this year, for the first time during my time living in mexico, i have decided to use my christmas break to travel somewhere in canada! usually i am off to somewhere warm and sunny, but it is time for me to learn more about my own country. so, this morning, ginny and i headed to the train station and came to possibly the most european - and most cold - city in canada! of course, this morning, mother nature decided she should show her true winter colours, and a nice cold freeze came through. splendid timing, mother nature.
some highlights so far:
-i got my H1N1 shot yesterday afternoon and my arm has been killing me all day today! i am either a big baby or the shot was pure growing pains, because i feel like there is fire radiating down my whole arm.
-ginny and i didn't stop talking the entire train ride! i guess after months apart we had a lot to catch up on.
-at 7 o'clock this evening we were finished dinner, freezing so we actually came back to our little hotel (perfectly named, petit hotel). since we couldn't very well get into bed before 8, we have been sitting and appearing "busy" before it is appropriate for us to actually go to bed!
-we both completely forgot how to say absolutely all words and phrases in french. you wouldn't know i was in french immersion my whole life, because all that comes out of my mouth is spanish! i understand everything, but when i speak, it is a bizarre mix of spenchlish (spanish/french/english, in case you are a bit slow)... the words that i want to say don't sound like a language that i know! the sounds feel strange for my mouth to say. how do you pronounce oignon? a word that should be so easy all of a sudden - i can't think of how it should sound! french! come back to me!
-when we settled into our train from montreal to quebec city, we were immediately approached by a VIA worker, asking if we would trade seats with someone up at the front of the train who didn't want to sit backwards. of course, we obliged - but through a strange set of events - those seats had already been taken by someone else. thinking we were now seatless for the train ride, we were actually moved to first class! ginny had the guts to ask for drinks, and the next thing we knew we were riding in luxury with a personal table, rum and cokes and even free snacks and meals!
-on the train we were surrounded by spanish speakers! we came to quebec to hear french, but spanish keeps following us!
-the old town in quebec city is adorable, full of white lights and perfect views, but it is effing freezing. we walked for about 20 minutes to see a bit of town and find a restaurant and my face had almost frozen into position! i am certainly unaccustomed to being truly cold.
-our petit hotel is really petit! the rooms are nice but the lobby was pretty uninviting. we were greeted by a smelly dog and some seriously outdated wallpaper, and i was thinking, lonely planet, don't let me down! once we got to our little room (actually, little suite!), we were pleasantly surprised! i guess you can't judge all hotels by its lobby.
a bientot! (zut alors, i really did forget all my french. its like riding a bicycle though, right? right...?
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
a birthday message to granny.
Happy Birthday to you all the way from Mexico!
When I was sitting down to write a message to you, I was immediately reminded of one of my favorite kids book. It is a lovely story about a woman who is thrown a surprise 90th birthday party by her two sons, three daughters, fourteen grandchildren and thirty-five great-grandchildren. While at the party, one of her great-children whispers to her, “Are you really ninety, great-grandma?” The woman smiles and answers back, “Inside I’m only four-and-a-half, like you… but don’t tell anyone!”
Every time I read this book I am reminded of you, Granny. In fact, this story could be starring you! I have always admired your adventurous spirit and how young you are at heart. In a way, I often feel like a younger version of you. Over the years, as I have heard your stories, I began to realize that not many people have lived 90 years as vivaciously as you! I don’t know a lot of 90 year olds who know how to e-mail, who can still beat anyone at a game of scrabble, or who would consider going on a road trip to the East Coast.
I am sad that I will not be there to celebrate your 90th, but as you have shown us all – growing older is mandatory, but growing up is not. Happy Birthday to you Granny, 90 years in age, but 4 and a half in spirit!
Love from your kindred spirit,
Sarah
When I was sitting down to write a message to you, I was immediately reminded of one of my favorite kids book. It is a lovely story about a woman who is thrown a surprise 90th birthday party by her two sons, three daughters, fourteen grandchildren and thirty-five great-grandchildren. While at the party, one of her great-children whispers to her, “Are you really ninety, great-grandma?” The woman smiles and answers back, “Inside I’m only four-and-a-half, like you… but don’t tell anyone!”
Every time I read this book I am reminded of you, Granny. In fact, this story could be starring you! I have always admired your adventurous spirit and how young you are at heart. In a way, I often feel like a younger version of you. Over the years, as I have heard your stories, I began to realize that not many people have lived 90 years as vivaciously as you! I don’t know a lot of 90 year olds who know how to e-mail, who can still beat anyone at a game of scrabble, or who would consider going on a road trip to the East Coast.
