Well nothing and a lot all at once it seems.... tomorrow is my birthday, I've travelled to Xalapa and Coatepec this past weekend, I'm doggy sitting a friends pug, I tutored 2 boys twice this past week and I've been cooking, cleaning and getting massages. Next week I'm tutoring again, making 300 pesos an hour! woo hoo!! and the week after that, 1 week before I have to go back to work I'm starting work.... yup, exactly. I've been asked to teach a one week summer course to all the Spanish teachers at my school. That should be fun, I'll be teaching teachers..... Apparently they're excited to have me teaching and it is extra money so we'll see what happens.
That's pretty much it. Oh, my husband and i are looking for another house. Our contract with this one is up in November and it's really far too small in every way for our needs. I mean my kitchen is like 2 ft wide by 6 ft long.... it's not a kitchen it's a damn hallway. So we're moving. We looked at a house yesterday on the same street as ours just a block over. Nice big house, normal sized kitchen, bigger back yard with a mango tree. Airconditioners and fans installed. right now ours has neither and let me tell you, that sucks. a lot. So moving.
Now that's it.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
summer holidays!
Well It's July 7th. I haven't been on this thing in months and months and that is due to my crazy new life!
About 2 months ago I officially started teaching at Colegio Americano De Veracruz! I was teaching fifth grade for the last two months of the school year. I gotta say this was an interesting group to start my professional teaching career with! They were attitude filled, crazy, disobedient tazmanian devils but I loved each and every one of them! I was the third teacher that these groups had in one year. From what I heard the first teacher was lazy and didn't care what happened in class, the second teacher treated them like children and then there's me. Strict, loud, and mean. I expect fifth grade students to sit and do the work assigned. I mean I also expect loud, screaming and some fighting but nothing could have prepared me for this.... Even the English director wished me luck. So somehow i managed to muddle through. The students did most of the work, did decently on the exams and thanked me at the end of the year. My grades were similar to the previous terms and they also matched the Spanish teachers grades.
Maybe I should explain how the school works... well it's a very expensive private bilingual school. It runs from a maternal program (almost new borns) to grade 6. There are 3 kinder grades and a pre first. Pre first is an option for parents. The course is only in English, so each child receives an extra year of English classes if they choose to take pre first. Starting in first grade half the day is in English and half is in Spanish. The Spanish and English teachers work in partners, so I work with one Spanish teacher. Between the two of us we have two groups, Each group is assigned a letter. For example this year I taught 5A and B. When A is in English, B is in Spanish. The Spanish teacher and myself share a support teacher. The support teachers job is to..... well.... support us... She is in charge of classroom decorations (if I want to do it myself I can, or she can provide as much assitance as needed), takes the students to their extra classes (gym, art, music, religion, etc.), assists me with discipline, and takes over the class if I have a meeting or need to to use the bathroom. It's actually pretty awesome to have her around.
So in English I teach them English(reading, writing, listening, comprehension), science, math, social studies, and some history and geography is woven into the course. Instead of terms we have bimesters. Each bimester is 2 months and covers 2 units. What I love about this program (sistema uno) is that each subject is linked by a theme, so if we are reading about space travel and star navigation in English we learn about the solar system in science and in math we talk about atoms and molecules. It's a pretty cool way to lay out a course. Sistema Uno is also connected to Ipads. Each student has an Ipad (which stays at the school at all times) and the whole program is on it. I can do whatever I want on the ipads with the kids. I can choose which apps to load and use. I have a lot of freedom with this school and program. Basically I'm told "here is the book, you have two months, at the end of the book the students should know this" How I teach is my business, if I want to play games or do projects or make them copy endless notes it's my choice. It's pretty awesome for me. I love that I have the freedom to be me.
I also love the team of people I work with. The English director is amazing. She's always there to talk to for whatever we want, even if all we want is to bitch! She listens to any ideas we have, she's more than willing to let us do what we want and is always open to new ideas. I really think I lucked out with her. The other teachers are great too. We talk, hang out, and consider ourselves friends. We spend time together outside of school, eating, drinking and at the rare time exercising. I really really got lucky with this job.
So now i'm on summer holidays... And all I can do is think of what I wanna do next school year! I will be teaching either fourth or fifth grade and I go the ok from my boss to decorate my class any way I want! So my plan is a forest theme! complete with a reading fort! I keep reading other teachers blogs and looking at ideas on pintrest. I am really excited to start next year with a new group and have them from day one!!
