It has been quite some time since I last wrote to you all, as I was so kindly reminded of today during my Skype session with Grandpa and Grandma Burke and Mom. It was lovely finally having a few minutes to stop and chat with family :) My first ever report cards are completely finished, and parent-teacher conferences will be this week. The students have off on Wed. and are dismissed at 11:00 on Thurs. so teachers and parents can meet. It is going to be a stressful couple of days!
The good news is that Halloween is coming up and Colombians loove Halloween. The whole school is taking the day to celebrate this wonderful holiday on Friday, we dismiss early at 1...which is then followed by a puente on Monday. It will be a much deserved, relaxing long weekend. I'm going to be staying in Medellin to catch up on sleep, hopefully some touristy things, a bit of celebration, and maybe a bit of work.
It has been so long since I wrote in here, I haven't updated you all on my excursion to the desert! The desert met up with the ocean, it was a hot, sweaty, relaxing trip. It was quite the adventure followed by report card stress and planning for quarter two. Right now I feel like I'm just a big ball of stress with work, and trying to plan exciting adventures for the breaks! It's quite overwhelming, but I am incredibly happy as well.
I can not believe that this week is the end of October!! In just a few short months Alice Guns will be here and I will be on December break! So many exciting things to look forward to this year! There are so many places I want to travel to, and so many activities I need to partake in! I feel as though the options are endless. :)
Thanks for reading and keeping me on top of these updates
much love
aimee
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Sunday, October 6, 2013
october break
I am a Warrior!! Completed el Desafio de Guerreros today, which is basically a Warrior Dash but on crack. The race is set on the side of a mountain at Parque Arvi, there was mud, barbwire, hills, sandbag carrying, sliding down rocks underneath barbwire, getting stuck in the mud (at least 10x), falling, falling and more falling. It was SO much fun! But it was also incredibly intense.
This week is our October break, the students have the entire week off and the teachers have PD both Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday I am leaving Medellin for practically the first time! A group of us are going to La Guajira which is the desert of Colombia. I'm not entirely sure what to expect except for hot weather. I'll be bringing my charged camera and a positive attitude! It is going to be so nice to get away for a little while. We have off from Wed. through Monday. We arrive late Monday night back to Medellin which will make for an interesting first day back after break.
When we get back there will only be three full days left of quarter one!! Yiiikes! This means my grades will be due coming sooner rather than later.
Well, this warrior is incredibly exhausted and needs to go lounge in bed. I didn't bring my camera to the race, but one of the other teachers got some great pics so hopefully I'll get to see them soon!
Shout out to Grandma Soukup and Grandpa Burke, prayers and thoughts are with you always! Please get healthy soon!! Love you both so much!!
have a great week everybody!! :)
This week is our October break, the students have the entire week off and the teachers have PD both Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday I am leaving Medellin for practically the first time! A group of us are going to La Guajira which is the desert of Colombia. I'm not entirely sure what to expect except for hot weather. I'll be bringing my charged camera and a positive attitude! It is going to be so nice to get away for a little while. We have off from Wed. through Monday. We arrive late Monday night back to Medellin which will make for an interesting first day back after break.
When we get back there will only be three full days left of quarter one!! Yiiikes! This means my grades will be due coming sooner rather than later.
Well, this warrior is incredibly exhausted and needs to go lounge in bed. I didn't bring my camera to the race, but one of the other teachers got some great pics so hopefully I'll get to see them soon!
Shout out to Grandma Soukup and Grandpa Burke, prayers and thoughts are with you always! Please get healthy soon!! Love you both so much!!
have a great week everybody!! :)
Sunday, September 29, 2013
survival
Hiii!
It's been many days since my last update. I have since completed my first masters class, slept 12 straight hours through the night, eaten Spanish tapas, and ran the Color Run here in Medellin. The run was SO much fun. I am so happy to be here, but I can't help but miss all my loved ones back home. I have received birthday cards, gifts, messages, it all means so much to me. Experiences around the world are incredible, exciting, and new but nothing can beat the love of your family.
This is a short update tonight, I have about 8 school days with my kids left before the first quarter is over. These next few weeks are going to fly by! There is much on my school and personal to-do lists. Such as booking flights to the Galapagos Islands, booking a flight back home for the month of July, planning excursions for Semana Santa, and lots of boring school stuff that you all probably don't want to hear about.
I must try for a second shower today to try and get all the color off from the race earlier, and head early to bed to try and not get overwhelmed. I enjoy hearing about everyone back home from everyone I love. I hope you all know just how important you are to me. Just know that I am always thinking about you, praying for you, and worrying for your safety. Please stay healthy, happy, and safe!! (and pencil me in to your schedule for july 2014)
much LOVE de medellin
aimee
That color does NOT come off easy...I may have lost a complete layer of skin...