I am sad that I will not be there to celebrate your 90th, but as you have shown us all – growing older is mandatory, but growing up is not. Happy Birthday to you Granny, 90 years in age, but 4 and a half in spirit!
Love from your kindred spirit,
Sarah
Sunday, October 11, 2009
feeling a little european.
its funny how being at an internet cafe has inspired me to blog. i always did the best blogs from random computers around europe that were hard to type on... and you can never find the @ sign. or the apostrophe. oh, feels like i am home again!
i came to guanajuato for the weekend. i have already been, exactly two years ago, but the city is still as magical as ever. aside from the fact that there is now a starbucks in the main plaza (noooooo), not much has changed. we got this weekend off for columbus day in the states, but i like to pretend that they gave us the day off for canadian thanksgiving. i prefer to be misled...
yesterday i walked around all day with my beautiful camera around my neck. i thought i looked like a nerdy tourist, but my friends said i looked very parisian. maybe that is a sign that that is where i need to move to next!
it has been a great weekend. i am in a little quaint hotel in a little alley (not the creepy kind, the adorable meandering kind) and am meeting up with people some of the time, and wandering on my own other times. the lady that runs my hotel is a bit particular, which is slighly off-putting. for example, yesterday when she served fruit for breakfast, i used my fork. later, when i needed the fork for the little quesidillas she was serving, i asked for another fork, as i could not eat them with a spoon. she informed me that it was intended that i use the spoon for my fruit, and that i should not have used my fork. washing an extra utensil is a lot of work, you see. lesson learned. i considered forgetting again this morning, and saying, "oh, i just do not know what is wrong with me, why do i keep forgetting and using my fork for my fruit? silly me."
guanajuato has a feel of paris, and i like it for that, pretentious hotel owners and all! it makes me feel like i should be sitting in cafes all day, and wandering for hours. i wish THIS was the city that i lived in, instead of monterrey!
j'aime beaucoup!
i came to guanajuato for the weekend. i have already been, exactly two years ago, but the city is still as magical as ever. aside from the fact that there is now a starbucks in the main plaza (noooooo), not much has changed. we got this weekend off for columbus day in the states, but i like to pretend that they gave us the day off for canadian thanksgiving. i prefer to be misled...
yesterday i walked around all day with my beautiful camera around my neck. i thought i looked like a nerdy tourist, but my friends said i looked very parisian. maybe that is a sign that that is where i need to move to next!
it has been a great weekend. i am in a little quaint hotel in a little alley (not the creepy kind, the adorable meandering kind) and am meeting up with people some of the time, and wandering on my own other times. the lady that runs my hotel is a bit particular, which is slighly off-putting. for example, yesterday when she served fruit for breakfast, i used my fork. later, when i needed the fork for the little quesidillas she was serving, i asked for another fork, as i could not eat them with a spoon. she informed me that it was intended that i use the spoon for my fruit, and that i should not have used my fork. washing an extra utensil is a lot of work, you see. lesson learned. i considered forgetting again this morning, and saying, "oh, i just do not know what is wrong with me, why do i keep forgetting and using my fork for my fruit? silly me."
guanajuato has a feel of paris, and i like it for that, pretentious hotel owners and all! it makes me feel like i should be sitting in cafes all day, and wandering for hours. i wish THIS was the city that i lived in, instead of monterrey!
j'aime beaucoup!
Monday, September 14, 2009
3rd time's a charm.
this is my third year living in mexico. it is full of lots of firsts, and missing faces, and new adventures. the best part is that i finally feel at home in mexico. a place that i both love and hate. i've been taking my dog for walks these days, and as i walk, i think about what i've learned in this beautiful/crazy/unexpected country. here are a few things i've been thinking lately.
-if you smell something foul in the street, walk far, far, far in the other direction.
-the car wash men will still try to scam you into a car wash even when it is clearly going to downpour within minutes.
-mexicans are wonderful at using their four-way flashers. so good, in fact, that as soon as cars slow down ahead, they have put their four-way emergency flashers on before their brakes!
-there are more sushi restaurants in san pedro then taco stands! (not true, but it feels that way sometimes... too bad my boyfriend doesn't love sushi)
-don't read the local paper. because if you do, you'll know all the stuff that you don't want to know, and stop living in comfortable ignorant bliss.
