Creating a blog is funny. Even the word blog is funny. Something about the consonants 'B' and 'L', together with the sound 'OG', just sounds ridiculous. BLOG. It's not a pretty word. The language analyst in me genuinely wants to look up, and someday probably will, whether or not French or Spanish have any words the start with "BL". They are much prettier languages. My instinct tells me no, probably not. Only English, and maybe German, would ever start a word with BL, and end it with OG. Except in German it would probably be something like blogenscheift.
Anyway, this is my BLOG. Then there's the question of, what should I post? Should it be mostly about school? Shall I include stories about travels, or should it be more personal? What is my audience, and who is reading? Is this just for me, to have a written record of my experiences? Or, is this blog more for my friends and family, to feel close to me when I am far? I'm sure it can be anything I want it to be, but at the same time I feel like a kid who has too many choices and she can't make a decision.
The next issue with this BLOG is that I get ideas for posts, and never get around to writing. Much of my experience, then, becomes an anticipatory experience regarding telling stories of my experiences. Ok maybe not really, but I have had so many ideas in the past month and have barely gotten around to writing anything! It all started leaving Denver and driving down to Santa Fe. At that point, although my mother was following me with my belongings in tow, I was all alone. I had 6 hours straight of being alone and thinking. It was at that point that I had the original thought about the word blog. I had about a million other thoughts too. I remember feeling like I was solving all the problems of the world, and that if I'd only had a tape recorder, I would have been able to have a record of them. Now all I'm left with is still questioning the 'bl', 'og' of blog.
Since spending a lovely time in Santa Fe with my mom and Chris, and their two cats Clark and Søl, I have been to New York, the Jersey Shore, and Paris. I spent a lovely two weeks at home with my Bestemor Winnie, my cousins, and extended family. I played in the pool and went to the beach. I finalized details for shipping my belongings and moving to Africa. Then my good friend Liliana came and we spent a few incredible days in New York City. I was able to fit in lunch with my brother Orie, visited Harlem for the first time, along with many more things. Then I re-packed downsized my belongings in preparation for ten Paris. I am writing from our apartment across from the Sacré-Cœur. We are in the Montmartre region, high up on a hill overlooking Paris and the Sacré-Cœur is a cathedral but it looks like a castle. Although there are a lot of tourists, it is pretty cool living next to a big castle.
Paris is amazing. I have been trying to stay away from making facebook posts. It can be so addicting, and I also want to remain gracious and humble. One of the unpublished posts in my head though, had something do to with questioning how everybody and everything in Paris can be so beautiful, and so sexy. Regardless, I have posted some pictures on FB, although for the purposes of this blog I hope to soon upload pics to my Google Picasa account. I practically haven't used that account since living in Oaxaca. Picasa will be my teach and live abroad collection of photo albums. The last time I blogged was also in Oaxaca :) I feel as though I still have a lot to learn about blogging. I have some very helpful friends who should be able to help me sort out uploading pictures and videos, as well as changing the format etc. Expect some changes to Ms. TeachLoveDance in good time. Oh great, now the blog has gender. It's crazy how we can seem to have relationships and even personify inanimate or online things!
Paris. My dear friend Hazel met me for the first weekend in Paris. Friday night we went out to a spot we found last year called 'Gibus' at the metro Republique. We danced and sweat to our hearts' delight. Some of my favorite tunes from the night were African, which only made me more excited for my upcoming adventure. It was one of those nights when I went to bed with a wet head and it wasn't because I showered. Now I am here with my mom and Chris! Mom wanted to celebrate her 50th birthday in style! The original idea was to have a huge family reunion in a village in Southern France or Tuscany. I still like that idea, so maybe we can shoot for her 60th regardless, here we are! It's nearly noon and I should go wake them soon, but not before some of my favorite moments from yesterday.
After their arrival we went out to our first french meal which included pâté, lamb, chicken, roast potatoes, "de la moutarde, du pain, de l'eau", red wine, creme brulée, and baguette. Our restaurant had a patio outside on the street, as most do in Paris, where we sat appreciating the French fashion, French language, and France in general. Mom and Chris couldn't believe how many people had baguette. Well, it helped that we were sitting right next to a Boulanger, or bakery, but still. They kept remarking "there's another one!", and another, and another. When in France, it really does seem, that everyone has a baguette under their arm.
We spent the afternoon walking from Montmartre to La Seine, the main river running through Paris. In walking from here to there we came across many things French, including Fromageries where we were introduced to fabulous French cheeses and sausisson or sausages.
