Where does the story begin?

Where does the story begin? Well, from where I stand, or perhaps I should say sit, from the 7th story of my apartment building, 2 blocks from the Caribbean Sea in Santa Marta, Colombia, its hard to really say. Thinking back to a year ago, never would I have imagined myself here, teaching 6th and 7th grade English to spoiled rich kids on the coast of Colombia. I really would have never imagined myself, teaching middle school English, on the coast of Colombia, pregnant, living alone and wondering if I will make it home to the U.S. to have my ever-dreamed-of-home-birth by my due date in the beginning of September.

The stories I have to tell swim rapidly inside my head, wondering where to begin, funny, sad, annoyed, shocked. Perhaps I should begin with why a blog. Why bore the world with more garbled, lost words floating in cyberspace, hoping some day to be found, read and enjoyed by fans and random readers. We have arrived at story number one. Don't worry it is a short one.

Why Blog

Perhaps it is the inspiration of the recent fame and talk of my new book club book, Julie and Julia. Perhaps it is the need for something to fill my time, when I get home from my long 9-10.5 hour day, venting my experiences to a cyber-buddy excited to indulge me. Perhaps it is the deep down hope, that I can make a new career, and escape the woes and frustrations of the middle school classroom.

Family, friends, and acquaintances alike, seem as though they are riding on a different wave in a far-off galaxy somewhere. Keeping in touch from Colombia is about as easy as making a baked-Alaska in, well, the Caribbean. The lines of communication seem to just melt away rapidly. When I learned I was pregnant on January 27, 2010, after 3 negative pregnancy tests, but that is a story for another chapter, I decided a blog would be an excellent way to share my experiences and photos with loved ones far away. Unfortunately, I learned quickly, that the first trimester or pregnancy comboed with teaching about 10.5 hours everyday, sucked away my energy as fast as the silent and sneaky mosquitoes suck away my warm, prenatal vitamin-enriched blood. Now, 4 months later, and after promising myself to leave school by 3:30 pm 4 days a week, I think I can summons up enough finger speed to get down a few stories.

So there you have it folks, no profound explanation to my desire to blog. Just hope you can stick it through and follow me on my adventures through Central and South America, the ups and downs of first year teaching, in a middle school classroom in coastal Colombia, while pregnant and unsure of how to get home to have my baby.

Colegio Arbol: The Brit with the Clipboard 5/12/10

One o'clock, lunch bell rings. Twenty-seven seventh graders trying to race and scramble their way out of one narrow doorway. Teacher, trying to keep order and control. "Wait you have not been dismissed, sit down and wait for me to call your row." Teacher thinking to herself, "Supervision, starts in 15 minutes, must eat, must avoid Brit with clipboard." Two minutes pass, students dismissed. Five minutes pass, teacher can't get rid of one student. Time to sit and talk with adults while eating, down to 10 minutes. Arrive at cafeteria (yes, four-five hours of classes with our students isn't enough at Colegio Arbol, we must also eat with our students, the luxury of a private teachers lounge, is just a dream as far away as the United States). 1:10: No! Brit with clipboard has beaten me to the Cafe, scolding other teacher for arriving late for lunch line duty. Brit with clipboard headed for classrooms, my duty starts there in 5 minutes. Must wash hands, down almond butter and jelly sandwich and try to have at least 5 minutes of adult conversation. Gulp, Chew, Chat. Gulp, Chew, Chat. 1:20, Run to classrooms. Brit with clipboard has beaten me again, sitting in chair with clipboard. I shout out, "I'm coming, I'm coming Brit with clipboard (real name wont be mentioned)". "Here have a seat," says Brit with clipboard. Too late, another mark on the totem, that I have once again, arrived late to supervision duties. Surely will affect data for thrilling Wednesday meeting. Bad teacher! Very bad teacher! Must finish crusts of ABJ sandwich while supervising. Results of thrilling Wednesday meeting? Tomorrow is another day. Be sure to arrive promptly to my am supervision post. More importantly, middle school and high school teachers are slacking on their supervision, data from Brit with clipboard determines, way below our mecca. Must show up on time! My calculated result, after compiling the number of times Brit with clipboard has reminded me to show up to supervision, or just number of times a day seeing Brit with clipboard: Think like a 6th grader, steal and hide clipboard, problem solved!