I AM still here :)

Hello! I have failed at blogging and it's not that I haven't been doing things it's that I had fallen into a routine that did not include writing blogs. I will do my best to fill you in on the last few months of life. Highlights: -I have a class of 21 this year and they are AWESOME!!! This class is the best I have had I think, well behaved, works hard....I couldn't really ask for anything better. The time is flying by! -Living with Jose is going well. We've definitely had some rough patches of figuring it out but overall things are wonderful. He's still busier than ever but we just enjoy the time that we do have together. He is enjoying his full time PE job a lot and still coaching and playing himself. He just finished another tournament of his own which they won! It was very exciting. -I have been staying around the city mostly because with no time off it's hard to plan trips. We've had so few days off! I did go on a day trip to see some waterfalls a few weeks ago with a big group. They were beautiful and just popped up out of nowhere. -I've still been running a lot and doing a few races. I've also been going to yoga down at the beach every other Saturday morning. It's so nice to have a car because then I don't have to worry about who I'm going to ride with or if anyone else is going. It's very nice. I ran a race up a volcano last weekend. It was 21km and it was intense! Here is the link for the route and elevation map... http://yoamoes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=42%3Arecorrido-reto-del-volcan-ilamatepec&catid=1%3Ahome Here are also a few pictures from the race....GORGEOUS! The whole group post race. The crater...VERY green :) Some of the views! -I've already taken 1 masters class this year. I have another one in January and then just one class to go! That class is not offered again until the following September. So, if I stay again I will finish up then. If I don't stay, I will figure out another way to take it. About staying.....it's looking like I will stay one more but who knows. I change my mind daily! -The new group of teachers is great and lots of fun people to hang out with. Although I no longer live in the complejo, I am still over there quite a bit. Since so many people left last year, it is a whole new environment in there...for the better. It's much more of a community and people have parties all the time and do things together. -We are looking forward to coming home for Christmas. Jose is coming along and we are coming home December 15-Jan 3rd. Hopefully we will be able to see everyone !

I have returned

So I am back and finally have some time to post. I got back July 17th and Jose was there to pick me up. It was so wonderful to see him! We got in the car and instead of driving back to the complejo, we came to our apartment. It felt very strange to go a different way once we came into the city after always returning to the complejo for the past 2 years. When coming in to the apartment, it felt like I already lived here. Jose and his dad had moved all of the boxes and then Antonia (my maid) had unpacked everything and put things where she knows they belong :) (please insert laughs and rolling of eyes here) haha Yes, my life is pretty ridiculous. Needless to say, unpacking and settling in was pretty painless. I had a few days of relaxing before starting to prepare for the new teachers. The new teachers arrived on July 23rd and the weekend before was busy, busy setting up their houses, buying things for their welcoming baskets and making sure all the houses were in order. I made 2 trips to the airport that day to pick up 2 different groups and everyone arrived with no problems. This was a miracle with 20 people flying in with numerous pets. No bags were lost and no delayed flights, WOW! To say that the welcoming week was busy is an understatement. With 18 teachers to settle in, take shopping, make breakfast for, take to meetings, and answer thousands of questions....the 2 other welcoming committee members and I were pretty well exhausted by the end of each day. VERY few of them speak any spanish at all so there was a lot of translating and assisting necessary also. Once that craziness was done, I had a week to rest and recover before starting work this past Wednesday. Jose and I went to a lodge in the mountains for a night and then to the beach with his family for another night. By Wednesday, I was ready to get started and get back into my classroom. On Wednesday, Jose and I walked to work in the morning which was fun to get ready and have breakfast together. He was so excited for the first day. It was nice to see everyone again and was very easy to slip back into old routines. The last few days have been spend in meetings, setting up, and planning the first week or os. I'm feeling very ready and have my class list. I've heard positive things from most teachers from last year that it's a good group. I'm hoping that is true. This weekend I might go into my classroom for a bit tomorrow but mostly just relaxing and mentally preparing for Monday. I always like the first week of school because it's so fun to figure out who the kids are and still feel fresh and excited about things. Hope everyone is doing well at home. Love and miss you all!

