Teacher Life

Guatemala, Mi Amor: Day One, Phoenix to Mexico to Guate to Mayan Punishment

March 24, 2024March 30, 2024 First Person ForeignArizona

After much separation anxiety, I decided to leave my computer in my small apartment in Phoenix. For lack of a better term, I call Phoenix home. As a woman living alone, and just becoming more[…]

My Seven Places

March 2, 2024 First Person Foreigncoffee

There are actually big, sad, tragic events happening concurrently in hospitals inches from my breath, if air moves, and in zip codes I’ve never known except on the faith of my own imagination and the[…]

Las montañas: Returning to Guatemala, 1

February 26, 2024 First Person ForeignBeauty

So, I booked a trip. I’ve been lucky to book so many before, but this one took some plotting. All of the layovers on the US dollar looked egregious: red eyes on opposite coasts, or[…]

‘Twas the Flight Before Christmas

February 10, 2024 First Person Foreigncoffee

Trigger Warning about thoughts related to self-harm mentioned at the end. Read with care! Did I mention how hilarious I find it? I am 37 and a thought will attack me as I rush to[…]

Lockdown

April 30, 2023April 30, 2023 First Person ForeignHard Thing

If you aren’t sure about a career, like if you are in tears by third period because the jittery 13-year-olds didn’t learn anything in three days reading the same chapter, and they keep singing the[…]

Teaching in Another Place, in Another Population

March 11, 2023 First Person ForeignArizona

This blog was initially created to explore the feeling of not belonging, but on-purpose, and teaching is the essence of that feeling on lots of caffeine. We use this word in teaching, “populations,” because (in[…]

To (actual) Mexico from (Used-to-be) Mexico

March 7, 2023March 10, 2023 First Person ForeignCompany

April 26, 2022: Just like with anything, anywhere, the more you learn, the less you know. The same can be said of languages, countries and, well, life itself. I like to travel because it reminds[…]

Day Three: Sonora Solo Travel

March 27, 2022March 27, 2022 First Person ForeignArizona

How can borders be so simple and so strange? I am driving and I pass over an invisible line and everything changes: the pavement, the signs, the language on the signs, miles into kilometers, food[…]

Estoy en tu tierra: Spring Break in Sonora (One)

March 12, 2022March 14, 2022 First Person ForeignBeauty

I saw a pavilion with booths below it. I had already crossed the border and did not understand. I looked at the medium cup of Dunkin’ Donuts, jostling with yellow liquid. _______________________ After I piled[…]

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30, 2021 First Person ForeignNew

I can’t stop talking about teaching. It’s not because I can’t find something else to talk about, it’s just that it is all I am doing. I say hello to all of the students everyday[…]