So that is the long explanation as to why I haven't been updating. I shall strive to update more over the summer!
About 2 months ago I officially started teaching at Colegio Americano De Veracruz! I was teaching fifth grade for the last two months of the school year. I gotta say this was an interesting group to start my professional teaching career with! They were attitude filled, crazy, disobedient tazmanian devils but I loved each and every one of them! I was the third teacher that these groups had in one year. From what I heard the first teacher was lazy and didn't care what happened in class, the second teacher treated them like children and then there's me. Strict, loud, and mean. I expect fifth grade students to sit and do the work assigned. I mean I also expect loud, screaming and some fighting but nothing could have prepared me for this.... Even the English director wished me luck. So somehow i managed to muddle through. The students did most of the work, did decently on the exams and thanked me at the end of the year. My grades were similar to the previous terms and they also matched the Spanish teachers grades.
Maybe I should explain how the school works... well it's a very expensive private bilingual school. It runs from a maternal program (almost new borns) to grade 6. There are 3 kinder grades and a pre first. Pre first is an option for parents. The course is only in English, so each child receives an extra year of English classes if they choose to take pre first. Starting in first grade half the day is in English and half is in Spanish. The Spanish and English teachers work in partners, so I work with one Spanish teacher. Between the two of us we have two groups, Each group is assigned a letter. For example this year I taught 5A and B. When A is in English, B is in Spanish. The Spanish teacher and myself share a support teacher. The support teachers job is to..... well.... support us... She is in charge of classroom decorations (if I want to do it myself I can, or she can provide as much assitance as needed), takes the students to their extra classes (gym, art, music, religion, etc.), assists me with discipline, and takes over the class if I have a meeting or need to to use the bathroom. It's actually pretty awesome to have her around.
So in English I teach them English(reading, writing, listening, comprehension), science, math, social studies, and some history and geography is woven into the course. Instead of terms we have bimesters. Each bimester is 2 months and covers 2 units. What I love about this program (sistema uno) is that each subject is linked by a theme, so if we are reading about space travel and star navigation in English we learn about the solar system in science and in math we talk about atoms and molecules. It's a pretty cool way to lay out a course. Sistema Uno is also connected to Ipads. Each student has an Ipad (which stays at the school at all times) and the whole program is on it. I can do whatever I want on the ipads with the kids. I can choose which apps to load and use. I have a lot of freedom with this school and program. Basically I'm told "here is the book, you have two months, at the end of the book the students should know this" How I teach is my business, if I want to play games or do projects or make them copy endless notes it's my choice. It's pretty awesome for me. I love that I have the freedom to be me.
I also love the team of people I work with. The English director is amazing. She's always there to talk to for whatever we want, even if all we want is to bitch! She listens to any ideas we have, she's more than willing to let us do what we want and is always open to new ideas. I really think I lucked out with her. The other teachers are great too. We talk, hang out, and consider ourselves friends. We spend time together outside of school, eating, drinking and at the rare time exercising. I really really got lucky with this job.
So now i'm on summer holidays... And all I can do is think of what I wanna do next school year! I will be teaching either fourth or fifth grade and I go the ok from my boss to decorate my class any way I want! So my plan is a forest theme! complete with a reading fort! I keep reading other teachers blogs and looking at ideas on pintrest. I am really excited to start next year with a new group and have them from day one!!
So that is the long explanation as to why I haven't been updating. I shall strive to update more over the summer!
Friday, April 20, 2012
5 Year Journal
well I really suck at updating this thing. Right now I am happily celebrating 420 in the comfort of my home. Tomorrow I shall enjoy a nice long soak in my pool. Oh the hard life I lead!!
Well here we go, a bunch more days of my 5 year journal!
March 18th
What advice were you given?
today? Relax! Ever? you can only be yourself
March 19th
Today was .................. high..........
March 20th
What are you glad you did today?
I cleaned my pool!
March 21st
When was your last vacation? where did you go?
ummm Xalapa with galo about 2 months ago
March 22nd
The greatest wisdom comes from those who..... listen more than they speak.
March 23th
Who is your hero?
I´´m gonna say my mom
March 24th
Why?
Because she kicks ass!
March 25th
If you could have read one persons mind today, whose would it have been?
umm.... my husbands to see how his day is going at work
March 26th
What was the easiest thing about today?
everything. i´´m unemployed!
March 27th
Did you thank anyone today?
Nope.