One of my favorite parts of the evening was after we bought our first baguette. Mom didn't think we looked complete without one! Chris and I went into the boulangerie and selected among the various baguette, which we learned had different shapes and names due to the type of flour. We, of course, picked the longest and most French looking baguette. Not seconds after stepping proudly back on the street, approaching mom proudly with our baguette, did Chris stick the whole thing up to his mouth and take a bite. I wish I would have had my camera. I'm sure he committed something equivalent to a sin in France, the more common practice being to tear off the crunchy, nubby end with your hands. Something about the look of the long loaf in his hands, being periodically raised to his mouth, was one of the most comical and sweet things I have seen in a long, long time. Of course we later engaged in a conversation about how to hold the baguette. Must it be in the arms or can it be in the hands? When in Rome.
I leave you now, to wake up my sleeping parents and engage in what is sure to be another fun filled day roaming the streets of Paris. I feel the need to say I love you all, because I do. Again, I am grateful and giving thanks for these beautiful days and this beautiful life. Peace, LOVE SAGE.
7/27/11
7/7/11
Memories
My move is official, Denver is no longer my home. The last few months were so sweet, I think especially because I knew I was leaving. I was enjoying everything about Denver and life out west. Giving thanks has been a regular part of my life these days!
Recently I was reflecting on my circle of Denver dancer friends, and how I experienced a new type of friendship for the first time in my life. In the past I had childhood friends, neighbor friends, high school friends, college friends, my boyfriend's friends, work friends, roommates, grad degree friends, etc. This past year, however, I made friends through a common bond. I started dancing regularly. Mondays was Afro-Cuban, Thursdays was Afro-Caribe, Saturdays was African. I also dabbled in Salsa, Contemporary African, Ballet and Flamenco. Dancing makes me happier than almost anything on earth. It was at those dance classes, and with those dance teachers, that I developed some of my strongest friendship bonds.... Not to discount any of my other friends! To all my family and friends, I LOVE you. I am so grateful to have you in my life, and for all of your love and support.
It's been so long since I've blogged, and I have so many more ideas, memories, and stories to share. Yet in honor of my dancer friends, and because this video is just that great, I am posting the going away gift that my beloved teacher and friend Eulanda made for me. Thank you Eulanda, for inspiring me, challenging me, teaching me, and for creating this awesome video!
5/1/11
Milestones
Three months ago I flew to an International School job fair in Boston, not knowing what to think. I was pretty sure I was wasting my time and money, due to the fact that I had decided to join a friend of mine living in Rio de Janeiro. My thoughts at the time were: I am a young, single, enthusiastic professional; what would stop me from moving to Brazil? Yet, I had spent the money on registration and a flight so I decided to go. Besides, one can never have enough practice interviewing, right?
It turned out that I was granted, and had a fabulous interview, with an American International school in Accra, Ghana. (In fact, I had interviewed with the same school a year prior, at which time I was not offered a position). At the dinner social that first night, the principal I interviewed with suggested that I speak to the well reputed and well known head director. I did, and he mentioned that he was interested in a second interview but that he already had 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 appointments the next day. I said I would take 8:00.
I woke up in my hotel room that next morning, wiggled my toes, and contemplated moving to Africa. My gut instinct was to call my mother. Of course, she could tell me what to do! Then, my wisdom, my experience, and my conscience grasped hold of me. No, I couldn't ask my mom, or anyone else. Why? Because, neither she nor my best friend, nor anyone else would be moving. I was the one who would be moving, therefore I was the one who had to make the decision.
I stood up and opened the curtains. I will never forget the look of the massive orange sun rising over the city that day, and the tingling sensation that ran through my body. This was a day that would decide my fate. This was my time, this was it. I arrived early for the interview. They were impressed. They mentioned being highly interested in my candidacy, however they had more interviews to honor. I told them that I wouldn't start jumping up and down just yet. A few anxious hours passed.
When they called me at noon to sign the contract and confirm the agreement, I had less than an hour to do all of the above, and get to the airport for my flight home. For some reason I scheduled my flight home a day and a half before the fair ended, I think it was because I wanted to get home in time to go to my Saturday night dance club. Regardless, they offered me the job. I remember having my purple Oaxacan scarf in my hands at the time, and holding it up to my face to release a burst of enthusiasm. When the directors offered to shake my hands as a gesture of sealing the deal, I brushed them away and practically jumped into their arms, embracing them with all of my might.