First party thrown by students

So a few Fridays ago (the Friday after my bday) some of the students had prepared a surprise party for one of our students that is moving away. Well, we got to the party and it ended up being a bday party for me too. It was so cute! We got to this ridiculous club. It was a golf course but one of the most ritzy places in the country. I could not believe it. Golf course, tennis courts, huge pool, I only saw a little section of the place. It was just the girls from my class and we swam, painted nails, decorated shirts, ate some food, had a GORGEOUS cake and just hung out. I had such a great time!! It's so interesting and fun to see how the girls act outside of school and how they act towards each other, adults, so fun!

I will be so sad to see this group of students go, but I'm sure I will love the next group just as much!

First hike around Laguna Alegria

This was a jam packed weekend and I can't believe that it's already over. The last week went well and I can't believe we are down to only 14 days, so crazy! We are starting to review a lot and grades are done next week so then it will just be a lot of busy work to finish off the year :) On Friday, I went out to dinner with some other ladies to a nice Chinese restaurant. It was nice to get out and enjoy delicious food with great company! Saturday was a relaxing day...ran some errands, and then spent some time with a friend that I hadn't seen in FOREVER! Jose had a game in the evening so Rachel and I went along to watch.

Today I went on a hike to Laguna Alegria. It's a lake about 2 hours away and it is green because of it's high sulfur content. It is surrounded by mountains and volcanoes and is gorgeous. Jose and I went with some other friends and it was quite the hike. It was about 3 hours up but through non-existent trails, over rocks, and up-up-up.

On the way down, it started raining and thank goodness we went down a different way because we wouldn't have made it over those rocks when it was raining. Overall fun and beautiful but Jose and I decided that hiking is something that we only need to do every once in a while....a very once in a while haha. This week the students have their semester writing exam and I am just starting to wrap everything up. It hasn't hit me at all that the year is almost done. I think I am thinking too much about the Framingham class that I still have hanging over my head before summer will start too. But less than a month until I'm home!

First birthday on a school day

So this week was my birthday and our mother's day show. I've never had to teach on my birthday because I student taught in the fall and last year it was on a weekend but this year it was on a school day, which was actually kind of fun. Since my birthday would be during the week, Jose and I went over the weekend before up into the mountains. I always forget how much I love it up there until I go. That is one thing that is so amazing about this country. There are mountains in one part of the country and then beaches in another area, the best of both worlds. It was relaxing and really nice to get away.

On my actual birthday, my students were so cute. A few brought me gifts and then when I was out at recess duty, they snuck in to the classroom and wrote messages all over the whiteboard. They had all made a card and signed it as well. Then, around 11am a few students from last year ran into the back door of my classroom and scared me. They shouted Happy Birthday and all had a sign that they had gone around and had students from my class last year sign. I couldn't believe they remembered but they came over from the middle school during their lunch time and were worried they were going to get caught, it was so cute. They gave me a few little cafeteria snacks they had bought at lunch. I felt so loved with all of the emails, cards, and messages. Thanks to everyone that thought of me yesterday. It was really a great day!

After school, I went to dinner with some friends at a restaurant I had never been to called Adventure Cafe. It had a beautiful view of the city and we were there at a great time, just in time to watch the city lights come on and the sun to go down. It was a great group of friends that went.

Today was our 5th grade Mother's Day show. We had an 80s theme so all the kids (and a few of the teachers) had a great time dressing up. The moms really enjoyed the show and we had quite a few of them crying. It was a lot of preparing and practicing so I am very happy that it is over! The students sang 3 songs....1 in spanish, a different version of "Moms just wanna love us" instead of girls just wanna have fun and then a newer song by one direction. It was a hit!

