on my mind.

when i sat down to write this post, i realized that i had several things on my mind. it has been one of those days where my mind has been wandering from one thing to another... maybe it is the weather, or the events coming up this weekend, but i think i am feeling generally a bit overstimulated. welcome to the randomness of my thoughts these days:

1. the interview: i had my first job interview yesterday. it was for a one-year position as a supply teacher at an international school in bangkok, thailand. it went really well, i think. he was really nice, and asked all the questions that we have been prepared for in teacher's college. my favourite was: describe your life story in five minutes! phew. the school looks incredible, with great resources, support for new teachers and great travel opportunities. part of me wants my own classroom, but then another part of me is really attracted to the idea of not having to plan, having loads of exposure to different grades and lots ot freedom to explore and be involved. the international fair hasn't even started, and yet the drama has already begun.

2. a good laugh: i haven't figured out how to insert a link into a blog entry yet, but if you need a smile, check out this video. this baby sure knows how to get the giggles! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6UU6m3cqk

3. ethical consumerism: our throwaway lifestyle has been getting to me lately. i don't think that i create a large amount of waste, yet my garbage pail is overflowing every single week. the enormity of this issue goes WAY beyond a short blog entry, but the world is running out of resources, and we can't stop consuming. i was reading an article this morning that said we would need FIVE planets to sustain us if every human being on the planet was living at U.S. consumption levels. in order to combat this, 'ethical' consumerism has moved into style. but isn't that an oxymoron? how can consuming (aka, destroying) ever be ethical? wouldn't buying nothing be ethical? (also almost impossible...) instead, these days, we believe we are buying ethical if we own organic cotton pyjamas and buy recycled toilet paper. that is a start, but the reality is that we need to do more than this. more specifically we need to buy LESS. in this case: less is more. we need to sustain ourselves in a needs-based lifestyle through connected communities and buying local. shopping is certainly politics, and it is time for us to wake up and vote.

4. side a: i have been spending loads of time in the car, and have re-discovered books on tape. yes, tape. c'mon, i have a '93... i don't think cd's were invented yet. i am now addicted, and i advocate everyone to try them. it makes all the time you have in the car worthwhile - and it is nice because i never feel like i have enough time to read! go to the library and borrow one, you will fall in love.

interview season is coming up. i should stop thinking about all these random things, and start focusing on that!