Travelling the King's Highway

Panama!

2011-10-14T21:04:00.000-06:00

originally written for the blog: http://yearofbeing30.blogspot.com

As I prepare for my trip to Panama tomorrow morning, I'm struck by how things have changed in the past twenty years. Let's compare the packing lists:

Twenty Years Ago

books and books and books
colouring "stuff"
paper
more books
gameboy and games
discman (I think... it could have been my walkman...)
cd's (or tapes...I don't remember when I received my first discman)
licorice
juice boxes
chips
anything that would make my bag as heavy as possible.

Today's Packing List

charged Ipod
charged camera
charged laptop
charged Blackberry
batteries, SD cards, cables
portable external hard drive
one book (Third in the Millenium Trilogy)
passport
licorice (some things never change! Thank you, Auntie Judy!)
chips
bottles of juice
cookies!
As little as necessary to be safe and travel "light" - it really has gotten lighter now that I'm not in my own vehicle!

It's very different traveling on your own. For the past ten years, that's how I've done the majority of my traveling - Minneapolis, to Germany, to England, to Costa Rica. I've been blessed with good friends to travel with in most of these countries, but I am excited about STARTING a journey with a friend.

Remember, it's a grand adventure. Live it with all your heart!

postscript: Pictures will definitely follow.

Once Again

2011-10-08T17:01:00.000-06:00

Once again it's been way too long since I've blogged here. We've been back in school for about two months, and have our first report cards coming up. I have a presentation to parents about the changes we've been making to the theatre program the next week, and we're one month from performance and have had a total of one rehearsal. Yeah. It's been a "great" start.

The one thing I'm most looking forward to is heading to Bocas del Toros, Panama next weekend. A friend and I are leaving early Saturday, and returning Tuesday. It will be a short trip, but I hope worth it. Jessica has to renew her visa, and I need out of here for awhile. I consider the trip my birthday present and Canadian Thanksgiving all in one. I hope to have some cool photos up here soon after!

On another note, I had the opportunity to be the wedding photographer for a friend of a friend's wedding. I think some of the shots turned out decently. Here's a link to the preview album. While you're at the smugmug site, check out the other photos there too! Feel free to comment and share!
http://everythingblue.smugmug.com/Weddings/Zuniga-Ortiz-Wedding-Preview

Hope you enjoy!

Soda Crackers and Gingerale

2011-05-05T12:25:00.000-06:00

I have completely confused my kitten. You see, I've been home now, during the week, for two days. Why? Because I've caught the *infamous "stomach virus" that doesn't let anything stay anywhere near my stomach. It's so much fun. Not. I'm on the mend, and just waiting for the pouring rain to stop so I can run (ok, walk slowly) up to the corner store to buy some Canada Dry and soda crackers.

It's times like this that I really miss my mom. It's not like there's anything she can do to change the fact that I'm sick, but it's nice to know she'd like to be able to do something. It sounds silly, but when Cassie was sick last week (with quite the opposite problem, thank you), I think I got a taste of the feeling. I felt dreadful. I wasn't really able to do anything. I could take her to the vet, and give her what was suggested, but other than that all I could do was cuddle her and let her sleep.

Thankfully, we're both pretty much better now. It will take a few more days to be back to "normal." It's time to go Lysol everything in my apartment.

*Infamous because it's super common. See, when it doesn't freeze, viruses don't die. So far, that's the only thing a SK winter has going for it.

I Didn't Vote

2011-05-02T20:03:00.000-06:00

I feel bad. I really do. I did not vote in today's Federal Election. It's not because I'm apathetic about who leads our country, or because there is no legitimate choice for Canadians. It all came down to logistics and impossibilities.

Now, some of the logistic issues are my own. I choose to live in Costa Rica, a country with a horrible mail system. I choose to be a teacher, which means that while I am working, everything is open, and when I'm not working, no one else is either. I took my one day off, a national holiday here, and sought out the Canadian Embassy. I filled out the application to vote, and the kind lady faxed it to Ottawa right away. The transmission went through, and Ottawa confirmed they received it. I had used the embassy's address to send the ballot parcel to, as my street address is bizarre, so there should be no problem receiving the mail.

I was wrong.

The parcel was never sent. You see, I don't know the land location of my parents' farm. A rural route number or a box number do not suffice. It didn't matter that I knew my riding by name and put that on the application. I received an email from Elections Canada on Easter Saturday stating that I had two days to provide, IN WRITING, proof of my address in Canada. I hadn't anticipated this, so didn't have any of my bills from home, nor anything with the land location on it, and my parents were away...and the biggest thing? Even if I jumped through the hoops, Elections Canada had waited so long to contact me that there was no way under Heaven for a parcel, even an envelope to reach me in time for me to send it back in time for it to be counted today. It was logistically impossible.

Could I have registered early? I tried online, but the website told me there was no Federal Election called. The next time, it refused to recognize anything I entered. It cost me a good $20 to get to the Embassy and back. I tried, I really did.

The only thing to do now is to register completely when I come home. Who knows? We may have to do this again within a year. Sigh.

Semana Santa in Sámara

2011-05-02T19:48:00.000-06:00

We have been back at school for a week now, following our Semana Santa, or Easter Holy Week. I'm used to having the week AFTER Easter off for holidays, so it's been hard to remember that people at home are on break right now. There are only about 6 weeks left of school and not all of those are full teaching days. This is exciting and nervewracking. I've never met a teacher who wasn't worried about not finishing everything at this time of year.

Semana Santa. Traditionally, Costa Ricans flood the beaches over the Easter break, especially on the Good Friday weekend. It was with that in mind that Silvia, Alberto, Sophia and I headed to Playa Sámara in Guanacaste for the first part of the week.

Playa Carillo at night. Fuzzy, as I forgot my tripod.

It was an adventure. Silvia and I work together, and Sophia is my student in the youngest class I have. Sophia and Alberto hadn't been to Sámara for over five years, and were very excited to see their friends Don José and Doña María. We were to stay in a home they own and rent out. After a late start out of San José and stopping for lunch outside of Puntarenas, we arrived in Sámara after dark and met our first obstacle.

Alberto and Don Jose

Don José and his wife María are very poor, by our standards. The house where we were to stay was tiny, and kind of slapped together. The only toilet on the property was in this house, which wouldn't have been a problem. However, Don José had rented the house to someone else, and the door to the toilet was locked. As it was, we learned later that the water had been turned off in the municipality at 6 pm. Imagine living somewhere where the water just vanishes, and being used to it! We are blessed.

The solution to the house dilemna was this: we unpacked the airmattresses we brought, blew them up and put them in one room of Don José's house. It was a tight, rather dirty squeeze, but it was an adventure. We were just ready to be out of the car and settled. Then it was time for bed. We tried the door to the bathroom again, with no success. It was the bushes for us, and that settled things for Silvia and I. We couldn't stay here, regardless of the kindness of these people. (They even killed a chicken for us.) The story was that I really wanted to go camping, as I'd never done that, at least not on a beach. We still spent most of the day with them (Don José choosing to catch some shrimp and scare me with them STILL ALIVE) before we finally went to the beach.

Camp Aloha is right on the beach in Sámara, and it's a beautiful location for a campsite. There was electricity for our fan, and a lightbulb above our cooking area which shocked whomever twisted it to turn it on. The bathrooms were gross, but present, and you didn't want to take your shoes off anywhere near the showers, but again, they were at least present. Sunday night was beautiful at the beach, and Monday was super early after admiring the nearly full moon the night before. When you're sleeping in a tent, the sun wakes you up even more than at home. I took some beautiful pictures of a sunrise, partly to prove I was really awake at that time!

Monday was uneventful until about 2:30 pm. We had been to Cangrejal, so named because of all the crabs that live there, in the morning, and were just relaxing in the heat of the day when we heard "Look at the water!" (Granted, this was in Spanish, so I just followed the direction of everyone else.) The aforementioned full moon was to blame. Full moons mean high tides, and with the campsite on the beach, and beside a river feeding into the ocean, we were in for it. I had never seen waves like this before. They traveled up the river, and then INTO the campsite from behind. The lucky people were the ones who had stayed near their tents and such for the afternoon. The bar was flooded, campsites were drenched...our tent ended up on top of our car by design after everything else went IN the car or on the table. Strangely, the fact that we were closer to the beach actually saved us from getting wet. This time.

You can see the water coming up the path from the bar.

There was some worry about the evening tides, but after being assured they would be lower, we went to bed, and slept well. Sun and ocean will do that to you. Tuesday started out beautifully again, though not quite as early. We packed up just what we needed for a day at the beach, and drove over to Playa Carillo. Normally, this beach is even more gentle than Sámara, but the full moon was at it again. Double waves were crashing in; a surfer's fun, but a swimmer's nightmare. I tried some boogie boarding, but without a life jacket I didn't feel safe enough in the nasty waves. The sun became blisteringly hot again, so we headed back to our campground for lunch and some shade. While we were gone, the campground manager had hired (illegally) some heavy equipment to build up some dikes around the camp site, so we were able to watch the tides come in very far again, but this time in fascination rather than distress. So awesome, in the true sense of the word. How anything can stand up to that level of power is amazing. I never want to experience a tsunami.

We thought we were safe. The tides were falling, the moon wasn't full any more, what else could happen? Now remember, this is Costa Rica. It always rains. Rain it did, Tuesday night. I heard, "Sophia, Sophia, en la tienda! Now!" and then a squirming four-year-old is joining me where I was reading. Dusk was just falling, soon giving way to complete darkness. Sylvia and Alberto ran around the tent and site, covering this with plastic and moving that into the car. Sylvia joined Sophia and I, and once again we thought we were safe.

Drip. Drip. Drip, drip, drip. Our tent was leaking. Yes, we had the rain cover on. Yes, it was tight and secure. Apparently, it was not tested to stand up to Costa Rican rain. My sister has since laughed at me for thinking any tent would be waterproof, but I believed in the sticker. As it was, we ended up with about two inches of rain in the tent, having dripped down, or soaked in through the sides that were touching the ground. It sounds bad, but there was a good four inches of water around the tent. We loaded up Sophia (who had fallen asleep and stayed asleep until the next morning) and some clothes into the car and drove out of the sodden campground into Sámara proper. The first hotel we came to that was open was a bit of a dive. The best I could say for it was that it wasn't raining inside, and the toilet was clean. Sylvia and I were done. In our minds, it was back to San José as planned the next morning.

We went back to Camp Aloha, and started packing up. I had all my stuff ready, just waiting for the car, so I took Sophia to the beach. We played in the waves, and dug a hole for a "swimming pool" in the shallows of the river. As it was shallow, the water was warm, and the little rocks that rolled down were perfect for decorations. In this, camping with a child is perfect, as it gave me tacit permission to play like I hadn't played in years. We coated each other with sand, and played pretend. Of course, this is also the morning I burnt the top of my legs, as the water was deep enough to keep me wet and cool, but not deep enough to protect my legs after the sunscreen washed away.

Packing up came to a halt when Don Carlos, another friend of Sylvia's and Alberto's, dropped by the campsite. Apparently, travel on the roads we planned to take was not recommended for travel due to the rain. I admit to being a little depressed at this. I was ready to be clean, and sleep in my own bed. Those of you who know me, know I'm not a very social person. I needed alone time, badly. It was not to be, so Sophia and I went back to the beach, with Sylvia joining us. Alberto kept packing up, as we were to spend the night at Don Carlos' house.

