But I'm at that age (and these feelings come and go in waves and seasons for me) where I wonder if I spent my whole life feeling self-conscious about what we gently refer to as "child-bearing hips" for nothing...
I like to video my ELL kids every few weeks so that I can see progress. This week I asked one of my kinders "How old are you?" and he answered "Monday! Monday Tuesday. WizzdayTursdayFriday." "Oh! I didn't know you knew the... Continue Reading →
One of Ryann’s dreams that happily provided the impetus of further travel in Argentina was to drink copious amounts of Malbec wine (her fav) in Mendoza (where it's from). We looked on a map, looked up flight prices and bus... Continue Reading →
....is the title of another blog, set in the future, about an event that has not happened. Because it certainly does not describe what happened to me on Sunday.
I just looked down my shirt and realized I had forgotten about the papertowel I had stuffed in my sports bra to soak up the sweat a few hours ago. It's hot in Brazil. Sometimes when I get undressed at night, these paper towels just fall out, and I realize I'm turning into my grandmothers far sooner than I expected, tucking kleenex and toilet paper away in clothing/skin pockets.
People often ask me what has changed since I've moved to Brazil. There are things that I notice, things maybe others notice more than me. I'm not sure. But here are some basics: My most intense conversations are with bugs. For example:... Continue Reading →
We live in a changing world - my first big trip through Europe I was scrambling for Euros whenever I spotted an internet cafe to quickly write error-laden emails home (due to whatever language keyboard quirks I was dealing with)... Continue Reading →
My first visitor! I think a place truly starts to feel like "home" when you have someone visit and you get to play tour guide. I'm fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine to be one of those "Jungle Cruise" guides... Continue Reading →
A few weeks ago, desperate to get out of dodge and with an inviting four day weekend ahead of us, we rented a car for a mini-holiday. Being on the road in any capacity in Brazil is an adrenaline rush... Continue Reading →
Nothing is quite so beautiful and terrible all at the same time as an all-school Christmas musical. Our first rehearsal was Wednesday, and I was shaking with silent belly laughs, tears streaming down my cheeks from watching the little kids perform.
Wednesdays are hard, man. Even spelling the word is hard. (Am I the only person who still has to go "Wed-nes-day" in her head when writing that one out? Along with "def-in-ite-ly be-a-u-ti-ful." Every time. And I'm 30. And teach... Continue Reading →
This weekend I went on my first backpacking trip in Brazil. It was something I had signed up for in September, when everything sounds like a good idea. The trip was postponed, and rescheduled, and then it was rainy season,... Continue Reading →
Sunglasses Always Fit 