Out of Retirement

Some of you know that I "retired" from teaching last year after only a year in the field. I just decided that teaching wasn't really what I wanted to do with my life. I love kids, but spending time with them in the classroom just was neither fun nor particularly productive as far as I could tell. So I retired.

This year I've come out of retirement. Accidentally. I actually went into my District office to sign up to sub for a semester so that I could go back to school in January. (Subbing is fun. If no one dies or sets the room on fire the day you sub, then everyone thinks you are amazing.) But when I got there, the Personnel Director (aka my first grade teacher) was like, "Oh good. You're here. We have a job for you!" I tried not to give in, but she proved to be too persuasive. I took the job. I'm now teaching Math to 3rd and 4th graders, and to be honest, this year I'm actually really enjoying it. I get small class sizes and almost everything we do is movement oriented and hands on activities. (I have a lot of kinesthetic learners.)

So for today I enjoy being a teacher. Not that I won't be going back into retirement at the end of the year.

Travelling is Not For the Weak of Heart

Yeah, so I survived Africa. As far as I can tell I didn't end up getting malaria after all. To be honest though I never did take my very last dose of Doxycycline. I hope that doesn't come back to haunt me. Anyway, the trip to Rwanda was amazing. Rwanda is beautiful. The people there are beautiful. Everything about the trip far exceeded my expectations.

British Airlines on the other hand, not so beautiful. I would love to tell the story, but it is a long story and I can't find a suitable way to make the long story short, so I'll just throw out some phrases that come to mind when I think about the actual travel portion of our trip to Africa: cancelled flight, Gatwick, $35 shuttle, Heathrow, cancelled flight, six hour line, line jumpers, heated words with airport employees, $35 shuttle, Gatwick, last minute London hotel reservation, $10 hotel shuttle, illegal double occupancy room, stolen triple occupancy room, wasted Brussels junior suite, four hours of sleep, $10 hotel shuttle, 1.5 hour check-in, late departure, near missed connection. And that was just on the way to Africa. The trip on the way back can be summed up in a single phrase. Six missing suitcases. All six of our bags got lost on the return trip. We kind of already knew that was going to happen when we left the check-in desk in Kigali, but because of the language barrier there was nothing we could do about it. We did eventually get all six suitcases back (it took about a week) and there was only one broken souvenier. That's pretty good.

However, I will say this to all of you planning a trip in the near future. I found British Airways employees to be rude and very unhelpful. Avoid London airports at all costs (unless that is your destination, obviously) although the Gatwick hotel shuttle driver was SUPER AMAZING! Do not accept travel in which you have to switch from Gatwick to Heathrow or vice versa. Too many things could go wrong. On a good day the trip is over an hour. The day we were there the trip was FOUR hours (we only had 2 hours between scheduled arrival and departure times). Nobody was available or willing to tell us what was going on. The shuttle is expensive (not free, as we were led to believe). Anyway, I think you get the point. Africa is cool though.

Another Day, Another Disease

Still alive in Africa. Thought I had malaria last night. I'm not really even sure what the symptoms of malaria are, but any time I have any symptoms while I'm here I just assume its malaria. I went to sleep with a headache, dizzyness, slight chills, and a very upset lower digestive tract. I woke up dizzy, with no headache, no chills and a very tentative lower digestive tract. As the day went on I realized that whatever I had was not malaria. I felt fine by the early afternoon. The malaria crisis will have to wait for another day.

I'm not sure what I've done since the last time I wrote and I'm too tired to go back and look, so some of this may be repetitive. I promise to go back and edit whenever I get back home. Anyway, the last few days have been a lot of resting and relaxation. On Saturday I played soccer with a bunch of very cool neighborhood kids. It started raining while we were playing, but we played on. Actually due to the high altitude and the fact that I'm really really not in shape, I played for about 10 minutes and then took pictures the rest of the time, but it was so much fun anyway.

