Christmas in Mexico
(Originally posted December 2015) The holiday season looks and feels similar to home, with some slight changes for the warmer climate. I’ve been wearing sandals and short sleeves into December. The holiday lights are strung up on palm trees and poinsettias are planted in the ground, rather than sitting indoors in a planter. Blow up…
Mazamitla, Halloween and Día de los muertos
(Originally posted November 2015) Mazamitla Mazamitla is a small town in the mountains approximately two hours from Guadalajara. Each year at ASFG, the fourth grade generation takes a three-day trip to an eco-lodge in the forest. When asked about the purpose of the trip, my students were spot on: to bond as a generation, to…
Hurricane Patricia and the Race in Tapalpa
(Originally posted October 2015) On Friday we were warned that the strongest storm in recorded history was coming our way. All day long, everyone was glued to their phones and exchanging info about the incoming hurricane. For several weeks, I had been planning on a weekend trip to Tapalpa, a small town about two hours…
Family Visit
(Originally posted October 2015) Last week my parents came for their first visit to Guadalajara to see the city where I’ll be living the next couple of years. I was lucky to catch them on their busy travel, sporting event and art retreat schedule. We had a blast exploring the city, both my favorite spots…
Sayulita
(Originally posted October 2015) Three-day weekends are the greatest. In general, weekends are awesome and an extra day makes it really awesome. We chose to spend our three-day weekend in Sayulita, Nayarit. A four-hour drive and we’re in a small beach town on the Pacific Coast. After school Friday we load up the car with…
September Update
(Originally posted September 2015) I realize that it’s been a while since I’ve given an update on life in Guadalajara. This past week was my two-month anniversary of the move. So far I’ve settled into the new job at school and I’ve made many quality friends. The neighborhood feels familiar and I’m comfortable roaming the…
The First Week of School
(Originally posted August 2015) First week: complete! This week we started with a “Meet and Greet Monday” when parents came into meet the teacher, see the classroom and drop off supplies. Tuesday was a half-day and the rest of the week was full school days. As the first week of school always is, it…
Starting the School Year
(Originally posted August 2015) New teachers started a week before the rest of the staff came back to campus. This time was split between getting to know the workings of the school and exploring the city. There are twelve foreign newbies this year, which, for a school of hundred foreign staff, shows relatively low…
Two Weeks In
(Originally posted August 2015) Two weeks ago my family dropped me off at the Madison airport. The last time I went up that same escalator toward security was over ten years ago and I was traveling to Venezuela, an experience that inspired my life in so many ways and kick started my love of…
The Night Before
(Originally posted July 2015) Almost a year ago, I started to get serious about following my dream to move abroad. I often told myself that I would take a year off to travel, live and work in another country when I became tenured in the school district. Wanting that job security seemed like a…