It's been a long, long while since a post and I think it's about time to begin blogging again. Why you ask? It's time to give a bit of thanks for what I've got. It's clique I know with Thanksgiving to have a post like this but, hey, why fight the culture current and rather just flow it.
Most of you already know this, but about a month ago I made the decision to return to the U.S. after this school year. Brazil's treated me well. My goal for moving here has been accomplished and I know what I really want professionally. I really want to be an instructional coach again. There's not a coaching job here and there are districts in Northern Illinois which are supporting them. So, it's time to move. It's time to find the school, the district and the place where I can be the coach I wanna be.
So, with this move, there's lots to be thankful for. A few thankful thoughts...
I'm thankful for my parents because they taught me not to settle. They taught me to go after my dreams and when I do. They don't bring up the poor economy, budget cuts or my own finances in regards to a cross-continental move. They give me hugs, share my resume and give me support.
I'm thankful for the Goo who's willing to have me live with her again in NA. Asking to live with her was kinda a second thought. Not because I was trying to be inconsiderate or pushy, but more that we loved living together and I couldn't imagine moving home and living anywhere else. Thanks Sister!
I'm thankful to have great friends at home who are supporting me with networking or just sharing kind words.
I'm thankful for Ansley because when I told her the news (she's 4 by the way) she yelled, "Yes! Yes!" and then asked if we could play Barbies when I'm home. I guess I need to pull mine outta storage; funky hair and all. I'm also thankful for her mom who had a similar but more age appropriate reaction when I told her.
I'm thankful for my close friends here who are present when I question what I'm doing, when I'm feeling frustrated with it all and take me out for drinks as needed. Seems kind frequently lately. You all know who you are.
I'm thankful to have a dear friend who met me over ice cream at Oberweis and put this idea, of moving to Brazil, in my head. We have lots more years of fun but another 8 months together. And I'm even more excited that tomorrow I'll get to explore Buenos Aires with her too. Heart you AP!
Some people understand why I moved here to Brazil. Other people think I was selfish by doing so. I don't know your stance but what I do know is that the people I love and care about, my dear friends and family, I appreciate you mucho. Thanks for standing by me and letting me be me wherever I am.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
It's Raining!
It's raining!
The smell and sound are just gorgeous.
After a few teases in the middle of the night and rain hitting the surrounding cities, it has finally arrived in the Plano Piloto.
Love it!
May have to even close my windows soon. Happy Saturday all!
The smell and sound are just gorgeous.
After a few teases in the middle of the night and rain hitting the surrounding cities, it has finally arrived in the Plano Piloto.
Love it!
May have to even close my windows soon. Happy Saturday all!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Ring, Ring, Who's There?
Nobody.
Nobody who?
No seriously nobody.
Tonight I was dropped off from school by Andrea. We had a date of catch up, greasy food and Wii after staying late on a Friday night. I walked in to my apartment, began to shed my work clothes and put on my Friday night lounging wear - black comfy elastic waistband pants and t-shirt and was using the bathroom when my portero phone rang. This is the phone my doorman/guard calls me on. Usually the calls are based around deliveries for food, groceries, ect.
I quickly finished, washed my hands, thinking it might ring again. Could it be Andrea calling? No, she'd call my cell phone. My porteros allow any gringo up into my apartment. They never call. They trust the gringos. Well, let's at least hope that's it, not due to my Portuguese difficulities.
While gathering stuff for my hang out, the phone rang again. I quickly walked to the kitchen and picked up. No answer. I called the portero since I'd missed the call and nothing happened.
So I continued gathering stuff. Ring, ring. Phone again. I picked up, said hello (hola actually) and nothing. I called the portero again. 94. Nothing.
By this point I realized that it would just have to wait a few more minutes until I went downstairs to leave and meet Andrea.
I grabbed my purse, opened the door and turned to lock it. At that same moment, I saw my neighbor for the first time. I think a young couple with a baby live next door but they hide from me so I'm not really sure. Literally run. Her apartment door was open and there she was in her kitchen only wearing a bra and a towel. Somebody must have been by the door because she yelled at them to close it. Quiet, quick close (because in Brazil it's considered rude to slam doors). Hi, nice to meet you too.
When I got downstairs I approached the portero. I told him what had happened. He smiled and told me that there are problems with the phone wires right now. Each phone actually rings for 2 apartments currently. He laughed. Guess my topless, well, shirtless neighbor must have been the one with the guest tonight.
This week I've seen electricians rewiring all over. My internet's been spotty as well. I believe this explains the mix-up but I do wonder how this is something that's been changed. I'm not an electrician but it seems if they weren't sharing before, why would they now?
It'll be fun to see how this connects my mystery neighbors and I together. Hopefully I won't bug them too much but at least if both our phones are ringing, perhaps we'll finally meet! Shirtless or shirted.
