the end of an era.

apparently i am now officially a teacher.

i don't know how a year of making crafts gives me that priviledge, but i won't turn it down. we finished off the program by handing in the piles of assignments that we had due, but other than that, it was fairly anti-climatic. unlike finishing undergrad, where a huge wave of relief hit me as i walked out of my last exam, finishing teacher's college was like any other day. except for the fact that i was sick and ended up going to bed for six hours... what a way to celebrate!

being in kingston today was weird. walking around a city that has been so central to my life for the last six years. so much has changed. it is crazy to think about how long six years is, but how quickly it went by. six years ago i had never been backpacking, i had never failed a test, and i didn't know any of my university friends. but kingston no longer feels like home. i don't think it has really felt like home since all of my friends left. a place is more than just buildings and cool restaurants, it is the people that you share your time with that makes it feel comfortable.

so. i am sitting writing this in the sleepless goat, my cafe/hangout of the last few years. part of me wonders if i will ever be back. perhaps i will visit, but i will never be the me i am now, living the type of lifestyle i have been living. now that i am a teacher, my sleeping hours, my habits, many of them will have to change. i can't stay up until 2am and be ready to teach by 8.

i am not stressed, or worried about this transition phase, because i think i have been ready for a long time. but there is always a bit of nostalgia when i realize that i am growing up.

words from john and kathleen.

last friday night, my dad took me on a date to a john mayer concert. aside from his apparent hideous taste in women, john mayer was a real treat. at some point over the last few years, he became a really good guitar player! his new album was less bubblegum pop and explored more of a jazz/blues influence. he didn't talk a lot between songs, but he did say this one thing that kind of struck a chord in me. i thought i would pass it along. i can't believe i am quoting john mayer...

“I bet there are a lot of people in this room…
Who are unhappy in a relationship.
Because
The prospect of being alone is more terrifying
Then being continually unhappy.
Sometimes
You need to be lonely,
Because it brings you to the next thing.”
-john.

the truth is, i was actually most excited for the opening act. kathleen edwards (a mix mix between sarah harmer and martina sorbara, but with more of a country twang) is amazing, and i have never seen her live. you should definitely check her out. she is also ultra-cool because she is from ottawa. as she said herself:

"i grew up in nepean.
i went to merivale high school.
i smoked a lot of pot in the merivale bus shelter."
-kathleen.

i was only in ottawa for 24 hours, but i got to hear some great live tunes and get lost trying to go hiking with katie.
i think the summer will prove to be very eventful.

the same but different.

when you travel to different countries, you realize that in many ways, people and places are similar, despite our vast geographical and cultural differences. however, there are always some glaringly obvious differences between us (certainly not as human beings, but more so in our habits and customs that make us all unique).

some of the 'unique' observations i made about colombia and colombians:

-pairing jean jackets with jeans is *somehow* in style. my mom and dad would fit in.
-there are never seatbelts in the backseat of cars. i guess they figure there is no window for us to be launched through.
-people eat chicken wings with plastic gloves on. no finger lickin' good here!
-everyone shortens their names. example: juan manuel becomes juanma. here: sarah elizabeth would become sarel. somehow not as cute.
-the elevation in bogota means shortness of breath climbing stairs. lesson number 4,592 for not smoking.
-traffic jams in the country are caused by cows. i am seriously not joking. i saw.
-some people turn off their cars at red lights to conserve energy (that is when they actually stop).
-light switches are in the oddest of places and impossible to find. you would think they would have some sort of system.
-there are rules for how many days a week people can drive their cars. some are only allowed five out of seven.
-under all tables at restaurants and bars, there are hooks for women to hang their purses. smart idea.
-children are given both their mom and dad's last name, and women rarely change their names. in theory, it is possible for a child to be named carlos gonzales gonzales if both of their parents had the same last name. slightly incestuous, but cool.
-i saw carrots the size of a pear. and beans the size of asparagus.
-children ride bikes that are about fifteen sizes too big for them.
-no one is on time. the colombian clock is more of a fluid concept.
-a large coffee is the size of a medium or a small here in canada. but boy is it ever good!
-it is impossible to pour a beer without four inches of head. i blame it on the altitude.
-i found a jewellery store that is packed up every evening because it doubles as their garage.
-violent kung-fu or hit-em-up movies are always played on bus rides between cities. could we not think of something less threatening?
-all comfortable and well-off people have a maid.
-people nickname is each other 'fatty' even when they are not.
-in bogota, you can pass a mercedes and then a donkey pulling a cart within two minutes of each other.
-police presence is high. they are standing on every street corner.
-you can buy everything you need at red lights: newspapers, tea towels, breakfast. practically anything for home or work.
-you can also get served at your seat on bus rides: vendours come onto buses, sell goodies and run off before the bus starts moving again.
-they talk faster than i do. if you can believe it.

you should also check out erin's blog for some other funny things that happened to us during our week of fun.

colombia te quiero.

bogota has a population of 8 million, and is located at more than 8,000 feet above sea level. bogota has cafes, bohemia, dancing and an atmosphere that is impossible to capture in pictures.

the tim horton's of colombia, juan valdez. mmmm deliciosa!


plaza bolivar in bogota:


park 93 where all the action is in northern part of the city:


a typical colourful street in the candelaria, in downtown bogota:


the view of montserrat, a church high on a mountain overlooking the city:


villa de leyva is a perfectly preserved colonial town about four hours north of bogota. the surrounding mountains are stunning too. you can easily see the town in a few hours, but it is the kind of place you want to hang out longer. the town was declared a national monument in 1954: streets are cobblestoned, houses are whitewashed. during the week, the town was quiet and serene, but on the weekend, colombian tourists invade the town! we also chose possibly the busiest week to visit, the week off leading up to easter.

plaza major, the largest main square in all of colombia:


hiking in the area around villa de leyva:


souvenir shopping in the artesanian village of raquila:


the colours were AMAZING. certainly an overstimulation of crafts and souvenirs! we bought jewellery, and little pottery sets:


we returned to bogota for my last day. we joined many others who flocked to the top of montserrat on easter weekend. what a view of the city!


it is hard for pictures to fully encapsulate my impressions of colombia. i was continually struck by the vibrant colours, the rich architecture and incredible views. i will definitely be back!

semana santa.

hola mis amigos.

it has been almost a week since i came to join my little colombian flower for her week off. erin took an eight hour bus ride from manizales to meet me in bogota, and we have had such a lovely reunion! it has been enlightening to see erin in her new environ, speaking spanish and introducing me to so many of her new friends. so much of erin meshes perfectly with the colombian vibe, and she is clearly at home here. i wish i could have made it to manizales to see her new home, and meet her students, but we have had a great adventure in bogota and the surrounding area. i am so happy that i have had this week to spend with erin, just getting a small window into her new world.

being a catholic country, many colombians have been off this week to celebrate jesus. and they do. parades, signs, walks, radio broadcasts... colombians really love the big j. and since today was good friday, everything is closed! few buses were running between cities and you would be hard-pressed to get lunch. apparently the pubs are open though, so that is good news for later this evening.

flying into bogota was an adenture on its own. the flight from monterrey to mexico city was ridiculously overbooked, and i almost didn't get on. luckily, i was waitlisted as number two (after ginny, who was also going away for the break) and about fifteen people didn't show. phew. the flight into bogota was a quick four hours next to two young little ones who wanted to play with me the entire time. ix-nay on the relaxing. the full descent into bogota took a total of 2.5 seconds. being the third highest city in south america, it doesn't take long to get to it!

erin met me at the airport and we spent our first evening dancing at some amazing bars in downtown bogota. i got a quick lesson in salsa - too bad canadians are not born with hips that can move like colombians! i also experienced aguardiente, a typical (very strong) drink that colombians drink like water. needless to say i had a bit of a headache on sunday morning! we spent the next two days exploring the city. erin needed to buy some tall pants, i wanted to explore the hippie parts of downtown, and we went to the botero museum. bogota is a thriving, funky, busy city. the food is eclectic, the people are sooo friendly and the alcohol is plenty.

we spent our next three days in a little colonial city four hours north of bogota called villa de leyva. full of artesan stores, cheap jewellery, cobblestone streets, colonial architecture, mountain vistas and colombians on vacation, it was incredibly relaxing. we drank cafe con leche (mmm colombian coffee), wrote in our journals and watched the world go by. it was also a really safe area of the country, so we hiked through the surrounding area to a seven metre long fossil of a kronosaurus! i couldn't read the signs explaining it, but it looked really cool. one day we even took a cab to a little colourful artesan village called raquila - literally my dream of pottery, hammocks, jewellery and baskets. erin and i each bought more than we had space for!

contrary to popular stigma, i have felt unbelievably safe in colombia. granted, i have been hanging out with a lot of colombians, but i have never once felt threatened or nervous. i don't make a habit out of walking alone at night, but i don't do that in most cities. most colombians would not hesitate to tell you that colombia is at war: but only in certain areas. the guerilla's and paramilitary groups are a constant threat in certain areas of the country, but as long as you stay mostly in the cities and travel by bus only during the day, it feels like any other country. there are police officers everywhere, and our buses even got pulled over several times at police check-points. i would not hesitate to come again, or encourage others to make colombia a destination, it is just important to do your research and make smart decisions.

and those smart decisions can always include copious amounts of shopping, dancing and drinking (water, of course)!

you know you're in mexico.

when...

-ginny is the the whitest person everywhere.
-there is a pinata store at the end of my street.
-drivers believe stop signs (and red lights) are only suggestions.
-pedestrians are always a nuissance.
-you try to use french, and they stare at you blankly.
-there are more taco stands per capita then gas stations.
-blonds are always from the bottle or from out of country.
-backstreet boys and brian adams are still playing on the radio.
-soccer is the only acceptable extracurricular activity (and the only religion besides catholicism)
-children believe texas is a country.
-chili powder is the new salt and pepper.
-i am taller than every man in the country.
-loud talking is considered a quiet whisper.
-hair gell is a personal staple.
-tequila flows like water.
-you arrive at a party on time... and there is no one there.
-first communions are a bigger deal then weddings.
-you can sit outside on an afternoon in march and be hot!

better late than never.

i meant to post some pictures of puerto vallarta awhile back. here is our long weekend in photos!

on the plane:


eating delicious fresh fruit from a street vendor:


out for dinner at oscar's. my first tortilla soup experience!


a traditional taco stand:


some descent surf at desiladeros beach:


away from the crowds:


a little polynesian-style village called yelapa:


ginny and i at a waterfall near yelapa:


potted plants! love them.