-always clean up the dog shit up before it rains. especially if your backyard is made of concrete.
-i have learned that mexican people come out at night. and really, its quite logical. it is so darn hot here during the day!
-when a mexican party says it starts at 7, the host won't even be there until 8. and you won't see a lick of food until 11:30.
-the quincenera, the young mexican girls' coming of age party, costs almost as much as a wedding - and is almost as big of a deal.
-there is this brilliant thing here that the stoplights do. the green flashes warning, before it turns to yellow. i think it just gives people more time to speed up and push through the intersection, but it also is a smart idea!
-if you smell something foul in the street, walk far, far, far in the other direction.
-the car wash men will still try to scam you into a car wash even when it is clearly going to downpour within minutes.
-mexicans are wonderful at using their four-way flashers. so good, in fact, that as soon as cars slow down ahead, they have put their four-way emergency flashers on before their brakes!
-there are more sushi restaurants in san pedro then taco stands! (not true, but it feels that way sometimes... too bad my boyfriend doesn't love sushi)
-don't read the local paper. because if you do, you'll know all the stuff that you don't want to know, and stop living in comfortable ignorant bliss.
-always clean up the dog shit up before it rains. especially if your backyard is made of concrete.
-i have learned that mexican people come out at night. and really, its quite logical. it is so darn hot here during the day!
-when a mexican party says it starts at 7, the host won't even be there until 8. and you won't see a lick of food until 11:30.
-the quincenera, the young mexican girls' coming of age party, costs almost as much as a wedding - and is almost as big of a deal.
-there is this brilliant thing here that the stoplights do. the green flashes warning, before it turns to yellow. i think it just gives people more time to speed up and push through the intersection, but it also is a smart idea!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
the journey of 3600 km's.
another year in mexico is over and done. i am back in canada once again.
this year i was great because i
worked less
ate healthier
socialized more
travelled tons
got a dog
got stronger in spanish
but this year i neglected a few things that i really care about
reading
blogging
keeping in touch
i was reading an article for my masters class last week saying that schools want to be able to "do it all". i feel that way about my life. i want to be able to "do it all". i don't want to have work be going well, but still be biting my nails. i don't want to travel lots, but still be in debt. i want it all! i want to be able to control all parts of my life at once -- not one or two at a time. just when i feel i am getting one area of my life under control, i lose control of another. for example: this year i got to bed earlier. but gone was my prime internet time! the time when i usually wrote e-mails, blogs and surfed the net. what a disappointment! i was getting more sleep but not keeping in touch with my facebook account.
in teaching we are so lucky. for a number of reasons. each year we get the opportunity to start over. we can change the way we do things, re-evaluate over the summer, and try it all again in the fall. teaching has a built in fail-safe mechanism.
ginny and i drove across the united states on the weekend. we listened to a 17 hour book on tape, a pete yorn cd 3 times, slept in austin, nashville and chattam and finally made it home. since i have been home (albeit for 24 hours) i haven't done much re-evaluating. i have slept a bit, hung out with emma, hung out with my dad, watched a few movies and tried to get back in touch with my friends. i really want to take advantage of this summer. i want to take some time to relax, but i also want to reassess my life. i want to take the same approach to my life that i take to my teaching, using summer as my fail-safe.
happy summer! enjoy the sun.
this year i was great because i
worked less
ate healthier
socialized more
travelled tons
got a dog
got stronger in spanish
but this year i neglected a few things that i really care about
reading
blogging
keeping in touch
i was reading an article for my masters class last week saying that schools want to be able to "do it all". i feel that way about my life. i want to be able to "do it all". i don't want to have work be going well, but still be biting my nails. i don't want to travel lots, but still be in debt. i want it all! i want to be able to control all parts of my life at once -- not one or two at a time. just when i feel i am getting one area of my life under control, i lose control of another. for example: this year i got to bed earlier. but gone was my prime internet time! the time when i usually wrote e-mails, blogs and surfed the net. what a disappointment! i was getting more sleep but not keeping in touch with my facebook account.
in teaching we are so lucky. for a number of reasons. each year we get the opportunity to start over. we can change the way we do things, re-evaluate over the summer, and try it all again in the fall. teaching has a built in fail-safe mechanism.
ginny and i drove across the united states on the weekend. we listened to a 17 hour book on tape, a pete yorn cd 3 times, slept in austin, nashville and chattam and finally made it home. since i have been home (albeit for 24 hours) i haven't done much re-evaluating. i have slept a bit, hung out with emma, hung out with my dad, watched a few movies and tried to get back in touch with my friends. i really want to take advantage of this summer. i want to take some time to relax, but i also want to reassess my life. i want to take the same approach to my life that i take to my teaching, using summer as my fail-safe.
happy summer! enjoy the sun.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
miss. sarah's vision statement.
"The goal of education is to replace an empty mind with an open mind."
-Malcolm Forbes
i am a teacher who...
teaches students FIRST
and
the curriculum SECOND.
i am a teacher who...
came into this profession to ensure that there are more
great teachers
in the world.
i am a teacher who...
fuels young minds with an awareness of diversity.
cultivates a community of curiosity.
establishes a culture of lifelong learning.
i am a teacher who...
has an adventurous spirit.
laughs often.
smiles always.
i am a teacher who...
gives every child an opportunity to shine every day.
teaches through exploration, inquiry and problem solving.
differentiates instruction, encouraging all children to be challenged.
i am a teacher who...
takes advantage of teachable moments.
is a facilitator, motivator and leader.
is a friend.
i am a teacher who...
instills a love of reading.
makes math less scary.
takes kids beyond the walls of the classroom.
i am a teacher who...
loves to teach.
BUT
i am also a student who...
NEVER STOPS LEARNING.
-Malcolm Forbes
i am a teacher who...
teaches students FIRST
and
the curriculum SECOND.
i am a teacher who...
came into this profession to ensure that there are more
great teachers
in the world.
i am a teacher who...
fuels young minds with an awareness of diversity.
cultivates a community of curiosity.
establishes a culture of lifelong learning.
i am a teacher who...
has an adventurous spirit.
laughs often.
smiles always.
i am a teacher who...
gives every child an opportunity to shine every day.
teaches through exploration, inquiry and problem solving.
differentiates instruction, encouraging all children to be challenged.
i am a teacher who...
takes advantage of teachable moments.
is a facilitator, motivator and leader.
is a friend.
i am a teacher who...
instills a love of reading.
makes math less scary.
takes kids beyond the walls of the classroom.
i am a teacher who...
loves to teach.
BUT
i am also a student who...
NEVER STOPS LEARNING.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
yard sale.
i am here on my semana santa adventure in baja california. for those of you who don't know, i am on the little peninsula in mexico that jets out beneath california. it has been a wonderful mix of adventure, relaxation, sun, work and sleeping. the vacation has occured in three distinct phases, and on this entry i will try to quickly summarize the first phase: KAYAK TRIP also known as ADVENTURES WITH MIDDLE AGED MOM's or NEW ADDRESS: ISLA ESPIRITU SANTU.
the kayak trip itself was 4 days and three nights on an idyllic island just north of la paz. we chose the fully catered option, which meant that pretty much all we had to do was build our tents and paddle our kayaks. we never had to paddle more then three or four hours a day, and our food was prepared for us fresh on the beach! the water was shallow and a hundred shades of blue. here is a quick snapshot, i will add visuals upon return to monterrey!
the scene: a preserved island north of la paz. it was desert-like, much more mountainous then i expected, with cliffs that disappear into the ocean. along the island are sheltered coves of the whitest beaches you have ever seen, particularly in stark contrast top the blue of the ocean.
the characters: 14 tourists, 2 guides, 1 chef and 1 skiff driver. a few of us from school, along with a few friends from home came and joined the most hilarious group of middle aged women (one actually ended up being the mom of one of our colleagues at work!) there was never a dull moment, or a quiet beach with this crowd of folks! our 2 guides, axel and tulio were amazing; our personal chef whistled while he worked; and our skiff driver unloaded our bags every single day for us so they didn't get wet!
costumes: let's just say that i actually didn't change or have a shower for four days. everything i wore was salt-crusted and i smelled delicious, i'm sure.
key scene changes: we got to kayak, have happy hour with margaritas every evening while watching the sunset, hike, learn about the geography and nature of the area, snorkel and sleep under the stars (with no tent two of the nights!)
climax: our second day of paddling we were hit with some serious waves. it was exciting, hard work (oww my forearms) but it really only got my adrenaline pumping. of course, the guides wanted us to stay in formation to keep us close together for safety and all i could picture was a domino effect when one of the ladies tipped her kayak. it would have been a kayak yard sale!
