...a checklist

• Curriculum finished and ready for Monday? Check
• Bills paid? Check
• Laundry finished? Check
• Kitchen clean and fridge empty of potential science projects? Check
• Sub plans (with emphatic instructions to get up out of the chair and teach) written? Check
• Hostess gift purchased and errands run? Check
• Bags packed? Check
• Passport in purse? Check
• Get a good night's sleep? Ah...hmmm...well...what if I'm TOO excited to sleep?

Adios, fair readers, whoever you may be! I'll be back on the 28th. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and eat lots of turkey and cranberry sauce for me. Mexico, here I come!

...dreaming in Spanish

The trip to Guanajuato, Mexico is less than a week away. I'm excited about going, but also very nervous. This isn't a vacation--I'll be teaching teachers, and I know we can be a tough crowd. A week or so ago my partner (who has done this before) handed me a huge file folder and downloaded a gazillion more onto my computer and said, "Take a look at this and let me know if you have any questions." I was under the misguided illusion that the curriculum we'll be using was set--and all I'd have to do was become familiar with it. Piece of cake. But when I finally had time to sit down and go through it all, it became apparent that I had much to do to prepare. Since I'm barely keeping up with my regular workload this year I began to panic. What have I done??? Can I do this??? Gulp.

Then three things happened that have helped to ease my mind. First, I received an email from my partner on Friday just before leaving school saying, "Let's meet on Tuesday to go over our plans." (Oh good, you're going to help me?? Whew!) Second, I spent some much needed time with a very good friend yesterday who gave me a pep talk and reminded me of all I know. Third, this morning I awakened from a dream that was entirely in Spanish. In this dream I confidently walked into the home of my host family (wearing a plunging neckline!), shook hands all around, and had a rousing discussion about politics with my parents. (What were they doing there??) In the background the TV was blaring with a religious(?) cartoon show.

I needed the email. I'm not alone in this. I needed the pep talk. I am capable of doing the job or I wouldn't have been chosen. And the dream has me smiling and pondering. While not exactly a shrinking violet, I don't normally face a roomful of strangers with the bravado I did in the dream. (And I never wear plunging necklines!) But it's the cartoon in the background that has me flummoxed. I don't recall ever seeing anything like it in any language, so how could I dream it?? It's a mystery to me, the sort of thing I enjoy thinking about. Maybe the dream is my psyche's way of telling me to be brave, daring, and strong, and to enjoy the adventure of the unknown. Ole!

...something I forgot to mention

Earlier in the week an email appeared in my inbox at school: "There may be an opportunity for two teachers from our district to travel to Guanajuato, Mexico the week of Thanksgiving. Let me know if you're interested." I immediately wrote back: "Let me check with my kids, but I'm pretty sure I want in." Then I texted Katie. Her response? "Do it!" I asked, "Would Nate say the same?" "YES!" So I emailed again and said to please add my name to the list. That evening I chatted online with Nate (he's still in AK) and he too said, "Go!"

So the week flew by but nothing more about it in the inbox. On Friday the person who sent the email was in our building. We were walking up the stairs together and he casually said, "Oh it looks like you and I are going to Mexico next month." YIPPEE!

I'm not 100% sure yet, but I think we'll be teaching strategies to English teachers, rather than actually teaching English. And even though it will be a week of work...it's in Guanajuato, Mexico in November!!! How cool is that??

...disappointing news and an alternative

Another email came today...due to the flu in Mexico our trip has been canceled. The schools are having to extend their year to make up for days off and don't have time for the English classes. Rats. I am so disappointed. But...this means that I can join my buddies for the Seattle to Portland ride again! Woo Hoo! (I will NOT hit a post and crash this year!)

9:30 pm update: I just looked at the website again...and registration was more than halfway sold out on April 10th. So...I'm registered. Then...I took a look at this year's jersey. I want. And since I'm not going to Mexico...come payday, this beauty is mine:

...finally! The video of Mexico...

I originally started this post in early January, before Christmas vacation was over. After working on this video for several months it was finally ready to share. But...it was too long to save on You Tube, and evidently too long to insert here just as a Photo Story file. Last Friday I showed it to my coworkers and instantly got insecure about it--they had been in meetings for two days and were itching to get to their classrooms, it was too long, too boring, too...too. Perfectionism and self-doubt kicked in--Why did I choose THIS photo? Why did I choose to caption THAT photo and not a different one? It didn't help that afterwards a well-intended coworker corralled me and said, "You know what you SHOULD have done..." Ah well. It is finished. (And my mom loves it.) The next one will be better. The computer guy saved it to our school website for me today, so click on the link to see where I spent two weeks last summer. It was an incredible time and I am so very grateful to our district for the opportunity.

http://www.umatilla.k12.or.us/media/Mexico.wmv