Week 1 is done - whew!!!!
We really hit the ground running - even met students on the first day and started assessed teaching on the second day. We have both taught two lessons already - Andy is with the intermediate students and Evan is with the beginners. We have passed both sessions! Yea!
There is also a ton of English language and teacher training work - the first two days were very very stressful but we are now getting into the groove a little more now and feeling a it more confident. The pace is intense and if you got behind it would be very difficult to catch up - assignments and detailed lesson planning each night - so we are getting home about 8:30 or so.
Actually our day is a little like this - up at 5:30; leave house at 6:40 to cross into Canada just as the Nexus line opens (those Nexus cards are great!) - arrive at school about 8:15 - one hour of prep time and homework/study before classes start (things like phonology; language analysis, vocab etc) - an hour lunch then lesson feedback and assignment, teaching begins at 3:15 - 5:30 - 45 min sessions - we teach for 45 min and then observe/critique other student teachers. Then feedback and a bit more teaching and we are usually done around 6:00 - another hour to hour and a half to gather prep materials for the next day and start lesson planing - leave Vancouver around 7:15-7:30. Dinner at home and then a bit more work - practice and support to each other....
However, we have actually started to enjoy ourselves!!! The English language learners are great and really excited to be learning with us - they come from many countries - including Chile, Czech Rep, Russia, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Egypt, Iran and Spain! And we are doing OK with it too. Feels good.
Friday night was the time to relax!!!! An episode of Project Runway (aahh Becky!) and a beer.
It does feel rather like a reality TV show - the Apprentice or something - everyone running around and trying not to get sent home!!!
Send us good vibes!
.....
"Surviving is important; thriving is elegant" (Maya Angelou)
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
On Your Marks, Get Set, GO!!!
OK, seriously, there is nothing like this feeling. We want all of this so badly yet it is so scary too. Today was our final day at our jobs. We are prepping for the start of the course on Tuesday, and tomorrow will be a "retreat day" to ground and center. Yesterday, our dog walker, the son of Andy's boss, came over for orientation. This past Tuesday we did a practice run up to Vancouver. Both things went great. Colorado loves her new friend and the treats he gives her, and our Nexus passes made the border a sinch. Not to mention that the time we leave at seems to put us just ahead of Vancouver traffic... beautiful... perfect. We already have a special coffee shop right by school where we can study before class starts, and it seems we have all our ducks in a row. The Universe is clearly conspiring with us at this point, so it is all systems go! So, yeah, we are freaked out; by freaked out we mean scared and excited all at once with each emotion sort of coming in waves over the other (and with a bunch of other stuff mixed in). But it is so awesome. It's like getting ready to go on a big trip abroad only the sensations are doubled since we have no clue where we are going or when we are coming back.
Our trip to Portland with Mom and Nick was the perfect start to this adventure; a good time was had by all. Just as we predicted, it has been a bit of a snowball effect with all our plans and systems in place and just allowing them to unfold. As an FYI, this course is super intense. We will be in class for something like 130 hours over the next month, and we are told to expect 20-30 hours of homework per week on top of that, so we will be out of touch with everyone until the course finishes. We are sorry, but that is how it has to be to make this happen. We will try to do a mid-course update here on the blog. Our love to all of you. Thank you for your support in this. We are truly grateful to all of you, to ourselves, and to the Universe for all the opportunities opening up even as we type!
So... signing off for now... here we go
"Believe in Yourself and all that you are. Know that there is Something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." -Christian D. Larson
Our trip to Portland with Mom and Nick was the perfect start to this adventure; a good time was had by all. Just as we predicted, it has been a bit of a snowball effect with all our plans and systems in place and just allowing them to unfold. As an FYI, this course is super intense. We will be in class for something like 130 hours over the next month, and we are told to expect 20-30 hours of homework per week on top of that, so we will be out of touch with everyone until the course finishes. We are sorry, but that is how it has to be to make this happen. We will try to do a mid-course update here on the blog. Our love to all of you. Thank you for your support in this. We are truly grateful to all of you, to ourselves, and to the Universe for all the opportunities opening up even as we type!