It's been many days since my last update. I have since completed my first masters class, slept 12 straight hours through the night, eaten Spanish tapas, and ran the Color Run here in Medellin. The run was SO much fun. I am so happy to be here, but I can't help but miss all my loved ones back home. I have received birthday cards, gifts, messages, it all means so much to me. Experiences around the world are incredible, exciting, and new but nothing can beat the love of your family.
This is a short update tonight, I have about 8 school days with my kids left before the first quarter is over. These next few weeks are going to fly by! There is much on my school and personal to-do lists. Such as booking flights to the Galapagos Islands, booking a flight back home for the month of July, planning excursions for Semana Santa, and lots of boring school stuff that you all probably don't want to hear about.
I must try for a second shower today to try and get all the color off from the race earlier, and head early to bed to try and not get overwhelmed. I enjoy hearing about everyone back home from everyone I love. I hope you all know just how important you are to me. Just know that I am always thinking about you, praying for you, and worrying for your safety. Please stay healthy, happy, and safe!! (and pencil me in to your schedule for july 2014)
much LOVE de medellin
aimee
Sunday, September 15, 2013
waterfall hike!
This weekend I actually did something new and exciting!
One of the teachers from school is super fit and Colombian and he leads these waterfall hikes in Envigado. I went and it was absolutely amazing. I have some pictures, but Meghan the other new teacher that went had a better camera so I'm just going to steal her pictures. This hike made me realize that I am so not prepared for outdoorsy activities here. I need to buy a backpack, a dry bag, hiking and water shoes. The hike was so amazing, in one mountain we experienced a jungle, dunes, desert, and grassy pastures. There were cows everywhere! Terrifying! They would be hiding in the shrubs and in the background and then just start running at you. I hope you enjoy the pictures. I have SO many bug bites. Didn't even realize I was getting bit until I got home.
I've found a few more cool spots for lunch/dinner and an awesome little coffee shop. I'm trying to get out and explore more, and hopefully soon we'll have more time off to go exploring outside of Poblado more. I have SO much on my to-do list.
This week at school will fly by, the students have MAP tests and have off on Friday, we have Prof. Dev. day followed by my very first Masters class starting on Saturday...these next few weeks will be crazy and then pretty soon October break will be here and then quarter 1 will be over and I can really start panicking about grades!
Life is good here, itches and all :)
much love
aimee
One of the teachers from school is super fit and Colombian and he leads these waterfall hikes in Envigado. I went and it was absolutely amazing. I have some pictures, but Meghan the other new teacher that went had a better camera so I'm just going to steal her pictures. This hike made me realize that I am so not prepared for outdoorsy activities here. I need to buy a backpack, a dry bag, hiking and water shoes. The hike was so amazing, in one mountain we experienced a jungle, dunes, desert, and grassy pastures. There were cows everywhere! Terrifying! They would be hiding in the shrubs and in the background and then just start running at you. I hope you enjoy the pictures. I have SO many bug bites. Didn't even realize I was getting bit until I got home.
I've found a few more cool spots for lunch/dinner and an awesome little coffee shop. I'm trying to get out and explore more, and hopefully soon we'll have more time off to go exploring outside of Poblado more. I have SO much on my to-do list.
This week at school will fly by, the students have MAP tests and have off on Friday, we have Prof. Dev. day followed by my very first Masters class starting on Saturday...these next few weeks will be crazy and then pretty soon October break will be here and then quarter 1 will be over and I can really start panicking about grades!
Life is good here, itches and all :)
much love
aimee
Monday, September 9, 2013
biiiirthday
Helloooo!
Quick update...I've made it a whole other year!
Yes friends, I am now the ripe old age of 23. It was absolutely lovely having my birthday fall on this wonderful Monday. This weekend I celebrated my birthday by hanging out with a bunch of teachers at two of the girls Kelsey and Meghan's apartment. Their place is huuuge. It's incredible. However, moral of the story is I stayed up way too late and as a result did absolutely nothing on Sunday. It was grrreat. Good thing birthdays only come once a year.
Today has been a pretty average day. The kids were wiiiild, Mondays do not slow them down a bit. After school, I was able to write some thank you notes to the kdis who brought me gifts! So sweet! Followed by a workout class and then a bit of school work.
That's all I've got...the exciting life of a newly 23yr old living in Colombia :D
ps. I've heard from many people that there may be cards in the mail, however I have yet to receive any! I hope they're still in the mail and I eagerly await their arrival :))
muuch love from the birthday girl
aimee
Quick update...I've made it a whole other year!
Yes friends, I am now the ripe old age of 23. It was absolutely lovely having my birthday fall on this wonderful Monday. This weekend I celebrated my birthday by hanging out with a bunch of teachers at two of the girls Kelsey and Meghan's apartment. Their place is huuuge. It's incredible. However, moral of the story is I stayed up way too late and as a result did absolutely nothing on Sunday. It was grrreat. Good thing birthdays only come once a year.
