Faith

So far, this year has turned out to be pretty great for Matt and I. We are 5 days into the new year, by the lunar calendar that is, and we landed ourselves jobs, starting in the 2012 school year. Kuwait or Bust!!! Just kidding, but really, that is where our offer is. Now, we have not signed contracts yet, and I have another interview lined up, and possibly more, but this signifies to us that there is the promise of employment after Beijing. The thought of not having work lined up was starting to scare us. We'd rather work "almost" anywhere, than not at all.

I have been offered work as a middle school art teacher and department head for grades 7-12. Matt has been offered work as a middle school science teacher. The school is called Al-Bayan Bilingual School. The children are all Kuwaiti and spend 60% of their day in an English classroom. The children study a combination of the American Curriculum, Local Curriculum, and in High School--Advance Placement courses are offered. The school director originally started talking to Matt about a long term sub position, but got turned on by his pre-school teaching experience, coaching, science degree, and enrollment in a masters program in teaching, learning and curriculum.

This school has 2,000 students, Nursery thru grade 12. There are 251 faculty members, many of which are Kuwaiti, British, American, Australian and other various third-country nationals. This school would be a step in the right direction for us. By working Middle School, I am opening the door to high school and leaving it open for elementary. Also, department head is not a bad thing to have on my resume. And then, Matt would be going from an assistant teacher to a lead teacher. I'm very proud of him.

In a few weeks, I'll be flying to San Francisco to attend an International Recruitment Fair, and to make sure that this is the best offer that we're going to get, although I have a feeling it is. I do have an interview lined up already with a school in Saudi Arabia, the draw to that school is the IB curriculum. But, it'd be a smaller school again, which I'm not so sure that we are interested in. Also, I don't know if they have anything available for Matt.

The worst part about this process has been feeling unwanted, and not having anything lined up to save us from that feeling. We were going back and forth, feeling like we made the wrong decision to throw the towel in, in Beijing. But now, it is just such a relief to know that there is an option out there for us. It's a great feeling--very encouraging, and a testament to faith. We're just going, somewhere, Kuwait or maybe somewhere else. Call it an adventurous spirit or whatever you will. We'll call it faith.

Our life abroad: it is what it is.

changes

My last post was early summer and now it's mid fall...oops. There has been plenty of times that I wanted to write but was feeling self conscious about making it public, like I'm bragging or something. That's stupid; it's my blog. This blog is about facing my demons, and I had a revitalizing weekend and so I'm feeling like I have the ego-strength to do it.

So there are a few things I want to blog about. First of all I read this book called, "Heaven is For Real." It's a child's account of heaven, after he wakes up from surgery. The father writes the book through the child's words and backs it up biblically. I thought it was wonderful. Even if the story isn't completely accurate, or even real at all, the account that the child gave, gave me beautiful images and I know that heaven won't disappoint, so in the meantime, I'm just going to revel in the images in my head that were stimulated by this book.

Ok, another thing. I started taking ballet again about 5 or 6 weeks ago. I love it. I danced all the way through grade school, and even as an adult, I've got to say that dance really does energize my soul. I was really worried about taking dance again because it's been 5-7 years since I did it. In college I did a little bit, but it wasn't enough to keep me looking and feeling like a dancer. In fact, from the moment I stopped dancing, I have never been satisfied with my body, coupled with the fact that I love dance, I knew it was time to find a studio. I am so lucky that I found a great instructor. It's hard to find adult dance classes that are not professional. So, I'm in this class with some high schoolers and it's great. It's about where I left off and I actually feel like with hard work I can get back to where I was when I left off.

So, especially since stopping dance, I've struggled with my weight. But, you know what, besides not being active enough, I drink too much and when I drink I indulge too much. I'm not an alcoholic, but even when I drink red wine, even when I drink straight whisky without all the sugary mixers, I can feel my body hold on to toxins that shouldn't be there...I totally sound Chinese right now. Anyway, I've gotta start thinking more about nutrition. I'm usually good at it, but I've sort of fallen off the band wagon recently.

I had a relaxing weekend. I went to the countryside with some girlfriends and we talked, slept, and relaxed all weekend. The seasons have changed, and I have been left with the energy to make some changes. Couple that with the fact that I signed up to run a 5K. Yes, I know, I hate running, but it's really good for you and a 5K doesn't take much to train for so I don't feel like I signed my life away. Matt signed up for the Marathon and so that'll keep me motivated to run. I think that is sort of crazy, but still, I don't want to be the bum on the couch while Matt is training to run 26 miles...oh geez, it hurts to just write it.

