I was working. Seriously.

Our Friday field trip began here at Chichen Itzá: And ended here at Tulum:

Always trying to learn from my mistakes, I included a weekend at the beach as part of this year's summer program. Last summer, I gave students a three-day weekend for the purpose of spending time along the Caribbean. It turned out that for a variety of logistical and language reasons, they had a miserable time. I decided this year that I would make hostel reservations for them, provide transportation, lay out some options for them such a snorkeling, para sailing, etc, but I was not going to lead them around or even stay where they stayed. I selected Tulum as the designated site. We would visit the archaeological site of Chichen Itzá on our way to Tulum, I would drop them off and then rendezvous on Sunday afternoon at 4:00. My plan worked like a dream.

The students loved their hostel, snorkeled, swam in cenotes, biked all over the area on bikes provided by the hostel, ate well, met people from all over the world and had a wonderful time.

I, in the meantime, checked in a little hotel I had been reading about. Pictured below is my delightful cabaña. The photo above is from my front door. I had a few spa treatments, attended yoga and meditation classes, and walked on the beach. I also slept well partly because of the ocean breeze and the sound of the waves, but also because there is no electricity. Once the sun goes down, that is it. Both nights I was there, I read for awhile using my flashlight, but then I finally gave up/in and slept. I participated in the daybreak yoga and meditation session and then relaxed the rest of the day.

What is not to like about this job?

One man, one machete, no ladder

I wish I had been here when the tree trimmer began his work today. By the time I arrived, he had already made good progress....all by himself. With no ladder and using his machete to chop branches. Actually, maybe it was good that I wasn't here. Luckily, the rubber tree seems indestructible.

Dining al fresco

I am having friends over for a late, light dinner in awhile. Pictured here is the dining set I had made earlier this year. I love it. Must run....

The Summer Program - Day 12

Finding shade has become our number one priority. The heat has been, well, scorching with temperatures ranging from a cool low of 92 to a high of 106 with 100% humidity all the time. I laughed one day last week when I checked the temperature and found the added comment of "feels like 110." Right.

The heat notwithstanding, the summer session has been a success thus far except for one student who left at the end of the first week due to severe homesickness. Even then, it was probably best that she left so that the other students could enjoy their experience without worrying that they were making her feel worse because of their enthusiasm for all they were seeing and doing.

We are halfway through the program and have covered a lot of territory and history. Our field trip on Friday and Saturday took us from the pre-conquest of AD 300 - 900, through the colonialization period of the 1500 and 1600s and into the golden age of Yucatan in the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The students loved one of our brief stops so much that they are going back on their own Monday when classes end at 1:30. That is amazing.

Apologies to my most faithful reader for the lack of posts.

The Summer Program - Day 1

Orientation began for the 8 summer students this morning at 8:30! Because they are earning 6 credit hours for the 4-week program, their schedule is going to be intense beginning with 5 hours of classes per day and including living with families, field trips every Friday, and two weekend trips. All students are at the advanced level which makes working with them much easier than when there are students of all levels. Of course, within that advanced level, the abilities of students vary somewhat.

I think the program we have prepared that involves working a a large group, small group work and individual work will help bring everyone's Spanish to a higher, more polished level. Pictured above and below are two students with the two teachers who are responsible for the academic work. I am responsible for field trips, language partners, cultural events and generally keeping everyone happy!

I, for one, am glad the program has begun. As much as I enjoyed the break and even though I knocked a number of items off my things to do list, I am glad to be around students again....I think!

Happy Birthday, Andrea!

I remember the day Andrea was born. It was also the day of my graduation from 6th grade so there was lots of activity around the house when we got up. Mom and Dad had already gone to the hospital; Dad had notified Lucille and she was helping us to get ready. I loved my dress (blue, empire waist set pink ribbon), but the most exciting thing was that I got to wear nylons for the first time. Now, today, the thought of pulling on a pair of panty hose makes me sweat. Most of us do whatever we can to avoid to avoid wearing panty hose at all costs, but, at that time, I felt so grown up and wearing nylons added to the specialness of the day.



The ceremony was to begin at 1:00. Just as we were forming a line to march in, Pops arrived. He was all flushed with excitement and managed to tell me that I had a new baby sister as the line started moving. He looked fabulous, by the way, with his navy blazer, white shirt, khaki pants, tan as always. My memory is that he was the only father present that day which could very well have been the case because this was 1966 after all...very few, if any fathers, attended daytime school events.



I was bursting with the good news and could not stop smiling. I had been looking forward to the baby's birth since the day Mom announced her pregnancy. I just knew she was going to have a girl! I wish I could remember the naming process, but I just don't. All I remember is loving her from the top of her bald little head to the tips of her sweet little toes the moment I laid eyes on her. I loved her then, love her now and will love her forever. She is my baby sistah!

Summer plans

Central's summer school program is a go! Eight students arrive May 31 for a 4-week intensive language program that includes 5 hours of classes daily, living with families, and, of course, the ubiquitous field trips. Many, many summer study abroad programs throughout Mexico were cancelled because of the flu outbreak including two of the three programs that had been going to rent the Central House. We are still waiting to hear from the July program. If that program cancels, we will have to make some hard decisions about lay-offs and big budget cuts as the summer programs generate income. Employees have said they would rather face a decrease in days than a lay-off. If the July program confirms, we should be in good shape and will not have to cut employees.

Once students depart on June 27, my life becomes my own again. I will be headquartered in Fort Dodge beginning June 30 until my return to Mérida on July 25. My only concrete plan right now is to head to Indiana upon my arrival to spend a few days with Patti and family. Additional road trips are under discussion. Invitations to visit are welcome! Have rental car, will travel. I wish I could fit in a trip to California, but I think I will wait until next year. That is the news from my part of the world. For now, I have classes to prepare, files to review, and trips to plan.