to Glogster I realized there was a very thin line between them as digital natives and me as a digital immigrant.
2. Which educator has inspired you to be the best teacher you can be?
My teacher of German from my primary school. He was an erudite teacher who instilled the love of language in his students.

3. Are you an early bird or night owl?
Both. I don't sleep a lot. But I like quiet early mornings the most.

4. Which do you prefer, Facebook or Twitter and why?
Twitter because it's there that I learn most. Facebook,
 because it's fun. 
5. Which adjectives would you use to describe yourself using the letters of your first name?
Ardent - about everything I do.

6.Do you collect anything in particular?  If so, what is it and how long have you been collecting it?
I've been collecting fridge magnets since 1998 when I bought my first magnet in Lichtenstein. My fridge is not big enough for all the magnets, so we also have a magnet board.

7.Which place in the world would you most like to visit, and why?
Bondi Beach at Christmas Time to see what it's like to spend Christmas on the beach and see Santa in swimming trunks.

8. What is the most treasured possession you have received from one of your former students?
A book they made containing all their names, photos and a special message for me from each one of them. I'll keep it forever. 

9. 
Do you like teaching exam classes?  No, I don't. I'm dreaming of a school with no exams, no grades, just plain leanirng and having fun while doing it.

10. What do you most enjoy about blogging?
I'm the happiest when someone leaves a comment.

11. What's your favourite song?
Go gentle by Robbie Williams.
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My answers to Cristina's questions:
1. What was the best moment in your life?
When I met my husband. It happened on a warm summer afternoon on Island Krk.

2. Do you expect much of people?
Yes, I do.I believe in the good of all people. By default.

3. How many true friends do you have?
I'm lucky I have a few true friends who I can rely on and who I  love fondly.

4. What do you do when you need to have YOUR moment?
I go jogging.

5. What is the film of your life?
"My travels" - a travel movie.

6. When was the last time you slept 10h? 
I don't remember.

7. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
Look at the alarm clock.

8. Which historical character would you like to meet if you had that chance?
Marco Polo, because I'd like to ask him where he really comes from, either from Korčula, Croatia or Venice, Italy.

9. An embarrassing moment in your life was…
As the coordinator of the Comenius project at my school I organized a visit of 51 teachers and students from 7 European countries in Zagreb. I planned everything very carefully, including the meals at restaurants, but somehow missed to ask people about their dietary habits. I was really embarrassed when I realized that the food I had ordered was inappropriate for some people. Luckily, the chef was really understanding and skillful and cooked new food really fast. 

10. When did you last burst out laughing and couldn’t stop?
In October at the eTwinning contact seminar in Dubrovnik when a good friend told a story about his childhood fears. Hilarious!

11. City or countryside?
City, definitely. I used to live in the countryside when I was a little girl and even though I only have nice memories of it, I prefer living in a city. 


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I tag you:
Daniela Bunea, Alessandra Pallavicini, Sonya Van Schaijik, Sanja Božinović, Mihaela Rusu, Lidija Kralj, Suzana Delić, Tea Horvatić, Jugoslava Lulić, Maja Dakić Brković, Anna Varna.

And I'm looking forward to your answers:
1) What is your favourite book?
2) How much time on an average day do you spend online?
3) iPad or Android tablets?
4) What do you consider the most valuable thing you own?
5) What is your favourite way to waste time?
6) If a movie was being made about you who would you choose to play you and why?
7) If you could have an endless supply of food what would that be?
8) What's the best holiday you've been on?
9) What's the worst haircut you've ever had?
10) What three things do you love most about your best friend?
11) What is your favourite smell and what memory does it remind you of?

Thank you  Eva, Janet and Cristina for tagging me. I really appreciate it.

Finally, let me tell you that when number eleven is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is this hilarious video about a voice recognition elevator: