Tea with my little Mad Hatters

The English teacher of my fifth graders put together an adorable project for my tiny tots.  The read the chapter about the Mad Hatter and the tea party from Alice and Wonderland, learned about conundrums, and then made Mad Hats and created invitations to a Mad Tea Party.  At the party the presented on Lewis Caroll, how the book came to be, and read us their conundrums.  Too cute!!

A Day at the Farm

Field trips are the best.  I get to really enjoy the time with my students and their unique and hilarious personalities - sans math lessons, sense of urgency and discipline (although, with 12 and 13-year-olds there is always a bit of reprimanding taking place).  Our trip to the farm was no exception - so wonderful!

The bus couldn't make it up the last road, so we walked the mile+ to the farm...

... and not a single student complained.

When we arrived we got to corral a llama...

...and do a lot of climbing - up hills...

...and through caves.

We even found time to relax...

...and to play with bunnies!

KONY 2012

This blog began 3 years ago with my trip to Uganda with an organization called Invisible Children.  I traveled to Uganda to work in a school in Northern Uganda, teaching and interacting with the students and teachers to discuss the power of education and what is possible.  I went though because I had been inspired by this organization to do my part to help the people of Northern Uganda who had suffered so much from the war there.  I went because I did not know what else to do.  The experience changed my life... I went back to graduate school to focus on international education development and with that I moved to Colombia to keep learning and understanding how education can transform the lives of others.

But in the craziness of my own life and my own adventures, I forgot that my friends in Uganda and others in Africa are still dealing with the war and the effects of Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance Army which has abducted tens of thousands of children and killed, raped, and mutilated tens of thousands more.  Recently, Invisible Children created this video and call to action that has reminded me that despite any of the "hardships" I might feel in my life, I am extremely blessed.  My original interaction with Invisible Children inspired me to do more with my life but this new video reminds my that there is much more that I can be doing to positively impact the lives of others.

As with everything there is another side to this story and it is up to you to decide where you stand.  Still, I felt it my duty to share this information with you, as I think it is something that everyone should know about.  I've included the video from Invisible Children followed by additional information, including some of the critiques.

KONY 2012 from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.



NPR Story:  While Contoversial, 'KONY 2012' has put focus on atrocities
Another side of the story:  Visible Children Blog, Kony 2012 viewed critically

Thanks to Haley for keeping me up-to-date! :)

Bucket list: 13.1 in Bogotá!

So... I have been feeling a bit lazy and bored lately (perhaps these two feelings don't go hand-in-hand...but it feels like that right now).  I'm in need of a project.  I applied for some curriculum development projects - but no one seems to want to hire someone who is working in Colombia. :(  I also have been less active than I should be.  So after reading through my Bucket List for the 15th time and being inspired by friend Ms. Sophia Burton, I signed up for the Media Maratón Bogotá.  No I haven't been running, unless playing basketball once a week with 14 year old girls counts (it doesn't in my book).  And yes, the city is located 8,612 feet above sea level, making breathing a bit more difficult.  Still, the bucket list said run a half marathon in another country, so you betcha I'm going to do this.  I mean I've run a marathon before and I've run two half marathons before...so how hard could this be, right?!

Wrong.

Today, I went for my first run.  Runner's World tells me, if I consider myself a beginner (I do.), that I need 14 weeks to train.  I currently have 21.  So I've decided that I need to run 30 minutes 2 times each week and then an hour on the weekends (ideally).  Today I gave myself 30 minutes.  I ended up running 33 minutes and only going 2.75 miles.  That's a 12 minute mile!  Oh dear.  I've got some work to do.  I'm also totally pooped...and sore...and hungry....and I only went 2.75 miles on a completely flat road. 

Still, I have something to work towards and that feels wonderful.  Will keep you posted on my progress and if you have tips on nutrition, cross-training, etc.  I'm all ears! :)