Bittersweet

Excited for new adventures ahead as well as lots of qt with my family and friends in just three weeks but at the same time I'm feeling very blue today. 

Trying to live in 3 continents simutaneously isn't as chique as it sounds...

South America

• packing,
• paperwork,
• spending times with friends at spas, dinners, for birthdays and good food = wonderful
• finally got a hold of the Indian Embassy and will turn in things on Tuesday morning at 11 a.m.
•  4 hour trips to governmental agencies (Monday) and
•  friends leaving for last minute trips makes me feel blue.

North America

• plans with friends - check,
• plans with family - in the works
• online ordering for clothes and tech and books and fun,
• organizing shippers - "Yes, I realize that you can't come and complete a survey because I'm living in South American and yes, I also realize that June is your busiest month but can't a quote be a quote?  Then when you actually pack me then you give me the final price?  I'll make as complete a list as I'm able now..."
• banks and trying to get reimbursed is a pain so I'm
• feeling excited to see everyone but realizing that my time is short, jam-packed six weeks is an understatement.

Asia

• organizing shippers is a pain,
• my school is great about communication in regards to banking and shipping and visas,
• starting to think about my new job is exciting but overwhelming too,
• excited for new friendships but also sad because I'm leaving good friends in Brazil
• wondering why am I going to India since it seems each place I live internationally teaches me new things...Korea - what's important in life (family and friends), Brazil - i've always thought life is a journey not a destination but it's reminded me how i need to be in the journey more, India - ???

So in the midst of all of these feelings, I'm overwhelmed.  3 continents,  22 days till I'm home, 65 days till I leave for India.  Gotta go make my lists before I get more overwhelmed...

quotes

Figure a little humor's needed this time of year so I'm sharing a couple of quotes from today with you.

"Knowledge is like ice cream; it tastes delicious,"  said a third grade student who was explaining her Lewis and Clark mind map to me today.  If only you all could meet said child, you would know so much more to this statement.

"Can't we please listen to "It's Raining Men?" begged another third grade student.  If only you knew his family...

Hope your learning and living brings you smiles today.

My 34th Birthday Bonanza!

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This year I was completely spoiled.
Completely spoiled. From even before the beginning of the day till the end of the real day. Home highlights:

• Being able to celebrate early at home with my parents and the Goo in my parents' kitchen
• Cake 1 was Portillo's
• The Goo sang "Happy Birthday Dad" when she was supposed to say Megan or Sister. She's never living that down.

That was a pretty great start to things. Then the celebration moved south to Brasilia where the highlights include:

• A 6:45 birthday call from my parents who sang it not once but twice and the second time with feeling,
• Arriving to school and finding a clue on my desk,
• A birthday scavenger hunt that led me from friend to friend who passed on wonderful gifts that my mom had sent. Thank goodness the bras weren't part of the mix as I had to open up things in front of everyone.
• The clues were written by each person so some were more easily determined than others. Being my usual overanalytical self I had trouble starting but once I got rolling, it got easier. In most rooms I had to complete a task to earn my present. Tasks included: listing all of the Character Counts Pillars, taking a trig quiz (brought up my math phobia) and also a quiz where I had to determine HS students' nationalities by only asking 5 questions.
• Getting lots of great treats from my family including Reese's, Amazon cards for more books for my Kindle, cute shirts, a book sharing Mumbai fables and some really cool glasses
• Having an extra long lunch with my wonderful teaching partner at Tribo. Amazing.
• Having my students surprise me with notes and a lovely cake and loads of presents including lots of beautiful flowers

Then with my arms full, I got a lift home from Erica and I took a break, chatted with the Goo (this year without an awful car accident) and Colleen.

At just about 6:30 I headed over to Wolvies where my presence had been requested. This is where the birthday bonanza went to a whole new level. 

