One of the films that showed today (Saturday) was the following: Now Showing @ ALA: Bonsai People – the Vision of Muhammad Yunus
and here is this particular film preview: Muhammad Yunus
As well, there were others at ALA2013 showing such as the following, definitely worth grabbing onto when they come out in the full versions.
Free for All : Inside the Public Library
Ferlinghetti: A Rebirth of Wonder
The Untold History of the United States
Saturday June 29th Session 1
AASL Best Websites for teaching and Learning
So far I felt this was one of the most crucial and hands-on workshop from the very beginning when this workshop began. Attached are the detailed Apps chosen in a document,
Saturday Session AASL Best websites for teaching and learning
as well as the details/description that goes with them, AND with the interviews of the owners for some of these apps, this is a great opportunity to use tools that can impact the classroom and students to a great detail.
To carry this further, the following address:
40 Great Apps for Mobile Reference and Outreach
as well as
and
This was one of the most interesting workshops to create a lifetime resource for referring to and ultimately using.
July 28th ALA Opening Session Speech –
Open Session of ALA Friday Night notes.
After you see the above link to the attachment that details the key points made by the Chicago Mayor and Stephen Leavitt, aside from the humor it is great to see the public efforts that are important to bringing attention to libraries, as well as the creative approaches that are brought to education. It is amazing how everyday things can be made interesting, andI feel that Mr. Leavitt’s class at the University of Chicago is one of the most interesting because he can tie everyday events and occurrences to the analysis of economics. This is the best way students learn, I have found, is by tying the idea to something that they are familiar with or have some prior knowledge about but maybe not 100%.
I liked the idea that the community is being reined into the needs and operation of libraries, and how the Mayor mentioned that the division between public libraries and school libraries are now being streamlined to increase an awareness and initiative to increasing reading.
Following the Open Session Speech, I hit the Opening of the Exhibits to grab some books for my library. While in the Opening Sessions, I was lucky enough to have met a great person named John, who worked as a cataloger. We talked and laughed at how people lined up hours before the exhibits opened to get everything they could free. Even with waiting until the Opening Session was done, and not skipping it to obtain free items, we walked away with so many free books, it was sick (in a good way!).
By the end of Friday, on the shuttle home, yes, I was EXHAUSTED, and have to say, so far, I have been able to get much inspiring information as well as ideas that reach into every discipline involving research, Liberal Arts projects, and improving educational support from the library!
To start off the day, BLACKHAWKS celebration! Yes, today was the day of the parade, and all had been warned of the hassle it would be with shuttles to and from the conference. As usual, I walked across the street from the hotel and began to see mass numbers, the like I was still amazed at. 
I vaguely remember the crowd in St. Louis, when I was there for NCTE and the parade was me in the middle of things. THAT sea of red was amazing before and after. This was no backseat either. I saw amazing amounts of people crowded in spaces I thought would never work. Yet, despite the heat, maybe the three hour wait?, the picturesI had of fans was amazing, 
the pictures of the team came out perfect, and I couldn’t believe I had timed it right to be there, in the middle of 2 million fans, and (yes 2 MILLION!) and also able to catch the convention, business as usual. Life was good!
My original plan was to attend the Conference 101 by the New Members Round
Table Session, 1:00 – 2:30 PM but by the time I was there, the line was out the door!
Soooo, in place of that, I wandered the Convention Center and settled on the 2:30 – 4:00 PM Session, International Librarians’ Orientation, that seemed to fit! I was amazed at how many people were from other countries at ALA! Pakistan, the U.K., Canada, Egypt, Australia, Ghana, Nigeria, and more, 14 pages of a spreadsheet we were given, all people from other countries! AMAZING! TONS from Canada! We were given a raffle ticket and there was a gift bag in the middle of each table, and we had a chance at winning. We thought that would be pretty good since only 3 people were at the table at first, then by the time the ceremony started, a packed table! What was nice was this was similar to the orientation I received and try to participate in, within Mexico City, so it was nice ALA was being made familiar thanks to this orientation, and I was able to get into this one!
The International Relations Round Table does a GREAT job in getting information to everyone, our folder was packed with the poster sessions, workshops, and other functions that involved all things international.
It was exciting to meet and greet those around us, and have the possibility of seeing ALA through the eyes of an international librarian. 🙂 To sing up for a free bimonthly e-newsletter involving all things international, the following address allows you to do that:
and the website for the International Relations is the following!
