That's right folks, my blogging is so HOT it's tough to contain it in a single blog. As a result, you can catch me on our
Actually, it's my turn to write a guest blog for MPI Ecuador's daily-life blog. The blog- at Open Hands and Dirty Feet- discusses my involvement with the Teen Center and where we (Shawn, Bibi, & I) hope it ends up by the end of the year.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Same Situation, New Concerns
Classes start tomorrow!
This phrase has always given me anxiety, a feeling that another semester's worth of work and reading was about to start. Not that I wasn't excited to start a new term- new things to learn, new ideas to pursue, friendships renewed- but deadlines never excited me, and knowing that all the great things came with a price caused me pause.
This year, I get to be in a different spot- supporting our teachers get underway teaching the kids in the library. We are running kids and adult English, kids art, and women's exercise classes out of the library starting tomorrow. I do not have the usual jitters- I won't have test, or papers, or have to figureout how to weave me pervious experience into something a professor will find academically worthy; instead, I've traded those doubts with others, namely, will we have people there at all?
There are always trade-offs, and going from a student to the "profe" as we're called, is one I am eagerly anticipating. Sure the doubts about the success of the endevour are there, but this time they are different. I am sure I don't know half of the things that should be worrying me, but I'm content in a break from the predictable cycle that school had become. The unknown is exciting; let's get started!
This phrase has always given me anxiety, a feeling that another semester's worth of work and reading was about to start. Not that I wasn't excited to start a new term- new things to learn, new ideas to pursue, friendships renewed- but deadlines never excited me, and knowing that all the great things came with a price caused me pause.
This year, I get to be in a different spot- supporting our teachers get underway teaching the kids in the library. We are running kids and adult English, kids art, and women's exercise classes out of the library starting tomorrow. I do not have the usual jitters- I won't have test, or papers, or have to figureout how to weave me pervious experience into something a professor will find academically worthy; instead, I've traded those doubts with others, namely, will we have people there at all?
There are always trade-offs, and going from a student to the "profe" as we're called, is one I am eagerly anticipating. Sure the doubts about the success of the endevour are there, but this time they are different. I am sure I don't know half of the things that should be worrying me, but I'm content in a break from the predictable cycle that school had become. The unknown is exciting; let's get started!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Blog 2.0
If you are my mother, you'd know I don't update my blog very often. Well, I am out to change that. Starting today, I'm going to post more often. Originally, I had planned to offer some insightful tidbits, something that was well written or witty; as that as not worked well (a single blog post in a month), I've decided to forgo my pride and just write.
With that said, I should let you (mother) know what's been going on the past few weeks. Ten days ago we rapped up our kids' summer camp. We had a pretty good turnout- 17 kids came of the two-week camp. We played games, made art, learned about the environment, and took trips to watch a movie and to the pool. My favorite part were snacks on the roof: it offered time for both kids and profes to catch a breath, enjoy the sun, and eat a couple of oranges. Overall it was a good way to get to know some of the kids we'll be working with in the coming year.
Last week we re-opened the library, which had been closed while the kids' camp was underway. Jackie and I are responsible for the administrative duties, while everybody uses the space as a base of operations within the community. We've been cleaning, organizing, and reworking policies and procedures in order to be reading for next week, when we begin our semester-long programs.
On a more personal note, I hiked Pichincha, the active volcano that forms the western border of Quito, on Saturday. After taking a few wrong turns (did you know you can actually climb a mountain the wrong way?), Sarah, Sonia, and I made it to the top, paused briefly in the cold wind for a few pictures, and then made our way down the rock and sand face. After making it down, we visited Erik's favorite Chinese restraunt and ate everything we could (it was 6, we hadn't had anything to eat since 9am). All in all, not a bad way to spend 5 hours on a Saturday.
Thanks to those who have donated, followed along on the blog, and who are sending encouragement over email. It means a lot to me to have such as great support group back in the states.
-m-
With that said, I should let you (mother) know what's been going on the past few weeks. Ten days ago we rapped up our kids' summer camp. We had a pretty good turnout- 17 kids came of the two-week camp. We played games, made art, learned about the environment, and took trips to watch a movie and to the pool. My favorite part were snacks on the roof: it offered time for both kids and profes to catch a breath, enjoy the sun, and eat a couple of oranges. Overall it was a good way to get to know some of the kids we'll be working with in the coming year.
Last week we re-opened the library, which had been closed while the kids' camp was underway. Jackie and I are responsible for the administrative duties, while everybody uses the space as a base of operations within the community. We've been cleaning, organizing, and reworking policies and procedures in order to be reading for next week, when we begin our semester-long programs.
On a more personal note, I hiked Pichincha, the active volcano that forms the western border of Quito, on Saturday. After taking a few wrong turns (did you know you can actually climb a mountain the wrong way?), Sarah, Sonia, and I made it to the top, paused briefly in the cold wind for a few pictures, and then made our way down the rock and sand face. After making it down, we visited Erik's favorite Chinese restraunt and ate everything we could (it was 6, we hadn't had anything to eat since 9am). All in all, not a bad way to spend 5 hours on a Saturday.
Thanks to those who have donated, followed along on the blog, and who are sending encouragement over email. It means a lot to me to have such as great support group back in the states.
-m-
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)