While I do still have distant plans of moving to Brazil, those plans have been put on a minimum 2 year temporary hold. There were so many factors contributing to my decision to move to Ghana. Spending all my savings on a flight to Brazil, only to get there and have no job, no apartment, no money, and one friend, just didn't sound as appealing as the opportunity I had been presented with. My decision to move to Ghana was based on forward movement professionally, personally, and financially. Here are some of the factors that helped to seal the deal.
Honestly, my #1 requirement for any future locale was beach, check. Then came all of the other considerations. Personal connection with the directors, check. Capital city, check. New country, check. New continent, check. IB educator training, check. Airfare included, check. Housing provided, check. Potential to share housing with other young professionals, check. Potential for savings, check. Second grade teacher partner (who already has been teaching at the school for two years and whom I'm expected to work closely with), check. Potential for lots of dance opportunities, check, check, check. Lo and behold friends, I'm moving to AFRICA!
Fast forward.
Two months from now (today) I will be officially leaving Colorado. Denver has been my home for the last three years, and they have been three incredibly powerful and transformative years. Just the other day I realized exactly why this is the perfect time for me to leave. The answer is because I am happy! I am perfectly ready to leave because of the happiness that envelops my daily existence. I love my life. I have such good fortune here in Denver. I love my friends, my family, my roommates, my apartment, my house, my students, my colleagues, my dance classes, my weekend activities, the mountains, the city, everything.
I will take that gratitude forward with me on this next journey. Stay tuned! XOXOX
It turned out that I was granted, and had a fabulous interview, with an American International school in Accra, Ghana. (In fact, I had interviewed with the same school a year prior, at which time I was not offered a position). At the dinner social that first night, the principal I interviewed with suggested that I speak to the well reputed and well known head director. I did, and he mentioned that he was interested in a second interview but that he already had 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 appointments the next day. I said I would take 8:00.
I woke up in my hotel room that next morning, wiggled my toes, and contemplated moving to Africa. My gut instinct was to call my mother. Of course, she could tell me what to do! Then, my wisdom, my experience, and my conscience grasped hold of me. No, I couldn't ask my mom, or anyone else. Why? Because, neither she nor my best friend, nor anyone else would be moving. I was the one who would be moving, therefore I was the one who had to make the decision.
I stood up and opened the curtains. I will never forget the look of the massive orange sun rising over the city that day, and the tingling sensation that ran through my body. This was a day that would decide my fate. This was my time, this was it. I arrived early for the interview. They were impressed. They mentioned being highly interested in my candidacy, however they had more interviews to honor. I told them that I wouldn't start jumping up and down just yet. A few anxious hours passed.
When they called me at noon to sign the contract and confirm the agreement, I had less than an hour to do all of the above, and get to the airport for my flight home. For some reason I scheduled my flight home a day and a half before the fair ended, I think it was because I wanted to get home in time to go to my Saturday night dance club. Regardless, they offered me the job. I remember having my purple Oaxacan scarf in my hands at the time, and holding it up to my face to release a burst of enthusiasm. When the directors offered to shake my hands as a gesture of sealing the deal, I brushed them away and practically jumped into their arms, embracing them with all of my might.
While I do still have distant plans of moving to Brazil, those plans have been put on a minimum 2 year temporary hold. There were so many factors contributing to my decision to move to Ghana. Spending all my savings on a flight to Brazil, only to get there and have no job, no apartment, no money, and one friend, just didn't sound as appealing as the opportunity I had been presented with. My decision to move to Ghana was based on forward movement professionally, personally, and financially. Here are some of the factors that helped to seal the deal.
Honestly, my #1 requirement for any future locale was beach, check. Then came all of the other considerations. Personal connection with the directors, check. Capital city, check. New country, check. New continent, check. IB educator training, check. Airfare included, check. Housing provided, check. Potential to share housing with other young professionals, check. Potential for savings, check. Second grade teacher partner (who already has been teaching at the school for two years and whom I'm expected to work closely with), check. Potential for lots of dance opportunities, check, check, check. Lo and behold friends, I'm moving to AFRICA!
Fast forward.
Two months from now (today) I will be officially leaving Colorado. Denver has been my home for the last three years, and they have been three incredibly powerful and transformative years. Just the other day I realized exactly why this is the perfect time for me to leave. The answer is because I am happy! I am perfectly ready to leave because of the happiness that envelops my daily existence. I love my life. I have such good fortune here in Denver. I love my friends, my family, my roommates, my apartment, my house, my students, my colleagues, my dance classes, my weekend activities, the mountains, the city, everything.
I will take that gratitude forward with me on this next journey. Stay tuned! XOXOX
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