Website: http://www.ala.org/iro
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ALAIRO
in Spanish!: http://twitter.com/ALA_en_espanol
and on Facebook! : http://tinyurl.com/ykes8d7
The next big event was the speaking of Steven D. Levitt, (Author of Freakonomics) for the official opening session of ALA! 🙂 I knew nothing of Mr Leavitt, so look for the next post highlighting his speech!
29:15. That was my time. Believe it or not, 15th for men, 41st overall in a 158 person race, and yet, with better shoes, better breathing practice, better training, I feel I could have been at least in the 23ish time bracket. Five minutes difference is a whole race in your mind. Yet, it makes me hungry that I have caught the running bug once again. Having my picture in the conference papers at the 5k at the beginning of the race, makes me look better than my time was (laughing), the soreness in my legs reminds me how much work is worth the gains you experience later.
As I watch the film onboard and hear this line,
“Delusional Self Methology – whole farming town fantasy – without the plant, without the industry, there was nothing.”
It’s funny, as I travel back to Mexico, I find myself rather nostalgic about my time here (Chicago). This quote above sits in the recesses of my thoughts and makes me realize, there is something bigger than what money, fame, and the expectations of others or what people think of you or your actions can do to a person.
Exactly, one week ago, I left Mexico City for a Chicago I had come into 2 years ago in the dead of winter. This time, familiar-like and nostalgic, I fell in love with the gardens, slow walks possible in a huge city, high landscapes, and the embracing sentiments of a once country boy amid a huge city. I threw myself into two million people, celebrated the Chicago Blackhawks (not my team), yet still happy for them. Add to that meeting some amazing celebrities, talking with them as long lost friends, and acquiring a new list of friends and contacts that will allow others to grow from and use and hopefully, hopefully, pass on. This is the problem, well not a problem but a personal worry, a pet peeve so to say:
Remember when there was a saying that your parents might have told you way back when: People can be jealous of you, so that explains why some people do the things they do, say the things they say, and think the way they think. Hence, in lieu of conferences, which are great, meeting new people even better, but if it ends there, IF IT ENDS there, what use is it? If each of those uses are maximized, the small moments we have with the experiences capitalized upon, people and opportunities we have to grab a piece of something that will make the opportunities we spend with others more valuable, isn’t that what should matter?
I get disappointed, as I am sure many are, when there are many more critics of what others (myself in this case) do, when the critics themselves do nothing. I remember a word of advice from one of the many amazing people I met that struck true to me. You surround yourself with people that support you, raise your spirit up and not hold you back, hinder you, etc. I will go back in my notes and find the person, be it Oliver Stone, Octavia Spencer, or Janis Ian, but whether the person matters or the timeframe it was said matters, what matters most is the action that resulted.
I realized one thing, the hardest day I every had was the day I stood up for what I believed in, and walked away from a history of building a community of people that will grow into the future; members of society that pass that pattern of giving back to the community and not making the 80% of action be how it can benefit yourself. Leaving a family of Cross Country runners, PAVE members, yearbook staff, Key Club members, and so many more, as a difficult day but a change for the better, I just did not know it! The very conferences I try to go and make presentations to, meeting as many celebrities and celebrities that are not known yet celebrities due to the fact they impact so many other students, that contain a spark that will be left behind for future generations to do the same. With that perspective, leaving a familiar situation was/is not so hard if you try, at least try, to go on and protect those same people, follow them, and continue to want to nurture them with the actions of reaching even more people to set that spark into a flame, exciting people about what is possible.
Back to my pet peeve- when people take my going to conferences and take my actions to be self serving to put my name in the spotlight with famous and soon to be famous people, or just to draw attention to possibilities that can be created, it eats at me, lol, then I am afraid, people do not know me. A personal statement about this, these conferences are an opportunity to spread the chance of tooting the accomplishments of all those amazing students that I had been lucky enough to spend time with them.
Overall, this is my deal. How many of you remember that one class moment, that one classroom moment, you will remember FOREVER? I remember so many, SO many, that I am one of the lucky ones. I have many of those moments and not the ones that require me to reach into my memory and try to remember a classroom opportunity that just involved passing out the same tests, the same papers day in and day out. I fight inside against that kind of teaching. I have never been the shushing, be quiet kind of person, be it a librarian, a teacher, or an educator. I have always been and forever will be the supporter of wanting to see things happening, occurring, sometimes loud, and sometimes quiet, never passive never settling for the minimum, but striving and reaching for the maximum.