Don Carlos is an older man, probably mid to late 60's, and very much a bachelour. His house was much improved over the hotel, and I met my first (and second) scorpion. No sting, but I was very nervous getting into my sleeping bag that night. Don Carlos himself is quite a character. He suggested that I could be his Sámara girlfriend, or rather that he could be my Sámara boyfriend. "A boyfriend for every beach!" Smiling politely, told him I didn't have time for a boyfriend. "Mas trabajo" Too much work. I escaped, though Sylvia got a kick out of it. Supper was a variety of seafood, so much so I couldn't finish everything. Being hot and tired is a pretty good weightloss plan, I guess. Best part was the hummingbird feeder outside the bedroom window.

Thursday morning, Sylvia and I were up and ready to go at 6 am. Alberto? We finally left at 8 am. we stopped in Puntarenas for lunch, and had a lovely, windy walk along the beach there. We admired the Cruise ship that was docked, and bought souvenirs along the sidewalk. Packed back into the car, we headed back to San José just in time for it to rain as I was dropped off. Cassie was dropped off just after I was, so we were both home to deal with the fact I had left the fridge powered off. Coming home to a drying flood was the icing on the cake.

Next Semana Santa? As much as I like adventure, I'm saving up for an all inclusive resort.

Here's Cassie!

2011-04-04T14:47:00.000-06:00

This is Cassie. She is wonderful, terrible, and everything in between. She shares my apartment, or rather, tolerates me when I'm home. The veterinarian places her at about 5 months, based on the way she was teething when I brought her in to be spayed. She plays, she attacks (especially my feet) and she cuddles when she chooses. Waking up to find her staring at me has become a regular thing. We have a morning cuddle, and then food is necessary. She's far more effective than an alarm clock, especially if she hasn't let me clip her nails in a while.

Cassie comes from the province of Alajuela, near Volcan Poas. I would have named her Ash, or Shadow, but she came with the name Cassandra. Since that's a little long for such a little kitten, she only hears Cassandra when she's in trouble. Marcela and I had gone to see the volcano on a day trip, which turned into a cloudy, misty day at that altitude. They tell me there's a crater...Anyhow. We went for lunch at La Casita de Dona Julia in Alajuela. As we got out of the vehicle, there was a tiny gray kitten curling itself around our feet, meowing and purring to be picked up and petted. I, of course, couldn't resist and indulged both myself and the kitten. Not speaking enough Spanish to ask about where the kitten came from, I relied on Marcela to translate for me and the owner of the casita. Cassie did have people feeding her, but, from what I understood, not a permanent home. The owner had a new baby in the home, and the little human was demanding more attention than the little kitten. The offer: If I could and would provide a home for the kitten, I could take her. Just like that.

Ok, a few things to consider. One, my landlady doesn't like the idea of animals in her apartments. (She now asks about Cassie every time she stops by.) Two, I'm pretty allergic to cats. (We're doing fine so far! Maybe warm climate cats shed less? Just a theory.) Three, how would we get the kitten home?

Marcela was a darling. She's a dog person, yet she trusted me to keep Cassie with me in the car. Cassie spent most of the time sitting on my shoulder, purring and watching the world go by, though not before exploring the vehicle and crying on my lap. She has continued the shoulder habit; when she gets her shots, she ends up tucked into my neck after she's released from the vet's grip. Marcela and I dropped Cassie off at my apartment, shut into the tiny bathroom, and then we went and bought everything a tiny kitten could possibly need. Coming home, Cassie set about exploring her new home, and eating everything I set in new, blue dish.

Cassie and I are getting along just fine. There are certain things I would have liked to have trained her not to do (knocking my toothbrush off the windowsill, chewing on my shoes/socks/feet, and licking my nose in the morning) but time will tell if it's too late. I think she's pretty smart, but then, I'm biased. She entertains me, tolerates me, and occasionally shows me how much she loves me by drooling with pleasure while she's purring on my lap. I keep her fed, supplied with toys and things to hide in, and I try not to laugh to loudly when she's goofy. (It hurts her pride. Really.)

I'm sure Cassie will be a common theme from now on, or at least mentioned throughout. She's had her rabies shot, so she's "legal" to enter Canada with me when I come home to stay. If only it was that easy for the rest of us to travel!

Costa Rica, Meet the Graas'

2011-03-06T21:20:00.000-06:00

My mom and dad have been back in Canada for a week now, and according to them, they're questioning why they ever left Costa Rica in the first place. They returned to -24 degrees C and snow, snow and more snow. I"ll try to recap the trip, complete with pictures, just to entice them, and everyone else, to come for a visit.

The adventure began at the airport Thursday night. I arrived late, after two buses and a 10 block hike through downtown. Luckily, Mom and Dad's plane touched down a little late, and then it took them awhile to get through customs so neither of us had to wait very long. As I stood outside watching, a man approached, asking, "You need taxi?" I said, "Yes, but later." "Ok. I wait." And he did. When Mom and Dad came through the door, he shooed away the other drivers and escorted us up to the departure parking lot where he called a buddy. Yes, it was a real taxi, a red one with an official number and all, but those aren't supposed to be operating at the airport. His buddy ran a taxi from Alajuela, gave a us a good deal, and we got home safely. Mom loved the Birds of Paradise flowers I gave them when I picked them up, and they lasted the whole week.

Friday morning found us taking a taxi to the Don Carlos to meet the Interbus -- Easy-going, Everywhere. The van was early, yes, early! We piled in, picked up a few others, and headed to LaFortuna and Volcan Arenal.

We stayed at the Arenal Observatory Lodge, which is VERY close to the volcano. It was beautiful, misty, and isolated. The Interbus ride was uneventful until we got to the turn off to the hotel. 8 km of bumpy, pot-holed gravel road had us questioning our choice (We decided Blair would have bailed after the 2nd km), but the hotel made up for it. Hummingbirds, Montezuma birds and many others were everywhere, and they had a waterfall on the property. Saturday was a raft ride down the river, and the Baldi Hot Springs, and Sunday was rain. I was glad the rain started, though it made everything fairly soggy and we couldn't take the morning hike. I wanted to Mom and Dad to see what the rain was like here; they saw and survived!

Sunday afternoon we headed back to San Jose, and they checked into the Don Carlos in the historic Barrio Amon of San Jose. The staff there is fantastic, and spoke excellent English. We booked a tour for the next day, the 3-in-1 Rainforest Adventure, and prepared to get up early again.

7:20 (?) we were on the road again. First stop was the Sarapique River, which we took a tour boat down. We were very thankful for the canopy on the boat, as the sun was nice and strong that day! Next was the Selva Verde Lodge for a "hike" and lunch. The food was excellent, and the hike was alright. We saw a few frogs and such, but they were hard to photograph -- tiny and quick! Last was the Aerial Tram tour, which took us into the upper canopy of the trees, supposedly to see different things. It was beautiful and calm. The tour also included some snake and frog exhibits, which I thought were pretty cool. Dad disagreed. We collected him from the entrance to see the butterfly garden after he chose not to explore the snakes. They had a frog exhibit that show the frogs in various stages of development, from tadpole to frog. We actually saw tadpoles that were still swimming, but had legs. Giftshop, sloth spying, and back on the bus to San Jose.

Tuesday I had to return to work for the rest of the week, but that didn't slow Mom and Dad down. They came to school that morning, and then rested that afternoon. Wednesday and Thursday their tours took them to Volcan Poas and Irazu, Cafe Duka (?) coffee plantation, La Paz waterfall gardens, Orosi and surrounding valley, and Cartago with it's Basilica and ruins. They've seen more of Costa Rica than I have now! Friday I taught for the first two blocks, and then met Mom and Dad at the hotel. Their walking tour of San Jose had gone well, by all accounts, and Mom and I took the bus to Moravia. We shopped, had lunch in the same casita that Jen and I had eaten at in November, and then walked for what seemed like forever before we found the right bus back to San Jose. We made it, had supper and crashed for the night. I won't mention the time. All I'll say is that it was dark.

Saturday was an adventure! We went to the feria (farmers' market) in Guadelupe by bus, and then walked to my apartment. Apparently Dad and I don't agree on what "close" means anymore; I thought my apartment was close, and when we got there on foot, Dad informed me it wasn't. I think that's a first for us! I'm usually the one who doesn't want to walk, or work harder than I have to. Maybe I'm changing?

After that we took a taxi back to the hotel, and then another to the Mercado Central. A warren of little shops and tiny restaurants, it's pretty overwhelming. Dad had been looking forward to it all week, but I don't know if it was what he expected. He was successful in purchasing a couple of t-shirts and towels, and Mom was in awe of the wall of cut flowers. It is pretty massive. Leaving there, we walked down to Universal, which I wanted to show them, and we lost Dad for nearly an hour. He wasn't lost, we lost him. That's his story and he's sticking to it. Mom and I now have even higher blood pressure, and an appreciation for the police who looked for the "mas alto gringo" (very tall white man), and we all made it back to the hotel in one piece. End of story.

Saturday night we went to the Little Theatre Group's production of "Steel Magnolias" which was excellent. The set was well-thought out; where the movie takes place all over the place, the play happens all in the beauty parlour. A semi-thrust stage was used really well in the blocking choices, and the actors were well chosen for the most part. The best part was sharing the experience with Mom and Dad.

Saturday night was also the night for good-bye. Mom and Dad flew out early Sunday, and they thought they could handle the airport themselves, so I arranged for the tour van to pick them up and take them. That was everything, and then we hugged and cried just a little, and I went home to cuddle Cassie. Seeing as how they've made contact since then, I know they made it home safe and sound, even managing a movie during their layover in Phoenix.

Now for some pictures, and logging off before Cassie destroys something other than the newspaper. Why she gets to sleep all day when she wakes me up is beyond me.

Mom and Dad meet Costa Rica

2011-02-25T10:36:00.000-06:00

My mom and dad have been here for a week now, and I think they've seen more of Costa Rica than I have. I was worried about them not having a good time, that it might be too big of a stretch for my dad especially, but I have no concerns now. Mom has had a toucan sit on her arm, and Dad is already planning what he'll see next time they come down. They like the school, and I think they might love the country. I'll post pictures and such once I've had some down time, and had a chance to download some of Mom's pictures. TTYL

Brandy Alexander

2011-01-20T22:36:00.003-06:00

Another lovely hot day in San Jose today. I'm finally beginning to believe that "summer" might exist here in the mountains. I almost wore a tank top to work today, but decided it was unattractive, and took it off. Decided NO shirt was more unattractive, and found a t-shirt. Whew, the drama of getting dressed.

After tutoring this morning, and not having to be Dr. Octopus when we played, I caught the San Pedro bus down to the National Theatre to meet Tammi and Luisa. What august monument did we choose as our designated meeting place? The ornate metal gate? Nope. We met outside one place that everyone can identify: McDonald's. We did choose not to have the classic burger meal, but opted instead for a Lebanese stall type thing in a type of shopping centre. It wasn't quite a mall, but it wasn't a real food court either. It was good, and I'd return. After that it was time for the main reason for our foray into downtown: an English bookstore.

Now, those of you who have Chapters or Barnes & Noble at your disposal won't think much of this adventure. Those of you avid readers who have lived in a foreign country and have searched high and low for reading material just might understand. Here in Costa Rica, English language books, especially novels, are few and far between. When you do find them, you end up paying twice as much for them as you would at home. Let me tell you, Tammi has saved me.

I don't know the name of the store, if it has one. It looks a bit more like a book dump than a planned store, and my fingers were itching to realign piles and alphabetize (I gave in for a few moments) but it is pleasure in a tiny space. Here's the deal: You bring in novels, or any other book you don't want anymore (or could live without - I always want my books) and the man behind the counter looks at them, and gives you a verbal credit limit. I brought in 2 books, and he gave me a c2000 credit. I thought that was total, but after picking out my new/old books, I had a credit of c4000. I now have a few novels to read, and a beautiful book full of ballet stretches for people who want to get into shape. The photography is beautiful, and I might use it in class. And it was only $7. I love books.