Nobody who?
No seriously nobody.
Tonight I was dropped off from school by Andrea. We had a date of catch up, greasy food and Wii after staying late on a Friday night. I walked in to my apartment, began to shed my work clothes and put on my Friday night lounging wear - black comfy elastic waistband pants and t-shirt and was using the bathroom when my portero phone rang. This is the phone my doorman/guard calls me on. Usually the calls are based around deliveries for food, groceries, ect.
I quickly finished, washed my hands, thinking it might ring again. Could it be Andrea calling? No, she'd call my cell phone. My porteros allow any gringo up into my apartment. They never call. They trust the gringos. Well, let's at least hope that's it, not due to my Portuguese difficulities.
While gathering stuff for my hang out, the phone rang again. I quickly walked to the kitchen and picked up. No answer. I called the portero since I'd missed the call and nothing happened.
So I continued gathering stuff. Ring, ring. Phone again. I picked up, said hello (hola actually) and nothing. I called the portero again. 94. Nothing.
By this point I realized that it would just have to wait a few more minutes until I went downstairs to leave and meet Andrea.
I grabbed my purse, opened the door and turned to lock it. At that same moment, I saw my neighbor for the first time. I think a young couple with a baby live next door but they hide from me so I'm not really sure. Literally run. Her apartment door was open and there she was in her kitchen only wearing a bra and a towel. Somebody must have been by the door because she yelled at them to close it. Quiet, quick close (because in Brazil it's considered rude to slam doors). Hi, nice to meet you too.
When I got downstairs I approached the portero. I told him what had happened. He smiled and told me that there are problems with the phone wires right now. Each phone actually rings for 2 apartments currently. He laughed. Guess my topless, well, shirtless neighbor must have been the one with the guest tonight.
This week I've seen electricians rewiring all over. My internet's been spotty as well. I believe this explains the mix-up but I do wonder how this is something that's been changed. I'm not an electrician but it seems if they weren't sharing before, why would they now?
It'll be fun to see how this connects my mystery neighbors and I together. Hopefully I won't bug them too much but at least if both our phones are ringing, perhaps we'll finally meet! Shirtless or shirted.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Rain, Rain, Please Come Our Way
According to Sam who read a local paper, it's been 123 days since it's rained in Brasilia.
According to another online paper (which I can't count as reliable), it's been closer to 130.
Either way. We need rain.
To stop the dust. If you dust anything, within an hour, it's covered.
To green the city. Everthing's orange. The trees are bare. The ground is dust. It's just ugly.
To change moods. Last week I could blame the full moon. This week, I'm blaming the heat and dryness for crabby moods. Mine included.
Today we were complete psyched out. Around 3:45 everything turned dark. The wind surged and knocked down lots of branches. This is a definite sign of rain. Alas, nothing. Just more leaves and branches on the ground.
As I rode up to my apartment this evening, the beagle lady (aka my neighbor) was in the elevator. We talked about the rain in Portuguese. We were both complaining because it was soooo hot today. I've found highs for today between 90 - 94 degrees and it was SUPER humid. Then I said I thought it was going to rain but it was a joke. She agreed. She told me it's going to rain tomorrow. I replied, "That's what I've heard everyday for the past week." We both laughed.
I know she's lived here a long time, so we'll see if her prediction is correct. I read there's a 20% chance. Over this week the chance of rain increases to 40%. Cecilia, the Brazilian Social Studies teacher, says it will rain before October. Seems like there's a pattern. Let's hope they're all right! Please!
According to another online paper (which I can't count as reliable), it's been closer to 130.
Either way. We need rain.
To stop the dust. If you dust anything, within an hour, it's covered.
To green the city. Everthing's orange. The trees are bare. The ground is dust. It's just ugly.
To change moods. Last week I could blame the full moon. This week, I'm blaming the heat and dryness for crabby moods. Mine included.
Today we were complete psyched out. Around 3:45 everything turned dark. The wind surged and knocked down lots of branches. This is a definite sign of rain. Alas, nothing. Just more leaves and branches on the ground.
As I rode up to my apartment this evening, the beagle lady (aka my neighbor) was in the elevator. We talked about the rain in Portuguese. We were both complaining because it was soooo hot today. I've found highs for today between 90 - 94 degrees and it was SUPER humid. Then I said I thought it was going to rain but it was a joke. She agreed. She told me it's going to rain tomorrow. I replied, "That's what I've heard everyday for the past week." We both laughed.
I know she's lived here a long time, so we'll see if her prediction is correct. I read there's a 20% chance. Over this week the chance of rain increases to 40%. Cecilia, the Brazilian Social Studies teacher, says it will rain before October. Seems like there's a pattern. Let's hope they're all right! Please!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Goin' Toe to Toe
Yesterday you took the quiz. Well, it really wasn't much of a quiz because you all know me so well. So here's the recap of almost one week ago.