I now only have 20 days of school left and I can't believe it! This year has flown by and it's hard to believe that I've been here 2 years already. Looking back on it, it feels like just yesterday that I was packing up to come here and thinking....oh man 2 years, that's a long time, but it was over in the blink of an eye. I am getting very excited for my mom and Betsey's upcoming visit and then to come home June 18th, it will be here before we know it!

First signing of apartment

So class is done, BARELY survived. It was the most unorganized, unstructured, nonsense class that I have taken in the program. The teacher would teach whatever popped into her head, whether it had to do with reading instruction or not. She would assign random things and say they had a due date but then expect them to be done on time. UGH so frustrating. I spent the rest of the weekend relaxing and recovering because of the business of the 2 weeks of class. This week has felt wonderful to get back to normal life. In the middle of the craziness of class, Jose and I were also apartment hunting. So we decided that we want to try living together next year (like school year-as in when I come back from the states in July). So I'm making the big jump and moving out of the complejo (school housing) to an apartment of my, well our own. If I don't live in the housing that the school provides, they give me a stipend to pay towards rent each month. I will use that to pay for the apartment. We went to look at 1 this past week and walked in and knew it was the right one. I mean all of you know that I am not very picky when it comes to things. I don't really need to look at lots of different things. If the first one I see I like, no need in looking any further haha. It's 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, living room, dining area, kitchen, laundry, A/C, has security, parking and most importantly is furnished so we don't have to worry about buying all new furniture. It's walkable (a long walk but possible) to the school but I/ we (if Jose gets a job there) will probably drive to work just because it's more of a time issue in the morning. I don't want to have to leave SUPER early to make the hike to work or be super sweaty when I get there. No picture yet but hopefully next time we go see it, maybe to sign the actual lease, we can take some. So it's very exciting but kinda crazy too. Jose will move in July 1st (while I'm at home) and then when I come back in mid-July, I will go there rather than the complejo. Everytime I think about it, it just doesn't seem real. Don't worry, just because I am moving into an apartment does not mean that I am staying here any longer. I will be back to the states soon. Other than that, just taking a week at a time and counting down until the end of the year (6 weeks, whoa!). We have next Tuesday off because it's Labor Day here. We work Monday but then have Tuesday off, who knows. My birthday is also coming up, 25! No big plans really but might go somewhere for the weekend. Hope everyone is doing well and I can't wait to see you so soon!

First trip to Panama (part 2)

Panama city :)

So I'm back and halfway through the next Framingham Master's Class. During each class, it pretty much takes over my life and consumes every ounce of free time that I have. Coming right back into it AND work after the week off was a bit of a shocker to the system. However, it's going well and we are halfway finished. Just 4 days this week, then the full day Saturday again and then we are done! After this class I will be done with 5 out of the 9 classes and will finish and have my masters next year, kinda crazy!

ANYWAYS, Panama was a great time. We left right after school on Friday and took the quick 2 hour flight to the city. We arrived to Panama City and just went right to our hostel. It was THE hostel in the city so was definitely full of all of the backpacker,hippee, people you would usually expect to be staying in a hostel. It was a Friday night and it was attached to a bar so it was definitely bumping when we arrived. We checked in and went to bed, exhausted.



Our 4 person bike ride along the Causeway.

Day 2 and 3 were days in the city. We spent the time exploring around the city, riding bikes on the causeway, and taking a trip on a boat THROUGH the canal. That was probably the coolest part of the whole trip for me. We went through 3 of the locks and I had no idea it was such a big process, SO crazy. Every boat gets held in each one and the water levels rise to put you up to the next level and there are some BIG boats that go through there. Something that I will never forget.

A big barge coming through.

Entering the first lock.

We then took an overnight bus to get to the island, Bocas del Toro. Everything went smoothly and we arrived very early the next morning to the island and checked into our lovely house for the next 4 nights. It was the perfect size for the 4 of us. On the island we spent the week hiking through jungles, some beach time, snorkeling, seeing some dolphins, and walking through some pretty gardens. I liked the island but we were very, very busy and didn't have much down time.