The next morning we went to church and three of the soccer boys were sitting on the curb across from the church. We went ahead in and I kept thinking I needed to go get them and make them come into church with us. The problem is I only know how to say "hello", "how are you", "I'm fine", "Good Morning" and "Good evening". When I finally decided to just go out and make a fool of myself with gestures and facial expressions that seem as foreign as the language, I look up and see that my three friends had come into the church and sat in the three seats right next to me. That was awesome. We spent the time until church started looking at the pictures in my camera from the day before. I bonded with those kids and I miss them already. Beautiful, beautiful kids.

I don't know what we did Monday. I'll try to remember and tell you later.

Today we visited a clinic here in Kigali. It is amazing. Check it out: http://www.we-actx.org/. I'll write more about that later. I'm tired. I'm going to sleep.

Hippos and Zebras and Giraffes, Oh My

frica continues to be amazing. We got back yesterday from Akagera National Park where we took a two day safari. We saw tons of birds, giraffes, zebras, impalas, hippos, a mongoose and all kinds of plants. Absolutely beautiful! After that we drove about 2 hours to the Tanzania border. We passed through all kinds of interesting villages on the way. There were people walking on the streets all the way. We also passed a refugee camp. We stopped at a little souvenir shop and bought 60,000 amafrangas worth of crafts, then we got to see the "workshop" where they were being made. And I have pictures of all of it, but you have to continue to wait.

I'm in Africa

Muraho! After a very long and trying journey to Africa, where almost every leg of our flight had to be rescheduled, we finally made it here to Rwanda. We have been here for two days so far and so far we are absolutely loving it. There is so much to see and to take in, but somehow the pace here in Africa keeps it from becoming too overwhelming. The people here are beautiful.

Yesterday, we went to the Kigali Genocide Memorial. It was a very moving exhibit explaining the events leading up to the genocide that is depicted in the movie Hotel Rwanda, as well as sharing information about other genocides around the world.

We have done a little shopping in a very westernized (though quite small) mall and have spent a lot of time exploring the neighborhood. The Rwandans stare at us a lot as they aparently do with all "muzungus" (aka whities), which incidentally I love because it feeds my delusions that I am a beloved celebrity. I have had several amazing interactions with neighborhood children, including a group of kids who were carrying bundles of bamboo and who kept yelling "Muzungu" and trying to speak to us in French. I took pictures which I will post when I get home.

Today we spent part of the day in a Mother Theresa orphanage feeding little babies and loving on (being tackled by) toddlers. I didn't get to take pictures inside but if I spent the rest of my trip feeding babies and being tackled by toddlers at the Mother Theresa orphanage, I think I would be happy. The kids there are well taken care of and seemed happy. I don't mean to say that their circumstances and lives are not completely sad and devastating, but the kids there are just so beautiful.

I think none of what I'm saying is making sense. It is past 2 in the morning and I need to go to sleep. Maybe when I get home I'll edit this so that it says what I'm trying to say. Until then you're on your own to figure it out.

Tomorrow we are going to visit a different type of children's home which also serves the needs of widowed women. I'm looking forward to this experience. I also think we are going to get out of Kigali and experience some more of the Rwandan countryside. In that case it will be a few days before I am able to write again.

And We're Off...

Today I begin the long journey to the Motherland. In about two more hours, my mom, my aunt and I will drive to Houston to catch a plane to London to catch a plane to Belgium where we will spend the night and then catch a plane to Rwanda. My cousins live in Rwanda. Not sure what all we're going to be doing when we get there, but I don't think it will be possible for it to be anything but adventurous. I have a new camera so rest assured I will be taking tons of pictures. I will try to post updates here over the next two weeks, but: a.) Electricity and running water are unreliable where I will be so I'm sure internet is even moreso and b.) I doubt I'm going to feel like sitting at a computer typing when there is going to be so much new stuff to see and do. But we'll see.

Oh! And as a side note: Anyone planning to leave the country in the next year or so who needs a passport or who needs to renew, DO IT NOW! I managed to get mine in before the rush, but Mom had to renew hers and it didn't get back in time and so we had to go to Houston and wait all day while they processed a new one for her. She had to take an extra day off from work and the weeks leading up to today were more stressful then they needed to be. Don't listen to the timeline given by the government. It won't be fast enough. One lady who works in the passport office in New Hampshire said she is going on a trip in a year and has already applied for her renewal because of how slow things have been going. Don't wait.

