I'm getting progressively worse at updating. I promise I'm still alive! Time is flying by, I'm incredibly busy at school and with an online masters course so I don't have much time for anything else! This past week has indeed been a special week of many firsts for me.
Last Friday was the first time I spent Valentine's Day in a country that doesn't celebrate it (I kind of liked it!) I still ate an abnormally large amount of chocolate, but I won't have a Valentine's Day supply of chocolate to last me until Easter like last year! I found out from my students that Colombia has PEANUT BUTTER M&Ms! Only the best creation ever made, I'll be venturing out to the one small store they said had them tomorrow. I'm sure they're probably about $10 US a bag, but it might just be worth it. On Saturday morning, I was offered money from a homeless man for the first time. He tried to give me 3000 pesos, surprisingly I couldn't accept it from him. I'm a little bit worried as to what he would've liked in return, however maybe he was just trying to be nice! I also ran my first 12k race up a mountain! We ran las Palmas which is the mountain we take to get to school. Completely uphill for 12 kilometers is a great time. Happy to report I'm still alive and kicking, and that there are some super in shape Colombian old men that kicked my butt. More firsts...tonight was the first time I've broken a pan mid flip of a burger. I saw my burger's life flash before my eyes as the pan broke off the handle and came flying at my face before it clattered to the floor just barely missing my naked toes.
I love that all these new and mostly wonderful things are happening to, and around me. The weather has been amazing, as always. The masters online course is winding down and soon I'll be able to relax a little. Semana Santa is a little under two months away, Kayla has her ticket bought and I'm getting more excited by the minute to sweat my rear-end off in la ciudad perdidad hike in the North of Colombia!
Many good things going on! Keep the emails, happy notes, and prayers coming my way for a safe and happy rest of the school year!
much love to all,
aimee
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
I'm baaaack!
HELLO!
Whoops! Can't believe it's been SO long since I last updated!! It's the end of January already!! I actually just had my very first formal observation with my principal today. It was a math lesson on simplifying fractions. The lesson was going decently well until during centers 1/3 (written in lowest terms) of my students starts screaming and yelling...there was a spider. I was in the front of the room going, "Come on now, it's just a spider, let's move on! Let it be!" They then proceed to start throwing their pencils like daggers at the wall. I rush on over back to the back corner, and I was utterly stunned at the size of this spider! It's was biiigger than any spider I have ever seen in IA with angry looking legs. Good thing one of my students got him with his pencil he was stunned. I went to try and pick it up with a piece of paper to set it free, but just couldn't bring myself to getting close enough...it was going to try and eat me. Luckily, my lovely principal stepped up and offered to get the spider out of the room. Thank goodness he was there to save the spider, but I'm not quite sure how that's going to fair for my observation. I think I'm safe saying, I will never forget my first observation.
My outside of school life, well it's nonexistent right now. We just finished up a second round of grades, my observation this week, and conferences next week. There is our one and only long weekend coming up in March where a group of us will be returning to the finca we went to in September. That is giving me hope! My other lovely gift to look forward to is Semana Santa in April. This will be a much needed week long break in which KAYLA JO will be hopping on down to come visit. We're going to be doing la ciudad perdida hike near Santa Marta with some other friends from school and then relaxing at a beach town, Palomino for a couple of days of relaxation.
Time has FLOWN by, next week is February! My ticket is bought for coming home this summer! I'll be home June 30th, just in time for Alice's wedding!!! Leaving, July 29th, it will be a nice long chunk of time to be at home and see family and friends! So many great things to look forward to...now I just have to keep my eyes open for spiders who like to feast on noob teachers. STAY warm back home everybody!!