highlights: hmm. this is always the hardest part. every corner we turned there was a new landscape to admire and everything was a surprise. we laughed when we got life advice from our new mom's. we peed over the side of our kayaks when we had to go. we performed number 2 in our own personal PACO or personal toilet that was disposed of each day. we had buckets of water dumped on our heads when we got too hot. we ate fresh ceviche caught the same DAY! we looked like scuba steve and stephanie when we waddled to go snorkeling. i got bit by a sea lion when we frollicked with them in the water (it doesn't hurt but it certainly scares the living daylight out of you!) every minute on the trip was amazing.
lowlights: having to go home.
the kayak trip itself was 4 days and three nights on an idyllic island just north of la paz. we chose the fully catered option, which meant that pretty much all we had to do was build our tents and paddle our kayaks. we never had to paddle more then three or four hours a day, and our food was prepared for us fresh on the beach! the water was shallow and a hundred shades of blue. here is a quick snapshot, i will add visuals upon return to monterrey!
the scene: a preserved island north of la paz. it was desert-like, much more mountainous then i expected, with cliffs that disappear into the ocean. along the island are sheltered coves of the whitest beaches you have ever seen, particularly in stark contrast top the blue of the ocean.
the characters: 14 tourists, 2 guides, 1 chef and 1 skiff driver. a few of us from school, along with a few friends from home came and joined the most hilarious group of middle aged women (one actually ended up being the mom of one of our colleagues at work!) there was never a dull moment, or a quiet beach with this crowd of folks! our 2 guides, axel and tulio were amazing; our personal chef whistled while he worked; and our skiff driver unloaded our bags every single day for us so they didn't get wet!
costumes: let's just say that i actually didn't change or have a shower for four days. everything i wore was salt-crusted and i smelled delicious, i'm sure.
key scene changes: we got to kayak, have happy hour with margaritas every evening while watching the sunset, hike, learn about the geography and nature of the area, snorkel and sleep under the stars (with no tent two of the nights!)
climax: our second day of paddling we were hit with some serious waves. it was exciting, hard work (oww my forearms) but it really only got my adrenaline pumping. of course, the guides wanted us to stay in formation to keep us close together for safety and all i could picture was a domino effect when one of the ladies tipped her kayak. it would have been a kayak yard sale!
highlights: hmm. this is always the hardest part. every corner we turned there was a new landscape to admire and everything was a surprise. we laughed when we got life advice from our new mom's. we peed over the side of our kayaks when we had to go. we performed number 2 in our own personal PACO or personal toilet that was disposed of each day. we had buckets of water dumped on our heads when we got too hot. we ate fresh ceviche caught the same DAY! we looked like scuba steve and stephanie when we waddled to go snorkeling. i got bit by a sea lion when we frollicked with them in the water (it doesn't hurt but it certainly scares the living daylight out of you!) every minute on the trip was amazing.
lowlights: having to go home.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
i always said i'd never...
there aren't a million things that i've said i would never do. only a few thousand! what can i say? i'm generally a fairly easy-going gal. there are, however, many things that i certainly thought that i would never do. since becoming a real person, moving to mexico and becoming a teacher, many of those "i would never ever do that!" have become huge reality checks for me. who was i to be so bold and naive and demand perfection from everyone around me? and to believe that i could do it better myself? just a few things i have been kicking myself for lately.
*i used to get so pissed at my dad for being an impatient driver, who always swore under his breath. now i can't go two blocks in mexico without encountering idiot number 1, 2, 3 or 830 and muttering sweet nothings under MY breath.
*i never thought i'd embarrass a kid in front of the class. but i'm realizing, that sometimes, a mild form of embarrassment, happens naturally each time you get angry. PLUS, i was totally that teacher who ripped up a test when i caught a boy cheating today! sometimes i actually find myself using mild embarrassment on purpose, because for some kids, i am shit out of ideas.
*i never thought i'd punish the whole class when only a few are being bad. this is something i am still searching for a solution to. i remember, in elementary school, i would have to write lines, or have detention, even when i hadn't participated. i remember telling my mom, i will become a teacher to make this this doesn't happen anymore! BUT, when you actually are a teacher, it is almost impossible to figure out exactly who has been misbehaving. i have a warning system for individuals, but in the end, i always remind them that they are a 'team'.
*i never thought i'd stay home from work for a 'mental health day'. my mom always pushed and pushed herself - and here i am saying i'm burnt out two years into teaching!