Last Week of School

This is the last week of a very interesting year as a seventh grade math teacher. You may be asking why I haven't ever written anything about it if it was so interesting. It just didn't seem appropriate. You know with the FERPA laws and everything. You'll just have to trust me that it was interesting and look for my book to be published soon: Why Some Children Should Be Left Behind: Memoirs of a Teacher.

Anyway, now I'm back to that place where I always seem to find myself. Trying to figure out which opportunity I should pursue next. Oddly enough I think standing at a crossroads between 7 different opportunities has become my comfort zone. After I get back from Africa in August, I will have to decide between moving to Austin and moving to New York. I'm sure I'll come up with about 9 other options by August, too. I hate to make any decision too simple.

Ok. Well I need to go to sleep. I have a feeling this is going to be a long week.

Me, A Soccer Fan?

I got my passport and I've even got plane tickets. Looks like my first international adventure is going to be to Rwanda, Africa to visit my cousin. I can't wait. It is going to be awesome. More on that later.

Right now life seems to be consumed with High School Soccer. My alma mater, which also happens to be the school district I currently teach for, has just made it to the 4A Boys State Soccer Tournament. This is especially significant because we are a 3A school, but since there is no 3A soccer division, we have to play in a 4A division. So to get to the State Tournament, we have had to beat schools that have almost 3 times as many students as us. Besides that, we are the FIRST 3A team EVER to even make it to the tournament, so needless to say we are quite proud. Add to that the fact that my brother, also a PHS alumnus, is assistant coach for the team and you see why everything right now is revolving around soccer.

Next weekend is the tournament, so stay tuned to how it turns out.

Almost Ready to Go!

So I finally applied for my passport. After almost 29 years here in these United States of America, I will soon be able to actually leave the country. Of course just about everyone I know has been off this domestic plane except me, so I guess it is about time. I'm a late bloomer. So what. Anyway, I should be getting the coveted little ticket to adventure within the next few weeks or something.

But where should I go? I was thinking of a nice sunny south american vacation and one of those intensive language schools. Or I have people to visit Europe and just about everyone can speak English over there. Then there is always my cousin in Africa or my friends in Australia/New Zealand. Or Darby in China. Hmm. I guess I'll just stay home and watch TV.

I'm a Clogger

I've recently begun taking clogging lessons. So far I've been to four lessons. I think I'm really good at it but I'm not sure. I've ordered clogging shoes, but they haven't gotten here, yet. They should get here sometime next week. I can't wait. You should learn to clog, too. It is F-U-N! I'll let you all know when I start performing.

Catching Up

Ok. So it's been awhile. Life has been busy. Let's see. Where should I start?

I'm still teaching 7th grade math. There's not much I can say about that. It has been an interesting year so far.

At the end of 2006, I appeared in the Palestine Community Theater's production of "Miracle on 34th Street." It was exciting returning to PCT after a twelve year absence. My last role there was in the chorus of "Fiddler on the Roof" when I was a sophomore in high school or something. This time I played Santa Clause's lawyer, Fred Gailey. It was fun. I can say that now that its over. During rehearsals I was praying that the show would get cancelled, but it all turned out fine in the end. For those of you who haven't been to Palestine's Texas Theatre in the last year or so, you have to go see one of their upcoming shows. They have done some MAJOR renovation work on the theater and it is BEAUTIFUL!

Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. I uploaded a video of me singing, "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban to youtube, so check that out if you want to hear what I sound like. The quality is not great, but you get a pretty good idea.

Otherwise, I'm not sure what else there is to say. I'm trying to make some summer plans and I hope to make a move in the Fall. Right now Austin is looking good, although I was thinking about school in Oklahoma City. I also have friends in Boston who are trying to get me to move up there and of course there is always NYC. In other words I'm restless and I need a change. Does this post sound familiar to anyone else?

