Minions, Margaritas, and MMMMM!

Summer camp Kiddos

Summer went by all too quickly as it always does. School ended on June 23rd, but I worked our English Summer Camp the two weeks that followed. I worked with the oldest group of students, most of them in the 9-12 years old group. Most of them are in this picture. While I do prefer working with adolescents and teens, I LOVED my two weeks with these students. They were excited to arrive each morning to see what was in store for them. Our theme for this year's camp was, "Every Hero has a Story." We read lots of stories and talked about what makes a person a hero. The weather was cold and rainy on our second field trip Thursday, so we went and saw Despicable Me 3. While I very much enjoyed the original movie, each sequel just gets sillier and sillier. But the kids always seem to love the minions!

Yummy Margaritas!

With summer camp finished, I boarded a jet plane for a speedy two weeks in the USA--all of it spent in Virginia with my mom and various friends and family members. First on the list of things to EAT/DRINK was Mexican. First night we had Mexican. Then we had it again the next night where mom and I enjoyed these HUGE margaritas. Thankfully, this restaurant was just across the street from mom's apartment. No worries about how to get home. While I had hoped we'd get to do Mexican a third time...frankly we ran out of time. AND there were so many other things to eat. McDonald's. Wendy's. Mozzarella sticks and marinara sauce (at a true Italian restaurant). Burgers and fries. Seafood. Breakfast at a diner. And we did manage to stay in a few nights where I enjoyed making either bologna and cheese sandwiches OR hotdogs and cheese sandwiches. I know...that will gross some of you out, I'm sure. While there seem to be sausages everywhere in UB, they are not the salty, tasty hot dogs of the USA. Yes, I'm sure they are filled with terrible-for-you things....but man, they sure taste good! 

Angela, Heather, & Me

Two of my best gal pals from high school journeyed down from Pennsylvania on Sunday to spend what was supposed to be a few hours together (and turned into an overnight crash session). I saw Heather five years ago during the time of our 20th high school reunion. But Ang, well....I can't exactly remember when I saw her last. Neither could she. But probably when we were yet IN high school. Anyway, these gals weren't only just MY high school friends, they were like family to my mom. We made the most of our 17 hours together. We TALKED, we ate, we drank, we told stories, and we drank some more. I wonder if my mother is yet telling the story about how we were all "cut off" by the bar at Chownings Tavern. We were getting a bit loud and rowdy, I think, though our server really liked us. :) We took it home to mom's apartment and continued on with Mongolian vodka. We shared no shortage of laughs and memories into the wee hours.

Fawn, Mel, & Me

The morning after this night of fun I began my four-day intensive Advanced Placement Summer Institute hosted at the College of William & Mary (a place i once fantasized of attending!). I've attended no shortage of teacher trainings and professional development opportunities across my 12+ years of working in the field of education. A few exceptional, some good, most less than mediocre (more often than not....those were mandated by a school or district!). For the FIRST time in my education career I was in a room with 25 educators and NOT ONE felt they needed to dominate every conversation or WOW the other attendees with their wisdom, insight, or experiences. It was a room full of professional educators, some seasoned, some brand new....but each of us with a true respect for the collaborative experience. My table of five shared everything and anything. It was AMAZING! After my participation in the National Writing Project, this summer institute was next best experience. 

Young TJ on the right...

Once the professional development was complete, then I headed into my final weekend of fun before I boarded a plan for Asia. I was blessed to have my sister Fawn (who came from ID) and cousin Melaney (who lives in MD) travel down to spend a fast and furious 48 hours together. We ate, drank, attended events at CW, and played games at nearly midnight. Fawn and I even managed to meet up and exercise in the morning. Okay...that may be stretching the truth. We planned to run, but found walking and talking in the humidity to be more than sufficient. 

After we Escaped the King

We attended a couple of events during the day at CW (heard the Young Thomas Jefferson speak) and went to Escape the King on Saturday night along with our cousin Roz. I'm proud to say....WE DID ESCAPE. Are you kidding? All of us crazy smart people trapped in a room.....with a few random strangers and children? Yes, we managed just fine!

The weekend raced by us in a fury. Over the two weeks I shopped like a madwoman...acquiring things for myself, for my son and husband, and for the in-laws. I arrived with ONE bag (probably about 38 lbs); and I returned with TWO 50 lbs bags (I had been smart enough to pack a second). I confess that a good many of those pounds were books I received at the training OR during the numerous trips that Mom and I made to Barnes and Noble. I can't express how much I miss a LARGE bookstore. 

Home-cooked Meal

My final night was spent in Hampton VA at my cousin Roz's beautiful home. You may be shocked to learn....this was my first and ONLY home-cooked meal across the entire two weeks in the USA. Even I admit that's appalling in retrospect. BUT...I can tell you it was totally WORTH it. First we enjoyed cocktails with a tour of the garden and grounds. then some YUMMY cheeses with grapes. And finally, pork tender loin from the grill. Homemade pesto on pasta. And roasted brussel sprouts. I know I ate more than I should have....but I was in heaven (and knew I was leaving in a few short hours). It was a lovely evening spent with two people whom I adore...my mother and Roz. They support me while I live this life abroad and it wouldn't be possible without them. 

I wrapped up summer with just over three weeks in UB preparing to begin teaching the AP Literature & Comp course for the first time. I'm excited to report that I have 9 of our 21 seniors in the class and I look forward to our 85 minutes together each and every morning. More soon!

Sheep Heads and Sidewalk Sleepers

I'm still surprised when I see sheep heads--cooked and saran-wrapped--in the cooler next to the eggs and milk at the supermarket. I just can't imagine it will ever be normal or everyday. But here they are for your viewing pleasure. And one head costs 5,540 MNT or about $2.28. If you've been following my blog, then you recall that I tried my first sheep's head back in April of 2016. I haven't had it again since. I'm glad to have tasted it....and the cheek meat and tongue are especially tasty...but it's not preferred Mongolian meat. That would be horse! With winter approaching, horse meat will be back on the butcher blocks. For the most part it is not eaten in the warmer months. 

Some of you may have been wondering where I've been....as it's been a near two month hiatus since I last posted. Summer came and I was busy--first with working the English summer camp at ASU (had a blast with the younger kids for two weeks!). Then I went home to the USA, Virginia to be exact, to see my mother (and other family and friends--a full post on that soon) and attend an Advanced Placement Summer Institute. Then I was back here in UB for the final weeks before I first reported to work on August 18th. Now we are into our second full week of the semester one and I am LOVING my AP Lit class that is populated with NINE of our seniors (about half of the class). Again....look for a fleshed out post soon with highlights from my US trip.

My last post back in July was about Sidewalks....the uneven-ness of them and the things I observe on them. Well...this is a P.S. to that post. Occasionally one does encounter someone such as this man on the left. He was sound asleep on the sidewalk. I assume he had been drunk, though I can't say I smelled any alcohol. I snapped this picture around 9:20 am on a Sunday morning--I think I was on my way home after a morning jog. Anyway....just wanted to add that one more thing to my observations for the sidewalks of UB. 

I promise to have another post up very soon!