After searching through a few "Ropa Americana" stores (used/unsold clothes imported by the huge box from the States) Luisa found an ideal piece of clothing to send to her blog-pal who creates something new every day out of something too hideous or out-of-style to wear anymore. I think this is the blog http://www.newdressaday.com/ , but Luisa can set you straight at her blog http://lessons-la-frontera.blogspot.com/. Both interesting reads, anyhow!

We were just about done in, and planning on catching the bus when we passed Roma Caffe. It's a tiny, pretty classy little place that can't quite decide what it is. It's a restaurant, bar, coffee spot that offers good drinks, live music on the Friday nights and a Sunday brunch, all with an Italian flair. All of us had expressed an interest in checking it out at some point or another, and so why not? In we trooped with our used clothing and books, and took up residence at the bar.

We decided we wanted the place to be a bar, and ordered in that manner. I was hoping to see "Monkey Business" on the menu, but alas. Then I saw it: Alexander. I had no idea if I liked Brandy, I know I don't like coffee (I thought creme de cacao would be chocolate. So dumb.) One of my favorite songs ever is "Brandy Alexander" by Leslie Fiest. I had to try it, and thankfully, I liked it. It does "go down easy."

I've added the video I found on Youtube. It's a good recording, and an interesting video (though one which doesn't seem to have anything to do with the words...) Ballet and brandy. Good day.

Freckles

2011-01-18T16:05:00.000-06:00

There's a week left before school starts, and I've been working with a little guy in Prep for the past week and a half at school, mainly with English conversation. He's a smart kid, and we're having fun, even if I have to be Dr. Octopus every time we play Spiderman. I think I need to watch Spiderman Three, as he keeps referring to himself as black, red and white, all at the same time. I don't get it.

Today, after we were finished, I was catching up with a few people I hadn't seen since December brought the end of school. I had been hoping for a comment like, "You're so tanned!" or "Wow, you look good with a little colour." Nope. I received, "You have freckles! You've been to the beach!" Thankfully, I think freckles are kind of cute, and I do have many more freckles now than I did in December, so it was completely appropriate. As I will never pass for stunning or gorgeous, I'd say cute is reasonable.

How did I get the freckles? They are courtesy of Manuel Antonio, and my aunt and uncle. Gene and Susan, with Allen and Judy, have been in Costa Rica (and Manuel Antonio) since January 3rd. They fly home tomorrow, but while they were here I was able to crash their vacation for a number of days. They stayed in a lovely resort, and spoiled me rotten. Excellent food, "Spa" hikes, and even deep-sea fishing were all things I was blessed with on top of their company. I know now that a Monkey Business is a great thing. Who would have thought that bananas and Baileys would be so good!

I've posted some pictures below of the wildlife we spotted around the villa, and in the National Park. We saw more birds from our balcony than in the park, and the monkeys were sitting on our chairs down at the beach! At the bottom is a "video"; It's really just the cover of the album, but I've included it as it is the theme song for Gene and Susan and this holiday. Highly appropriate, I think. Life is good today.

Look at all the geckos!

Estelle, our guide, coaxed this hermit crab right out of his shell.

A family of bats

More bats, different family.

Small Blue Heron -- I think.

You can't see it, but he's eating from a chip bag.

Jesu Christo Lizard, but he's too big to walk on water anymore!

Just for Estelle; she had fun pointing out that the Howler monkey is male.

Laughing Falcon

His head is blue; I can't remember his name, but it has something to do with that.

Allen and his Sailfish

Gene and his Sailfish

Late Night Laundry

2011-01-11T21:45:00.000-06:00

Why does the laundry always start at 8 o'clock at night? I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, so I guess I put it off. However, living in a humid country does not lend itself to dry clothes. If I want to wear my jeans on Thursday, I have to wash them no later than noon on Tuesday; Monday is better. Could I put these things in the dryer? Yes, but having them shrink would be worse than waiting for them to dry. So tonight I will wait for the washing machine to finish, and I will go to sleep with my laundry hanging in my bedroom, standing fan blowing as fast as I can stand and still sleep.

This is just one of the things I've adapted to here in Costa Rica over the past six months. I'm not much for New Year's resolutions (I'd really prefer successful goals) but I'd like to try something. I'm going to use this blog as a sort of log of "Tico" things: people, events, places and things that, to my mind, could only really exist here in Costa Rica. I'll be updating soon about my Christmas/Summer holidays, and the camp that I went to. I'll post some pictures of my new freckles, courtesy of the sun down in Manuel Antonio National Park and my aunt and uncle's visit. I will write more often, rather than every four months. We have a lot of catching up to do!

Confessions of a sort

2010-09-14T14:01:00.000-06:00

I have to confess. I've been greedily reading all of the different blogs my friends write, and avoiding my own. I think of things to write, and then I fall asleep. Or a class shows up. Or I'm in a bad, no-good mood, and I don't want to spread the nastiness. Thank you to all my friends with blogs, especially those of you who are so far away from me right now. It's so comforting to see and hear you through your words.

It's been busy. We've gone to the beach, Manual Atonio National Park, to be exact. We saw monkeys, three-toed sloths (I think. It might have only had 2 toes...) and raccoons right on the beach. There were birds, fuzzy spiders, and huge spiders! There was some questionable attire to be seen on the playa, though thankfully the person in question did not belong to our group. I don't think we would have let her leave the villa we stayed at in that get-up. Just wouldn't have been kind.

We also discovered that the farmer's market, the ferria, in Guadalupe, is only a 15 minute walk from my apartment. It's fantastically cheap and fresh, though you do need to wash everything very thoroughly because of the pesticides. Farmer's Market does not equal organic! The ferria is loud, smelly (in a good way, usually) and so...well, exotic for someone like me. It's not polite stalls set up, where the sellers wait for you to come to them. It's stalls of people trying to get your attention, and offering you samples, and some of the fastest Spanish I've ever heard. It does help my math skills somewhat; I'm getting better at recognizing my numbers in Spanish.

Last Thursday was Children's Day. I don't know if that's international, but here in Costa Rica, it's a pretty big thing. We had ice cream at lunch time on Thursday, and then Friday morning was the chaos. The elementary/preschool teachers set up a carnival for the students! There was ring toss, face painting, "bobbing" for apples that were on strings hanging from the building overhang. There was cookie decorating and frootloop necklace making, bowling and more. The highlight for many of the children was the fact that the parents association was selling Silly Bands. These stretchy, sometimes smelly, little bracelet things are all the rage; fights broke out later in the day about who's were who's. I even received one from one of my little grade two's; I'm not sure who, as it was a streak of motion. Hair, hands, and suddenly I'm holding a stretchy green band in the shape of what I think is a dinosaur. I can only imagine how many of these I would have had as a kid, what with my obsessive collecting habits.

The highlight of that day was taking so many adorable pictures. I'm going to post most online with Facebook, and ask that people not tag them. Here are a few I couldn't resist putting up twice.

Buddies!

The Infamous Silly Bands!

I'll write more about today/tomorrow. We had our Acto Civico assembly this morning, and tomorrow is a holiday for Independance Day! Stay tuned!

Reading Between the Lines

2010-08-24T20:14:00.000-06:00

I can't believe more than a week has passed since I last posted something. I have spent the time teaching, preparing to teach, and recovering from the influx of small children. I've done some exploring, and spent a lot of time getting wet. It has been an unfortunately predictable weather pattern lately: it will be raining whenever I leave the school. It doesn't matter when I leave: right after school or 5 pm when we're kicked out. It will be raining. Thank goodness for co-workers willing to drive us part of the way home, and for umbrellas.

If you're reading between the lines, you may sense that not all is well in paradise. I'm tired of being wet, and I can't wait until the dry season. But really, when I walk out of my apartment in the morning, I only have to walk about 20 paces before I can see tropical flowers, and feel the sun. I don't have anything to complain about.

Lines. The past two weeks have been full of lines.
We had an earthquake drill. I'm really not sure if any of my students would have survived a real one if they had to depend on me. Luckily I had the grade 5 class with me, and they knew what to do. It's hard to hear the evacuation bell in my classroom, especially after listening to the sirens going off, and the kids were on it. "Miss, we're supposed to leave now." As I make them all take off their shoes at the beginning of class, I waited for them to put them back on, so we were the last ones out of the building. Then I planted them under a powerline. Then the principal came to get the slip of paper that I was supposed to fill out. I thought I had to fill it out just if I had a student missing. Negative. I looked like such a dunce. But really, in an earthquake situation, I'm really not sure my second floor classroom would be evacuable (no, I don't really think that's a word.)

Two Saturdays ago, I travelled down to Tres Rios where Jason and Marcy live. It meant I had to figure out three bus schedules on a Saturday, because unlike the rain, they are not on a very particular timeframe. It would only take about 15 minutes to drive in a private car, and I could have splurged on a taxi, but where is the adventure in that? An hour after leaving my apartment, I was walking down the hill, into their residence. (I gave up on the third bus - I'd likely STILL be on the top of that hill!)

Jason and I hit the market right away, as it closes officially at 1:30 pm, and people are packing up by 1:00 pm at the latest. 99% of the market is fresh food, and cheap! I like that you can choose how many/much of an item you want, and most of the vendors will let you sample things. I really just stared at strange things until they tried to explain what it was or offered me a piece!

After the market and a few other stops, including a ferreteria where ANYthing was for sale (including Jason's new machete. I tried to stop him Marcy, I really did) we headed back to the house. It was a great chance to just chill and visit. About 5:15 we looked out the window, noticed it was getting dark, and so I headed to the "bus stop."

It's a line. Painted on the road. Almost in the ditch.

Talk about plenty of time to think. My Costa Rican experience must be preparing me for something, as nothing has prepared me for being in Costa Rica! The skies darkened, then clouded over, and the lightning started. Just sheet lightning, and I wasn't worried...until I looked up and realized I was standing under the powerlines that are everywhere, low, and seem to be sort of strung together by chance. More lines. Thankfully the bus came not long after that realization, and I was gone.

The next morning came very early. The Americans and other Canadian and I had planned to head to Volcan Irazu, and the bus left downtown San Jose at 8:00 am. Caught the bus to the group, caught a taxi to downtown, and then looked for the place to line up. Luisa had been awesome planning and implementing all of this, and so we followed her to the parque central, which was great to see. Eventually, we realized that both of our guidebooks pointed us to the same, wrong spot. We followed the line down to the SIGN that said Irazu, and waited there.

We made it to the Volcano, saw the craters, and I nearly died trying to climb a hill at 3432 m above sea level. That's 11,260 ft! Remember, I've grown up at about 577 m (1,893 ft). The lungs really weren't working well. The little tour guide book I bought says Irazu is still active, and I'll take their word for it. There wasn't much proof of anything. No lava, no steam, and even the lake that had formed in the basin of crater principal has dried up. Vanished. No one has a good explanation of where the lake came from, and no one knows where it went. It's Costa Rica. Strange things happen here.

Poor Man's Umbrella. I can't spell it in Spanish. Yet.

Ok, time to stop rambling. I'll let you know how my first Costa Rican haircut goes tomorrow!

The First Week

2010-08-11T13:11:00.000-06:00

It's the second Wednesday of the school year. I'm waiting for my kindergarten kids to show up, then my grade fives, and then it's the end of the first week teaching. Of course, I teach Thursday and Friday to round out this week, but when you start the school year in the middle of a week, things seem to take a lot longer.

A colleague and I were chatting yesterday about how all of the new routines, in school and out, were really wearing us down. The realization that it was only the first Tuesday of the school year brought some much needed perspective; our expectations were pretty high, both for ourselves and our students. When everything is new, it's ok to not "get it" right away.

