Is it Christmas vacation yet?

There is one more week of class before Christmas vacation officially begins and you can definately feel the buzz of anticipation in the air. The kids are growing restless, finding it difficult to focus, and delving into the drama of gift-giving, or not giving as the case may be. I'm just trying to keep my head above water, trying to grade as many of their assignments before the start of break, keep their attention and interest in class, and try not to daze off into the daydream of what it will be like not to be teaching for two whole weeks.

D and I have a lot to get accomplished during the break though. We are flying down to Iowa in February to go to the overseas teaching fair. Yep, I'm trying to hook a job overseas for next year. My profession offers so many opportunities to see the world, and it seems like people rarely take advantage of them. D and I decided that if we were ever going to take a risk and experience life in another culture, now would be the time. We don't have kids, we are not settled into the comfort and safety of our jobs, and we are still young enough that we can live without daily American comforts.

I'm excited about this step, but scared as well. I find myself continuing to procrastinate on creating the things that will help me secure a job. I still need to research, update my resume, and contact schools that I am interested in before they head off on their own winter breaks. I know that I need to have those things finished this week, but here I am, writing to noone and anyone instead.

Wish me luck.

Vivo en Guayaquil, Pero Mi Corazón Está en Quito

Oh Quito, how I love thee... Dave and I needed a break from the heat and honking of Guayaquil, so we hopped on a quick flight north. We spent a wonderful four days in beautiful Quito, Ecuador. Enjoying the many artisan markets, coffee shops, restaurants, mountains, and cool weather. I wore jeans and long-sleeved shirts, slept with three blankets on the bed, and never left without my jacket, hat, and gloves for the first time in months. It was pure heaven. Quito is a very tourist friendly destination, with people from all over the world walking through the streets. It is not uncommon to hear whispers of French, Dutch, German, English, and, of course, Spanish as you travel down its cobblestone avenues. The people are also so very friendly, pointing out points of interest that they have discovered to any other tourist they see. People often can be seen giving tips on which restaurants to try or where the nearest bookstore can be found to complete strangers they bump into. Many ar

Años Viejos, Pyromaniacs, and Fireworks...Oh My

I have to admit, it has been quite awhile since I have actually been awake to ring in the new year and say goodbye to the old. Dave and I have always been a bit more concerned about the eight hours of sleep necessary to enjoy life rather than seeing the ball drop. But this year...is different. It is 12:58 and the neighbor's hired band just started, there are rapid fire explosives (aka fireworks) going off in three minute intervals, and the car alarms throughout our block seem to be answering the loving call of said fireworks. There will be no eight hours to start off the year for the Richert's this time. Nothing about our experiences in Ecuador could be classified as typical, and New Year's Eve is proving to be no exception. The evening started out quite and low key, dinner at home with a movie. There were the occasional firework, but that isn't anything atypical. I was even contemplating continuing the tradition of snuggling into bed by 10:30. Before I called

Yes or No?

A couple weeks ago, slipped in the far reaches of my mailbox, I found a note that took me back to the good ol' days of elementary school. You know what I'm talking about. Remember how you would just be sitting at your desk, one leg pumping back and forth, pencil eraser nudging your bottom lip, as you tried to puzzle out those mind-boggling multiplication tables? And then, out of the corner of your eye, you would see Andy passing a note to Melissa, who would then pass it on to Mark, who would then palm it off to you right before Mrs. Nelson turned around from the blackboard. Your name would be written all in cursive and curly-q's on the clumsily folded paper. Carefully, stealthily, you unfold the paper to find: Well, InterAmerican sent me a 'check yes or no' note, and it raised the same sensation of anxiety that those old love notes of yesterday used to inspire. Instead of the traditional, "do you like me?" question, it was the "will you continue

Living The Good Life

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