much love :)
aimee
Whoops! Can't believe it's been SO long since I last updated!! It's the end of January already!! I actually just had my very first formal observation with my principal today. It was a math lesson on simplifying fractions. The lesson was going decently well until during centers 1/3 (written in lowest terms) of my students starts screaming and yelling...there was a spider. I was in the front of the room going, "Come on now, it's just a spider, let's move on! Let it be!" They then proceed to start throwing their pencils like daggers at the wall. I rush on over back to the back corner, and I was utterly stunned at the size of this spider! It's was biiigger than any spider I have ever seen in IA with angry looking legs. Good thing one of my students got him with his pencil he was stunned. I went to try and pick it up with a piece of paper to set it free, but just couldn't bring myself to getting close enough...it was going to try and eat me. Luckily, my lovely principal stepped up and offered to get the spider out of the room. Thank goodness he was there to save the spider, but I'm not quite sure how that's going to fair for my observation. I think I'm safe saying, I will never forget my first observation.
My outside of school life, well it's nonexistent right now. We just finished up a second round of grades, my observation this week, and conferences next week. There is our one and only long weekend coming up in March where a group of us will be returning to the finca we went to in September. That is giving me hope! My other lovely gift to look forward to is Semana Santa in April. This will be a much needed week long break in which KAYLA JO will be hopping on down to come visit. We're going to be doing la ciudad perdida hike near Santa Marta with some other friends from school and then relaxing at a beach town, Palomino for a couple of days of relaxation.
Time has FLOWN by, next week is February! My ticket is bought for coming home this summer! I'll be home June 30th, just in time for Alice's wedding!!! Leaving, July 29th, it will be a nice long chunk of time to be at home and see family and friends! So many great things to look forward to...now I just have to keep my eyes open for spiders who like to feast on noob teachers. STAY warm back home everybody!!
much love :)
aimee
Friday, December 20, 2013
safe and sound
I have returned safely to Colombia, with zero travel complications, coincidentally both of my connecting flight's gates were located directly next to a Starbucks :). The last week and a half was a whirlwind of every kind of emotion. Grandpa Burke will be forever missed, he is such an incredible man. I'm so happy I was able to see and hear from all the people his life had touched, and changed for the better. Those moments are priceless to me.
While home I was also able to see many of my family and friends. Grandma Soukup is getting stronger each day and is being sassy as ever with the wonderful staff taking care of her at Heritage. She will be home before we know it! Aunt Patty congrats on the new job, how exciting!! I was able to see and chat with Greg for a little over 12 hours! It was also amazing connecting with old and new friends. Dillon if you're reading this, I want you to send me some of those pics you took since you no longer have facebook!
Normally for me Christmas is a time to freeze your butt off with the family you love while eating too many cookies and treats. This year, my Christmas is going to be looking very different! I'll be enjoying the sun and warmth here in Medellin with one of my best buddies. Travelling, staying busy, and being happy is exactly what I need right now.
More updates and pics to come following a much anticipated visit from the future Dr. Mrs. Alice Castle Guns :))
much love and Christmas cheer to all :)
While home I was also able to see many of my family and friends. Grandma Soukup is getting stronger each day and is being sassy as ever with the wonderful staff taking care of her at Heritage. She will be home before we know it! Aunt Patty congrats on the new job, how exciting!! I was able to see and chat with Greg for a little over 12 hours! It was also amazing connecting with old and new friends. Dillon if you're reading this, I want you to send me some of those pics you took since you no longer have facebook!
Normally for me Christmas is a time to freeze your butt off with the family you love while eating too many cookies and treats. This year, my Christmas is going to be looking very different! I'll be enjoying the sun and warmth here in Medellin with one of my best buddies. Travelling, staying busy, and being happy is exactly what I need right now.
More updates and pics to come following a much anticipated visit from the future Dr. Mrs. Alice Castle Guns :))
much love and Christmas cheer to all :)
Monday, December 9, 2013
Eve of coming home
Last images of my boring and bland meals I cook for myself. Can't wait to eat other peoples cooking like papa bear's breakfasts. I would do some pretty mean things for a Belgium waffles or some pancakes right about now. This hear is veggies and tofu, and below is veggies, rice on topof an arepa. See you soon!