So... signing off for now... here we go
"Believe in Yourself and all that you are. Know that there is Something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." -Christian D. Larson
Thursday, August 18, 2011
It's For Real
Emotionally, it is really hitting home that all of this is real. Yesterday was our visit to the vet to get Colorado's paperwork/ health certificate completed for travel. Both of us are feeling sad about the prospect of leaving her in England, though we know its best for all involved. It has also become increasingly clear just what a frantic pace our life has had the entire time we've lived here and how little time has actually been spent enjoying such a beautiful place. Because of this, we have made a clear decision that this is our home. This doesn't change our plans at all; it is more of a mental shift that provides us the comfort we need to step out into the great unknown. It also signifies an intention to spend more quality time here in the future enjoying the rugged beaches, beautiful trails, and funky downtown vibe.
All of that said, we are still very much looking forward to our time in England which we intend to spend 'doing' very little. Instead we want to just be; this is the space where we believe spiritual deepening can take place and our passions and bliss will be given room to reveal themselves more clearly. If we are ever to make such things as a charity project occur, we have to be very grounded in spiritual practice and knowing ourselves.
There are still many tiny details to arrange, but, in truth, the big stuff is done, and all we have to do now is allow our plans to unfold. The CELTA course will begin very soon now. We have a lovely sounding three days in Portland with Mom and Nick that we are truly looking forward to (we have vowed to do nothing preparatory so that we can begin this practice of 'just being'), and then we are on the course and off to England and beyond. It is sinking in quite quickly that it's all for real, and so we are excited and scared all at once, and that is exactly as it should be.
"There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy." - Robert Louis Stevenson
All of that said, we are still very much looking forward to our time in England which we intend to spend 'doing' very little. Instead we want to just be; this is the space where we believe spiritual deepening can take place and our passions and bliss will be given room to reveal themselves more clearly. If we are ever to make such things as a charity project occur, we have to be very grounded in spiritual practice and knowing ourselves.
There are still many tiny details to arrange, but, in truth, the big stuff is done, and all we have to do now is allow our plans to unfold. The CELTA course will begin very soon now. We have a lovely sounding three days in Portland with Mom and Nick that we are truly looking forward to (we have vowed to do nothing preparatory so that we can begin this practice of 'just being'), and then we are on the course and off to England and beyond. It is sinking in quite quickly that it's all for real, and so we are excited and scared all at once, and that is exactly as it should be.
"There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy." - Robert Louis Stevenson
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Getting closer
Few days late on this one ...
Well, we're still busy! Along with trying to work a little extra (we've both taken extra shifts this month) we have .... booked our UK flights, got further along with Colorado's travel plans to the UK, got our actual Nexus passes, studied grammar and begun working on the 46 page pre-class assignment, organized all the internet accounts, spring cleaned the computer operating system and files, and ... oh well - you get the idea. It's been busy.
However, the beginning of our next new start is in our sights - it's a month today to when we start our intensive English language teacher classes. Before then we have a trip down to Portland with Evan's mom and her partner - a nice reward to look forward to just before we start. Booking our flights seemed to further cement our plans, as did our final day notices at work!! We were very fortunate that the morning we had set aside to book the flights was the day British Airways announced a half-price air mile sale - so we scored on the flights - one of us flies for only 25,000 air miles, and the other is traveling free as we had also got awarded a companion flies for free coupon - so just the taxes to pay. This savings will go some way towards the additional expenses in shipping Colorado - we discovered on the same day she has to fly from Seattle via a pet transporter (most other airports allow you to make your own arrangements) - this will cost more but saves a lot of headache.
In the few hours of spare time, we've been enjoying the Bellingham summer - beaches, forests, and city walks. A quick side note - discovered in some occupational therapy magazines from a few months ago some articles about the Leprosy Hospital in Pokhara, Nepal. Andy visited it when we worked in Pokhara with the blind students and orphans, and Evan worked with one of the physical therapists and one of the spinal cord injury counselors, doing some massage and teaching. An occupational therapy student had gone there to do some of her clinical studies and wrote up two articles about her experiences. Interesting.
Enjoying the Walk Out Walk On book very much that we talked about a couple of entries ago after we met one of the authors. More ideas for our big picture project in a few years.
And of course, Evan is three weeks to the end of his final class in his final semester in finishing his degree....
Also saw the final Harry Potter movie, from where today's closing quote comes from ....
.....
"Just because it's in your mind, it doesn't mean it isn't real" (Dumbledorf (?))
Well, we're still busy! Along with trying to work a little extra (we've both taken extra shifts this month) we have .... booked our UK flights, got further along with Colorado's travel plans to the UK, got our actual Nexus passes, studied grammar and begun working on the 46 page pre-class assignment, organized all the internet accounts, spring cleaned the computer operating system and files, and ... oh well - you get the idea. It's been busy.
