Brad is growing a moustache for Carnaval. He and all the other boys are in a competition. I'm sure he'll win because Brad is really good at growing hair and right now his looks almost exactly like Ken's.
Monday, January 26, 2009
not much new here except....
Brad is growing a moustache for Carnaval. He and all the other boys are in a competition. I'm sure he'll win because Brad is really good at growing hair and right now his looks almost exactly like Ken's.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Colombian students' reactions to the news that I am moving to India
"Aye Missis! What have I always told you? NEVER move to India."
"They don't sell alcohol there? Oh, Missis, you are going to get soo skinny."
"If you have a baby in India it will be just like Jesus!"
"They don't sell alcohol there? Oh, Missis, you are going to get soo skinny."
"If you have a baby in India it will be just like Jesus!"
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
India
Today we got a package from our future school that included, among other things, a suggested shipping list. Do you know what they suggest we ship to India? Toilet paper! Here's a quote: "Bring soft toilet paper. Toilet paper is available, but not like the brands at home. It is rough and comes in tiny rolls."
I'm just going to quote a few more things from our information packets:
Power Shutdowns:
"It is likely that you will have power cuts especially in the summer or when there are heavy rains. Some apartments have common generators to run lights and fans during a power cut. However, candles can light up your home during such times. There are other emergency lighting systems, but candles are more romantic. Usually the power is not off for long periods."
"candles are more romantic." I love that.
Examinations and Immunization:
"Our consulting physician recommends updating the following:
Tetanus
Hepatitis A and B
Typhoid
Rabies
Japanese B Encephalitis"
And from the book At Home, In Madras
Beating Disease:
"All water must be treated. The best method is to fit an Aquaguard to your tap and boil the aquaguarded water for 20 minutes."
In summary: In order to avoid any of the aforementioned diseases, water must be filtered and boiled (over a candle in case of a power shutdown). If that fails you are left with only one thing: a tiny, scratchy roll of toilet paper.
I'm just going to quote a few more things from our information packets:
Power Shutdowns:
"It is likely that you will have power cuts especially in the summer or when there are heavy rains. Some apartments have common generators to run lights and fans during a power cut. However, candles can light up your home during such times. There are other emergency lighting systems, but candles are more romantic. Usually the power is not off for long periods."
"candles are more romantic." I love that.
Examinations and Immunization:
"Our consulting physician recommends updating the following:
Tetanus
Hepatitis A and B
Typhoid
Rabies
Japanese B Encephalitis"
And from the book At Home, In Madras
Beating Disease:
"All water must be treated. The best method is to fit an Aquaguard to your tap and boil the aquaguarded water for 20 minutes."
In summary: In order to avoid any of the aforementioned diseases, water must be filtered and boiled (over a candle in case of a power shutdown). If that fails you are left with only one thing: a tiny, scratchy roll of toilet paper.
Monday, January 5, 2009
BIG news
I don't really know where to begin telling you about this BIG news because it's been about three months in the making. But let's see, I guess it all started with an email....(oh and it's not a baby).
Mid October I started looking at job ads on TIE (the international teacher) online and sending our resumes to schools that had positions for both of us. In all I probably sent 15 emails and got only three positive responses. The first was a school in Shinyanga, Tanzania, which appears to be in the middle of nowhere. The director wanted to interview "ASAP" but when I asked him in an email to tell us a little about what life would be like in Shinyanga, I never received a response. We crossed that one off our list.
At first we did not get a positive response from India. The director wrote to say that the 6th grade position we were inquiring about had been filled. I decided to be persistent and wrote this reply:
Thank you for your reply. The last two years Brad has been teaching middle school, but he is a certified K-6 teacher and is interested in making the move from middle school to elementary. I noticed on TIE that you have a position for a 1-3 grade classroom teacher and a 4-6 grade classroom teacher. Either would be a good fit. I hope I don't sound too pushy, it's just that we would love to come to India. I've always thought it would be a fascinating place to explore. And I think we are at least somewhat prepared for the challenges of living in India. Barranquilla is humid, hot and not always pretty, but we were quick to adapt to it all and have really enjoyed our time here. Whatever it is that you decide I want to thank you for your time and consideration. Sarah
I guess persistence pays because a few emails later, the director was arranging a phone interview.
About this time, I started waking up in the middle of the night to pace the apartment and worry about moving to India. Also around this time we received our third positive response from a school in the Swiss Alps. As you can imagine we were pretty excited about that. We waited to see what would happen with Switzerland.
Nothing happened with Switzerland, but thanks to two other bloggers, my Indian worries were relieved.
On the 22nd of November we called India for an hour long phone interview and then we waited. And waited and waited and waited. The director wouldn't know about job openings until January 6th.
Last night around 10 I checked my email for maybe the 100th time that day and found a job offer. I called Brad, ran upstairs and woke up Mom and Dad and then the four of us stood in the living room in our pajamas to do a toast with the leftover New Year's champagne. After three months, 27 emails, a few sleepless nights and a lot of consideration, the decision is final: we're moving to India.