Our muddy hike....NOT my favorite thing we did!


After our time on the island, we were all set with tickets already purchased, to ride back overnight Friday night to get back to the city. BUT, when we got to the bus station (which is really all that is in this town) the office was closed and everyone was telling us that there was no bus because it's Good Friday and why would the bus company have sold us tickets? Well we were in a large dilemma and needless to say, a little frustrated. They told us that we could take a different bus, to a different city and there we could hop on a bus to Panama City. We hoped for the best and 2 buses later, nearly 11 hours, some blasting loud music, and freezing conditions, we made it back to the city at 6am. So now it's Saturday and we had 1 last day in the city to hang around before leaving super early on Sunday. We split up our group....the couple went off and then Carolyn and I hung out but it was good to have some separation after SO much together time. We explored the city a bit more and went to bed early for our early departure the next day.

Overall, it was a great trip but I realized a lot about myself on the trip. I do not like spending money and would much rather save money for things that I value in life. When traveling with a group, it's important to have a plan on what you are going to do and not just decide on the fly. Also, I don't like to travel as much as I thought I did. Don't get my wrong, I do enjoy it but I am just as happy relaxing at home and resting. We were so go-go-go that by the time I got back, I was more exhausted than I was before we left. I felt like I didn't have a vacation because I had no spare time. But that's life. Now it's back to work and back to Framingham. It's almost the end of April now, where is time going? I will be home in 2 short months, whoa that will fly by. Love and miss you all!


The view of the canal from the flight home, SO impressive!

First trip to Panama

I am back from my trip to Panama. It was a good time and I have lots to report on and pictures to post but have jumped right back into a masters class that is keeping me very busy. I will try to post this weekend or next. The class is a bit intense but wanted everyone to know that I haven't forgotten about you and that I will post as soon as I have time to breathe.

Love and miss you all!

Races, races, and more races!

This picture is from an older race but here is the crew. The usual members here (with a few extras are Carolyn (2nd from left), Matt, Eileen in the purple tank top, me, and Colleen who is a bit cut off. The other two are also teachers at the school but were just out for the race.


So this past weekend was somewhat relaxing. Friday I played soccer and then just hung around the complejo with friends. Saturday slept in a little bit and then went on some errands to the bank (which is always a HUGE process) and went to pick up our shirts and numbers for the race on Sunday.

Sunday morning, we got up early to run a 9km in the new ecopark. It was a nice course but trail running is definitely different than just normal running on the street and my body felt it today!


Our most recent race...Colleen, Carolyn, Jess, myself, and Letty (the lady at the school that helps settle in all of the new teachers-she's the best)


Jose and I also celebrated our 1 year anniversary because today we had work and he has bball practice. He slept in while I ran :) and then we went to a nice restaurant for lunch. We were pleasantly surprised when the place was having a 35% discount if you use your debit card from the bank that we both have, it was very lucky and we were excited. We relaxed in the afternoon and then in the evening went to a place called Los Planes which is near Puerto del Diablo. I had never been but it was very nice and had beautiful views of the city. We had dinner there (pupusas) and just enjoyed the time. I can't believe it's been a year already, man how time flies!

Well that's all the updates for this week. School is still going very well. I have to take a step back sometimes and realize how much I love my class. We all just get along so well and they are SUCH a difference from the class I had last year. Oh man, don't know how I survived that one. Only this week and next until a week long trip to Panama. We are starting to reserve hotels and things for that trip so things are all coming together, very excited about it, although sad that Jose will not be going!

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the lovely weather that I hear you have been having. Thinking of you always, love you!

It's been a busy few weeks but things are going very well! We had our field trip in early March to the sugar mill. The kids have a great time and it was the same place as last year so I knew what to expect. This year the sugar mound was MUCH bigger, MUCH bigger. It was huge.