March 28th
Did you work hard today?
nope.
March 29th
What was in your mail box today?
I don´´t have a mailbox.....
March 30th
Today was a complete....... high day
March 31st
what are you seeking?
that which cannot be found!
April 1st
Did you make someone laugh today? Was it intentional?
nope, i didn´´t see anyone today
April 2nd
What makes you sad?
not working, uncared for children, lack of education about basic health, animal cruelty, abuse, addiction, young mothers, people with disabilities, pollution, people throwing garbage wherever they want, waste created by man, politics, religion....
April 3rd
was today typical? why or why not?
yup, i did nothing.
April 4th
Who do you trust the most?
Brandi, Iza and Dan
April 5th
What´´s your next major deadline? What´´s it for?
umm... right now nothing....
April 6th
What did you have for breakfast today?
i don´´t eat breakfast
April 7th
do you have any regrets today?
I don´´t believe in regrets
April 8th
how did you add art to your life today?
I didn´´t
April 9th
...............makes me happy
food
april 10th
What is the last time you danced?
in my house today while cleaning
April 11th
list the people you live with
Me, Galo, cat and dog
April 12th
what fears did you have today?
no fears, really relaxed
april 13th
What did you forget?
i ´dont remember
April 14th
What is your favorite Tv show?
i don´´t own a tv......
april 15th
i have faith that....................
everything will work out ok.
April 16th
who is the last person you kissed?
my husband.... and my cat.....
April 17th
What did you wear today?
NOTHING!!!
April 18th
what is testing you?
the school is testing my patience
April 19th
what is the oldest thing you are wearing today?
my hair elastic....
April 20th
list 5 things you should have done today
1. get dressed
2. sweep
3. organize
4. shower
5. move my butt
Well here we go, a bunch more days of my 5 year journal!
March 18th
What advice were you given?
today? Relax! Ever? you can only be yourself
March 19th
Today was .................. high..........
March 20th
What are you glad you did today?
I cleaned my pool!
March 21st
When was your last vacation? where did you go?
ummm Xalapa with galo about 2 months ago
March 22nd
The greatest wisdom comes from those who..... listen more than they speak.
March 23th
Who is your hero?
I´´m gonna say my mom
March 24th
Why?
Because she kicks ass!
March 25th
If you could have read one persons mind today, whose would it have been?
umm.... my husbands to see how his day is going at work
March 26th
What was the easiest thing about today?
everything. i´´m unemployed!
March 27th
Did you thank anyone today?
Nope.
March 28th
Did you work hard today?
nope.
March 29th
What was in your mail box today?
I don´´t have a mailbox.....
March 30th
Today was a complete....... high day
March 31st
what are you seeking?
that which cannot be found!
April 1st
Did you make someone laugh today? Was it intentional?
nope, i didn´´t see anyone today
April 2nd
What makes you sad?
not working, uncared for children, lack of education about basic health, animal cruelty, abuse, addiction, young mothers, people with disabilities, pollution, people throwing garbage wherever they want, waste created by man, politics, religion....
April 3rd
was today typical? why or why not?
yup, i did nothing.
April 4th
Who do you trust the most?
Brandi, Iza and Dan
April 5th
What´´s your next major deadline? What´´s it for?
umm... right now nothing....
April 6th
What did you have for breakfast today?
i don´´t eat breakfast
April 7th
do you have any regrets today?
I don´´t believe in regrets
April 8th
how did you add art to your life today?
I didn´´t
April 9th
...............makes me happy
food
april 10th
What is the last time you danced?
in my house today while cleaning
April 11th
list the people you live with
Me, Galo, cat and dog
April 12th
what fears did you have today?
no fears, really relaxed
april 13th
What did you forget?
i ´dont remember
April 14th
What is your favorite Tv show?
i don´´t own a tv......
april 15th
i have faith that....................
everything will work out ok.
April 16th
who is the last person you kissed?
my husband.... and my cat.....
April 17th
What did you wear today?
NOTHING!!!
April 18th
what is testing you?
the school is testing my patience
April 19th
what is the oldest thing you are wearing today?
my hair elastic....
April 20th
list 5 things you should have done today
1. get dressed
2. sweep
3. organize
4. shower
5. move my butt
Saturday, March 17, 2012
5 year journal
Well, it appears that I am not so good at updating my journal everyday so I shall update it weekly. it seems easier to do it that way!
March 12th.
Are you happy?
Yes.
March 13th.