live. work. play.

travelling through a city is much different than actually living in it for three weeks. no longer a tourist, i have being living a fairly regular life. i am still constantly exploring the city, but i have also had to figure ot how to do 'normal' things like grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions at the pharmacy. the language barrier is obviously a challenge, and everything in mexico seems to happen in its own (very slow) and unique way.

here is a bit of a window into my day-to-day life here in monterrey:

living: ginny's apartment is a looong three minute walk from school, and has a beautiful view of the mountains. the housing is larger then i expected - we are certainly not roughing it by any stretch of the imagination! we are in an apartment building where the majority of the other tenants are students as well, giving a sense of first year in residence all over again.

here is a shot of our apartment building:



the view every morning of the mountains on my walk to school:



working: a world apart from the public school world i have lived this year so far. the elementary campus is much older than the middle/high school campus, but it is still incredible. they have resources, literacy coaches, specialist instructors, sports equipment and even plants in the hallway! the pictures simply don't do it justice.

one of the soccer fields (check out the view!):



we have old school desks, but it is where we call home:



playing: working long days means that we appreciate our time off even more! ginny has taken me to one of the ritzy malls and to a movie theatre where you get to sit in recliner lazy-boy style chairs and order food for delivery. unreal. but, the highlight so far has certainly been hiking in chipinque national park. only a few minutes' drive from the school, it feels as if you have entered another world. the loud city floats away for a few hours while we hike the mountains and are witness to some stunning views.

the view of the city from the mountains:



towards the end of our first hike at chipinque:



not too shabby, eh?

say yes to everything.

this past weekend was a long weekend in celebration of the birthday of benito juárez, a famous mexican president and national hero. in international teaching terms a long weekend equals take-off-for-the-weekend. some teachers took overnight buses to san miguel, others flew to acapulco, and others went shopping in texas. in canada, when presented with a long weekend, i would have slept in, and enjoyed some extra time to get some errands done. not here! every long weekend is another travel opportunity not to be missed.

ginny and i set off to puerto vallarta on friday evening, along with the advice from a friend: say yes to everything. so we did.

say yes to...

dodgy airlines. viva aerobus is a new mexican budget airline which is a godsend to weekend travellers like us. however, they consistently overbook flights and do not make seat reservations! so, you have to arrive at the airports hours before your flight takes off... luckily, we had a makeshift travelling band as entertainment on friday evening in the waiting area!

minimal amenities. we pre-booked a budget hotel in the zone romantica in the middle of the action of downtown pv. i knew it was cheap, but what i did not know was that we would not even have a closet! i guess minimal amenities in mexico really is minimal. luckily ginny and i are fairly laid-back, and the character and location of the hotel made up for any lack in luxury.

fruit from the street. one of the best parts of each morning was the HUGE bag of fresh fruit you could buy from local street vendors. for only a dollar fifty, you would get a heaping pile of watermelon, mango, papaya and cantaloupe. each day, it was an adventure to find the fruit vendors, but it was always worth the wait. mexicans sprinkle chili powder on their fruit, but we politely declined.

strange concoctions. one of the best things about experiencing new cultures is the culinary adventures. mexicans enjoy very... shall we say.... interesting mixtures of flavours (that is probably an understatement)! odd combinations that i witnessed being prepared were: tortilla soup with chilies, avocado, onions and cheese; a cup of corn topped with a pile of mayonnaise and chili; jellied mango; carrots sprinkled with lime and chili; and apple flavoured coca cola. also, did you know that true quesidillas have only cheese? and that fajitas are tex-mex and not a national staple? so much to learn.

sleeping in until 9. ginny and i did not set our alarms one single morning. it was divine. we had a full energetic weekend, but never felt taxed or tired. very rejuvenating.

romantic dinners. puerto vallarta has some incredible restaurant locations. eating in a palapa restaurant on the beach, sitting on a patio overlooking the ocean or surrounded by live music and lush folliage, pv certainly knows how to whoo the romantics. the colonial architecture, cobblestone streets and village-feel probably help as well. even though ginny and i did not have men in hand, we still wanted to feel the love in the air. we discovered a restaurant named oscars which was in the ideal location: on a little island in the middle of downtown, next to the rio cuale (river), overlooking the ocean with live music in the evenings. we had impecable service, could hear the waves lapping only metres away and dined on fresh mahimahi/vegetarian crepes. yum.

strangers' advice. lonely planet mexico did not cover off the beaten path areas around puerto vallarta, so we had to get advice from the locals. we really wanted to find a more deserted beach outside of the city centre, and had no idea where to go! on the first evening, we talked to our cab driver, who told us to 'take a local bus to punta mita'. we clarified that with a waiter on saturday and ended up on a local bus (for only two dollars!) heading an hour up the coast. what we realized after being on the bus for quite sometime, was that we didn't actually know where to get off! but, as luck would have it, some canadian and american travellers got on the bus and told us we absolutely had to accompany them to desiladeros beach. the perfect advice! desiladeros was one of the most beautiful, pristine, tourist-free beaches i had ever been to. a perfect day lying, playing in the waves and soaking up the sun.

sailing around the world. i was very intrigued by the three families we met on the way to desiladeros beach. they had each left jobs, sold houses, packed up and set off on sailboats. such a cool lifestyle, but something that i can't even imagine. living with your entire family and all your belongings on a 35 foot boat! one of the families had a little six year-old named isaac, also known as mr. incredible. i felt so young again when he invited me to come and play in the waves with him. what a different childhood for him: home schooling, being socialized mainly around adults but getting to see new places almost every day.

stiff mojitos. clearly, the best kind. we accidentally stumbled upon a funky restaurant called uncommon ground while trying to find something else. well, lucky for us! this place was just awesome. two women from new jersey moved down in august and opened it up: a cafe/bar/restaurant/boutique serving natural, healthy salads and wraps. the atmosphere was inspired by asia/india/far-east and included an eclectic mix of momentos from around the world. the ladies were incredibly welcoming and i tried blueberry and raspberry flavoured mojitos. highly recommended.

flying high. on our last day, we took a water taxi to yelapa, a small village accessible only by water. we did not realize that chicho's water taxi company also provided a 'tour' of yelapa... aka making sure that chicho's palapa restaurant got a monopoly on business! after a short 'hike' to the local waterfall, we were treated to beach chairs right next to the parasailing dudes. now, i have already jumped out of an airplane, but ginny has never done anything of the sort! somehow (with extremely good convincing, or perhaps the margarita we drank on the beach) she made the spontaneous decision to fly through the air attached by a rope to a boat. once she decided, it all happened very quickly... no time for nerves! the next thing i knew she was in the air. will have to post pictures to prove it.

jewellery vendors. an accessory-lovers dream! silver everywhere. i restrained myself to only one ring and a few gifts for friends. but 'cheap' silver is still not quite cheap enough for me... at least until i start getting a regular paycheque.

with that, our long weekend came to an end. i only wish i could have said no to going home!

mizz fleming.

"miiiiiizzzzz. miiiiizzzzz. MIIIIZZZZZ."
the voices you hear a million times per day as a teacher in mexico.

boy, do these kids know how to whine! they interupt conversations, demand immediate attention and are extremely impatient in waiting for help. however, they also worship the ground you walk on, give you hundreds of hugs per day and laugh at all your jokes.

teaching mexican children is very different than teaching canadian children. they have different routines, habits, academic standards and ways of looking at the world. they are (for the most part) privileged children who have not had to do a lot for themselves, living in the bubble of monterrey, completely unaware of the various religions and cultures around the world. in fact, it goes beyond being unaware - they cannot even comprehend the fact that life is different for other people.

here are my top five blessings and curses that my lovely children bring...

the good:

-they are incredibly touchy-feely. while in canada you can be put on trial for touching a child, in monterrey, they hug you, touch you, stroke your hair, hold your hand... after knowing you for only five minutes! today i was teaching the boys how to place their hands to dance with girls. it is actually considered an insult if you do not hug, kiss, and cuddle in return.

-teachers are valued. there is a constant debate as to whether north american teachers are properly valued and respected, but in monterrey, there is no question. we are looked upon as knowledgeable, professional experts in child development, discipline, language acquisition and child psychology. it is really quite an honour! almost all parents respect teachers and support us whole heartedly. we had parent-teacher interviews today and i was amazed at the parental support, involvement and general respect for teachers and their opinions. they really trust our opinions.

-they think the funniest things are cool. because anything 'different' is always cool, international teachers gain 'cool' status fairly quickly. i told them that when they are with miss. sarah they have to make sure they have their thinking caps on... and now anytime they hear the word 'think' they pretend to put their imaginary hats on. soo funny that something so potentially lame was a great success.

-outdoor education. literally. the school is all open concept, with hallways and courtyards open to the outside. when it is sunny it brings warmth and light into the school and when it is cold, apparently it gets really cold! the classrooms are not open to outside, but it is refreshing to have real plant life and gardens in the lobby.

-as a general rule, they take pride in their handwriting, and attempt to keep their work neat and tidy. their organizational skills on the other hand.....

the bad:

-these kids are enormously disorganized. they never know where their books are, they never have sharpened pencils, they always forget their homework (and have terrible excuses). it is important for them to take ownership and responsibility for their own actions, but this is not always a lesson they are learning at home.

-they are chatty cathy's. ooh boy. a room full of 20 talkers! they have little impulse control (both in spanish and in english) and they literally talk all the time. this is going to be a tough habit to break!

-the tortoise and the hare. coming from canada, i am fast-paced, energetic and move quickly during transitions. however, i teach a class full of turtles. it takes them forever to move anywhere, and switching from language to math seems to take 20 minutes! time is more fluid in mexico, and i don't think they have any concept of 'rushing'. i started a challenge with them today where we time how long it takes during transitions with a stop-watch, and it was the first time i have ever seen them run!

-they are very needy. before they properly read the instructions, review the questions or attempt to solve a problem on their own, i hear them continually calling "miiiiizzzzz". however, they have not developed the patience to wait for anything! at home, many of them have drivers and maids who they can boss around so they are not accustomed at school to have to wait their turn. we are going to aim towards more independence and being pro-active problem solvers.

-their food schedule. mexicans eat a late lunch, and a very late dinner. we give the students a break for lunch, but none of them actually use it to eat! they eat an unhealthy snack (chips, candy, pop), giving them just enough energy to jump off the walls in the afternoon... but they don't eat a balanced lunch until they get home at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. not exactly conducive to quality learning.

but, as per usual, through the good (a kid finally writing a small moment narrative), the bad (a kid standing on his chair to get my attention), and the ugly (cockroaches in the classroom), i adore them all the same.