Last Tuesday was International Peace Day. The Lower School participated in a Peace Day assembly. Prior to the day we made peace pinwheels (link here) so we'd celebrate "whirled peace." Different grade levels prepared artwork and songs and poetry.
At 8:10, the kids grabbed their pinwheels and we headed to the auditorium. We didn't sit in our usual place. We were assigned to the balcony. This is a big deal when you're in third grade. The 4th and 5th graders sit up there. Never us. We hiked up the stairs and found our seats.
As we were finding out seats one of my students totally bit it. I was surprised since this student is not klutzy and has pretty decent gross motor. I shrugged it off as just a random occurance and found my seat in the middle of some of my boys.
The assembly began with a youtube video of K'naan's song which was popular during the World Cup Wavin' Flag. We had a great time singing it along while then the fifth graders entered the stage and sang their own remix of the song with EAB lyrics. At this point I noticed a problem.
To our surprise, in the front row were several parents. The balcony seating is such that the front row it set back and thus people in those seats have a difficult time seeing the stage. The parents were leaning forward and had children standing on the ledge (that's another story). So, me being the good teacher I am, saw there were better available seats for the poor girls stuck behind these oblivious parents.
I slipped down the row while the students on stage transitioned. I stepped out into the aisle and fell. Not a little but hard. Where there should have been a step, there was air. Apparently in the auditorium design only in the balcony which is without stair lighting they have stairs which span the length of the aisle but inbetween there are shorter steps which do not. I didn't realize this and fell.
When I fell, I landed first on my right arm and breast. Ouch! Then as I fell further I felt my right ankle (yes that one) twist and my left big toe did something. Right away I was just shocked and in instant pain. Our two third grade assistants, Valmir and Rennan, were right there and jumped up to see if I was okay. I definitely wasn't then so I sat there for the most of the assembly. At some point to test out if I could walk I moved up a row but I had stopped thinking about the assembly and only about my ankle. Was I going to have to go back into the stupid boot again? Seriously? I was so careful and this is what I get for trying to do something nice? I was frustrated!
At the end of the assembly, we stood up and walked to plant our pinwheels. Throughout I could only think about my ankle. This really sucked because as my students were doing something pretty amazing I was focused on my stupid ankle. I hobbled back downstairs to my room with my class and sent them to Portuguese for their specials. At that point I was forced by Erica and the boys to sit and ice. While I was in the middle of trying to do some work I realized that I looked ridiculous, my ankle really hurt and decided it better to go home.
In typical Megan-fashion I got upset. The boys made a plan while Erica was away for a bit, to take me home and Valmir would sub the rest of the morning. It was only a half-day so my teacher guilt was limited. I got a ride home from Vanessa who was at school for a meeting .
So yeah, while the rest of the world was celebrating International Peace Day with pinwheels and assemblies and poetry, I was celebrating it from my couch with pillows propped up under my legs while I iced my ankle and toe.
The status now is my arm is still really bruised. I definitely am going to have a lovely calcium or rock hard, egg sized, growthy thing in my right bicep for life. My ankle's swollen and a little tweaked but slight. My biggest problem is ironically my left big toe. I didn't realize you could do this, but I believe I've sprained it. Seriously? I sprained my big toe? Only me.
This means in addition to the continued rice-ing (rest, ice, compress and elevate) and ibuprofen popping, I'm also wearing my tennis shoes with everything. And no, not cute tennis shoes. I have to wear my like workout Addias ones. Remember the temps here are in the 90s and fashion in Brazil is well, much more sheiky than the U.S. so I'm definitely getting checked out by neighbors, colleagues and random strangers on the street. And no skirts. When it's hot. Yuck.
I went toe to toe with Peace Day and I think Peace Day won. I got whirled but I missed out on the peace.
Last Tuesday was International Peace Day. The Lower School participated in a Peace Day assembly. Prior to the day we made peace pinwheels (link here) so we'd celebrate "whirled peace." Different grade levels prepared artwork and songs and poetry.
At 8:10, the kids grabbed their pinwheels and we headed to the auditorium. We didn't sit in our usual place. We were assigned to the balcony. This is a big deal when you're in third grade. The 4th and 5th graders sit up there. Never us. We hiked up the stairs and found our seats.
As we were finding out seats one of my students totally bit it. I was surprised since this student is not klutzy and has pretty decent gross motor. I shrugged it off as just a random occurance and found my seat in the middle of some of my boys.
The assembly began with a youtube video of K'naan's song which was popular during the World Cup Wavin' Flag. We had a great time singing it along while then the fifth graders entered the stage and sang their own remix of the song with EAB lyrics. At this point I noticed a problem.