So, if you want to be helpful and encouraging, check up on me every once in a while. Ask how I'm doing with dance and the 5K. I'd definitely appreciate it.

work ethic

It's interesting to me how much atmosphere, mood, climate, etc... can effect you work ethic. All year I've been battling why in the world I don't feel as productive as I did last school year? I was talking with Matt about why I thought it was and he politely pointed out that I am so wrong. He knows me sssoooooo well; it's scary. Anyway, th e real reason that I have a hard time working is because my desk is in a cubical with all the other teachers in the basement. It's the hub of commotion. I've always had a hard time working when other people are talking, and I work with some pretty noisy people. Also, my office is 2 flights down and by the time I walk from my classroom to my office, I've lost my purpose and it's adjoining drive. Lastly, the basement is depressing. It has no natural light and it's all grey. My desk used to be in the library which connected to my classroom and I never lost purpose walking 15 feet. I used to get so much more done. I miss those days. My new mission is to figure out how to combat this. Any suggestions???

Failed Mission

As many know, I started a mission to go natural with all of our cleaning and health and beauty products. It's been difficult to say the least, but I think I'm doing pretty well, considering. It helps that I am doing it in phases. As I run out of something, I replenish with an organic product or I make it, instead of trying to restock everything at once. But, what if I can't find the organic product or ingredients? Up until now, I've been saying "what's the point?", and just passing on going organic. Perhaps I need to adopt a new philosophy though. So, starting now, if I can't find it completely organic, than I'll go as organic as I possibly can; because this 100% or nothing policy is just not working for me...I've been failing.

P.S. I got a new book, called The Green Beauty Guide and it is really helpful! I just made my own toothpaste, and I'm going to try making my own sugar wax next.

I'm growing up.

I would say, that up until recently, I was actually immature enough to believe that I knew the best ways someone should parent. I knew that my classroom was a working classroom and that if parents just implemented this philosophy that I had in their homes, their children would be better off. That's ridiculous! Homes are nothing like classrooms and further more, I have never been a parent, so who am I to judge?

Tonight, Matt and I went to a student's house. And, I know that I have grown up a bit, because I was way more accepting of the fact, that everyone does things differently. Who's to say, what's right and wrong when it comes to raising children and with the mix of cultures here there sure is a lot being said. Although, there were things happening in this house that I would have been uncomfortable with in my classroom, I was able to see that this is not my classroom and that this works beautifully in their family. The best part is, that on top of making these realizations, I was able to enjoy seeing the difference. Growing up can be beautiful!

Foolishness

I'm foolish.

I have lived in Beijing for a year and half. When I got here, I was fresh out of college and thinking that I would just continue art like I did when I was studying art, but that is not the case when you begin your career as a teacher. Although, I had heard that that wouldn't be the case, I thought that I would be the exception. Foolish thing #1.

I have said more times than what I am comfortable admitting, "I'm going to get my art studio situated this weekend". I would buy colored pencils here, charcoal there, but never fully what I needed, like a pencil sharpener or fixitive and then I would complain to my wonderful husband, that I just don't have what it takes to really get started here and that I was afraid to spend the money because I didn't know how long we would be living here. But, I'm tired of living like this is a temporary situation. I have not really decorated my apartment either, and I'm not happy with it, and Matt sure isn't happy with my complaining.

So, for my birthday Matt started me a work area (furnished by IKEA). This has gotten me jump started. So today, I spent the day getting inspired at the art museum and then I went to buy all the materials I could possibly need, which is a lot because I do mixed media paper arts. But, now I'm set, and happy...well, all except for the fact that I am a fool for not doing this sooner.

Live and learn.

Gyotaku

So, I teach a class called Crafts From Around the World twice a week. I teach one class for kids that are 4 and 5 and one class for kids that are 6 through 9. Yesterday, we did Gyotaku, which is a Japanese artform of printing from fresh fish. So, I had asked for some fresh, dead fish, and they obviously were fresh because a few of the fish were breathing, but I didn't know that at first. I laid them all out on the table and let the kids pick one. They were able to pick the kind of fish and the size. The fish had been in the freezer, but once the fish's blood started to warm up, a few of them would move. Kids, would say, "My fish is moving." At first I didn't believe them, and I said, "You just want to believe that they are still alive, it's just your imagination." But, then I realized that they were moving, slightly.

The fish were so close to death, they wouldn't have made it had I put them in water. And where was I going to take a twelve inch sea bass to live anyway. I grew up on water; I fished, and touched fish and learned how to treat animals with respect, even after they're gone, and these are some of my best memories...these kids have not experienced much nature. I'm supposed to do gyotaku in two weeks again, but with the older kids, but I don't know if I can do it. I might change my lesson. It really did go against everything I believe in as a vegan, and I really was feeling the guilt.