I watched two parrots try to eat the school yesterday. They like to sit on the roof and pick at the tiles with their beaks. Of course, Emily and I were the only ones who stopped to watch these industrious little guys; parrots aren't that exciting when you grow up with them. Personally, bright green birds are always an attraction.

It's been a gray sort of day today. The sun just doesn't want to burn off the fog and clouds. Since we are quite high in the Central Valley at the school, it means our temperature is pretty cool today. It's the kind of day where everything feels wet, nothing dries up, and there are still puddles from the rain yesterday. I'm actually wearing a light sweater today and appreciating it. I'm really hoping the weekend is dry so I can do some more walking without my umbrella! I have yet to see San Jose, even though I thought I'd be living there. I also want to see Tres Rios, where apparently there is a pretty nice farmers' market on Saturday.

Kindergarten has come and gone, like the wind. Or a hurricane. I really need to figure out just how long their attention spans aren't!

Treading Lightly in Costa Rica

2010-08-07T18:14:00.002-06:00

I now share my apartment with a common gecko. I'm not being mean, I looked it up. It's a common gecko. It doesn't seem so common to me; I'd rather name it the streaking gecko, or the fast-as-hell gecko. It was waiting for me when I opened the door this morning, and I admit to screaming as it shot past me into the corner. From there, it slipped under the closed bathroom door, and hid behind the toilet. I poked around with a broom for a bit, but it had disappeared. I was leaving for an adventure in San Pedro, so I closed as many doors as I have, and hoped the little creature would find the open window and climb out. I learned they can climb walls!

After abandoning my bathroom to the gecko, I walked down to Mall San Pedro. I actually found it by accident; I saw a movie theatre I didn't recognize, and walked down to it. I ended up in Mall San Pedro, where I had only entered from the front before! It's not a very long walk as long as it's nice out. Of course, before I got to the mall, I went in completely the wrong direction, and would have ended up in Guanacaste if the nice man in the bank hadn't pointed me in the right direction. My Spanish provided many laughs for the native speakers today! I took this picture from the top of a pedestrian overpass (the first I've seen, but much appreciated!) I have no idea what the picture is; bonus points to whomever can identify all the white boxes!

I have no idea what these are!

Once I got to the mall, there were too many people around to have my camera just hanging out with me. I slipped it away into my purse, and did a bit of shopping. Two pairs of school shoes (one with heels, one pair of flats) and a shirt later, I decided to keep walking. After all, all I had to do to get home was get on a bus that either said Sabanilla (the area where I live) or San Pedro-San Jose. Simple.

I walked up what I think was Avenida Central in San Pedro; remember, there aren't street signs. I found the Outlet Mall, which is sadder than most malls in Canada. For those in Swift Current, there are more shops in the Co-op Mall than this Outlet Mall. A slightly scary moment: I was up on the third floor exploring what wasn't there, and an older janitor struck up a conversation. He seemed to love the fact that I couldn't understand him, and he really tried to be understood. He chose words I knew, and kept asking for my address and phone number. I put him off by telling him I didn't know my telephone number, and all of my mail went to the school. He even went into a business to get a piece of paper so he could write down his name, phone number and email address! I think I need to get a fake wedding ring. I don't like lying, but it was a bit creepy. "Victor" was just a little too friendly, and I was a little bit too alone!

I left the outlet mall and kind of recognized the area. It was only about 1 pm, so I kept walking. I could still spot buses that said San Pedro-San Jose, so we were good. A few ladies at work had suggested Ya Muni, a department store, as a good place to get clothes for a frame that is so not tiny Latin-American. I knew if I kept walking, it was on this street. I found it, and tried on some things, but air-conditioning is not what it is at home. The store felt cooler than the street for about 5 minutes, then the humidity kicked in. I had lost all patience for trying on clothes, so I just explored. Found some oven mitts and a cheese grater, all important items, then decided I was done. Now to catch a bus.

In Costa Rica, there are very few bus stops that are marked. I wasn't even sure at this point what direction was home. I started on one side of the street, then decided that wasn't the right direction, and crossed the street. Later, I would kick myself for second-guessing myself. I debated just getting a cab home, but a bus with the right name pulled up at a red light, and I got on in the middle of the intersection.

We started in the right direction. Then I didn't remember seeing some of the businesses before. Then, all of a sudden, I was the only person on the bus, and the driver stopped and looked at me. The engine was off and everything. One more opportunity to provide entertainment. To his credit, the driver was very helpful, and explained that I had gotten on the right bus going the wrong direction. I think that's what he said. All I know is that I ended up in Santa Marta, which is nowhere close to the El Christo that I thought I was going to. I hopped off that bus, and got on one headed in the right direction, and ended up just about back at the Mall San Pedro.

I would have stayed on the bus longer, but there was a parrot fight in the tree next to the bus stop. How can I not get off and take a picture! I took some video, but I'm a fledgling at it (pun intended), and it turned out pretty shaky. Here are some pictures of the squakers! These are the guys that wake me up in the morning.

I provided entertainment for two full buses, and a number of people on the street as I stood on the sidewalk and took the pictures. They must have thought I was insane, taking pictures of these ubiquitious birds. I smiled, waved, and jumped in a taxi. He dropped me off at the AM/PM Mercado on my corner, and it only cost 1000 colones (about 2 dollars). It was worth it to get home quickly, comfortably, and without having to walk another three blocks to catch the (hopefully) correct bus. I bought some breakfast things, and a couple cans of Pepsi, and came home to see if the gecko had invited all of his friends. I haven't seen him since, but I'm watching the baseboards carefully; he blends right in!

On a different note, I had to take the following picture this morning. I was so relieved to be able to quit the gym in Swift Current as I never had time/motivation to attend. I had a reason: I was moving to Costa Rica, and I was sure there weren't any Curves gyms down here. No worries. Guess what I found two short blocks from my apartment?

What are the odds?

Welcome to August

2010-08-01T14:09:00.000-06:00

Happy Long Weekend everyone! Well, at least in Costa Rica. It's some sort of Saint day tomorrow, where everyone walks to Cartago to the Basilica. We (myself and few other teachers) went to Pequeno Mundo yesterday, and we couldn't figure out why there were so many people on the sidewalks. Of course, they were walking to Cartago! Everywhere were signs for washrooms and such in peoples' homes, for this amount of colones or that amount. Pretty interesting. Not interesting enough to join in, but neat to see.

I now have a clotheline in my apartment. I recognize this may seen strange, but when it rains every afternoon, a clothesline in the yard is virtually pointless. Judy came over and drilled holes in my cement walls yesterday morning, so I could put up the box that holds the strings. I now have clothes drying in my bedroom, as it gets the best air circulation, and it's out of the way. Choosing what I was going to wear was getting interesting!

I"m beginning to get my bearings. I have to think of the school as sort of in the centre of my little world, and then I won't get as lost. We took a taxi back from Pequeno Mundo yesterday, and Emily was convinced we were going in the wrong direction. I wasn't sure either, but the driver was correct. It was a good tour of sidestreets and such that the buses don't travel down. We ended up in the right place, and I survived my first taxi ride in Costa Rica.

Anyway, the rest of the day is for planning, and I'm going to have to buckle down and get it done. Up to now, it's felt strange. I'm here to work, but work hasn't started, so part of me thinks it's a vacation. Now I'm beginning to find not understanding things draining instead of intriguing. It takes a lot of mental energy to try to commnicate anything. I'm learning more and more, but it almost seems like my English is getting worse instead of my Spanish getting better!

Off to plan. At least I won't have nearly as much marking to do!

How to Make a Cake in Costa Rica

2010-07-29T19:55:00.000-06:00

We have a staff get together tomorrow at Linda's, our Director. It's officially called "Beer and Bocas", which literally translated out of Spanglish means Beer and Mouths. Essentially, it's a potluck with the drinks provided. I like potlucks, I like eating, and I won't turn down the occasional drink. Only problem? What can I bring to a potluck when I don't have a single baking/cooking item in the house?

First, I explore. I discover an 8 inch cake pan in my cupboard. Fantastic. I go up to the AM/PM Mercado on the corner and buy a cake mix, something that looks like canola oil (I think it's actually soy...) and some icing. I thinking, this is great. I have everything I need for some simple brownies. I buy an empanada for supper, and a can of Pepsi, and we're set.

The next challenge? Discovering that my oven works in Celsius temperatures. I have four options: 140 degrees on top and bottom, 310 degrees on top and bottom, and then 210 degrees on either the bottom or top. I cook in Farenheit, as does Betty Crocker, according to the recipe instructions. Google saves the day, and I end up switching between 140 and 310 in order to get to about 350 degrees farenheit. Problem solved.

Have you ever tried to measure cooking oil without a measuring cup? Didn't think of that. When I moved in, I was excited to have plates and bowls; I didn't look for baking supplies. I eyeballed the oil after finding out if I was at a high enough altitude to need to change the recipe (I still don't know...I was praying by this point.) The tablespoons of water were measured with the tablespoon that you eat with, and doubled when it didn't look right. Mixed up, it looked like brownie mixture, so I dumped it in the greased pan, and threw it in the oven. At least ny microwave is in English and I could set the timer. Now just to wait.

Toothpicks. I don't know about you, but I was raised to check a cake's completion with a wooden toothpick. If it sticks, it's not done. Toothpicks were NOT on any of my shopping lists thus far, nor were potholders. A clean towel and, get this, a crochet hook stood in for the more traditional tools.

The cake is on my counter, cooling so I can ice it. I don't think I'll taste it until tomorrow night. It LOOKS done...

Post Script: I was disappointed to see I couldn't buy any squeezable icing. I"ll explain sometime!

We'll start at 8 am...or 8:30. Possibly 9

2010-07-28T10:02:00.002-06:00

I really don't like to be the last person to walk into a meeting. I aim to be prompt, not too early, but fairly on time. It's not normally a problem. Very little is normal in Costa Rica!

If a meeting starts at 8 am, we might get started by 8:15. Time is very fluid so far. Buses don't have a posted schedule anywhere, because they run on their own time. It depends on traffic, the day, and how many people flag them down from the side of the road. Our half hour Survival Spanish course turned into more than an hour long just because we started asking questions! It's something to become accustomed to: no one is in a big hurry. Everything will get done. Everyone will end up where they need to be. I had been warned, but one really has no idea until they've experienced it.

Today is the first day of work with all staff members. I'm finding it really hard to remember names I didn't quite catch the first time! As slow as the schedule can go, the speaking makes up for it. Everyone is really friendly; I've been kissed more in the past week than in the past year. I have some meetings today, and the rest of the week. I had to clarify where I was needed; as a specialist, I could be in three meetings at once because of the preschool, elementary, and midle/high school.

This semester I teach all of the younger grades: K3 through Grade 5. I have 6 three-year-olds, and my largest class is 16 kids. 16! My MS/HS principal informed me that we would run an elective if as few as 5 kids chose to register for it. What a difference having 200 kids in a school rather than 1000. I anticipate there will be some challenges with such a tight community, but there is really good support from all the administrators so far.

This weekend is a long weekend. Monday is some sort of Saint Day; Las Angeles, I think. Apparently half a million people will be walking through San Jose and San Pedro this weekend on their way to Cartago (about 22 km) in order to visit the Basilica there. The legend has it that the Virgin Mary appeared to a small girl, and eventually the priest figured out that Mary was telling them where to build the church in her honour. Every year all these people go, thanking her for blessings and asking for things. I'm really tempted to go, as I don't think I've ever seen half a million people walking anywhere, never mind together. Our principal and others have strongly suggested going the next weekend when people will still be walking AND we can see the church more easily. I'm thinking this is the better idea, and I can see the streets full of people here in town.

