Summer is a tantalizing five weeks of school away.
Aaaaah sweet summer.
It's what I have lived for since last August. And it's not because I hate my job (I actually love my job). Instead, for the first time in my life, I will actually be getting paid to laze the days away. The perks of a putting up with oft snarly teenagers nine months out of the year.
Did I say laze the days away? Well, not quite. I just purchased my latest plane ticket and while it will be sweet summertime still, there won't be much lazing going on. I fear it will be quite the opposite as more than likely, I will be up to my ears in small children. This is a volunteer adventure, and it's something I have had my heart set on ever since I learned of the opportunity while on a previous trip. Commitment to the organization and the opportunity was virtually impossible though-as a substitute teacher, it was crucial that I work during the summer to keep me afloat until school started again. Going away for a month or more was out of the question.
Until this year. Woohoo.
In the same spirit of the contest I had with my students prior to my Madrid excursion, I am going to put you all to the test as well. (If you already know my destination then don't chime in!)
See what you can come up with:
This country underwent a bloody revolution in 1979, a year before I was born.
Now isn't that just a happy comforting clue? I have been to this country before, but I did and saw absolutely nothing for the entire week. The exhaustion of a two day bus ride from a country to the north was more than enough to ensure that I was useless for my duration of my stay. I was content with the Oasis of a hostel, with its free internet and pool, and came out only to dine on copious amounts of beans and rice, a staple dish of not just this country, but those around it. And I do mean copious.
Think you know?
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Friday, November 19, 2010
A Year Ago Today..........
..........I was frantically turning in the last of my schoolwork, adding unecessary last-minute items to my pack, sniffling over two weeks without Adam, pondering the stolen money, and finally, jamming on my shoes and comfy travel outfit in flash to hustle to Dulles Airport. Tanzania...here I come!
Well, there I went. What a blast that trip was, and a certain dream come true. I have been pondering my life in retrospect. And just so coincidentally in 8th grade this week, we are studying the early explorers of West Virginia. Perhaps not the most exciting stuff.
Or is it?
As I am lecturing this week and the kids are diligently taking notes, I realize--- these guys (and maybe a few gals) embody the very essence and spirit of travel. They were all about the adventure, the exploration, the unknown, and the excitement of a new place. Just like me!! It dawned on me after the first day of lecture-what a way to get the kids interested in what could potentially be a very dull subject. (Hey, I can't lie to you folks. I may teach it, but I don't have to love it!)
Long story short, I have just assigned them their second of four major projects this year. They are writing a journal from the perspective of one of the early explorers, with all the sordid details of mutinies, hangings, exultations, newly claimed land, and formed alliances. Where do you think I got such an idea? Why, this blog of course! And along the way, we have discussed what it takes to travel, what kind of person just sets off into the unknown, and more importantly, what kind of traveler they think they would be, given the chance. Trust me, I am doing my part to encourage love of our globe, one WV 8th grade student at a time. To jumpstart their forming brains, I printed a post I wrote prior to Tanzania, removed some identifying details, and asked them to read and describe the traveler's attitude. They described me to a "T" and then I told them I was the author. I love a good surprise, and gauging from their reactions, it went over pretty well. I am currently awaiting their two paragraph essay entitled "What Type of Traveler Am I?" If I inspire just one kid, I have done my job.
Speaking of travel...........I have got something in the works and while I am not ready to share the details yet, it would be another dream come true! Hint: summer on a teacher's workschedule=GO GO GO!
Well, there I went. What a blast that trip was, and a certain dream come true. I have been pondering my life in retrospect. And just so coincidentally in 8th grade this week, we are studying the early explorers of West Virginia. Perhaps not the most exciting stuff.
Or is it?
As I am lecturing this week and the kids are diligently taking notes, I realize--- these guys (and maybe a few gals) embody the very essence and spirit of travel. They were all about the adventure, the exploration, the unknown, and the excitement of a new place. Just like me!! It dawned on me after the first day of lecture-what a way to get the kids interested in what could potentially be a very dull subject. (Hey, I can't lie to you folks. I may teach it, but I don't have to love it!)
Long story short, I have just assigned them their second of four major projects this year. They are writing a journal from the perspective of one of the early explorers, with all the sordid details of mutinies, hangings, exultations, newly claimed land, and formed alliances. Where do you think I got such an idea? Why, this blog of course! And along the way, we have discussed what it takes to travel, what kind of person just sets off into the unknown, and more importantly, what kind of traveler they think they would be, given the chance. Trust me, I am doing my part to encourage love of our globe, one WV 8th grade student at a time. To jumpstart their forming brains, I printed a post I wrote prior to Tanzania, removed some identifying details, and asked them to read and describe the traveler's attitude. They described me to a "T" and then I told them I was the author. I love a good surprise, and gauging from their reactions, it went over pretty well. I am currently awaiting their two paragraph essay entitled "What Type of Traveler Am I?" If I inspire just one kid, I have done my job.
Speaking of travel...........I have got something in the works and while I am not ready to share the details yet, it would be another dream come true! Hint: summer on a teacher's workschedule=GO GO GO!
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