Small Triumphs

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

Taking out the Trash: 2020, A year in review

January 1, 2021January 1, 2021 First Person ForeignBeauty

2020 was NOT TRASH. I am so tired of hearing, in spite of the trauma, loss and anxiety-riddled year that 2020 was, the negativity infused in the number 2020 as if we are entitled to[…]

A cactus asks forgiveness: The Grand Canyon, Sedona and Tucson with a friend

November 24, 2020January 1, 2021 First Person ForeignArizona

“Take a picture of me!” she said and ran close to a Jumping Cholla (which we thought was a Joshua Tree). I didn’t think to shout be super careful; cactus having a way of seeming[…]

It takes bravery to be a teacher

September 5, 2020September 5, 2020 First Person ForeignBeauty

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[…]

On the Border 1: Intake Training for Immigrant Shelter

June 28, 2019June 28, 2019 First Person ForeignArizona

After my first week in Tucson, I went to a Desert Doves’ Meeting. Who are the Desert Doves? RPCVs (Return Peace Corps Volunteers) who live in Tucson. All of us individually at some point in[…]

The First Week of Graduate School and My Last Post.

May 21, 2019May 21, 2019 First Person ForeignBeauty

Hello All. It’s a Sunday night and you can catch me writing my blog and procrastinating further studying for a statistics exam tomorrow. Statistics. I want to be a high-school Spanish teacher. I repeat: Spanish.[…]

Moving Across the Country (3): 10 Hours to Arizona

May 13, 2019May 13, 2019 First Person ForeignArizona

The long-anticipated arrival to Arizona after driving three days from Georgia to start graduate school!

T-Minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): Translating For The Master Stylist

March 21, 2019March 22, 2019 First Person ForeignBeauty

On our last day, our group of 16 stood in a large circle while the youth gave us palabras de agradecimiento. They also gave each one of us Estadounidenses little gifts to take home, recuerdos[…]