However, the beginning of our next new start is in our sights - it's a month today to when we start our intensive English language teacher classes. Before then we have a trip down to Portland with Evan's mom and her partner - a nice reward to look forward to just before we start. Booking our flights seemed to further cement our plans, as did our final day notices at work!! We were very fortunate that the morning we had set aside to book the flights was the day British Airways announced a half-price air mile sale - so we scored on the flights - one of us flies for only 25,000 air miles, and the other is traveling free as we had also got awarded a companion flies for free coupon - so just the taxes to pay. This savings will go some way towards the additional expenses in shipping Colorado - we discovered on the same day she has to fly from Seattle via a pet transporter (most other airports allow you to make your own arrangements) - this will cost more but saves a lot of headache.
In the few hours of spare time, we've been enjoying the Bellingham summer - beaches, forests, and city walks. A quick side note - discovered in some occupational therapy magazines from a few months ago some articles about the Leprosy Hospital in Pokhara, Nepal. Andy visited it when we worked in Pokhara with the blind students and orphans, and Evan worked with one of the physical therapists and one of the spinal cord injury counselors, doing some massage and teaching. An occupational therapy student had gone there to do some of her clinical studies and wrote up two articles about her experiences. Interesting.
Enjoying the Walk Out Walk On book very much that we talked about a couple of entries ago after we met one of the authors. More ideas for our big picture project in a few years.
And of course, Evan is three weeks to the end of his final class in his final semester in finishing his degree....
Also saw the final Harry Potter movie, from where today's closing quote comes from ....
.....
"Just because it's in your mind, it doesn't mean it isn't real" (Dumbledorf (?))
Sunday, July 17, 2011
So Exciting!
Well, as we expected, our return to the States has been accompanied by a bit of a 'snowball' of tasks associated with our plans: nexus passes are on their way, files are being organized, Colorado preparations are underway, grammar is being studied, and work is being pursued to get ever last possible cent in the bank.... to name a few. It really is exciting considering all the possibilities this plan offers such as jobs all over the world and time off between assignments to relax and process everything we are experiencing. We are looking forward both to our time in England and to our time in a yet unknown country in Asia or Eastern Europe.
We have been trying to truly appreciate the lovely town which has served as home for the last 6 years, so we are visiting many of those special places like the Bagelry, La Vie en Rose (delicious pastries), and Boulevard Park. This weekend we hope to take a trip to Anacortes to say our goodbyes there; while we likely will return at some point, it will never be the same, and what this area has been to us on our journey is significant and unique.
In the evenings, after updating files and attending to all the preparations, we have been watching the Star Wars films. They really are fantastic, being just as, if not more, interesting now than they were the first time. This has provided some nice balance in our lives, allowing us to be present while we are still preparing for the future. They also seem to have some pretty forward thinking commentaries on life and spirit embedded in them. In that vein of thought, we will continue along this path, reading the omens, and keeping you posted on what we think the Universe is saying about what we might do next.
"Luminous beings are we." -Yoda
We have been trying to truly appreciate the lovely town which has served as home for the last 6 years, so we are visiting many of those special places like the Bagelry, La Vie en Rose (delicious pastries), and Boulevard Park. This weekend we hope to take a trip to Anacortes to say our goodbyes there; while we likely will return at some point, it will never be the same, and what this area has been to us on our journey is significant and unique.
In the evenings, after updating files and attending to all the preparations, we have been watching the Star Wars films. They really are fantastic, being just as, if not more, interesting now than they were the first time. This has provided some nice balance in our lives, allowing us to be present while we are still preparing for the future. They also seem to have some pretty forward thinking commentaries on life and spirit embedded in them. In that vein of thought, we will continue along this path, reading the omens, and keeping you posted on what we think the Universe is saying about what we might do next.
"Luminous beings are we." -Yoda
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Sunny times in England
Here we are in a very sunny England enjoying the weather and the country and Wimbledon - exciting being here for the tennis and Evan has even got into it! Unfortunately Murray was knocked out in the semi-finals ....
Highlights of our trip so far include (in no particular order):
- Visiting the Borough Market in London - a fabulous food market with hundreds of stalls selling all kinds of delicacies
- Walking both ways to the end of Southend pier (1 1/3 miles long out to sea) and enjoying the peacefulness of being on a jetty so far out in the sea
- Walking the northern England coast at Tynmouth including walking past the ruins of a medieval monastery and catching a ferry across the mouth of the river Tyne
- Surprising Andy's mum and dad with their anniversary trip on the Orient Express, the famous train from the 1920's
- Sitting in a cafe window in Newcastle/London/Southend sipping a skinny latte and watching the world go by
- Andy getting to volunteer to blow molten glass in a demonstration at the National Glass Center in Sunderland
- Walking along the river Thames in London - past the Tower of London, St. Paul's cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Globe theater, etc.