Anyway, I hope to start posting more regularly again, so keep checking back. Also, blogger has finally updated me to the new version so be looking for some really cool changes coming soon.

The Verdict

SAD! My friend Lavina was voted off Australian Idol last night. She made it all the way to ninth place. Thats pretty cool. Australian people are stupid, though, because she was better than those other contestants, but maybe I'm biased. Anyway, that's the end of her Idol run. I guess I'll have to go back to blogging about myself now.

What's Going On

It is almost Australian Idol time again and I didn't tell you about last week. Singing Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way", Lavina earned herself a spot in the top nine. I'll let you know what happens next.

In other news, I just finished my first six weeks as a 7th grade math teacher. That means I am now 1/6 of the way through the school year. 1/6 is greater than 1/10. 1/6 is equivalent to 6/36. Right now we are working on fractions in class, so I tend to think about the world in fractions. Sorry.

Besides class, I've been making the youth sports circuit. Middle School volleyball on Monday afternoon, Middle School football Thursday night, High School football Friday nights and Soccer on Saturday. That part has been fun. It gets me through the week.

I've also been singing in the community choir and it looks like I'm gonna be singing a duet in the Christmas Cantata at the Civic Center, so I better see all y'all there. The music is nice and this year we are actually tackling the "Hallelujah Chorus" and Mozart's "Regina Coeli" along with the Cantata, so it should be really nice. I'll give you all the details when it gets closer.

The rest of my time is spent grading papers, although I'm thinking about auditioning for the Community Theater's Christmas production, "Miracle on 34th Street". We'll see. I haven't really decided yet and the auditions aren't until tomorrow anyway.

Ok, then. Right now I need to do laundry, eat something and of course grade papers, so I better go. Until next time...

The Verdict

Monday is Verdict Day on Australian Idol. I'm happy to say that now my friend is in the top 10. Just in case anyone's keeping up. Ok. That's all.

My Friend the Celebrity

Those of you who know me know that I am friends with TONS of celebrities. You also know that when it comes to celebrities, "friends" can mean I once saw them walking across the street in NY; and when it comes to friends, "celebrity" can mean they were an extra in a movie even if their entire scene got cut. Well I have a new celebrity friend, but I think this one could be my most legit, yet. About seven years ago, while working as a group leader at Camp AmeriKids, I got to work with this really cool chick from New Zealand named Lavina Williams. I remember her being very chill, so cool and one of the nicest people I've ever met. Even back then she was well known in NZ for singing in a popular girl group there. Since then she has moved to Australia and has spent the last few years performing in Sydney's incarnation of Disney's "The Lion King." Well, last year her sister got 2nd place on Australian Idol. This year, Lavina tried out and is currently in the Top 11 of Australian Idol. Thanks to YouTube and the internet, I've been able to find some clips of her singing on the show. Unfortunately I can't vote for her without making a very expensive phone call, but I thought that all of you needed to know that I have a famous celebrity friend in Australia. Here is a clip for you to enjoy!

Yes, I'm Still Alive

Well, its been awhile. I've been really busy. Lot's of stuff going on, but not much to talk about right now and no time to say it. I got back from camp on August 13, started teacher orientation on August 14, took a test toward my certification on August 15, set up my classroom on the 16th and started teaching on the 17th. I've now been through one week and two days as a 7th grade math teacher and it has been quite interesting. I am going to be writing a book based on my first year as a teacher. It should be interesting. Watch for its release sometime next year. Anyway, hopefully I can start writing on here again with some consistency. Thats all I have to say right now.

Where I've Been

Well, I'm halfway through my camp experience for 2006. First session is over and I'm desperately trying to rest up before second session begins in 3 more days. I feel very tired.

Overall, I count the week a success. We had a very challenging cabin full of 15 9-12 year old boys from the inner-city areas of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. It was a difficult week, though not without its moments of brilliance. I do have to give props to my fellow coyote counselors: Dave, the other Chris, Suzi, Shannon, Emily and our amazing group leader, Justine, and also to the invaluable help from our LIT's Ray and Richard. As a team we were able to successfully prevent our cabin from spiralling hopelessly out of control. So if y'all are reading this, just know that you rock!