*i never thought i'd take a masters degree in education. but what can i say? when i was offered it for half the price, it is difficult to turn down. now i am the teacher who doesn't know if she should be teaching working on a thesis on how to teach better. hmm. that seems a bit odd.
*i never thought money would matter to me. i live in a very wealthy suburb of monterrey, mexico, surrounded by fancy restaurants, jewelry stores and fashionable people who live a VERY comfortable, luxurious life. after being immersed in it, it is hard not to want it yourself!
next... i'm thinking of including the opposite, what i always thought i would have done by now!
*i used to get so pissed at my dad for being an impatient driver, who always swore under his breath. now i can't go two blocks in mexico without encountering idiot number 1, 2, 3 or 830 and muttering sweet nothings under MY breath.
*i never thought i'd embarrass a kid in front of the class. but i'm realizing, that sometimes, a mild form of embarrassment, happens naturally each time you get angry. PLUS, i was totally that teacher who ripped up a test when i caught a boy cheating today! sometimes i actually find myself using mild embarrassment on purpose, because for some kids, i am shit out of ideas.
*i never thought i'd punish the whole class when only a few are being bad. this is something i am still searching for a solution to. i remember, in elementary school, i would have to write lines, or have detention, even when i hadn't participated. i remember telling my mom, i will become a teacher to make this this doesn't happen anymore! BUT, when you actually are a teacher, it is almost impossible to figure out exactly who has been misbehaving. i have a warning system for individuals, but in the end, i always remind them that they are a 'team'.
*i never thought i'd stay home from work for a 'mental health day'. my mom always pushed and pushed herself - and here i am saying i'm burnt out two years into teaching!
*i never thought i'd take a masters degree in education. but what can i say? when i was offered it for half the price, it is difficult to turn down. now i am the teacher who doesn't know if she should be teaching working on a thesis on how to teach better. hmm. that seems a bit odd.
*i never thought money would matter to me. i live in a very wealthy suburb of monterrey, mexico, surrounded by fancy restaurants, jewelry stores and fashionable people who live a VERY comfortable, luxurious life. after being immersed in it, it is hard not to want it yourself!
next... i'm thinking of including the opposite, what i always thought i would have done by now!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
sarah needs.
this gave me a little laugh. i have never been a needy person, but i googled "sarah needs" and here are the top 10 hits:
-sarah needs a cold shower.
-sarah needs to get her life back and establish herself as the person in charge!
-sarah more love lyrics.
-sarah needs your manly vote.
-sarah needs a new mummy for sale.
-sarah needs a band.
-sarah needs a miracle.
-sarah needs sponsors to compete in deaf olympics.
-sarah needs batteries.
-sarah needs a wii.
what do you need?
-sarah needs a cold shower.
-sarah needs to get her life back and establish herself as the person in charge!
-sarah more love lyrics.
-sarah needs your manly vote.
-sarah needs a new mummy for sale.
-sarah needs a band.
-sarah needs a miracle.
-sarah needs sponsors to compete in deaf olympics.
-sarah needs batteries.
-sarah needs a wii.
what do you need?
Sunday, February 15, 2009
all you need is love.
everyone in monterrey right now loves love. i love love too... but i don't love valentine's day. since i have never had an overly romantic valentine's day, i reserve the right to be judgmental of the holiday. while it may be a great opportunity to bask in romance for couples; it really does serve as a huge reminder for us single folks that we are alone. i think i could write a whole book on the amount of love i have to offer, and how sad it makes me feel that i haven't found someone to share it with - but i try my best not to think about it (but i'm clearly struggling this weekend... and i think i'll give in, just for today!)
i guess deep down i thought that by the time i was in my late 20s, i would be at a different point then i am now. i am not saying that expected to have children running around my backyard -- but i thought that my patience through my teenage and university years would have paid off.
do you remember the show 'my so-called life' from the 90s? in this one scene the main character (played by claire danes) is complaining that she doesn't have a love life, and she says:
i always thought i'd have a love life.
but i don't even have a like life.
and the same goes for me! except i'm not in high school anymore.
as with everything, valentine's day celebrations in san pedro go above and beyond. people are selling HUGE foam roses on street corners, enormous balloons fill display windows everywhere, and the kids brought enough candy/cupcakes/chips/pizza to school to feed a small village.