Today has been a pretty average day. The kids were wiiiild, Mondays do not slow them down a bit. After school, I was able to write some thank you notes to the kdis who brought me gifts! So sweet! Followed by a workout class and then a bit of school work.
That's all I've got...the exciting life of a newly 23yr old living in Colombia :D
ps. I've heard from many people that there may be cards in the mail, however I have yet to receive any! I hope they're still in the mail and I eagerly await their arrival :))
muuch love from the birthday girl
aimee
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
oh monday...
this is going to be a quick update...
Monday...quite possibly was the most eventful day thus far. Only because terrible things kept happening to me, which I normally wouldn't share...however I know how much I like to laugh at other people's pain so I'm sure my devoted readers would love the same opportunity.
Started off waking up feeling GREAT. Finally feeling like I kicked this crummy cold I've been having to the curb. So I woke up late, no big deal, late for the bus...again. No big deal, whatever. The bus ride up the mountain starts to make my head feel like its growing and growing and my ears are getting more plugged. I thought my head was literally going to explode, luckily it did not. So ok, maybe I'm not over my cold.
Ears are plugged, can half way hear, throat is a mess and it sounds like a 90 yr old smoker is greeting the children as they come in the door. First question of the day, "Miss Soukup, did you change your voice?" I replied/growled, "No, Juan Josè, Miss Soukup is a tad under the weather." Followed by, "Miss Soukup you sound like a man" Lovely.
After lunch, barely made it that far, it was time for Treat Monday! Kelsey and I run away to the high school cafeteria to buy baked goods and yummy coffee while the students are at recess. We need pick me ups on Mondays. After my snacks are finished, my nose is running, like a lady i use my arm to wipe it off. Turns out I have a bloody nose....like a 10 yr old. Grrrreat.
Students are coming in from recess, I'm blowing my blood out trying to clean the evidence off my hands and arm. (students may be starting to get worried now...) It's all good, Miss Soukup just needs to keep the kleenex box by her at all times.
First day of science class is Monday afternoon. Students are getting excited, who can blame them. I play a scientific method rap song, the dancing turns violent....time for a discussion about when it is appropriate to have fun in the class and when it crosses the line. As I'm mid sentence about what is an appropriate time to have fun....the chair I'm sitting in breaks and I fall to the floor. Literally the metal leg broke completely off. (followed by laughs and comments on how heavy Miss Soukup is.....)
Day over.
hope you all had some great laughs...I know we all did in 5e :) and enjoyed your day of leisure on labor day!
much love
aimee
Monday...quite possibly was the most eventful day thus far. Only because terrible things kept happening to me, which I normally wouldn't share...however I know how much I like to laugh at other people's pain so I'm sure my devoted readers would love the same opportunity.
Started off waking up feeling GREAT. Finally feeling like I kicked this crummy cold I've been having to the curb. So I woke up late, no big deal, late for the bus...again. No big deal, whatever. The bus ride up the mountain starts to make my head feel like its growing and growing and my ears are getting more plugged. I thought my head was literally going to explode, luckily it did not. So ok, maybe I'm not over my cold.
Ears are plugged, can half way hear, throat is a mess and it sounds like a 90 yr old smoker is greeting the children as they come in the door. First question of the day, "Miss Soukup, did you change your voice?" I replied/growled, "No, Juan Josè, Miss Soukup is a tad under the weather." Followed by, "Miss Soukup you sound like a man" Lovely.
After lunch, barely made it that far, it was time for Treat Monday! Kelsey and I run away to the high school cafeteria to buy baked goods and yummy coffee while the students are at recess. We need pick me ups on Mondays. After my snacks are finished, my nose is running, like a lady i use my arm to wipe it off. Turns out I have a bloody nose....like a 10 yr old. Grrrreat.
Students are coming in from recess, I'm blowing my blood out trying to clean the evidence off my hands and arm. (students may be starting to get worried now...) It's all good, Miss Soukup just needs to keep the kleenex box by her at all times.
First day of science class is Monday afternoon. Students are getting excited, who can blame them. I play a scientific method rap song, the dancing turns violent....time for a discussion about when it is appropriate to have fun in the class and when it crosses the line. As I'm mid sentence about what is an appropriate time to have fun....the chair I'm sitting in breaks and I fall to the floor. Literally the metal leg broke completely off. (followed by laughs and comments on how heavy Miss Soukup is.....)
Day over.
hope you all had some great laughs...I know we all did in 5e :) and enjoyed your day of leisure on labor day!
much love
aimee
Saturday, August 31, 2013
fotos!
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| oh the wonderful moments of teaching :) jail=yale |
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| pretty flowers at school |
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| tamale sin carne :) |
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| my first coffee press and cup o joe! |
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| the entire city was covered with fog....and then the clouds above! the school is reeeally high up. |
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| and the bus is reeeeeally small....i start off every morning feeling like i'm going to pass out |
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| MY FIRST PACKAGE!! Cathy Soukup is AMAZING :)) look at all those stamps!! |
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