Friday, December 6, 2013
photo update
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| church |
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| more strange fruit |
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| i climbed to the top of that! |
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| up allll those stairs! |
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| it's nice at the top |
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| quiiite a few steps |
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| incredible views! |
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| prrrretty city |
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| incredible |
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| chocolat |
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| incredible colors |
Saturday, November 30, 2013
turkey break!
Good morning!
Yesterday was Black Friday!! Yikes! I've been trying to control my urge to shop online and have it shipped to fairfax...it's been very difficult. This is definitely the least amount I have ever spent on a black friday in many years!
Thursday I went to another teacher's apartment for a thanksgiving dinner. All the teachers who were not traveling during this break each brought a dish for dinner. I was in charge of buying bread rolls. :) The dinner was delicious, for dessert there were pumpkin tarts that were vegan. They were so amazing. I need to start learning how to cook here.
Yesterday, Carmel and I took a day trip to Guatapé. It was absolutely amazing. The most incredible view I have ever seen. We had to walk up 740 steps to get to the top of la piedra. I´ll put pictures up later. Then we went on a boat tour followed by a little walking tour of the town. It was beautiful. We also stopped at a little chocolate shop in the square of the town. The chocolate it was incredible. The whole experience reminded me of the movie Chocolat :) So the day was awesome, the bus ride home in the dark was a little bit scary on the windy roads with big trucks and buses coming at you on the edge of a mountain, but we survived! The real interesting part comes in once I got home. I was emptying my bag and putting away my things and realized I left Carlos! What a typical ending to an otherwise perfect day.
Since my last experience with losing an iphone I now leave on location services, lock my phone, and have the Find Iphone app. I've been able to track Carlos the whole time from my ipad. I left him on the bus. We called the tour company right away and they contacted the bus driver who grabbed it and will give him back to the tour person today. However, this morning Carmel received a call from a tour guide who said she was waiting for us in parque poblado, where we caught the tour yesterday. She said we were supposed to be there 10 minutes ago. So Carmel quick calls me a cab and I hurry to the park to meet up with this woman to get my phone back. Turns out, she thought I wanted to be on the tour! She tried to get me on the bus so we could leave quickly, since I was so late, I tried to explain to her that I was on the tour yesterday and was just there to pick up my phone! She got all huffy and wanted to leave. So I'm sitting in the park, alone, no phone, completely frustrated with this language barrier, so the only option is I go buy a buñuelo, a latte and catch the bus home.
Moral of the story: Carlos will most likely be returned to me this afternoon, and buñuelos are delicious. Yay!
Yesterday was Black Friday!! Yikes! I've been trying to control my urge to shop online and have it shipped to fairfax...it's been very difficult. This is definitely the least amount I have ever spent on a black friday in many years!
Thursday I went to another teacher's apartment for a thanksgiving dinner. All the teachers who were not traveling during this break each brought a dish for dinner. I was in charge of buying bread rolls. :) The dinner was delicious, for dessert there were pumpkin tarts that were vegan. They were so amazing. I need to start learning how to cook here.
Yesterday, Carmel and I took a day trip to Guatapé. It was absolutely amazing. The most incredible view I have ever seen. We had to walk up 740 steps to get to the top of la piedra. I´ll put pictures up later. Then we went on a boat tour followed by a little walking tour of the town. It was beautiful. We also stopped at a little chocolate shop in the square of the town. The chocolate it was incredible. The whole experience reminded me of the movie Chocolat :) So the day was awesome, the bus ride home in the dark was a little bit scary on the windy roads with big trucks and buses coming at you on the edge of a mountain, but we survived! The real interesting part comes in once I got home. I was emptying my bag and putting away my things and realized I left Carlos! What a typical ending to an otherwise perfect day.