One note: I don't live in San Jose. I thought I did, based on where I flew into, and where the school's address is. I know now that the school is in San Ramon de Tres Rios, and I live in Mercedes Monta. de Oca, very near San Pedro. San Jose is actually quite small, with a lot of smaller cities/towns/counties coming out of it, sort of like bike tire spokes. I'm still trying to find a map.

Ok, off to be early for a meeting. More later, provided I don't fall asleep. I'm still not used to 6 am.

Three Days In

2010-07-23T18:51:00.002-06:00

Parrots. Buses. Umbrellas. I don't think I've ever seen as many of these in one place as I have in these first three days. I've discovered how to end the rain here in Costa Rica: have a girl from Saskatchewan buy an umbrella. It's the same reasoning, only reversed, as washing your car.

I took the bus by myself to and from school today. I think it took an hour to get there, and 15 minutes to get back. It's all about being at the right stop at the right time, and having a driver who shows up. Some of the buses are quite nice, others have seen better days a long time ago. None of them have air conditioning. They are crowded at certain times, but each time I've seen men stand up for women of all ages to have a seat.

After the school, I dropped my things off at my apartment and took the Sabanilla - San Jose bus, with the intention of getting off at the San Pedro Mall. Well, I got off the bus somewhere downtown San Jose. In my defense, it looked like a mall. It had a sign in English for a food court! Thankfully I went into a shop looking for an umbrella and found a very nice clerk who spoke English. She pointed me towards a Mas X Menos, where I bought an overpriced umbrella, and told me where I was. I should have stayed on the bus a little longer and I would have been at the mall. Hopped on yet another bus, after being assured that this bus would go to the Mall San Pedro. They have men at some of the busier stops just to load the buses.

Found the mall, though after the bus had gone through the traffic circle. It's quite daunting to be on one side of a large, two lane traffic circle and have no idea how to get across. Crosswalks are really only near schools, and aren't really recognized. There was a young man waiting as well, and he seemed to realize that I didn't know when to go. He said something like "Follow Me", and I did. He and I got to the mall safely!

The mall itself is rather strange. In between dollar stores and kitchy stores, there's a Tommy Hilfiger and a Gucci jewelry store. I bought a few books (stop rolling your eyes): a conversational Spanish book and a verb conjugation book. I know I have a verb book at home, but I'm pretty sure it's in storage. In storage translates to unaccessible unless dire circumstances occur. I looked at some shoes, but I really hope I can wear sandals of some sort to teach in. I had Wendy's for supper because I wanted something familiar; it was and it wasn't. Instead of ketchup, they put bbq sauce on the burger. I bought a few cinnamon buns from the Cinnabon, and took the bus home. You can get just about anything here.

What I've seen in the first three days:

A man driving a motor bike, carrying two large fruit boxes on his lap. And in Canada you can't even text and drive!
A school bus that had a tv in it for the driver.
A woman riding a vespa in the highest heels I have ever seen. I think I want a Vespa.
Two parrots sitting on a telephone wire. It's very strange to not see them in a cage. My first reaction was that they had escaped from somewhere!
A bush on my street that has the "Roxy" flower. I think it's called a hyacinth, but feel free to correct me. I am not a horticulturalist.
Spongebob Squarepants in Spanish. It's no more intelligent en Espanol than it is in English.
A thunderstorm in the middle of the day. The lightning cracked and the power went off in the school. Poor Trent was in the middle of a course syllabus, and tried to restart three times before he gave in to Mother Nature.
My classroom! It's on the stage, in the gymnasium. It could be very loud at times, I think. I am more worried about what to do in there if the power goes out; it's pretty dark in there.

Ok, enough for tonight. It's only 7:18 here, but it's dark, and the rain has finally started, so it's cooling off. The sun likes to rise before I do, and I have some Spanish to learn! Buenos noches.

New Roads

2010-07-20T19:23:00.002-06:00

Here I am in Denver, Colorado, waiting for my flight to San Jose, Costa Rica. It's about 7:30-ish, and my flight doesn't leave until just after midnight. It's strange to be in this "in-between." I'm far from home, yet I'm not anywhere else. I'm excited about being in San Jose, yet apprehensive about starting a new job in a new culture that speaks a new language. I can't wait to meet and make new friends, but I'm concerned about the family members at home who aren't well. As I told Mom, I wish I could bring the old people with me. It's always about choice, isn't it. Life must be lived, and I can't be in more than one place at a time.

I've decided that if I'm ever rich, I'm going to job shadow people for a couple weeks at a time. It doesn't matter the job; I want to know a bit about everything. As we landed in Denver this afternoon, I could watch the guy with the orange batons directing the plane into position. I realized that I want to know what all the signals mean, and how he knew when to do what. Could I discover this information in a book, or online? Most assuredly. But wouldn't it be more fun to try it? To follow someone around and learn how to do it for real?
As I'll never likely be overly wealthy, this is a bit of a dream, but remember: dreams have to come true occasionally.

Best line of the trip so far: To a small child in a stroller: "It's airplane rules; we have to go potty or they won't let us on the plane."

Best sight so far: The biggest thunderhead clouds I've ever flown through. I didn't see any lightning, but some were definitely dark. Awesome, in the old terms meaning awe-inspiring.

Funniest thing so far: Sitting, eating my supper from BK, and a woman pulls a knife out of her carryon and asks how that got there! Her teenage children: "Mom! Stop waving that thing around! You'll get arrested!" We weren't through security yet, obviously, and I had to ask where they were headed, just to make sure they weren't headed my direction! Plenty of giggling, and the knife ended up in the garbage. TSA wouldn't be letting that go through!

Ok, more when I'm in San Jose, and settled in a bit. I can't wait to see the colours.

E

June Bugs and Summer Fever

2009-06-04T14:08:00.002-06:00

Ok, to be honest, I don't know what a June bug is, but in this school, a June bug is the perpetual cold and flu that infects staff and students alike. Everyone seems to be battling some form of this; kleenex has become a de rigeur accessory. This is not to be confused with the summer fever, which is an infliction brought on by 23 degrees or higher in the sun. The days are really counting down. The theory is that if the day is 23 degrees or higher, the majority of students are skipping, and there is are many tee times available, it's a sun day. Similar to a snow day, we all go home. Wishful thinking, of course, but aren't there days where staying inside is simply torture?

I'm in the process of finding a summer job. 6 weeks or so of something that doesn't involve lesson planning or grade nines. A change is as good as a rest, so they say. Mom wants me to move home for awhile. It would be nice to be home for awhile, but I don't know if that means the whole summer or two weeks, or what. I was planning on finding something here in Swift, staying in my apartment. We'll see what happens. I don't want to leave my baby strawberry plant all by itself...

It will be good to be home this weekend. I get to spend an evening with Brandie, possibly see a movie, and hopefully have some new shorts cut out before I come back to Swift on Sunday. Maybe even a sun tan if I help Mom outside. Better pack the sunscreen!

Snowy May Day

2009-05-13T15:25:00.002-06:00

Snow on the 13th of May...I know I've seen snow later in the year than this, but it doesn't make me like the idea any more than I did this morning when I had to scrape the ice off my windshield. It was nearly 20 degrees yesterday, and it's supposed to be up there again by Friday. What kind of plan is this?

It can be so hard to remember that there is a Master, and a plan. When nothing makes sense, when nothing goes right, when no one cares...those are the times when we grow stronger in Him. I have to remind myself that everything is in his hands, and my right isn't always correct. I count the things I do have, the people who love me. Life isn't designed to be easy, but there are sure days when it seems a lot harder than it needs to be.

It feels like I teach two separate days each day. With my older students in the morning, a prep period three and then lunch, it can be hard to get my head around coming back in the afternoon for my younger classes. It sometimes feels like I accomplish so much in the morning, and then the afternoon classes just rip that away. Really, if I wanted to be pulling teeth, I would have gone into dentistry, and be making much more money than I am now!

But it's not about the money. I can only hold out hope that some of these students will not be completely turned off of the class by the hooligans who are forced to be here. If life were easy...

Finally Friday

2009-05-01T15:17:00.002-06:00

What an insane week. I'm not sure if there's a full moon, or it's the seasons changing, but there is something in the wind that is making normally average children into normally average monsters. I find they are either eager to be done, and so are doing well, or are eager to be done, so have decided they ARE done; school is over in their minds. I do have some wonderful students. Once I removed a few of the less than productive students this week, the rest have been lovely, and not because they are afraid of removal. They are grateful that those particular students are no longer around to bring down the class.

I'm looking forward to this weekend of nothing specific to do. Cleaning and laundry, maybe even some vacuuming; this really shouldn't be exciting, but it's my first weekend at home in nearly a month and a half. I might even get into my "office" this weekend. I hear there is an open house or two in town, so I might hit those up on Sunday. It would be nice to get rid of some of my neighbours! (And the ants. So many ants.)

The drama windup is scheduled, and it represents the last time I will have my drama kids together this year. I'll miss those grade twelves. I really hope some of the grade elevens step up next year. There is potential... I guess we'll wait and pray and see.

Two Years Later...

2009-04-24T11:24:00.002-06:00

Hello strangers. I can and cannot believe that it has been this long since I've last written (or typed) anything here. I'm under no illusion that anyone will still be reading this, as the fad seems to have passed somewhat. Time has flown, and I seem to have flown around with it.

I'm now in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, teaching at the Comprehensive High School here. I love the students that I have; there is so much potential in each of them. I've found a church, though that wasn't dificult: the Baptist church is right across the street from my apartment. I've made a few friends, no one extremely tight but an option or two for a girls' night out. I enjoy living here, though I miss the business of Calgary on occasion, and my friends there daily. It's very nice to be closer to home, so I can spend the weekend there if I want to (or if I need my mom's cooking!)

I just returned from England, visiting family and friends. It really was an escape from reality; when I was there, work and school just did not exist. Coming back to the school Wednesday was good, though my brain still didn't believe that summer hadn't started. I may have to keep my holidaying to the summer months, just so that I don't confuse myself any further!

I've posted some pictures from my trip up under the google picasa albums, and I can send an invite to whomever, as long as I have your email address. Drop me a line if you're interested. It's not as if there is anything risque, but I'm in a profession that needs to be careful with what is publicly posted.

It's good to be back.

Happy Canada Day!

2007-07-01T11:30:00.000-06:00

Happy Canada Day! I'll be spending the day with friends from school, down at the park in Strathmore. I'm looking forward to the fireworks! (And maybe some food!)

School is over. I'm officially unemployed, but I'm looking. There are jobs that need to be applied for, and now that there is no marking left to do, I have the time to apply. I'm still not in a panic, but it would be nice to be able to give EVERYONE who asks some good news. I think other people are more worried than I am, which is flattering, but unnerving at the same time.

My question for the day: Why do I mark things that students don't come to pick up?

Fashion and Fish

2007-06-22T21:48:00.000-06:00

Here's Dad's fishing trip from this winter with "the boys". I think he had a lot of fun...gotta love those ski pants!

2007-06-22T21:44:00.000-06:00

Picasa is a wonderful thing...
This is the truck Alexis picked out at the Toyota dealership...We all have dreams!

The End is Near

2007-06-20T18:38:00.000-06:00

I apologize for how long it has been since I wrote on here. I am swamped with marking (I think that's permanent) and I had my computer in the shop for just over a week. The tech guy at our school is a miracle worker. My computer that once liked to shut itself down whenever it felt like is now a machine with four times the RAM amd Windows XP. Bye-Bye Millenium!