So anyway, thats what I've been doing since the last time I wrote. I go back Wednesday to start the whole process over again, but this time with an older group of boys. I'm pretty certain that this will be my last post at least until I get back to Texas. Once camp starts its like you're in a different world and it becomes hard to believe that life exsists outside of the campgrounds.

Leaving and Staying

In a few hours I'll be getting on a plane headed for New York City. After 3 days frugally spent in the city, I'll be boarding a train and heading up to spend the next month at Camp AmeriKids. I have spent 7 of the past 8 summers working at camp, and I'm looking forward to another great year. I think this year might be interesting as several of my favorite camp people are unable to come back this year for various and sundry reasons. That means I'll have to develop new relationships with new people. Developing new relationships with new people is something I both love and hate at the same time, so I go into these kinds of experiences with fear and loathing and anticipation and exhilaration. But no matter how hard or easy or exhausting or whatever camp is every year, it is always an amazing experience and I always come away feeling like I've gained years-worths of knowledge.

It also occurred to me that my very first posts on this blog were about camp, too, so that means I've been blogging here for about a year. That's quite a milestone. That makes this the only journal I've ever been able to consistently keep up with for any significant amount of time. Thats pretty cool.

And finally I leave you with this: the (temporary) answer to the delimma of where I'm going. (Remember the posts about Africa and NY and California and all that?) Here it is. The answer and the reason I don't believe in making plans: I'm not going anywhere. You heard me right. I'm staying in the place that was at the very bottom of my list of places I wanted to be. Right here in my hometown. I decided to spend the next year getting my teaching certification and when I did, doors started opening up all over the place. Not that the doors aren't complete with hoops through which I have to jump, but the doors just flung open wide. I mentioned the fact that I would soon be looking for a teaching position to someone and by the next morning I had an interview. By the next week I had an offer from that district as well as another. And all that without sending out a single application. So now I am spending a considerable amount of energy getting all my papers and credentials and transcripts and whatever else in order. And for at least the next 9 months I will be a middle school math teacher. It seems like a good step. I will feel more equipped when I decide to go teach in Africa and it will afford me more opportunities if I end up in California or back in NY. I can start making a grown-up salary and I'll be able to get assistance paying off my student loans. So into the classroom I go. Wish me luck.

The Big Event

As much as it pains me to admit it, my 10 year reunion ended up being lots of fun. A few more people showed up to the dinner and dance that I hadn't seen at any of the other events. So it was fun catching up with them. I danced (not a suprise to anyone who knows me well). I got to find out about several people I had wondered about over the years. I was even a finalist for an award: Most Changed (for the Better) Since Graduation. I'm not sure if that means I was a loser before or what, but I guess I'll take it. I didn't actually win, but I was one of the three finalists.

And for those of you who have been reading the reunion saga from the beginning, I achieved my catharsis (do you achieve catharsis or do you receive it?). Sometime during the weekend, I quit worrying about those people that had the power to make me feel insecure or inadequate. If I wanted to dance, I danced. If I wanted to laugh and be stupid I did it. I realize they may have still said things about me, or looked down their noses or whatever, but I really didn't care. I still don't care. Hopefully it will last. The people who I value seem to genuinely value me, so why does anything else matter? And so concludes my 10 year reunion experience.

The Picnic

Event #3 of the Palestine High School class of 1996 reunion (I skipped event #2, remember) was a family picnic at Reagan Park. I enjoyed this event, because people brought their little (and not so little) kids with them...and if you know me even a little bit you know that I get along better with kids than with people my own age.

I tried to get there late (again) and ended up being one of the first ones there (again). I ate lunch before I got there, though, because eating outside attracts bees, wasps and stinging insects...and if you know me even a little bit then you know I DON'T get along with bees, wasps and other stinging insects.

Anyway, I felt calmer on the inside this time. All the feelings were still there, but they weren't right on the surface. Tonight is the big dinner and dance function. Sounds like fun. I'll let you know.