We've also (of course) been catching up with friends and family and enjoying all the things English that we miss, including fish and chips, Indian curries, and the little sidewalk cafes. Have been purposely not doing a lot of organizing and planning as we need a little R and R before we are back in the States next week finalizing all our plans for the next few months.
Just finished reading "Thrive" by Dan Buettner (Secrets from the world's happiest people). Here is a quote from this book (highly recommended):
"Here's a 103 year old woman who has no money and no real possesions, is living in a borrowed house, is half paralyzed and mostly blind, and she feels blessed .... How is that possible?" ........... :)
Highlights of our trip so far include (in no particular order):
- Visiting the Borough Market in London - a fabulous food market with hundreds of stalls selling all kinds of delicacies
- Walking both ways to the end of Southend pier (1 1/3 miles long out to sea) and enjoying the peacefulness of being on a jetty so far out in the sea
- Walking the northern England coast at Tynmouth including walking past the ruins of a medieval monastery and catching a ferry across the mouth of the river Tyne
- Surprising Andy's mum and dad with their anniversary trip on the Orient Express, the famous train from the 1920's
- Sitting in a cafe window in Newcastle/London/Southend sipping a skinny latte and watching the world go by
- Andy getting to volunteer to blow molten glass in a demonstration at the National Glass Center in Sunderland
- Walking along the river Thames in London - past the Tower of London, St. Paul's cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Globe theater, etc.
We've also (of course) been catching up with friends and family and enjoying all the things English that we miss, including fish and chips, Indian curries, and the little sidewalk cafes. Have been purposely not doing a lot of organizing and planning as we need a little R and R before we are back in the States next week finalizing all our plans for the next few months.
Just finished reading "Thrive" by Dan Buettner (Secrets from the world's happiest people). Here is a quote from this book (highly recommended):
"Here's a 103 year old woman who has no money and no real possesions, is living in a borrowed house, is half paralyzed and mostly blind, and she feels blessed .... How is that possible?" ........... :)
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Can't Stop Us Now!
Things are all coming down the pipeline hard and fast now. It turns out that Evan was able to participate in commencement since he had so few units left to complete; this is apparently the way it is done; if one is to graduate in the summer, he walks in the spring commencement ceremony. Evan decided to participate for a certain sense of closure and accomplishment, though the proper celebration will take place in August. This marked another milestone in our journey, and it seems everything is happening very quickly now. Andy's parents returned home safely. Next we are off to the UK for a bit, then we have only a month or so before quitting our jobs, completing the CELTA, and taking off! There is much to do practically speaking, so we have posted a color coded list on the fridge of items to be completed each month until out departure.
Our NEXUS interviews are scheduled for after we return from the UK, so we will have those passes in time for the course. Andy's parents have excitedly agreed to caretake for Colorado while we teach, so the arrangements for her to move to the UK are also being finalized. Evan's 33rd birthday was this week, so that was a highlight (fleeting, as they all are with so much excitement), and now it is all about packing and cleaning up for the trip. Andy has already told his supervisor about our plans, and she was graciously supportive and hopes he'll return to work when we are in Bellingham.
With all that said, it is time to sign off and get on with things.... in the spirit of a lecture we went to on Evan's birthday, we are going to WALK OUT and WALK ON! Our next post will be from England.
"No one is coming to help. Now what?" - Margaret Wheatley and Deborah Frieze, Walk Out Walk On
Our NEXUS interviews are scheduled for after we return from the UK, so we will have those passes in time for the course. Andy's parents have excitedly agreed to caretake for Colorado while we teach, so the arrangements for her to move to the UK are also being finalized. Evan's 33rd birthday was this week, so that was a highlight (fleeting, as they all are with so much excitement), and now it is all about packing and cleaning up for the trip. Andy has already told his supervisor about our plans, and she was graciously supportive and hopes he'll return to work when we are in Bellingham.
With all that said, it is time to sign off and get on with things.... in the spirit of a lecture we went to on Evan's birthday, we are going to WALK OUT and WALK ON! Our next post will be from England.
"No one is coming to help. Now what?" - Margaret Wheatley and Deborah Frieze, Walk Out Walk On
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