The school year is almost over. I will be sad to leave this school, and I am a bit anxious about the coming school year and the lack of a position as of yet. I know that God will provide, so I'm not allowing the anxiety to become full-blown fear. I'm trying to get my marking done!

On a bright side, I'm excited about coming home to work at kamp for a week in July. Mom and I are cooking for a junior camp. I'm also excited that Mom leaves for BC on Sunday for the first of her module classes in ...I'm not sure. I read the booklet and info, and it sounds really good. She could tell you the proper name for the course. The information has been replaced by final exams in my brain.

For those so inclined: I can be found on Facebook. I enjoy adding people. It's a great timesucker! Me and my procrastinating. I wish I could be paid for doing that!

MAY the Spring Begin!

2007-05-10T20:30:00.000-06:00

Rugby. A sport for all seasons, all players. I'm really enjoying the assistant coach position I have going on. These guys and gals are hilarious, and it's really nice to have a mix of student ages. Things I have learned from rugby so far: you can (read: will) play in the snow, rain, sun and sleet. There's also a lot of wind! It's such a good game for teaching respect...if that ref gives you a penalty, you can be forgotten about down at those try posts! Be nice, or else! It's really neat to see these kids work together.

I think the snow might be gone for good. I hope I haven't jinxed it, but I have put away my car's plug-in cord. I'm excited to see my mom's new car...she's getting it from the same dealership that I did, so that should be good for some brownie points with this dealership! She and Alexis fly in tomorrow night, and we'll pick the car up Saturday. I guess I should do some marking tonight, as it definitely won't happen this weekend. I do want to show them my classroom. Steph helped me put up fabric on some of the bulletin boards last night, so things are a bit more brighter. It was strange and hilarious all at once...every different class that came in today had to touch the one very patterned fabric. It seemed like the wall pulled them into it. I guess I have some tactile learners!

I have joined the addictive, interesting, and time-sucking thing they call Facebook. So far there have been few surprises, but it has been interesting to see how many people are on there. It has added to the number of emails I get, which is nice. I like mail, and emails are rarely bills.

I'll be home for convocation in June. I had to book my first substitute. I'll see whoever shows up then!

Report Cards and Weather Reports

2007-04-22T16:55:00.000-06:00

April showers bring May flowers...but what does two feet of snow in April bring? I had to pretty much shovel two feet of snow off of my poor little car on Saturday. Heavy and wet, it's perfect snowball snow. Here's hoping it melts by tomorrow. I'm glad I'm not on supervision until Wednesday!

Report cards went out on Friday, and I don't think there were any major surprizes for anyone. Now I just have to get and stay organized so I don't have that week of stress in June...It's amazing how few days there are left...it's really flying by. I do feel like I'm still treading water most of the time, but there are days where I sit down at the end of the day and say, "You know? That actually worked!"

On a completely bizarre note: I've started to help coach the co-ed rugby. It is a lot of fun, though I know very little about the sport. Wayne tells them what to do and I cheer them on. We practice every Tuesday and Thursday outside on the football field. We even went out this past Thursday, though you couldn't see across to the end of the field for the snow falling. For those of you in Foam Lake, please note: I know more about basketball than rugby! This ought to be good.

Now I can Get Home Safely

2007-03-30T18:52:00.000-06:00

I have a car. Actually, I have two cars, one of which I'm not able to trust to get me home to Moose Jaw. Never fear, however: I will be able to get home for the Easter egg hunt and Easter Sunday service. I picked up my brand-new Toyota Matrix today. It's "Cosmic Metallic Blue", so in other words, shiny light blue. I'm really looking forward to the drive home, even if it is one of the dullest drives in the country.

On another note, any one who can teach me how to post pictures up on this site, let me know. I'm sure it tells me how somewhere, but I haven't found it yet.

Four days of school until Spring break...Of course we're working this week! New units plus marking. Report cards are far more work than I imagined! I am looking forward to being home for a few days.

If Dad offers any one of you his new Grapefruit wine...take it and run. It's almost as good as the Blackberry. I may need more in order to solidify my opinion!

Spring, Sprang, Sprung

2007-03-25T13:42:00.000-06:00

Alberta in March...I've seen geese flying overhead, walked to school without a coat, heard gophers "frolicking", and heard a meadowlark singing it's lungs out. I'm so glad it's almost spring. I say almost, as yesterday was +16 degrees, and today it's trying to snow. It's a little bit schizophrenic right now, but it will straighten out.

March in a Jr. High School...Everyone at school is looking forward to the Easter break. Two short weeks, and a week off. It will be good for the students to have a break, and get some of the spring wiggling out of their systems. I'm looking forward likely coming home for a bit to see the grandparents and such. It all depends on the car/insurance situation. I've never had to fill out quite so many forms! I'm hoping I can get it all figured out in the next few weeks.

Report cards come out just after Easter, so I'm marking my butt off this next week. My question: why is it so hard to hand assignments in? I know some of these kids are finished, but they can't seem to hand them in to me! The easiest way to pass grade seven is to show up, and the 2nd way is to hand in the assignments. Maybe by June they'll have figured that out. After all, this is the first year they've been asked to be responsible for anything. It's big switch from grade 6 to grade 7, but it is March...not much time left!

I'm really enjoying Strathmore. I've gone into Calgary a number of times. Yesterday I went in ALL BY MYSELF for the first time, and I didn't even get lost. Thank heavens for Google Maps...those are instructions I can follow. If only IKEA wasn't so easy to find...

Well, let the marking begin. Feel free to distract me with an email or phone call...You know my attention span!

Alberta and Snow

2007-02-14T21:31:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone who might be checking this site. I have finally had the internet installed in my apartment, and so I am able to access this site. The school had it blocked.

I am now teaching at Crowther Memorial Jr. High School in Strathmore, Alberta. I've been teaching for a week and a half, and I think I'm able to name about 60% of my students, as long as you only want their first names! I've learned that Valentine's Day + Jr. High Students = insanity. Sugar and hormones. Hormones and sugar. The dance is tomorrow, so we'll see how this goes!

That said, I'm already attached to some of these kids. I have some excellent students. I'm looking forward to St. Patrick's Day. I think it will be a blast.

I'm off to plan for the rest of the week. I have to have two days planned ahead for my one class that refuses to work in class. I'm planning on being in MJ this weekend. I'm very excited about CATS. I can't wait to see all the costumes, and how they pull together. Thank goodness for this Family Day holiday! I need to get my bookshelves and another kitchen chair -- that way I can have one at the table AND one at the computer! I'm just holing Little Car makes it home and back one more time. Until next time!

And Ye Shall Find...

2007-01-31T13:52:00.000-06:00

I have a job. Last Thursday I mailed an application package to the Golden Hills School Division in Strathmore Alberta, Friday I got mad at Canada Post, Monday I forgave Canada Post. I got a call Monday evening, about 5 minutes after 5 pm, asking if I could be in Strathmore, Alberta for an interview the next day. You bet I could! Dad drove me to Strathmore (he didn't trust Little Car, but I didn't tell her that), I interviewed at 3 pm, and I had the job by 4:30 pm SK time. Thank goodness for that extra hour in there!

I'll be teaching grade seven English Language Arts, Social Studies, and one block of Health at Crowther Memorial Jr. High School. It's a 7-9 school, with over 650 students. My average class size is about 26-27 students, and I start on Monday! I'm in a bit of a panic about planning and packing and moving and such, but I'm so excited.

I know some people who were wondering about where I would end up would be checking this blog, so I've updated it. I think the plan is to move on Saturday, so if I don't see everyone who has been thinking and praying, I thank you now! I hope to be back to catch closing night of the musical, but that's planning too far in advance right now! So, thank you, and we'll talk again.

Still Seeking

2007-01-11T10:13:00.000-06:00

I'm back at the library. I'm really hoping there will be a message on the answering machine when we get home, but I can wait. I can be patient. That might be what this is all about. I'm not a patient person. It's good practice, right?

Blair and I went up to Foam Lake this past weekend to say good bye to people I didn't get a chance to before Christmas. It was a good thing we went when we did, since the weather has turned downright nasty since we got home. I'm kind of glad that I don't have to leave the house more often than I have. Our roads here in the south aren't bad at all, but that wind is brutal.

Dad finally has a new truck. It's a basic GM Value leader. V6 motor, manual shift, came in from Winnipeg. The most important thing, of course, colour: it's a silvery grey. I think I'll call it the Grey Ghost, or maybe the Silver Streak 2. Blair hasn't even seen it yet, so I'm making sure he knows I've sat in it. Because it's just that important. With Dad buying this brand new truck, he's a little vehicle crazy. I'd better find a job soon, since the next thing he wants to do is see me buy a new vehicle. Here's hoping.

Ok, I only have 15 minutes left of my one hour allotment, so I had better get everything else done. God Bless!

Seek...

2007-01-07T13:57:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I'm here in Foam Lake, making sure I've said goodbye to everyone at church, and playing with Abigail. I cannot believe how fast she's growing or how much I miss her and Nathaniel. I would be sad, if I wasn't so excited about the future.

I have finished school. It's official. I have handed in my application to graduate, my application for my teacher certification license, and my application for a teaching job...I'm noticing a trend. I am seeking, and I'm praying, and I'm trusting.

I'm looking forward to the next week or so. Mom and Blair are back at school tomorrow, and that leaves Dad and I at the farm. I'll be sleeping, reading, cross stitching, scrapbooking and organizing what seems like a million pieces of paper I brought home with me. My room is finally liveable...kind of. You don't have to jump over many things, and nobody needs into the other closet anyway. I think the resident mouse even moved out.

I hope everyone has a blessed New Year, with many joys, and a few "growing opportunities". They make the good so much better. I will do my best to keep in touch, and to let everyone know when the sought is found. (If only we had internet on the farm...(sigh) Dad will never read this...)

By the Way...

2006-12-28T09:54:00.000-06:00

I'm home. I'm home. I can't believe I'm home already. December has flown by. Christmas is past, and New Year's is only a few days away. I don't have a job yet, but I am catching up on some sleep. I don't think it has sunk in yet that I don't have to go back to school in January. I'm so used to going to school that this "life" thing will take some work.

I find myself missing Foam Lake. I miss the students that drove me nuts, and the students who became special to me. I miss living with Erin and Adam, Nathaniel, but especially Abigail. I wish I could have seen her on Christmas morning. I bet there wasn't a safe (or dry) piece of paper in the house! I'm looking forward to one more trip north, to pick up my stuff, and say goodbye one more time.

If you need, or want, to get a hold of me, I'm at the farm. I don't have the internet out there (Thank you Brandie for letting me use yours!), but I will be checking the email randomly, likely at the library. How cool am I.

Who knows where this road is going? I'm glad I have a really good navigator.

Snow and Basketball

2006-12-07T18:04:00.000-06:00

I cannot believe that it is already the 7th of December. It feels like just yesterday I was preparing for my full-time teaching block, yet here I am, almost a week after dropping two classes. My final evaluation is due in tomorrow, and, barring an opinion at the university, I have passed. I am all of two weeks away from being qualified to teach...now to find a job.

When I moved here in August, Adam advised me to buy some Sorels for winter boots. Once again, I didn't take him seriously. How could there possibly be enough snow before Christmas to warrant a purchase of a pair of those classy clogs? He wasn't kidding. Once it stopped raining here, it began to snow. On the day (yes, that is singular) that it doesn't snow, it blows. There are now drifts higher than my car. It's one thing to talkto a friend in a foreign, warm country and have them rub in the nice weather, but to have someone from REGINA rub in the fact that they are warmer and dryer than us...that's just wrong.