90210.

first impressions are one of the greatest parts of seeing new places. the initial feelings you feel towards a place, whether it be a scent or even a fleeting image all greatly impact your travel experiences and the opinions that you leave with. they say a job interview is either won or lost in the first 5 minutes, so perhaps the same goes for love affairs with cities as well.

my initial feelings towards monterrey, mexico have been mixed and full of odd dichotomies. just when i think i have figured out how i will describe it to my friends and family at home, i am struck with an impression that is impossible to properly articulate. considering I have been offered a job to teach in monterrey next year, the pressure was on for me to like it, or at least find it interesting enough to call it home.

here are some of my first impressions of monterrey from my first two days:

1. we’re not in mexico anymore. seriously. my experiences in monterrey thus far have been largely contained to san pedro, a wealthy neighbourhood bordering the city. in theory, san pedro views itself as autonomous from monterrey - it has its own mayor and police officers. while i know that i am in mexico, san pedro does not feel like mexico. yes - spanish is the primary language, you can get tacos on street corners and drivers do not stop at stop signs - but there is also a louis vuitton and a large american-stlye grocery store 10 minutes from our apartment. in fact, it has a reputation for being the beverley hills of monterrey. i have gone whole hours almost forgetting where i am! people have told me that it is very easy to stay in san pedro… but with my adventurous spirit i already know that i will not let that happen to me.

2. the airport was slick and modern. as ridiculous as this may sound, i never expected to arrive to a beautiful spotless airport. the stereotypical view of a small dirty mexican airport was certainly shattered for me. i am sure i am not the only person that is guilty of making generalizations -- but who am I to say that monterrey is not the real mexico? (yet, it is still my hunch that it is not.)

3. the view. the mountain vistas are absolutely spectacular, and you can see them from all over the city. they tower as high as the clouds, and stand there sheltering (or perhaps guarding?) the city all day every day. the saddle and the m shaped mountains are overpowering and always provide a quick orientation if you are lost. i can’t wait to get up there for camping/hiking/climbing!

4. maid quarters. in every apartment or house, there is an extra (very small) room and bathroom that was designed to be a living quarters for the family maid. but this is not a practice solely from the past -- many children still have personal maids who tend to their every need. no wonder they have entitlement issues! a child literally told me that his maid had forgotten to put his homework in his bag… sorry, no sympathy here.

5. constant helicopters overheard. many families live in the mountains, and rather than driving, they have themselves lowered to the city in private helicopters. by the way, one of my kids just got dropped off for tutoring in a gorgeous sports car. by a driver and a maid. classic.

6. mexico time. if you live or travel in mexico, you simply have to accept that nothing happens on time or early. we went out for dinner at 8 o’clock on saturday night and we were practically the only people in the restaurant! time is slow down here, there is little sense of urgency, and it is near impossible to get the children to move quickly. my mom would fit in perfectly - she would never be late again!

7. houses and properties are not visible to the street. the majority of properties in san pedro are hidden by unattractive stucko walls with a door or a garage door built in. however, if you get to take a peak inside, you can see the wealth in the manicured gardens, grandiose architecture and large properties. i guess you can never judge a book by its cover.

8. my students could not believe that i wasn’t married. they saw my large black ring and were convinced that i had a mexican husband. uhhhhh, no. they were shocked that a woman would wear a ring only for decoration!

9. every time i walk down the street, it looks like there will be 800 accidents, but somehow there never are! parking lots are crowded and impossible to navigate, drivers don’t really stop at intersections or stop signs and Mexican drivers definitely don’t value pedestrians. in fact, i think they hate them.

10. i ran in a race through san pedro on sunday morning, and as entertainment they had traditional mariachi bands playing next to louis vuitton and fendi stores. the dichotomy of traditional versus modern/extravagant provides a very interesting mix. billboards for american restaurants such as chili’s and pizza pizza are posted next to local taco stands. very strange!

from my first few days in monterrey, i feel like the city contradicts almost everything i previously believed regarding mexico. however, this only intrigues me more -- i have so much to learn and explore within san pedro, around monterrey and throughout mexico more broadly. good thing i have three weeks!

in transit.

my grade four placement came to a screetching halt today with a fast-paced chaotic last day. with march break only inches away, the kids were on edge, the energy captivating and throwing off any potential for normalcy. our medieval feast was a great success: the kids ate themselves silly, performed for one another (mostly swordfights... ooops) and we had the whole classroom cleaned up in under 10 minutes flat. the feast was a perfect cumulative activity for medieval times, but it was a HUGE organizational feat. it was not something that we could do every day. parents sent loads and loads of food, but it wasn't prepared or ready to be served. SO, while trying to organize the kids, keep them calm and set-up desks, i was simultaneously cutting up veggies, fruit, bread et al. mutlitasking to the max!

i raced home after school, finished packing and took a 6:30 via train to toronto. i was really tired, but i could only get an aisle seat, which is unfortunately not conducive to sleeping! it was also really cold (partly my fault because i had dressed in capris in preparation for mexico sun... i jumped the gun a bit on that one). i did quite a compact job of packing, but i had an extra small duffel bag for all the goodies i was bringing down for erin and ginny.