Mid October I started looking at job ads on TIE (the international teacher) online and sending our resumes to schools that had positions for both of us. In all I probably sent 15 emails and got only three positive responses. The first was a school in Shinyanga, Tanzania, which appears to be in the middle of nowhere. The director wanted to interview "ASAP" but when I asked him in an email to tell us a little about what life would be like in Shinyanga, I never received a response. We crossed that one off our list.
At first we did not get a positive response from India. The director wrote to say that the 6th grade position we were inquiring about had been filled. I decided to be persistent and wrote this reply:
Thank you for your reply. The last two years Brad has been teaching middle school, but he is a certified K-6 teacher and is interested in making the move from middle school to elementary. I noticed on TIE that you have a position for a 1-3 grade classroom teacher and a 4-6 grade classroom teacher. Either would be a good fit. I hope I don't sound too pushy, it's just that we would love to come to India. I've always thought it would be a fascinating place to explore. And I think we are at least somewhat prepared for the challenges of living in India. Barranquilla is humid, hot and not always pretty, but we were quick to adapt to it all and have really enjoyed our time here. Whatever it is that you decide I want to thank you for your time and consideration. Sarah
I guess persistence pays because a few emails later, the director was arranging a phone interview.
About this time, I started waking up in the middle of the night to pace the apartment and worry about moving to India. Also around this time we received our third positive response from a school in the Swiss Alps. As you can imagine we were pretty excited about that. We waited to see what would happen with Switzerland.
Nothing happened with Switzerland, but thanks to two other bloggers, my Indian worries were relieved.
On the 22nd of November we called India for an hour long phone interview and then we waited. And waited and waited and waited. The director wouldn't know about job openings until January 6th.
Last night around 10 I checked my email for maybe the 100th time that day and found a job offer. I called Brad, ran upstairs and woke up Mom and Dad and then the four of us stood in the living room in our pajamas to do a toast with the leftover New Year's champagne. After three months, 27 emails, a few sleepless nights and a lot of consideration, the decision is final: we're moving to India.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
VACATION!
In about 15 minutes Brad and I are going to start making our way toward Iowa. Our first stop is Isla Tierrabomba in Cartagena. By Tuesday we'll be in Chicago and on Wednesday we'll set foot on sweet Iowa soil. Keep your fingers crossed for good weather and no travel delays. See you soon!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
KCP Christmas
Brad and I went to our second KCP Christmas party last night. It wasn't as amazing as last year, but it was still pretty great. Plus, I won a gift certificate for 100,000 pesos, about 50 dollars. That was exciting, I hardly ever win things. We just went and spent it all on Christmas presents.
Tomorrow is the last day of school before break! Now all we have to do is pack and make our way to Cartagena before Tuesday. From there we go to Miami, then Chicago and from there we go to Omaha, NEBRASKA! I can't believe I'll be spending part of my vacation in Nebraska. But it's just a two hour drive for the parents, so it's worth it.
It's going to be a pretty quiet Christmas because Adam and Angela are staying in South Carolina (BOOOOOOO!) But I'm looking forward to so many things about being home...today especially I had a huge craving for a Tasty Taco. 5 days and it will be mine.
Tomorrow is the last day of school before break! Now all we have to do is pack and make our way to Cartagena before Tuesday. From there we go to Miami, then Chicago and from there we go to Omaha, NEBRASKA! I can't believe I'll be spending part of my vacation in Nebraska. But it's just a two hour drive for the parents, so it's worth it.
It's going to be a pretty quiet Christmas because Adam and Angela are staying in South Carolina (BOOOOOOO!) But I'm looking forward to so many things about being home...today especially I had a huge craving for a Tasty Taco. 5 days and it will be mine.
Monday, December 1, 2008
good news
Brad and I were originally going to be back in Iowa from the 16th to the 31st. I booked the tickets while I was home and not feeling homesick, but lately we've been thinking two weeks is not nearly enough. So, for a small (not really) fee we changed our return flight to the 8th. I'm sure it will be worth it.
We just got back from our Thanksgiving vacation. We went to an island with a group of friends and had a great time, such a great time that I mostly forgot to take pictures, but I can describe it for you: perfectly clear blue water, a hammock hut, murder mysteries and really intense sun. It was so hard to leave and even harder to go back to work because...
The Christmas play is tomorrow. It has been awful, so stressful. Even after months of practice and after school rehearsals the kids still don't know their lines and miss their entrances. But the elementary principal came to dress rehearsal today with a lot of encouragement. After watching me get up on stage and manhandle a girl into place, screaming, "Am I speaking a language you understand? Stand next to Tiny Tim!" She told me that the kids have a way of miraculously pulling it together. And that's exactly what we need...a miracle.
We just got back from our Thanksgiving vacation. We went to an island with a group of friends and had a great time, such a great time that I mostly forgot to take pictures, but I can describe it for you: perfectly clear blue water, a hammock hut, murder mysteries and really intense sun. It was so hard to leave and even harder to go back to work because...
The Christmas play is tomorrow. It has been awful, so stressful. Even after months of practice and after school rehearsals the kids still don't know their lines and miss their entrances. But the elementary principal came to dress rehearsal today with a lot of encouragement. After watching me get up on stage and manhandle a girl into place, screaming, "Am I speaking a language you understand? Stand next to Tiny Tim!" She told me that the kids have a way of miraculously pulling it together. And that's exactly what we need...a miracle.
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