I have had so many awesome people along the way to believe in that and willing to jump into something and get their hands “dirty”. When people try to conform me, question me, or complain about the things I do, the places I go, or the reasons I putting myself into that arena, remember this, if it were for solely up to me, then I would not want to share the “sandbox” of opportunity with anyone else (so to speak). Yet, it is EXCITING to challenge others and get them excited as well. It is hard for me to get past those comments, thoughts, or predictions of the amazing people or experiences I have been lucky enough to have been exposed to, and have an opportunity to brag about our accomplishments, yet, the only reason they do happen is an open opportunity to share with others to build a larger base of possibility. The energy and charisma that runs in my family’s blood, thanks to my Mom and Dad, and the striving for a better world all feed that energy. If our future generations didn’t care to pass on that energy, have the willingness to go the extra mile, as well as the ability to see how they can take an experience, synthesize it, and then pass it on to another, then this has all been in vain; I would hate to think that would never be the case. So there it is, my pet peeve wrapped up into a ball of external complicated situations and explanations, but at the end, a thankfulness for the amazing experiences that allow us to take these and transform ourselves into something larger than the idea of ourselves.
Somewhere along the line, I became sensitive to the perceptions of others but moreso, wanting my actions to benefit others. If I feel the pressure of others thinking otherwise, I find myself needing to distance myself and working on how I can better do that; sometimes that means doing those things alone for awhile, yet ultimately, it is amazing to know, and appreciate, the many people that have been a part of my experiences, and themselves go on to achieve great things. I think that is part of what a family legacy, as well as a personal legacy should be, at least for me, to pass it forward and push them more into the spotlight of success.
Leaving Chicago was bittersweet, I fell in love with the flexibility the city had with my many experiences the second time around. Coming back to the states always has that effect, wondering, What if? Coming back to the states for me, I always see this as impossible, but in reality, the impossibility is me coming back to the states as an educator. That door seems it has permanently closed, mainly because I want too many things to be different for our education to be better.
I can’t be cookie cut into a shape if I do not agree with the end means, and I want the best possible end means for my students. I do not see that best end means for my students in a typical United States classroom currently. Unless I can make that happen, then I can’t be in that setting, and I am glad I know that enough to not force myself to be in that situation; so Mexico it is for me, and believe me, I love Mexico and the chance to be reborn in that educational setting again.
If an opportunity ever presents itself for me to capitalize on the changes of education to make more permanent changes to the way education reaches future generations, I can’t say I wouldn’t take it, but it would have to be a life changer, as the Mexico experience has been. I have been given matchless opportunities in the past to values the unique characteristics of a variety of students that fell under my care, past and present. I do feel people take the profession of teaching lightly, and when that profession is passed on lightly to others, not doing the all time best that can be done, I admit, I have 0% tolerance of that – so there is that about me.
However, I am growing and learning so much to make myself a better educator with the people I meet, the conferences I experience, when I am able hear others’ voices, I try to stretch that to many others; I hope that continues to help others out around me. To me, that is worth it’s weight in gold. Not with others’ opinions about why I am doing certain things I am doing, and trying to rationalize it, but with the true knowledge of who I am thanks to those that have become a part of my life, I am grateful to just keep going on and being encouraged to reach higher and try to meet and reach more people. It is with these thoughts I come back to Mexico from Chicago, and try to disseminate to others, passing on so many and much of who I met and what I learned; to try and help and motivate others and give them a spark that will ultimately turn into a fire. These opportunities come by once in a lifetime, and I am hoping to make the best of this one…having been a teacher and felt cornered, everyone needs opportunities for a game changer in their overall plan!
DON’T FORGET, to see info specific to the ALA Conference look at my blog, Sneaking into the Library. I will be updating with new info the next 2 days! Thanks!
http://whatchmacalit.wordpress.com
Former post about the 5k preparation and more to follow POST 5k Soon!
I can’t even put into words how incredible today was, but tomorrow…6:00 AM I am getting on the bus to run a 5k, my first 5k in AGES, I am as nervous as heck – but have a feeling that something surprising will happen if I get my mind straight…to be continued and fingers crossed…:) To be continued…and here we are the actual fay of the race, lol, SUNDAY, and let’s show what can be done on a good day…:)
(Wednesday) As I sit in Benito Juarez Airport, I reflect on the last few weeks, and wow, the realizations of things that have happened and haven’t…you’ll love this upcoming post…:)
(Thursday) It has been awhile, but oh what an awhile it has been! So let’s get in there…J
Thank you again for being a part of this blog, thanks again to you, we will hit 12000 hits on this blog in June, 4 away from that as of last night and wow – I hope many of you contribute and add comments as we go along too – thank you so much!
