So we ran the 10 K portion of the Soweto marathon last week and it was phenomenal.  What a rush!! I really love running with all those people.  The energy was tremendous.  There were huge speakers out towards the end and I swear the music kept me going through the last few K.  It was a great experience.  I can see how people can really get addicted to this.  So easy to do, anywhere in the world. 

Meanwhile, we need to keep up the 10K and start adding on to train for the half-marathon next April.  It pretty exciting actually.

So, parent teacher conferences are here and I always look forward to these.  I guess I just hope for a way to connect with the parents so that it’s clear that we are on the same side.  It’s not easy feeling that every meeting with parents turns into an interview process.  I actually prefer when the students are there so that there is an honest dialogue about what takes place and how we can move forward.  In the end, I just hope for the best.

I haven’t been keeping up with my blog most recently as I would have liked.  I think just all the goings on have caught up with me.  I actually would like it to be more of a daily ritual again but I only have about 10 min of personal time on the computers in the morning and usual use that just checking email.  Things have been good though; and I am finally feeling like I am getting the hang of living here.

Attending my first professional development since we have moved overseas, I feel a renewed passion for becoming a master teacher.  In New york city, when I survived my first three years of teaching in a tough school, I was practically considered a Master teacher so the elevation to that status was granted regardless of what took place in the classroom. As I am exposed to how much more I have to learn and grow, I feel a renewed sense of excitement about teaching chemistry and teaching it well.

It’s a wonderful feeling.

So I am preparing to head to Zambia and feeling a bit nervous, actually.  Am I really ready for this.  I haven’t done the back-packer “travel bug” thing in a long time.  I haven’t missed it either.  I guess I really felt at the time that this conference was a good idea… now, I am not so sure. 

Well, either way.  It should be a peaceful journey.

so I just completed my first 10K.  It was a lot of fun.  It was the SPAR women’s run and there were plenty of men running in drag.  It may have been more amusing if there weren’t so many.  but I guess, it’s become pretty common.  At one point I just watched all these women of different ages and races all running with “I am beautiful” written on the back of their t-shirts and I had to think, we have come along way.  It was really a beautiful sight to behold.  I now know what to expect for Soweto but apparently the energy will be a lot bigger.

So I am running my first race this weekend.  10K.  wow, I guess I really never thought I could get into running. But I really do enjoy it.  It’s just quiet time for me at this point.  Once I get through that first 10 minutes during which I am actually thinking about what I am doing, my body is kind of in a “zone” and I don’t even feel like I am running anymore.  It’s weird actually.  Hopefully, that “zone” will get me through the race as well.  One can only hope…

We watched NOTORIOUS the other night.  We really enjoyed it.  I thought it was well done.  I love watching Brooklyn in movies.  I really do feel like I am there, without having to be there.  The brooklyn of my youth only exists in my memories anyhow.  So I don’t need to be there to experience that.  But I am glad that won’t be my children’s childhood.  At least not all of it.  I don’t mind them seeing the good part– NYC in the summertime; anyone can enjoy that.  Free outdoor concerts.  Block parties and fire-hydrant sprinklers… But the garbage blowing down the street in the fall or the dirty snow lining the streets in the winter?  let’s just skip that part.  To tell you the truth, I am glad that’s missing from our lives.

So we drove out to Heia safari range today and had lunch.  The peacocks, zebras and impala just walked right over to the pool near our table while we ate!! It was pretty amazing.  A beautiful drive out there as well.  The drive back wasn’t quite so scenic and we ended up along the waste management facility.  So far, I am enjoying our week off.  It was a good idea for us to stay local.  The kids are too young to appreciate anything more adventurous.  Tsidale just wants to play with her friends anyhow.  We have a couple play dates arranged but otherwise, I am taking it easy-peasy.

Well, we have a week off from school. I am surely looking forward to it.  It’s nice to be able to just breath for a moment.  I hope to be able to take care of some little things such as dentist appointements and just spending time with the family but I guess I just need a break from teaching as well.  I did get great advice from a friend who is also oversease about making connections with people outside of the school community.  Wish me luck as I once again, step out of my comfort zone…