the funny thing is, i don't want the roses, the balloons or the fancy restaurants. i just want a little bit of like, or better yet love, in my life.
i guess deep down i thought that by the time i was in my late 20s, i would be at a different point then i am now. i am not saying that expected to have children running around my backyard -- but i thought that my patience through my teenage and university years would have paid off.
do you remember the show 'my so-called life' from the 90s? in this one scene the main character (played by claire danes) is complaining that she doesn't have a love life, and she says:
i always thought i'd have a love life.
but i don't even have a like life.
and the same goes for me! except i'm not in high school anymore.
as with everything, valentine's day celebrations in san pedro go above and beyond. people are selling HUGE foam roses on street corners, enormous balloons fill display windows everywhere, and the kids brought enough candy/cupcakes/chips/pizza to school to feed a small village.
the funny thing is, i don't want the roses, the balloons or the fancy restaurants. i just want a little bit of like, or better yet love, in my life.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
random things.
i decided to give in to this 25 random things, but to publish it here and not on facebook... sneaky, sneaky!
1. i absolutely love to blog and write, but lately, i haven't been able to find the time. i'd love to publish a travel book.
2. i find the strangest things the most satisfying: reading a magazine cover to cover, walking on a moving sidewalk at the airport, using a pen until it runs out of ink, finishing a jug of milk.
3. i like teaching, but i still feel like i haven't found my true passion in life. i have a few ideas as to what it might be, but since i'm not completely sure which one to choose... i'm going to stick with teaching for now.
4. my relationships rarely seem to end on my own terms.
5. i have lived in mexico for a year and a half, and am still embarrassed by my spanish.
6. i don't believe in bringing marking home. in fact, i don't believe in marking at all.
7. i don't think i could ever get bored of traveling and seeing the world. i can't wait to one day go hiking in new zealand, go back to morocco with my dad, take my mom on an african safari, see the pyramids in egypt, travel with alyssa, hike the inca trail, lie on the beach in thailand and find a partner who wants to do all of this with me.
8. i always said that when i got skinny, i would get a belly button ring. i don't think i'll ever be skinny; but i still want the belly button ring.
9. i once cheated on a test in grade 7 by writing the answers on my pencil case. i've always felt guilty about that. i once also got caught red-handed stealing money from my mom's purse. i've always felt stupid about that.
10. i can't stand banana's or mayonnaise. i think their taste and textures (particularly bananas) are offensive.
11. i have always wanted to be able to play the guitar around a campfire and take pictures beautiful enough to be in national geographic.
12. i love my life in mexico, but miss my friends desperately. i have a nagging insecurity that the longer i'm gone, people will start forgetting about me.
13. i think comfortable pillows are one of the most important things in life. i mean, we spend a third of my day on them! yet so many pillows are thin and lumpy, not plush and comfy. it is one of my missions in life to find a pillow that actually remains comfortable for more then a few months.
14. it frustrates me that the world has become so fast-paced. i would love to sit down and read the newspaper every day, catch up on blogs, write e-mails to all my nearest and dearest, spend 30 minutes reading before bed, sleep 8 hours a night; yet, i am spending the bulk of my days either getting ready for work, working, coming home from work, or tutoring. in this busy over-scheduled world we have created, we seem to have neglected the most important thing: ourselves.
15. i don't understand airplanes at all. it completely amazes me that a big metal cylinder can actually fly. to me it is all magic: they put us in an airplane, shake us around a bit, feed us some shit food and then switch the scenery outside.
16. i'll be in mexico for another year, and then i'm going to move on to a new adventure in a new country. for some reason, i see myself in asia. but the options are endless.
17. my year at 454 frontenac and our chair dancing, tea-making and best girly friends (e-way, caro & ktq) holds some of my dearest memories. i would fly anywhere in the world to see those girls.
18. i failed more classes in university then anyone knows.
19. if walkhome could have been a full-time job, i think i would have done it forever. i've never laughed more, cried more, played board games more, or met so many people in one place that i connected with. it was my niche at queen's.
20. i have a little dog named kahla that i adopted here in mexico. she's adorable, and i love her. she learned to sit on command within a week or two. but... i'll always have a soft spot in my heart for my golden retriever at home, emma. emma is 11. i worry that emma will die and that my parents will be afraid to tell me.
21. i don't have nearly as much self-restraint or focus as i like to think. i still bite my nails. i often can't say no to social events. i skip the gym when i'm tired, even though i know it will have a positive effect. i eat when i'm stressed or anxious.