Me, yes, at the Chicago Bean!
Let me start what is freshest – Chicago. ALA Conference. Two years ago I was here in the cold of November for NCTE it seems so long ago – and now it is sunny, warm, amazingly humid (it feels good !) and find myself at a restaurant right now, for breakfast down from the Chicago Hilton, this restaurant called Brasserie – wow – beautiful front windows, 10.00 crepes, and worth every penny. I laughed because I am having a crepe filled with Nutella and covered with fruit, the Nutella brought me back to Mexico… The crepe is amazing and I have a couple (mother and child) sitting beside me speaking French, so it seems perfect – the crepe, ohmygosh, I want tons of them, lol Delicious, soft and the right touch of Nutella! The French music on top of that all was also a great idea!
$3.00 for the coffee and two free refills, and coffee I heard everyone commenting on, okay, so I will save it for the restaurant portion of my blog, sorry to get carried away, it IS food after all…
The day will be exciting starting with The Freedom To Read Foundation meeting at the Chicago Hilton, a Foundation that works alongside ALA – this will be interesting to see what involvements are available there at 8:30 (8:10 now, so I am inhaling the breakfast!)
Last Night coming in, I arrived at 10:00 PM roughly, made it through extensive lines of baggage and then, hit my first sub place in ages, it was nothing upper exciting but DELICIOUS – DELICIOUS – and packed to the hilt. The two employees were so incredibly welcoming and nice (the chef and his partner, though his partner was shy for the camera). It was a very warm welcome to Chicago – and I loved this as my first American meal – it was delicious – and they were so welcoming ; what else could you ask for after a long flight.
The anticipation leading up to the flight… I love a good story and this is one!
I get to the airport, all is well – checked in, baggage, no problem…I am there way early, and managed to see on the way to the general terminal yes. American Airlines in on the board, just no designated gate yet…no problem, right?
Well, it disappeared, I mean gone every board I looked at, no mention of that flight, weird I thought but well, I was early. It will reappear, or so I thought. Then out of the blue, comes Sharon Wojciechowski , the Lower School Special Education teacher, I was like, wait? Another ASF going to CHICAGO? Turns out, poor Sharon had been waiting for this flight to Chicago since MONDAY – and this was Wednesday – but why? The ash from the erupting volcano was on the planes and they were not satisfied yet, so I was wondering, crap! DELAYS, cancellations? Popocatepeti was causing some serious problems! Will I be stuck here? I had no idea! So Sharon kept asking and we kept being assured that it was coming…yada yada….and I was like, it better be here if they are saying it left…
Sure enough ta da! HERE! YEAH! While waiting, Sharon gave me a long list of must see’s in Chicago (her hometown). I won’t tell them all to you right now, BUT, I am planning on seeing them all! J We landed, made it out, I took the Blue Line metro to close to the Chicago Hilton, and arrived at the AWESOME hoagie place listed above – a hoagie, submarine, hero, whatever you want to call it, it was AWESOME having it after so long!
I plunked down exhausted and found they did make a mistake, I received a HUGE 2 bathroom hotel room with 2 separate double beds, and I thought, Sure, I will keep this room!
Second day – Thursday I was ready to tackle, the day even if I had this amazing headache. HEADACHE! I forgot! NO MORE braces!! YEAH! I was able to get my braces off thanks to Cynthia Castro, the first time in like over 8 years! EIGHT YEARS of braces, – it feels AMAZING…. A M A Z I N G 😉
I was out the door and to the very interesting search was to find breakfast and get back for the 8:30 Freedom to Read meeting.
WOW. You’ll have to see also the comments on the restaurant page (#’s 71-73 in Chicago so far!) that I experienced, AWESOME – awesome restaurant, awesome place, great way to start out the day!
I came back and wow, I had no idea the issues would be discussed that were discussed – you can also go to my section devoted just to library items here: Library Emphasized page 😉
It was a GREAT first day of PREConference, and overall, I was VERY excited.
There is MUCH potential with being among international folk to contribute so many cool aspects to what is going on in the world, and if you have someone willing to roll up their sleeves, and be willing to be active as well in the middle of things, then you begin to see how someone as a librarian is truly your most valuable asset to a school hands down. I like the diversity being a librarian offers and can hand you, and in turn what you can turn around and hand to others. Let me say, the Chicago Public Library? IMPRESSIVE!