the loveliest part of my stopover i toronto was that my good friend steve picked me up at union. i hadn't seen him in months, but whenever i go through toronto, i try and give him a call. his parents essentially run a b&b for all his friends that pass through the city. i honestly think i could stay with his parents even if he wasn't home! i got to catch up with him and bri, door to door service to the airport in the morning (thanks a million steve), a fresh pot of coffee and the most comfortable pillow in the planet. i don't know what it is about the pillows at steve's house, but i adore them! i think they are laura ashley pillows, but i haven't been able to find identical matches. if you EVER get a chance, you must sleepover at steve's house if only for the magical pillow experience!

the plane trips worked without any significant hitches. there was no luggage lost, no delays, no turbulence and no confusion. in fact, i even made some new friends! i arrived in toronto to absolutely NO line at check-in, customs or security. when i made it to the gate, i actually happened to sit down next to two other girls who are in the faculty of education at queen's on the way to their own alternate practicums in mexico - how random! one girl was actually heading to monterrey as well, the other to mexico city. we bonded over lunch in chicago, discussed living norms/taboos for living in mexico and generally had a great day. whenever i travel i am always prepared for a quiet day on my own, but i was pleasantly surprised to have some lovely company.

i arrived in monterrey to-the-minute at 5:50 saturday afternoon. i flew past customs without ANY questions, and pressed the traffic light button which indicates whether your bags will be searched or not. (phew. i got green!) ginny and jen arrived to pick me up a few minutes later, and i haven't stopped since. but more on that later.

yesterday i had breakfast in canada, lunch in the us and dinner in mexico. quite the day!

troublemakers.

i have just started my fourth week teaching in a grade four class in ottawa. with the reputation of being one of the toughest classes in the whole school, i knew i was going to have my hands full. i have always been more hesitant about teaching junior grades because of their emerging attitudes - but what i didn't expect is that i adore them! through their anger, sass and denial, i have developed quite a fondness of them. they certainly are a really tough bunch: high needs behaviourally, academically struggling and highly impulsive and talkative. for some reason, i don't find their attitudes discouraging, i am only MORE motivated to develop a positive rapport with them. i figure that if i can work in this classroom and still walk out at the end of the day smiling, then i can work almost anywhere!

it would be impossible to fully capture the personalities in my class, but i will give it a try.

1. "miss. fleming, will we be invited to your wedding?"
2. "i am going to sue this school. and everyone in it. especially YOU."
3. "i don't have time to put my homework in my bag. you don't know my routine. i have to get up, have a shower, eat my breakfast and watch my show."
4. "can we have real darts and jousting and duals in the classroom?"
5. "we have to write in full sentences? WHAT? i hate this school."
6. "ummm. miss fleming... my tooth is stuck in a caramel..."
7. "i need a pencil? i don't know... what is this??"
8. "do i still get a point if i did my homework but i left it at home?"
9. "miss fleming... you should be principal. we would never get in trouble."

that's what they think....!

post torf.

decision made. i have accepted a job teaching grade two at ASFM in monterrey, mexico!

what a ride.

the international fair was an adrenaline-pumping emotional angst-fest. despite the fact that i wasn't nearly as nervous as many people, i still managed to ride an incredible rollercoaster of highs and lows. from the euphoria of an interview that you know you nailed to the waiting game once jobs begin to be offered to the tear-fest when i finally decided, i went through a wide spectrum of emotions in a 48 hour period.

I had interviews in uganda, thailand, guatemala, mexico, egypt and germany. each was incredibly appealing in its own way. at first, i envisioned myself in a romantic exotic desination - the pyramids in cairo, the beaches in thailand... but ultimately, i went with my gut. the organizers said over and over again that we are searching for the right fit - personally and professionally. locations will always be there, but at this point in my life, i am searching for a collaborative learning community, support for beginning teachers and a work hard/play hard atmosphere.

i never thought i had a chance at a school like ASFM. they tend not to consider inexperienced teachers, and the school has quite a reputation on a global scale. however, i pursued them, e-mailing them long before the fair even began. luckily, i scored a pre-torf interview (with a little help from some friends!). meeting the recruiters from ASFM was so comfortable. they exude such a warm, positive aura. the interview was more like a two hour conversation! i left hoping beyond hope that they would actually offer me a job.

the friday night was the craziest part of the whole fair. we arrived, picked up our registration envelopes full of (or not full of) blue cards requesting interviews and then bombard the gym en-masse to line up to request interviews. tension was running through all the candidates. there is nothing like being a part of 300 teachers racing like children into a gymnasium - getting pushed and shoved -- it is very easy to feel incredibly overwhelmed. i kept my cool but went a little crazy requesting interviews. by the end of the evening my entire schedule for the next two days was booked!

unable to sleep, i got only a few hours of sleep on friday night and returned to the faculty around 7 the next morning. my morning was jam-packed full of interviews... if nothing else, i knew i would leave torf with a growing confidence in my interviewing skills! by mid-day, i knew that the vibe i had gotten from the recruiters at ASFM had gone unmatched. there was a veryvery close second from a school in germany, but i knew i had to put myself out on the line for the school in monterrey. so, i sat down and composed a note to ASFM telling them that i had had several interviews and a few job offers (which was true), but that they were still my number one choice.

i did not get a note back from ASFM for 2.5 hours. they felt like the longest in my life. when a little pink slip finally arrived in my message box saying, "you're on! i am pleased to offer you..." i started jumping up and down, tears welling up in my eyes. i knew, at that moment, that i had made the right choice. i went right away to accept the job, and (obviously) burst into tears in front of jeff, the school director. tears of joy, of course.

torf was an experience like no other. i met loads of amazing people, got absolutely no sleep, made contacts at schools all over the world and changed the course of my life significantly.

wow. i am moving to mexico!

pre torf.

the international fair (torf) officially begins tomorrow at 3:00. i have been trying to get to bed early in preparation, but for some odd reason i have had trouble falling asleep. i guess i have had a lot to think about!