22. i sometimes still fall asleep with the light on, even though it always drove my parents crazy.
23. i am the heaviest sleeper you will ever meet. a hurricane/tempest/avalanche/riot/evacuation could be happening all at once outside my window and i would sleep right through. i also am a sheet-stealer.
24. i adore lattes, my mom's lasagna, reading in the sun, being in a warm climate, red wine, watching movies, being an imperfect isabelle.
25. sometimes i think i think too much.
1. i absolutely love to blog and write, but lately, i haven't been able to find the time. i'd love to publish a travel book.
2. i find the strangest things the most satisfying: reading a magazine cover to cover, walking on a moving sidewalk at the airport, using a pen until it runs out of ink, finishing a jug of milk.
3. i like teaching, but i still feel like i haven't found my true passion in life. i have a few ideas as to what it might be, but since i'm not completely sure which one to choose... i'm going to stick with teaching for now.
4. my relationships rarely seem to end on my own terms.
5. i have lived in mexico for a year and a half, and am still embarrassed by my spanish.
6. i don't believe in bringing marking home. in fact, i don't believe in marking at all.
7. i don't think i could ever get bored of traveling and seeing the world. i can't wait to one day go hiking in new zealand, go back to morocco with my dad, take my mom on an african safari, see the pyramids in egypt, travel with alyssa, hike the inca trail, lie on the beach in thailand and find a partner who wants to do all of this with me.
8. i always said that when i got skinny, i would get a belly button ring. i don't think i'll ever be skinny; but i still want the belly button ring.
9. i once cheated on a test in grade 7 by writing the answers on my pencil case. i've always felt guilty about that. i once also got caught red-handed stealing money from my mom's purse. i've always felt stupid about that.
10. i can't stand banana's or mayonnaise. i think their taste and textures (particularly bananas) are offensive.
11. i have always wanted to be able to play the guitar around a campfire and take pictures beautiful enough to be in national geographic.
12. i love my life in mexico, but miss my friends desperately. i have a nagging insecurity that the longer i'm gone, people will start forgetting about me.
13. i think comfortable pillows are one of the most important things in life. i mean, we spend a third of my day on them! yet so many pillows are thin and lumpy, not plush and comfy. it is one of my missions in life to find a pillow that actually remains comfortable for more then a few months.
14. it frustrates me that the world has become so fast-paced. i would love to sit down and read the newspaper every day, catch up on blogs, write e-mails to all my nearest and dearest, spend 30 minutes reading before bed, sleep 8 hours a night; yet, i am spending the bulk of my days either getting ready for work, working, coming home from work, or tutoring. in this busy over-scheduled world we have created, we seem to have neglected the most important thing: ourselves.
15. i don't understand airplanes at all. it completely amazes me that a big metal cylinder can actually fly. to me it is all magic: they put us in an airplane, shake us around a bit, feed us some shit food and then switch the scenery outside.
16. i'll be in mexico for another year, and then i'm going to move on to a new adventure in a new country. for some reason, i see myself in asia. but the options are endless.
17. my year at 454 frontenac and our chair dancing, tea-making and best girly friends (e-way, caro & ktq) holds some of my dearest memories. i would fly anywhere in the world to see those girls.
18. i failed more classes in university then anyone knows.
19. if walkhome could have been a full-time job, i think i would have done it forever. i've never laughed more, cried more, played board games more, or met so many people in one place that i connected with. it was my niche at queen's.
20. i have a little dog named kahla that i adopted here in mexico. she's adorable, and i love her. she learned to sit on command within a week or two. but... i'll always have a soft spot in my heart for my golden retriever at home, emma. emma is 11. i worry that emma will die and that my parents will be afraid to tell me.
21. i don't have nearly as much self-restraint or focus as i like to think. i still bite my nails. i often can't say no to social events. i skip the gym when i'm tired, even though i know it will have a positive effect. i eat when i'm stressed or anxious.
22. i sometimes still fall asleep with the light on, even though it always drove my parents crazy.
23. i am the heaviest sleeper you will ever meet. a hurricane/tempest/avalanche/riot/evacuation could be happening all at once outside my window and i would sleep right through. i also am a sheet-stealer.
24. i adore lattes, my mom's lasagna, reading in the sun, being in a warm climate, red wine, watching movies, being an imperfect isabelle.
25. sometimes i think i think too much.
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