The evening was titled "Fun and Funky" because they said those words that describes me. It included:

• A Fun and Funky dinner with with dishes like exploding salad, deviled egg boats, asparagus with proscuitto, meatloaf and mashed potato cupcakes, ants on a log, mini-cheese burgers and ice cream cupcakes for dessert
• A FLASHMOB!  A personalized flashmob just for me.  I've always wanted to be in one and my friends here practiced in their homes and arm chairs and performed one to Katy Perry's Firework just for me.  They changed the word "Baby" to "Megan" to personalize it even more.  The flashmob began with Erin asking me the question, "Do you ever feel like a plastic bag floating in the wind?" and then Sam following up with "Do you ever feel already buried deep six feet under scream but no one hears a thing?"  At this point I recognized song lyrics.  I said that and then Erin said one more line before she and Ellie jumped up with plastic bags and began dancing.  Soon Jamey joined, then Sam and Andrea and Kathy and finally Erica.  It was amazing.  I still shake my head just thinking about it.

It was a perfect night.  A perfect celebration.  I don't even know how to express what a wonderful day it was. Right now tears are flowing very easily with the upcoming transition on my mind. Thank you all for celebrating me. Words can say thanks enough. I love you.

Balloons over BSB

Last week on my way home from school, Sam called.  I'd seen 'em too but he said if I walked a bit further than my apartment, I'd get a better view.  So I went.  It was worth it.

Not sure why they were out.  It was right before Brasilia's birthday so our best guess is that they were connected somehow but regardless, made for a fun walk home. 

Some dipped pretty low.  You can see one yellow balloon through the low trees.  A man selling honey approached me because he saw me taking photos.  He told me that if I went under the road (you can see there's an underpass) that I'd get a better view.  He was going there and asked if I wanted to go with him.  It was a nice offer but I just wanted to get home so I politely said no thanks.  Then he asked if I wanted to buy one of his honey pockets.  Again, polite no thanks.  At least he waited to ask until after sharing the info. 

A nice surprise on the way home. 

Brrrr!

You know you've lived in a warm country too long when you are freezing even while wearing a fleece sweatshirt, socks, sipping Starbucks instant coffee and are covered in a blanket when the temperature outside is 63 degrees.  Brrrr!

Stay warm Chicago!

Pillow Fighters Unite!

Yesterday at 5:05 p.m. in Brasilia, we stumbled across a pillow fight.  We had spent the day touring BSB...a new mall with very chiq stores,  attempted to ascend the newest Niemeyer structure which is still under construction and won't open till June and then a pitstop for agua de coco and to play in the fountain at the Hippie Fair at Brasilia's TV Tower.  We made a final stop at the National Museum as some had never been there before. 
As we descended from the National Museum ramp (which looks like you've just landed on Earth from a large white spaceship) we noticed that there was a large group of late teen and early twenty-somethings hanging out by the National Library.  We additionally noticed that many in this group were yielding pillows.

So being the tourists we are, we stopped to ask what was going on.  Andrea asked a nice couple in Portuguese what was happening.  They replied in Portuguese, "a pillow fight." We all then said in unison in English, " a pillow fight?" And they replied, "Yes, a pillow fight," in English.  Andrea then asked what time it was going to start. It's supposed to start at 5:00. 

That's now we all thought.  So we sat down on some bench-like structures.  As we watched people wait for the fight to begin we watched some amazing roller bladers weaving in and out of  tiny cones testing their skills while simutaneously our bench was being jumped by skateboarders.  A young man approached our group and in English asked if we wanted to borrow a pillow.  He had an extra.  And that's where our fun began...



You show 'em Ellie



Our friends who told us about the fight

Preparing for battle

Andrea getting in some hits

Mickey and friend making their getaway

Girls only!

E running out of the fight

One of the organizers

Families joined the fun

Baby's first pillow fight!

We got to join in the fun and let me tell you, it was a great time even when the fluff had landed..

The Goo

My sister rocks and here's one reason why.  Can you find her???

Stay tuned for more Looney mobs...