I am now almost done the teaching aspect of my internship, though I am picking up a grade seven English class next week. I have to get caught up on my marking so that I can learn a bit about this strange sport my seniour girls are calling basketball. I know a bit about the sport, but I stopped playing about the same time the teachers were trying to get us to bounce the ball without looking at it. My ball always got away. I've become the tempory assistant coach to the seniour girls basketball team. This is a nice way of saying I don't know anything, but the girls are willing to teach me. I nearly had them in tears of laughter after my first foul shot the other night. I must add, in my defence, that it did go in the basket the first time. Not the second, third or fourth, but who's perfect? I'm really enjoying the girls on the team as students as well, so this was a good opportunity to learn a sport and support them at the same time.

I'm moving home, crafting up a storm for Christmas presents, and marking. Anyone up for a little marking party? I'll bring ALL the material! RSVP, ASAP, ok?

Prelude and Beyond!

2006-11-24T23:01:00.000-06:00

It's 10:53 pm, and I've just taken out my eyes and washed the makeup off. Prelude is over for another year. The Gospel Fellowship Church community has put on a great dinner once again, and the turnout was really good. The tables will come down this week, the food will be parceled up and taken home, and the Advent season is almost here. I enjoyed this evening, but I'm glad it's over. I am my harshest critic, but being honest, tonight wasn't as strong as I'd have liked it to be. I still received compliments and praise, as did Erin for her playing, but that isn't as powerful as knowing you did a good job yourself.

My block at the high school is nearly over. By the end of this coming week I will have dropped a class, and will lose another class the next Monday. The sixteen, seventeen weeks that I started counting down have disappeared. I only have nineteen DAYS of school left (by my calculations...I'm not teaching math, remember). I'm realizing that I will miss some of the aspects of small town life, but I don't know if I could count this experience as "living" here. I'm not sure you can be from a small town if you haven't lived there at least three years. The community is so active, and I will miss that if I move to a larger centre. I do look forward to having more options in a larger centre. It really is a decision to be made, about what sort of life I want to have, and teaching I want to do. I'm just about ready to think about that. Not quite right now.

November in the "North"

2006-11-14T16:52:00.000-06:00

I've never lived this far north in Saskatchewan before. It's not like Foam Lake is SOOO far north, but it is further than Moose Jaw or Regina by a good two hours. You wouldn't think this would make a big difference, but driving away from Foam Lake and coming back to town after a weekend away is like entering another season. Here in Foam Lake, the roads are icy and it has snowed ALL DAY. When I left Moose Jaw yesterday, the weatherman was calling for a high of 5 degrees that day, and 8 degrees on Wednesday. We'll be lucky to get to zero here. There's almost no such thing as snow at home, yet here it's boot weather. I don't like winter in southern Saskatchewan...guess how much I'm appreciating the snow now!

School is going well. I'm into the second week of my block, teaching all day every day. It has come to the point where Patti can take a day off for appointments or whatever reason, and it's not likely there will be a substitute called in. I'm getting the swing of things here, though it's hard to imagine that I only have six weeks left, if that. As much as I'm looking forward to being finished, that means leaving some of these kids that I've really grown to appreciate. I guess that's what it means to move...there has to be something and someone left behind.

I was home last week, for my "long change"; there was a teacher's conference I wasn't required to go to. Thursday found me at the Goo Goo Dolls concert with Merle. That was an awesome show. So worth the tickets. They are now moved from my "to see" list to my "see again" list. I went, I saw, and yes, I bought the T-shirt. (I actually bought the shirt before the concert, but hey. That's just splitting hairs.) Stacey cut my hair on Friday, and it's wonderful. My students actually noticed, and complimented me. It's shorter than it has been, which means it's in my eyes, but it looks good. That's what matters, right?

Saturday saw me at the Foam Lake Panthers-Caronport Cougars 9-man provincial football game. I know very little about the game, but as long as I was cheering at the right time, it was all good. We won 43 to something...it was all our game after the first half. Man, it was muddy. I'm glad I didn't have to wash any uniforms. I feel sorry for the Caronport players - not only did they lose on home turf, but they have white jerseys.

Sunday I was able to get together with Brandie and do some Christmas scrapbooking. I was able to get so much acomplished, and it was wonderful to hang out with her after so long away. I miss my friends! Email just isn't the same, especially when we're all so busy. I hope to do some more with her this coming weekend when I'm down for Carolyn's wedding. I can't believe it's already the middle of November!

Speaking of November, the end is in sight. Prelude is next weekend, and I have some practicing to do. Most of the pieces are traditional carols, but there are a few that will require some words and notes learning. I'm off to see if Erin is free to practice tonight. There are still people sleeping when I leave in the morning, and kids arrive before I've left, so mornings are not a popular choice. We'll see how this goes!

On With the Show

2006-10-21T14:45:00.000-06:00

It has been a full two weeks. I'm teaching almost every class, and I begin my three week block on Wednesday next. With all of the days we miss in November, this means that my "three week block" is really a month. I appreciate starting earlier than later, as this means December will be less stressful, but starting this week means that I can't procrastinate any longer. I'm teaching To Kill a Mockingbird and Hamlet right now, and I start The Secret Lives of Sgt. John Wilson on Wednesday. Tuesday my grade sevens write their very first French exam, and heaven help them, the first exam I've ever had to make up.

Tonight is the Breast of Friends' Fundraising Dinner at the Community Hall. Mom is coming up to attend, and Erin is coming out as well. I've just come back from rehearsal for the fashion show that will end the evening. What a wide range of ladies! Size, age, everything...we have it on stage. It was a hilarious rehearsal, as no one in charge has ever really rehearsed a show like this before. We got through it, but we didn't try it with our fancy clothes on...I think we'd better have a gong ready for tonight. At least it promises to be entertaining! And the food will be spectacular from what I understand.

I'm also very excited about coming back to Regina in November. On the 3rd, I'll get to see everyone from school as we're called back for an internship seminar, and the next week I'm back in town because of the teacher's conference in Saskatoon. I'm not being required to attend, so I'm coming home. I've bought tickets to the Goo Goo Dolls show on the 9th, and I cannot wait. I swore I would go see them if they ever came to the province, and it's worked out really nicely. I"ll be a new woman after that weekend, as I'm going to visit Stacey as well. I just have to decide what we're doing to the hair this time...

Other than that, life up here in Foam Lake is just fine. Abigail is hilarious, Nathaniel is forever "Erin, you play monkeys with me?" (He hasn't figured out that I kill the characters more often than he does.) I can't believe I'm almost two months down, but that's the way it goes. I'm sending in my application for my visa on Monday, if the post office is still open when we get back from Wadena (CIF "Teacher" day), Tuesday at the latest. I'm hoping I haven't left it too long, but I really doubt I'd be ready to live and teach in England by January 3rd. That's seems a little quick, considering I'm not finished here until the 22nd. In my mind, I'm aiming for leaving in the middle of the month, but it's not really my plans that have precedence here. I can't even see the reins of this life.

Mom is supposed to be here in about an hour and a half. I'd better clean my room...it's just something you do when moms arrive. I'm now thankful it's not an entire apartment!

Turkeys of All Shapes and Sizes

2006-10-05T20:07:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I am looking forward to going home for the long weekend. Nevermind that I was just home. This is a LONG weekend, so it's supposed to feel important. We will be celebrating my birthday, Grandma Walter's birthday, Auntie Fran's birthday, Grandma and Grandpa Graas' anniversary, and, oh yeah. Thanksgiving. We do have much to be thankful for, especially that we are all still able to be together and celebrate these events. Our household will likely be serving turkey, but I expect there will be a Turkey or two in residence regardless!

I'm at the school as I write. My students in my Creative Writing 20 class have a major assignment due tomorrow, and I've opened the computer lab to allow them to type their final drafts. I don't think they realize the sacrifice here! Grey's Anatomy is on, is over! Not that I can't catch up of course. I am getting much more official class "stuff" accomplished here at school anyhow. This evening work period might become a weekly thing. After all, if students are expecting me to show up, I have to show up.

I'm debating how much to write here. I've been in touch with a teaching company out of the UK, and it sounds promising...I do not want to jinx it or get my hopes up...but there is a good chance I will be moving to England in January to teach. I've just started setting it up this week, but the question seems not to be "if I can get a job", but "when can you get here to start?". Those in a praying mood: this would be a very appreciated topic. I'd really like to do this, but I've learned the hard way that it needs to be God's will, not my own.

Anyhow, must mark. It's amazing how quickly that can become backed up. One more thing for my logbook, I guess. I really should start that thing...

Happy Birthday!

2006-10-02T17:19:00.000-06:00

I just bought a rolling pin. I do not have plans to make cookies, nor do I know where to put the marble weapon, but it is my birthday present to myself. As long as I have the pin, I will know how old it is since I bought it on my twenty-fifth birthday. What does it say when you buy kitchen utensils for yourself? It says there isn't a clothing store within an hour's drive.

I'm also trying to figure out a way for everyone in the world to have their birthdays off work. So far, I'm able to shoot holes in whatever scheme I design. Suggestions are welcome!

One Month Down, Three to Go

2006-10-01T18:13:00.000-06:00

October 1st. I've finished one month of my internship, I'm almost twenty-five, and I have a phone call to answer on Tuesday about possible "career options" in the UK come January. I think I have the right to feel a bit overwhelmed at the moment.

I had a lovely, if full, weekend these past two days. Mom and I went out to Kamp to cook for the fall supper. We arrived in separate vehicles Friday night, and I lef the kamp shortly after Mom on Saturday evening. The fall colours are amazing. I don't believe there is an artist alive or dead who could rival the Master's touch. My camera could not capture the day, though I tried, and words cannot come close to examining the individual leaves and masses of trees as they turn in the autumn air. God's artistry is awesome and inspiring, yet humbling. How can we as humans even think that we could create something "God-like"? We often forget we're to create works that honour our God, not attempt to rival his. Sure failure leads down the path of rivalry.

My classload is getting heavier, yet I'm attempting to add more extra-curricular at the same time. Things are going well at school. I'm feeling more and more comfortable about the expectations of the school and the university, and about the rituals and traditions of a rural school. Go Panthers Go! I'm really enjoying many of the students, and I believe the students who have been challenging me thus far have really come around. There will always be a few jerks, as there are a few in every classroom or boardroom of life, but those aren't my concern...yet. I still have to get it in my head that I have the power to send them to the hall, or to the office, or to detention...and have them go. I always thought that would be the easy part of teaching: If you're an idiot in class, get out. Now I realize that if I have a firm control of the class, there are very few idiots. As a student, you don't realize how much work teaching is. I mean, all they do is show up and talk, right? Even taking homeroom attendance stressed me out for a week. Administration? Teaching? Planning? Marking? They try to warn you at university that this will be a lot of work, but there can be no warning for this. I expect I'll sleep over the Christmas holidays. Holidays...that's a new thing!

Happy Birthday to Grandma Walter, Wade, and Marilyn. Hope the day is well. I blew out one candle today, and the rest I'll save until next weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadians, and to those who aren't, go cook a turkey anyways. It's good for you.

God Bless.

10 Days Later...Still Alive

2006-09-20T19:16:00.000-06:00

I cannot believe where the time has gone. September is already more than half finished, my first assignments to mark came in yesterday, and I'm still feeling a little out of place. I'm thinking that the first year of teaching anywhere will be a lot like this, only minus the cooperating teacher there to back you up.

I was in Regina for almost a week. I left Tuesday right after school for our internship seminars, learned some pretty funny (yet lame) jokes, ate a lot, and didn't come back to Foam Lake until Sunday afternoon. Mom's birthday was on Friday, so it was nice to go out for supper with most of the family. Mom and I went shoe shopping on Saturday, and I found some lovely shoes...now if they would only stop rubbing the skin off my feet, they would be perfect. I only have one blister so far, but there is very little skin left on my baby toes on either foot. I'm hoping it won't take them long to break in. We'll see how this goes. I should already own shares in the Bandaid corporation, so what's another reason to use them?

