Hard Thing

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[…]

Education

September 15, 2021September 22, 2021 First Person ForeignArizona

Before I begin this post, I adhere to the rules of FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. I will never reveal my students’ identities, their performance in my classes, or reveal anything about them[…]

Airplane Mode (3): Returning

July 17, 2021July 17, 2021 First Person ForeignAbuelita

“La mejor parte de estar roto es que encuentras a quienes son capaces de darte partes suyas para que tú vuelvas a estar completo.” -Alejandro Sequera, Mi Viaje Sin Ti Keep in mind, I am[…]

Survive Teaching // Teaching to Survive

June 15, 2021June 15, 2021 First Person ForeignArizona

I sit, a woman of average means and multiplying wrinkles, as a survivor of the Zoomiverse. I’m not sure if I’m better for having taught a lifetime of high school classes on Zoom, or if[…]

Driving to México

October 23, 2020October 23, 2020 First Person ForeignArizona

This post may be triggering on the topic of anxiety and mortality. México is the most misunderstood country I’ve ever been to. It is stunning. It is a hidden gem. It is full of fighters[…]

It takes bravery to be a teacher

September 5, 2020September 5, 2020 First Person ForeignBeauty

On the Border (4): The Lecture

February 2, 2020February 15, 2020 First Person ForeignArizona

In this post, I write about a lecture I attended. To reference the slides from the lecture, here they are. I had a wonderful Monday. Not even as Mondays go, but like, a wonderful day[…]

The Lockdown

December 4, 2019December 4, 2019 First Person ForeignDoubts

One time my sister and I were playing in a borrowed minivan when we were young. We were making a family trip to Tennessee where we would stay in a cabin for free: borrowed leaves,[…]

On The Border 2: Intake for the First Time

June 30, 2019June 30, 2019 First Person ForeignBeauty

(Picture borrowed from Google search of Tucson Benedictine Monastery). I had been getting intake emails since I got added to the list serve with subjects like “50 Guests Arriving at 1pm.” After a 2-hour training[…]

Ready or not, USA (1)

April 26, 2019April 28, 2019 First Person ForeignChanges

Now, I imagined this day a million ways (my departure) and none of them could have prepared me for what it actually was. Dropped off by friends, then up ’til the last second in the[…]