We also had reading week this past week and it was lots of fun. We had parents come in to read throughout the week, the book fair, mystery readers over the intercom each day and it was just lots of fun! On Friday, the 5th grade teachers performed the play The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs. I was one of the pigs. It was funny and the kids really enjoyed it.



Outside of school, things are going well. I have been able to relax on the weekends and catch up on some things which was nice. We have our spring break in a few weeks and some friends and I are going to Panama, I'm very excited. Also, Jose and I are celebrating our 1 year this weekend. Time has gone so fast, I can't believe it. Things are going so well though, I'm very happy.

I also found out this week that my sister will be coming to visit in June also. Originally it was just going to be my mom (which I was always super excited about) but now Woogs is going to come too! I can't wait! It will be the colliding of 2 worlds like it was when Jose was in the states but it will be amazing!

Overall, things are going well and I'm looking forward to the trip to Panama coming up in a few weeks! Hope everyone at home is doing well. Love and miss you all!

First Bat Mitzvah

So a long weekend is here and I am ready for it :) This week was a short 3 days with kids which was nice and went by very quickly. We had the exchange students from Virginia with us so I had two extra students but they were both very sweet girls and fit in very well.

On Thursday, we had a Teacher Institute Day but I had permission to miss the morning part because I was invited to a past student's Bat Mitzvah. It was a wonderful experience and like nothing I had ever been to before. The ceremony was a mix of Hebrew and Spanish. I understood all of the Spanish just fine but the Hebrew....not so much. It was a beautiful ceremony and her parents both spoke and gave her blessings. She then gave thanks to lots of different people and ended the ceremony with a candle ceremony. She lit a candle for each year of her life and had different people come up and help her light the candles. One of them was her teachers and there was just one other teacher and myself there so we went up to help her light the candle, it was very sweet.


Jon, Shelly and I.

Today I am just relaxing and then going to a game of Jose's tonight. Tomorrow I am going to spend the afternoon/night at the beach and come back on Sunday. I will be coming home for another wedding next summer. Next June, my best friend Jenna will be getting married and she asked me to be her Maid of Honor this week. Another quick weekend at home but definitely VERY excited about it.

So Framingham sucked me in (which is the masters program) and I fell off the face of the earth. It just takes up all my time for the 2 weeks. I get home later in the evenings and then just want to do nothing before bed! I survived though and overall it went well. It wasn't my favorite class that I've taken but it was alright. It was Research and we had to put together a big research project at the end and present it. It was interesting and I learned a few things I guess haha.

After the class, got back into the routine this week, had a lovely Valentine's Day dinner at a nice Chinese restaurant in town and it was a shorter week of school because of the Turno event that is happening tonight. It is the annual school PTA carnival and it is so over the top it's ridiculous. They bring in carnival rides that they set up in the field and all of the grades have a booth (like a carnival game). There are concerts and it's just crazy. SO much that we have to cancel school half of a day for it haha but i'm not complaining! Next week is a shorter week also with only 3 days with kids, Thursday is Teacher Institute and then Friday is a holiday. I'm looking forward to it.


The ridiculous "TURNO" event at school.

This weekend I have no big plans. I think I might do some cooking and relaxing tonight, maybe more of the same tomorrow (with a few skype dates with friends) and then Sunday probably going to the beach for the day. I'm looking forward to having nothing to do and just relaxing. Sorry to not include too many pictures on the blogs but I honestly haven't been taking many pictures, I will try to work on that :)

I've been going through some phases of missing home and feeling far away, but a good friend reminded me that I need to enjoy my time here because I have the rest of my life to live in the states and I will be missing it here. It's so true that you miss what you don't have. I just need to remind myself of that. It's hard when I'm feeling down or I hear about friends meeting up or friends/family have big things happening in their lives and I can only be there through emails or skype calls. I know with skype it is wonderful but sometimes it's just not the same. Time is flying though and I am trying not to wish it away. It's already halfway through February, I can't believe it! Hope everyone is doing well at home. Love and miss you all!