To our surprise, in the front row were several parents. The balcony seating is such that the front row it set back and thus people in those seats have a difficult time seeing the stage. The parents were leaning forward and had children standing on the ledge (that's another story). So, me being the good teacher I am, saw there were better available seats for the poor girls stuck behind these oblivious parents.
I slipped down the row while the students on stage transitioned. I stepped out into the aisle and fell. Not a little but hard. Where there should have been a step, there was air. Apparently in the auditorium design only in the balcony which is without stair lighting they have stairs which span the length of the aisle but inbetween there are shorter steps which do not. I didn't realize this and fell.
When I fell, I landed first on my right arm and breast. Ouch! Then as I fell further I felt my right ankle (yes that one) twist and my left big toe did something. Right away I was just shocked and in instant pain. Our two third grade assistants, Valmir and Rennan, were right there and jumped up to see if I was okay. I definitely wasn't then so I sat there for the most of the assembly. At some point to test out if I could walk I moved up a row but I had stopped thinking about the assembly and only about my ankle. Was I going to have to go back into the stupid boot again? Seriously? I was so careful and this is what I get for trying to do something nice? I was frustrated!
At the end of the assembly, we stood up and walked to plant our pinwheels. Throughout I could only think about my ankle. This really sucked because as my students were doing something pretty amazing I was focused on my stupid ankle. I hobbled back downstairs to my room with my class and sent them to Portuguese for their specials. At that point I was forced by Erica and the boys to sit and ice. While I was in the middle of trying to do some work I realized that I looked ridiculous, my ankle really hurt and decided it better to go home.
In typical Megan-fashion I got upset. The boys made a plan while Erica was away for a bit, to take me home and Valmir would sub the rest of the morning. It was only a half-day so my teacher guilt was limited. I got a ride home from Vanessa who was at school for a meeting .
So yeah, while the rest of the world was celebrating International Peace Day with pinwheels and assemblies and poetry, I was celebrating it from my couch with pillows propped up under my legs while I iced my ankle and toe.
The status now is my arm is still really bruised. I definitely am going to have a lovely calcium or rock hard, egg sized, growthy thing in my right bicep for life. My ankle's swollen and a little tweaked but slight. My biggest problem is ironically my left big toe. I didn't realize you could do this, but I believe I've sprained it. Seriously? I sprained my big toe? Only me.
This means in addition to the continued rice-ing (rest, ice, compress and elevate) and ibuprofen popping, I'm also wearing my tennis shoes with everything. And no, not cute tennis shoes. I have to wear my like workout Addias ones. Remember the temps here are in the 90s and fashion in Brazil is well, much more sheiky than the U.S. so I'm definitely getting checked out by neighbors, colleagues and random strangers on the street. And no skirts. When it's hot. Yuck.
I went toe to toe with Peace Day and I think Peace Day won. I got whirled but I missed out on the peace.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Quick Quiz
The following picture is:
I think the answer's pretty obvious. I mean, you all know me pretty well by now.
I'll write more tomorrow but I will tell you that the bruise wasn't my only injury.
No new boots but I do have special footwear.
A. A dragon fruit sliced open for some cocktail making.
B. A bruise I earned this week during an assembly.
C. A new color inkblot test we're using with one of my students.
I think the answer's pretty obvious. I mean, you all know me pretty well by now.
I'll write more tomorrow but I will tell you that the bruise wasn't my only injury.
No new boots but I do have special footwear.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Feelin' Batty
This week I was sitting on my couch in the evening grading homework. Not my ideal way to spend an evening but being a classroom teacher it's just part of the job. As I was sitting there, suddenly out of the corner of my eye I noticed something by my window. As I turned, I realized it was a large bat flying into my apartment. I scrunched down on the couch, papers on my lap while the bat glided down toward my coffee table, then swooped up over me and the couch toward my door. It seemed like an eternity before I saw it again so I stretched up and peeked over the back of the couch toward the door. I caught a glimpse of it gliding back up from the floor and back toward the window. Out it flew. Whew.
Definitely a moment where I was appreciative that bat sonar works so well and additionally that it's year two because I would have screamed last year which probably would have changed the entire situation and resulted in adventures for both the bat and myself.
Do I think I need to get screens though? Never! This just adds to the excitement of life here. And the cicadas are out so I'm sure some of them will come to visit in the next few weeks. Better get my cup and dustpan ready. I do believe in catch and release.
Definitely a moment where I was appreciative that bat sonar works so well and additionally that it's year two because I would have screamed last year which probably would have changed the entire situation and resulted in adventures for both the bat and myself.
Do I think I need to get screens though? Never! This just adds to the excitement of life here. And the cicadas are out so I'm sure some of them will come to visit in the next few weeks. Better get my cup and dustpan ready. I do believe in catch and release.
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