Everything is going well way up north here. Yes, I mean that sarcastically. It has frozen here a few times, once quite hard according to the gardeners in the staff lounge, but there isn't any snow yet. I'm hoping that isn't a jinx on the whole matter. I'm not ready for the white stuff yet.

I'm not at the school tonight, though it's becoming clear that I will be a regular fixture after 7 pm most evenings. I needed a few hours away, and tomorrow is planned. I even know what I'm wearing since tomorrow is Hawaiian Day. Those bright orange shirts mom and dad had have really come in handy! I'm learning more classroom management by the day, and I'm starting to figure out just who is playing me. I'm also seeing patterns emerge. It's really quite interesting, so we'll see if I'm reading things right.

I'm off to mark. I always disliked teachers who took three months to return assignments. I should at least get off on the right (fast) foot. Maybe bed before mindnight...that would be nice.

Where did that week go?

2006-09-10T16:58:00.000-06:00

I've been at the school now for two weeks. Some lessons went well, some...didn't. We leave it at that. I'm catching on to the bell system. Warning bells, attendance bells, in class bells. I had my first fire drill of the season on Wednesday. Garth hadn't even warned the staff in order to see how things really went. Apparently we weren't fast enough, especially given Foam Lake's recent pyrotechnic history. There will be a few more drills, hopefully before it gets really cold. It froze here for the first night on Thursday. Some of the leaves are changing. The landscape promises to be very attractive. If only I could paint.

I took a trip into Yorkton yesterday for the Sunflower Arts and Crafts show. Supposedly the biggest craft show in Saskatchewan, I didn't find a lot to purchase. I picked up some scented playdough for Nathaniel, but that was it. Oh, and a root beer flavoured popcorn ball. I know it sounds gross, but I liked it. Very sticky though. The show was meant for people with money and places to put things, and maybe a lower level idea of what constitutes as style. There were some very attractive things, but there were also the requisite tacky items that are there for the very small niche markets. I spent about an hour there, and then moved onto Golden Rule Books, the Christian bookstore in town. I was quite able to spend money there, thank you. And lo and behold, the scrapbooking store is two doors down! Jackpot! Remember: stickers can make any day brighter. I hit the mall (I have such good luck at Zellers), took a look around in some of the clothing stores, but I wasn't in any mood to try stuff on. It was one of those days where it's too cool outside to not have a sweater, but inside it feels like the 1st of July.

Yorkton was my day off, the last for awhile, I'm guessing. Tuesday, right after school, Patti and I are off to Regina for the internship seminars, which promise to be the most boring three days of the semester. It won't be all bad though. It's one of the last times I have anything to do with the University. I've enjoyed my time, for the most part, but I will also enjoy being finished. I think. I'll be staying at the farm, and I'll be able to go to church in Regina Sunday morning. I miss my girls already!

Anyhow, I need to get into the swing of things for the next week or so of school. Patti and I are looking to do a French 8 unit on food. We're thinking pizza, with the recipe in French and the whole nine yards. I like pizza, and I think this class will get into it. We'll see how the week goes. I need to plan for the substitute as well, so I'd better go get on that. Any cool ideas, let me know.
TTFN

Labour Day

2006-09-04T09:25:00.000-06:00

There has been a bit of progress on the home front since Thursday. My room is now a nice pale yellow. I painted on Saturday, after the flooring debacle Thursday night. The batteries in Adam's saw gave out after ten minutes, so I believe the flooring is to go in today. Hopefully that means I can get my stuff out of Nathaniel's room tonight, rather than leaving everything until tomorrow night. I have to get used to having to be at school every day with set hours...university really doesn't prepare you for that! I actually HAVE to shop on Saturday now.

I experienced my first Gospel Fellowship service yesterday. I thought it was a decent crowd, for what I had been told to expect, but apparently half the congregation was visiting from other places. It reminds me a bit of Calvary Community Baptist in Weyburn, but a bit younger. I was made to feel quite welcome, with three or four older ladies making sure I was "doing ok" here in Foam Lake. There are some personalities in the congregation, so it will be interesting to watch and see how that plays out in the general scheme of things. Walter Brown from Yorkton spoke, which was ok. I miss Westhill, and I miss Steve! If I could find a teaching job in Lacombe...

The rest of my day has to include the creation of units. I have procrastinated enough. I have to remember that not every weekend is going to be a long one! It's time to get ahead of the game. To those who can, keep in touch.

Picture Day!

2006-08-31T07:47:00.000-06:00

Today is picture day at the school, and of course my hair isn't co-operating. I thought one was supposed to grow out of this sort of issue! At least the staff pictures are first thing in the morning...If they were after school there would be some interesting shots.

Adam arrived home last night just after ten, so we were able to visit a little bit before I crashed. I haven't seen him yet this morning, but given the time, I didn't expect to. He plans on doing the flooring thing today, which means moving all of the furniture of the laminate, pulling the flooring up, and putting back down in my room. He thinks I can be in my floored and painted room by Saturday. I'm thinking Monday would still be a generous estimate, taking into account the possible smell of paint. But, hey. If he's going to do it, I'm going to be encouraging. It looks like I will be painting after the football game tomorrow!

Wynyard is in town to play the Foam Lake Panthers in the exhibition game of the season. I know very little about football, but I'll be there. In fact, I think I'm helping run the canteen...I'm not sure what that entails, but I'll find out today I'm sure.

It has been an interesting week so far. I've taught my first lesson, so the creative writing class is now mine. I'm taking over grade seven French next week, though that doesn't look hard. All is good on the school front. The excitement has been here at home. I've been meeting the neighbours, but not in the usual way. The older lady that lives next to us has been seeing people across the street from her house, and she called the house at 3:30 am Monday night/Tuesday morning. That frightened me a bit, because she kept saying "Can you hear it?" Now, me being in a new house, listening for a strange sound is a sure way of hearing one. She had called the RCMP, so shortly after four am, I met Brent the RCMP. I expect he now thinks I'm crazy, as I couldn't tell him that my neighbour wasn't seeing things. I fell back asleep about 5 am, and that day at school seemed a little longer than usual.

The next episode, I'll call it, was Tuesday evening, blessedly at 8 pm rather than the wee hours. I went over to my neighbour's house after she called, saying those prowlers were back. She took me into her dark, exceptionally tidy little house, and all the way into her bedroom, and showed me the people out of her bedroom window. I'm afraid there wasn't anyone there. She tried to point out all four bodies she was seeing, but there was nothing to see. Even the fence she said they were near didn't exist. I told her that I would go and see if Gord, our other neighbour, would go for a walk with me so that she could see us over there, checking it out. He would, we did, and all we found were some oddly pruned bushes that I could hardly make out from the bedroom window. Gord and I reassured her that there was no one there, and that there was no danger.

She seems to be ok now. She didn't call last night. It must be hard to live alone, knowing that if anything does happen, if anyone does "prowl", one is completely vulnerable. I understand this isn't the first incident, and that her only close family is a son in either Saskatoon or Regina. I've been told not to expect to ever see him in the four months I'm here for. We'll see what happens next. I hope everything turns out for the better.

G2G. We can't be late for picture day, now can we?

First Day of School

2006-08-28T22:20:00.000-06:00

Ok, so MY first day of school was last Thursday. I met the staff at Foam Lake Composite School, where I'll be interning this fall. It seems like a great group to work with so far. There are a wide range of skills and ages present, so I'm sure to learn a lot about teaching, and surviving in the profession.

Today was the first day of school where the students were present. For a small school, there seemed like a lot of kids! I have classes ranging from 14 to 29, in grades seven and eight, and eleven and twelve. There are only two grades that I'm not teaching a subject to, but it's likely I'm teaching one of their siblings or cousins. I'm starting to recognize some common last names. Now if I could only remember the staff, and who teaches what!

I'm completely moved out of Regina, and partially moved into the house here in Foam Lake. My room still needs a bit of work, like flooring and painting, and maybe a bed, so I'm bunking in Nathaniel's room at present. This is just fine, as they are away at present, but I don't think Nathaniel will be willing to share once they get home. It's just my thought. He has to share his toys with the kids in the daycare. That's enough sharing for one little guy! Anyhow, my stuff is in various places in the house, not to mention the garage. Five or six boxes, and maybe even my computer will end up at the school for the duration, but there's still a "bit" of clothing and a "few" boxes left here. You should see my room at the farm if you think I have stuff here!

I start teaching for real on Wednesday, starting with the Creative Writing class. I have a bit of tweaking to do before then, but I think I should be set at least until Monday. We'll see if I feel the same Wednesday night! It should be a very interesting class, with a wide range of skills in my students. I'm interested in finding out if their interests are as varied. It's why the curriculum is vague.

Anyhow, 7 am seems to get earlier and earlier, so I'm off. Like I've said before, my intention is to update this regularily. Intention, not requirement. To sleep, perchance to dream.

How I Spent My Summer vacation (at IKEA)

2006-08-07T21:35:00.000-06:00

A lot can happen in a week, even more in two...

I'm writing this from Lacombe, Alberta, where I'm visiting with Steve and Colleen and the boys. It has been a wonderful weekend camping with family out at Buffalo Lake, and the days I've spent here in Lacombe have been the icing on a rather sunburnt cake. I'm definitely going to keep my eyes and ears open for a teaching job in this area. I can't imagine living between two Ikea's. That just might be any salary I get!

We went in to Calgary today (Calgary has never been a "day trip" for me before), and we had it timed so that we were at Ikea first, then the mall since that was how they opened. I have to go home tomorrow, and to work on Wednesday. It will be good to go home yet hard to leave. If anyone else wants to surprize Steve and Colleen Sunday morning, the service starts at 10 am. It's worth it to see the church...let's call it a unique design.

I can't believe that I'm moving in 10 days, and that means I have less than two weeks left of work days. So much to do! (So much that should already be done!) Better get started.

A little bit of Chaos

2006-07-25T22:25:00.000-06:00

Well, I may now have half of my belongings moved to Foam Lake. Ok, only half of what is going there, since the rest will end up being stored at the farm. With just under a month until I'm in the town for my internship, I guess this is a good start. I have boxes under two different beds up there, and I'm excited to see what my room will look like when the contractor finishes the windows and the walls...

Merle and I successfully moved most of the larger stuff up on Monday, so when Mom called this morning and asked what I was taking today...I had no idea. I packed up some of the winter clothes that I had better not need until October, and had them ready when she picked me up. Two trips in two days...I don't plan on doing that again for a little while, likely in August.

For those of you who say cribbage cannot be played with the only two people in a moving vehicle at dusk, Merle and I are living proof. I believe he might be demanding a rematch where he gets to deal!

One last note, Moxie's is now back in Regina and open for business...and the White Chocolate Brownie is as good as ever. My last shift at Cleo's in the Southland Mall was Sunday, so I went in today, signed the papers, and cut up my employee card. Moxie's was the celebration!

It's on to the fruit stand tomorrow. I definitely need some sleep tonight. Good night.

Let's See How This Works...

2006-07-23T19:53:00.000-06:00

So I should be packing or planning or cleaning something, I'm sure. Instead, I'm playing and posting. What can you do?

Merle and I are moving bookshelves to Foam Lake tomorrow. This is great, considering I can't lift one of them on my own. It means that this move is that much closer to being real...The world outside the university is creeping near.

I have hopes of keeping this up-to-date. I make no excuses if it's not. It's as much experiment as experience.

Here goes everything.