-i got offered the supply job in thailand. i was absolutely shocked! he wined and dined us, and tried to give us the pitch on why we should take the opportunity. in truth, it is amazing: great location, wonderful benefits... but i think i am ready for my own classroom. i told him i was interested, but needed to pursue other job opportunities at torf.

-an administrator from a school in guatemala called last night and offered me an interview for a grade one position. i went down to the hotel this morning to meet him. it was really laid-back, and i got to see a cute slide show of the school and guatemala city. at the end of the interview, he offered me a grade one teaching job! at that moment, i KNEW i really wanted my own classroom. i think i will have to call thailand and let them know that i can't turn down this challenge.

-about an hour later, i met with a school in mexico. i had contacted them via e-mail, because i was very interested, and i knew it was difficult to get noticed as a first year teacher. i went to the hotel at 3:00, and didn't end up leaving until almost 5! i had thought the interview in guatemala had been laid-back, but this interview was AMAZING. it was so comfortable, almost a conversation about who i am, and what i believe is important in education. the school is very curriculum-driven, and has high expectations of its teachers. professionally, this is an opportunity like no other. i wasn't officially offered a position, but if i want it, i think it is mine! i have until mid-day on saturday to let them know.

-this evening i got another call and an e-mail from two different schools in uganda. what an experience that would be! i have interviews with them tomorrow morning before the fair.

phew. i did not expect this to happen along this timeline. i never realized that administrators would actually take the time to visit with candidates before the fair. it is actually a perfect scenario: the timing is more flexible, the setting is more relaxed and it works to their benefit. they can snatch the goodies before anyone else does! it also gives me more time to make my decision, and research the schools.

i am feeling good because i know that - either way - i will have a job for next year! i am trying to celebrate the fact that i have choices... but i wish it wasn't so difficult to choose.

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!

the number nine.

have you ever stopped in your tracks and thought, what the hell am i doing?

last friday i got up in front of ALL the primary/junior candidates and did a mock interview session with four school principals. i don't actually know what i was thinking. i made the decision instantaneously, so i didn't have time to doubt it. it didn't want to, but that was exactly why i made myself do it - i wanted to challenge myself with the learning experience. primarily, i put myself through this tortuous situation to prepare for next weekend. the teaching overseas recruiting fair (torf) is in 9 days.

NINE days?!

nine days until i potentially get a job anywhere. there are schools coming from thailand, panama, egypt, guatemala, brazil, germany etc... the possibilities are endless. i haven't doubted for a second my decision to go overseas next year. but, i won't lie, i have a crazy mixture of emotions going through my mind about it: excitment, nerves and curiosity. where will this adventure take me? will i get any interviews? what will my school be like? what grade will i get? will i even get a job?

deep down i know that whatever decision i make will be the right one for me at this point in my life. phew. however, it still scares the living daylights out of me!

i am trying to remain calm and balanced about the whole experience, but it is pretty nuts when you start researching schools everywhere from uganda to bangladesh.

i'll keep you posted.

the break-up.

i was speaking to a girlfriend today, who was venting about an unhealthy friendship. from the sounds of it, this friend of hers has an incredible toxic relationship with everyone in her life: she is rude, inappropriate, controlling and generally not nice. when my girlfriend told me that she has been putting up with this friendship for over five years, at first i was angry. this wasn't a balanced, healthy friendship at all! but i got to thinking, and realized that as difficult as it is to break-up with a boyfriend, it is probably more difficult to break-up with a friend. we just don't do it. it is almost taboo.

i have heard stories of people who have told a toxic friend that they can't be friends anymore, but i have never actually met anyone who has done this. when a child is in grade three, all bets are off: if they don't like someone, they don't hesitate to tell them right to their face. why is it that when we grow up so many girls put up with friendships that they don't even enjoy?

i am not encouraging hatred, but i want shy/timid girls to stop putting up with 'bullies' who call themselves girlfriends. and it is NOT just shy and timid girls who put up with toxic friendships. some women have such powers of manipulation that even other strong, outgoing girls have difficulty standing up to them. if these toxic individuals are not put in their place, they will continue to feed off others, treat them poorly and boost their own feelings of power and control in the process.

i have seen bullying in the schoolyard, and i have witnessed friends being bullied in relationships. neither of these is acceptable. but this 'queen bee' phenomenon extends past middle school. maybe these women believe they are just being outspoken, independent and strong? in reality, however, they need a swift kick in the butt.

banff mountain.

the best day of january has already come and gone.

each year, the banff mountain film festival goes on a world tour, and stops in kingston. the moment we get back in january, we get on the look-out for advertisements for this celebration of mountain culture and the spirit of adventure. as a highlight of january, it definitely helps combat the winter blahs! this year, i really missed erin, care and katie who have always been there with me in the past.