Since my last experience with losing an iphone I now leave on location services, lock my phone, and have the Find Iphone app. I've been able to track Carlos the whole time from my ipad. I left him on the bus. We called the tour company right away and they contacted the bus driver who grabbed it and will give him back to the tour person today. However, this morning Carmel received a call from a tour guide who said she was waiting for us in parque poblado, where we caught the tour yesterday. She said we were supposed to be there 10 minutes ago. So Carmel quick calls me a cab and I hurry to the park to meet up with this woman to get my phone back. Turns out, she thought I wanted to be on the tour! She tried to get me on the bus so we could leave quickly, since I was so late, I tried to explain to her that I was on the tour yesterday and was just there to pick up my phone! She got all huffy and wanted to leave. So I'm sitting in the park, alone, no phone, completely frustrated with this language barrier, so the only option is I go buy a buñuelo, a latte and catch the bus home.
Moral of the story: Carlos will most likely be returned to me this afternoon, and buñuelos are delicious. Yay!
Monday, November 18, 2013
the important things
Happy Monday!
This is the first monday in two weeks that I have had to go to school. I was getting nice and used to having a long weekend. The end of the year is coming around quickly. Next week we have Thurs/Fri off. The following week I am taking my personal day (hopefully!) on that Friday. Followed by a shortened week due to many festivities for Christmas! Our schedule is crazy, but I must admit my brain has been struggling to focus on work while so many things are happening back home.
Now to get a little sappy...
This past week of school has been incredibly overwhelming. School is important and always takes my energy, but what has been even more overwhelming is hearing about Grandma Soukup and all her issues in the hospital. As well as Grandpa Burke who will be undergoing a surgery of his own before Thanksgiving. Living abroad is a wonderful lifestyle, but it definitely calls into question what is really important in life. I love my family and friends more than anything in the whole world. I wish I could be home to give support to my family right now, but I am tied here for the moment. I have been forced to learn different ways of showing the people you care about them love. A "special intentions" section has been added to my white board at school. I tell my students many stories about my grandparents, parents, and friends. Positive energy and love is coming from Colombia all the way up to Iowa.
What I do know for sure...international teaching has been an incredible experience so far, and I know I am meant to be here right now. I also know that I will always have part of me in the midwest, whether I'm living there or not. Right now it's hard to be away, but I must keep remembering that Iowa is just a quick 6hr plane ride, or 12hr total travel day away. :)
Now I just ask my faithful readers, all 4 of you, to be sure to send prayers, good thoughts, positive energy (whichever method you believe in) to the Soukup and Burke families in the next few weeks. gracias :)
lots of love,
aimee
This is the first monday in two weeks that I have had to go to school. I was getting nice and used to having a long weekend. The end of the year is coming around quickly. Next week we have Thurs/Fri off. The following week I am taking my personal day (hopefully!) on that Friday. Followed by a shortened week due to many festivities for Christmas! Our schedule is crazy, but I must admit my brain has been struggling to focus on work while so many things are happening back home.
Now to get a little sappy...
This past week of school has been incredibly overwhelming. School is important and always takes my energy, but what has been even more overwhelming is hearing about Grandma Soukup and all her issues in the hospital. As well as Grandpa Burke who will be undergoing a surgery of his own before Thanksgiving. Living abroad is a wonderful lifestyle, but it definitely calls into question what is really important in life. I love my family and friends more than anything in the whole world. I wish I could be home to give support to my family right now, but I am tied here for the moment. I have been forced to learn different ways of showing the people you care about them love. A "special intentions" section has been added to my white board at school. I tell my students many stories about my grandparents, parents, and friends. Positive energy and love is coming from Colombia all the way up to Iowa.
What I do know for sure...international teaching has been an incredible experience so far, and I know I am meant to be here right now. I also know that I will always have part of me in the midwest, whether I'm living there or not. Right now it's hard to be away, but I must keep remembering that Iowa is just a quick 6hr plane ride, or 12hr total travel day away. :)
Now I just ask my faithful readers, all 4 of you, to be sure to send prayers, good thoughts, positive energy (whichever method you believe in) to the Soukup and Burke families in the next few weeks. gracias :)
lots of love,
aimee
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