Same old, same old

Another week down and the time is flying by....what happened to January? Things are going well and I am very happy that it is the weekend. This week went well, pretty normal. Still having Spanish class after school on Monday and Wednesday and then tutoring on Tuesday and Thursday.

My new student is adjusting well and I am very happy about that. The first few days were tough because everyone wanted to sit by him and talk to him and were just being silly about it. Now things have calmed down and it just seems like he is part of the class which is good.

This weekend I am hoping to relax some to rest up before the Framingham Master's class starts on Monday. I'm going to a yoga class later this morning, then the salon this afternoon. Tonight I might go over to a friends for dinner and then tomorrow, no big plans.

This is not a very exciting post but I just didn't want to be a slacker again. Life is just carrying on, things are going well and loving life:)

First new student in the class

So since coming back from break, things have been going well. 2 weeks down and moving right along. Nothing too exciting to report on over the last few weeks but didn't want to fall off the face of the earth again with my blogging.

This past week I had a new student come into my class. A student from Ecuador but that has been living other places. He speaks both languages very well so he fits right in. It was definitely a challenge this week both trying to get him used to our routines and also control all of the other students because all of the students were SO excited about having a new student in the class, kind of annoying for me but understandable. I needed to have a lot of extra patience this week. This week I also had to get my precourse work done for the next Framingham master's class that is coming up. It starts a week from Monday, on the 30th, and will be my 4th. There are 9 classes in the program so I'm moving right along.

This weekend I'm hoping to relax some. There is a 10K race on Sunday that I'm doing with some friends so that should be fun. I might go to the beach tomorrow. One of my students, who's father is the owner of one of the movie theaters here, gave me 2 free tickets randomly haha so might go see a movie too, or save them for another time.

I hear that there is a big snow hitting home right now. I hope you are all enjoying it and enjoying it for me. I was so sad that I didn't get to see ANY while I was home. It was nice that it wasn't so cold, but a little dusting of snow would have been nice. I will write more after the weekend about the race and what I end up doing. Love and miss you all!

First trip sola

Jose and I arriving in Chicago and Oma's lovely coats that my mom and Woogs brought us.


Dressed up for the show.

Jose and I were back in the states for just about 2 weeks and it was wonderful. We were in Geneva the whole time, shopping and preparing for Christmas, spending Christmas with my family (both sides) and then going to see the show The Secret Garden with Oma and family. He got along with everyone so well and it was perfect! After our short 2 week stay, we headed back to El Salvador to spend New Years Eve here. We spent the evening with Jose's family and then went to his friends house after 12. Here it's a tradition to spend until 12 with family and then go meet up with friends, it was a good time. Then on the 2nd I was off to Antigua, Guatemala for the rest of the week.


A friend and I at a rooftop Cafe called Cafe Sky.


My teachers for the week. Claudia (left) and Leticia (right). Apparently I'm VERY tall.

So I spent the last week in Antigua, Guatemala at an intensive Spanish school. I left on Monday morning and took the bus trip by myself. I was at the school Monday afternoon-Saturday morning. It was a great experience but definitely hard emotionally. I stayed with a family while I was there and had all of my meals with them. I learned a lot of Spanish but mostly just gained more confidence in what I can already do. It was hard to be there though after just coming back from the states and being surrounded by friends and family to going to a completely foreign place all by myself. Antigua is a beautiful place with streets made of stones, lots of old buildings, and gorgeous views of mountains and volcanoes.


Views in Antigua...beautiful.


The family that I lived with for the week with the other international students.


Famous arch in Antigua, Guatemala.

Now it's back to business and work tomorrow. I had to work today but it was just prep and planning. Tomorrow the kids come back so it's the real thing. I am feeling ready to get back to it and the routine. Tutoring starts again this week too so everything is back in full swing. I hope everyone is having a great start to the new year and I wish you all the best!