as always, the films were ridiculous awesome and inspiring. after the first hour, i was convinced that i should bike from mongolia to india, survive with no nutrients, and make a feature-length film about it. maybe one day. even the opening video gets the adrenaline flowing. you can actually watch it on youtube if you search bmff.

yes to the no: this was the first film and it was made by a group of guys that call themselves the rocky mountain sherpas. they introduced us to the sport of noboarding, which is basically snowboarding without boots. they love it because they are bringing snowboarding back to its roots, forcing a true connection between the rider and the snow. the shots were stunning, particularly this dude noboarding as the snow disintegrated into an avalanche. check them out at www.rockymountainsherpas.com.

first ascent: thailand: rock climbing off the coast of thailand. no ropes. falls broken by the ocean. nuts. but also really cool.

asiemut: this was my favourite of the films. a young french canadian couple, who had never made a film, and never gone on a bike trek, decided to bike 8,000 kilometres from mongolia to india. pushing themselves to their absolute limits, the film chronicles their journey through desert, sandstorm, water, mountain and their memorable encounters with locals. an unpretentious look at the world, as well as the crisis of abundance in society, these two examine their true place and capabilities. why did they decide to embark on this incredible journey? to feel they had a place in the world. and for themselves. a true tearfest. here is their french website, i believe english is to come: www.asiemut.mine.nu.

epicocity: thrill-seeking paddlers. i wish i had the guts. www.epicocity.com.

didier versus the cobra: the title character was this hilarious swiss dude who made it is mission to make the first ascent up the cobra crack in BC. the video chronicled his journey, his challenges, and his random trip to australia to follow his girlfriend. this film was worth it just to get to know didier.

the thrill seekers: when given 48 hours (1 day to film, 1 day to edit), this is what two british guys came up with. certainly gave the audience a good laugh! www.nakedsledge.co.uk.

kids who rip: a film about kids who are WAY cooler than i wil ever be. six year old skateboarders, tween bleach-blonde surfers, eight year old skiiers and snowboarders. fearless and frighteningly good - they must have brave parents (or crazy parents?) www.kidswhorip.com

ride of the mergansers: another highlight. an up-close look at merganser ducks like you have never seen them before. just after they have hatched, they must take a giant leap from their nests high in the trees to meet their mother below. these are some stellar falls, let me tell you. www.rideofthemergansers.com.

best of jo: a short film submited by the youngest filmaker ever at the banff mountain film festival. he claims that he would one day like to film *real* humans and maybe even make money doing it.

that's it.
i can't believe i have to wait another year to see more!

gift of the gab.

in ireland, the locals are known for the ability to talk with exuberance - readily and convincingly. in irish, the gift of the gab is called 'solabharthact', not that i have any idea how to pronounce it. i spent this past weekend in toronto, and i certainly got my fill of conversation. aside from the cumulative twelve hours i spent sleeping, i think talking/chatting/gossiping/catching-up is all that i did!

not that i am complaining. i was a veritable socialite in toronto this weekend! i brought absolutely no work, and did not even think about the faculty of education for more than 2.5 seconds. i got swept up in great conversations with both old and new friends. i socialized, ate out, shopped and dedicated the weekend to reconnecting with toronto folks. why is it that we don't speak with friends for months at a time, but when we finally do, we don't skip a beat? this is the sign of true friends, i think.

on friday night i had dinner with cayleigh at a delicious thai place on queen street west and then hit the town. she took me to meet some friends at the bovine sex club. no joke. i didn't notice a lot of cows, or a lot of sex for that matter, so i think the name must be purely for shock value. or perhaps it has some meaning that is beyond me. regardless, it was a stellar night with loads of familiar faces from queen's and around. the band was really quite good, and i managed to score a free ride home from them at the end of the night -- door to door service is a sure fire way to collect fans! in fact, i should give them a shoutout: thanks for the ride, caledonia.

saturday i lounged around the titus household with alyssa doing typical cottage-y type activties. sleeping, making a late breakfast, looking at pictures, lying around. we didn't get out of our pyjamas until almost 4! at five i met up with risa, my favourite jewish hippie vegan, whom i hadn't seen in almost TWO years. first of all, it was two years toooo long between visits. after we had tea and caught up, and i could barely believe how long it had been. she offers such a positive calming presence in my life. i adore her. i will have to make absolute sure it is not two years before i run into her again!

saturday night was sushi with a friend from my travels at a hidden gem. this place was called sushi on bloor (maybe i shouldn't be telling anyone else... keep the restaurant a secret) and it was quite possibly the best price-for-quality-food that i have had in eons. for less than 20 bucks, two people can get stuffed! the thirty minute lineup is worth it when you get free unlimited tea, soup and ice cream. i honestly felt like we were cheating them in some way when we got the bill.

sunday i had brunch with kally (another date that was way overdue) and got seriously distracted by the stores in yorkville and the the eaton centre. i kept trying to be practical and deciding to leave toronto, but then the titus' convinced me to stay for dinner.... and then tea... i just didn't want my weekend of conversation, gastronomy and socializing to end. plus i am easily convinced.

i am really not far from toronto, and with some good music or a book on tape, the trip absolutely flies by. i may not be like the irish, who possess a fluency of utterance unlike no other, but if i learned anything from my mother, i sure learned how to appreciate a good conversation.