How much "me" time did you take today?
All day! I'm not working and my husband is out of town so I spent the whole day doing what I want!
March 14th.
List 3 things you have faith in.
My abilities, my morals, humanity
March 15th.
Who is the last person you said "I love you" to?
My husband.
March 16th.
Did you seize any opprotunities?
I like to think that I always seize them. I moved to Mexico with almost zero notice, now I am observing classes even though I am not being paid simply to familiarize myself with the job.
March 17th.
Where did you go today?
Well... today so far I have gone from my bedroom to the living room, kitchen, bathroom.... Haven't left the house yet. I may go to parroquia for coffee shortly.
March 12th.
Are you happy?
Yes.
March 13th.
How much "me" time did you take today?
All day! I'm not working and my husband is out of town so I spent the whole day doing what I want!
March 14th.
List 3 things you have faith in.
My abilities, my morals, humanity
March 15th.
Who is the last person you said "I love you" to?
My husband.
March 16th.
Did you seize any opprotunities?
I like to think that I always seize them. I moved to Mexico with almost zero notice, now I am observing classes even though I am not being paid simply to familiarize myself with the job.
March 17th.
Where did you go today?
Well... today so far I have gone from my bedroom to the living room, kitchen, bathroom.... Haven't left the house yet. I may go to parroquia for coffee shortly.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
3 weeks delayed on posting this....
On February 23rd I got to go and see Enrique Iglesias for the closing of the Carnaval in Veracruz. It was greatness. I've always enjoyed his music but now I have respect for him as an entertainer. He honestly looks like he loves what he is doing and that energy radiates throught the crowd. I wish I had the money to go see him again in Mexico City. I would gladly pay money to see his show, it's fun, energetic and crazy!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
5 year journal
March 11th.
What did you find inspiring today?
http://es.scribd.com/doc/49994116/wallpockets-complete making your own wall pockets. I shall make these!
What did you find inspiring today?
http://es.scribd.com/doc/49994116/wallpockets-complete making your own wall pockets. I shall make these!
Recipe: Coconut Banana Bread
I LOVE banana bread to the point that I buy bananas just to let them go mushy so I can make banana bread... I have actually yelled at my husband for eating bananas... and since moving to Mexico I have become obsessed with coconut so this recipe made me drool.
Recipe inspiration from My Kitchen Addiction (HEAVILY modified based on what I had on hand)
(Makes 1 mediumish loaf and 6 muffins, or 1 large loaf)
Ingredients:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
scant 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs (or 4 egg whites if watching cholesterol)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour (can use 1 cup of whole wheat flour if you want)
1/2 cup okara (remember that from the soymilk recipe??), or add 1/2 cup more flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 medium overripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut (or shredded coconut)
Pam to spray the pans with
Tools needed:
2 mixing bowls
Fork
Electric mixer (optional)
Measuring cups/spoons
Loaf pan/muffin tray
Get all your stuff together. I left out one mixing bowl in the pictures... oops!
If you are using Okara blend it until it's smooth and the consistancy of flour.
Mix all your dry ingredients. Flour, Okara, Salt, Baking powder, Baking soda and coconut.
In a seperate bowl mix the oil, sugar and applesauce.
Add in the eggs and mix well.
Add in your 3 bannas and coconut milk and either smash well with a fork or...
cheat and use a mixer like me.
the finished liquid mixture will look something like this.
Add in your dry ingredients and mix to combine. It will be a nice runny mixture.
Spray the pans you'll be using with Pam and then pour the mixture in. Either fill the loaf pan 3/4 full, fill about 12 muffin cups 3/4 of the way or do what I did and do one loaf pan filled 1/2 way and 1 tray of muffins.
Almost done!!! They will be done when a toothpick comes out clean.
If you made 1/2 muffins and 1/2 loaf the muffins will be done sooner so pay attention. Mine took 35 minutes.
Cooling on the rack smelling oh so yummy!!
I don't know about you but I can't wait for muffins to cool so I dug in. Put some real butter (non of that low cal, fake stuff for me!) on it and dig in!
The loaf was done after about 1 hour
Amazingly delicious. They turned out insanely moist and rich. Next time I may leave out the sugar altogether because they are fairly sweet.
So to recap:
1. mix dry ingredients in one bowl
2. mix wet ingredients in another bowl, making sure to smash the banana well
3. mix it all together
4. Pour into pre-sprayed pans
5. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. EAT!
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