After that exciting part, I quickly exited as they went into parts of the session that were covered in the handouts I had, then, I printed out a copy of my employee id, (me!) Harry to show I was a librarian for access into the museum and other places for a discount, as wel as other session that would let me in with proof I was in education ( I did not think to bring my school id,) ;( from the Fed Ex office (excellent service there actually, cool!), travelled to the Convention Center, holy cow, it takes up like 6 blocks, lol…a palace! – THEN – onto getting my registration, signing up for a 5k (yes, I did) – my first one in YEARS, lol….it should be interesting….:) – Heading from there to the hotel and finding some orientation and taking tons of pictures of Chicago, you can see on my Facebook album now, the sky yesterday? Picture perfect!
From the amazing fountain (Buckingham Fountain), to the street views, to just wow, amazing…ever since I was in Takoma Park, MD with my cousins, and found the thrift store there with amazing numbers of Levi jeans, I wanted to check the thrift stores in large cities, I was on a trek to do that here…in Chicago – epic fail, I got lost, wrong bus, wrong train, and eventually just ended back at the hotel, lol. However, going to Dick’s Last Resort, the restaurant where the staff can be rude (In Chicago), well, you’ll have to check the comments on restaurants, but it was worth it, totally, lol. Night time in Chicago – AWESOME…:)
However, the Farmer’s Market with Rhubarb jam – DELICIOUS! Little did I know I’d have to eat the whole jar trying to get on the plane, but, it was DELICIOUS, just in one helping! I wanted more take back with me! 
I tried out the reception held by the Freedom to Read Foundation but I was too late, getting the time wrong when I got there, no food, and most of the people had already oriented themselves 😉 It was fine as I settled in and even now, as I prepare to go see the Blackhawk Hockey celebration – I am trying to get the backlog of blogs done today. I feel like I have had a good start to Chicago and look forward to the list of items I received from Sharon, at the airport, that I needed to see and do in Chicago – stay tuned! I liked the ONE Book, ONE city idea! Here we go, my first ALA experience and hoping it will be memorable. The sites, and places to see have been amazing, so all in all, if it were cut short already, I’ve had some amazing opportunities!
The one deep thought I had on the plane from Mexico City to here, was how amazingly blessed I have been to have had the students, friends, and family supporting me in all my endeavors. I truly believe you can do anything, go anywhere, and impact a wide circle of people when you have others believing in you – there is no doubt in my mind whatsoever. I am proof that whatever you want to do, you can do. I still believe this today no doubt. The most powerful things to overcome are not people in your way, not situations and not conflicts (even though they seem to be the largest obstacles at the time), but your mind. I realize there is no hesitation needed to be bold and successful and have an exciting life. I saw the slogan in the window of Chicago’s Columbia School that said, “Live what you love.” I think that not only should be a conference title, but the title of may people’s lives, as if you do that, I don’t think you can go wrong. There are enough signs along the way to tell you if you are on the right track.
Add to that the exciting points in history of the Pittsburgh Pirates batting into the first place since, sheesh, 1997 when the slogan was “It’s a freak show!” to now, “Raise the jolly Roger!” (I liked the freak show one 😉 – the legislation that has occurred with changing immigration, also the gay marriage decisions, as so much more, there is SO much and so many places people can be a part of something and make an impact!
THEN, on top of that, add the passing of our art magazine Repentino. to new staff, developing the comprehensive Fall edition that has DOUBLED, and everyone is waiting for, then preparing for the FALL exhibit and premiere of our magazine, and wow. Tis is only a small sampling of what is occurring! 🙂
I did not even realize it was Father’s Day until Cynthia Kaplan, from Lucky Dog told me, lol. Funny, it was while she was telling me of a dog that was found at the metro in Roma today…:( I’m hoping we can find a home for this cute but lost dog today…Nellie Ramirez found the dog and her number is 554038 9387 if you know someone that can help temporarily house this little beauty…
I am reminded every day of the contributions my Dad gave to everyone else, and carry his memory and his selflessness with me every day in the form of a ring…
Despite the 6.0 earthquake last night (you will see a description below) a beautiful day to be out today…Kinah agrees…:)
12:24 and as I rolled literally off my chair, I realized that this Sunday midnight earthquake was one of the biggest I recalled. When my dogs looked and cowered in the face of this and this one, lasting for me in Roma Norte, about 30 seconds was one of the largest I felt on a continuous level. My neighbors have the decision when these occur to hit the door running and although I am four stories up, I always remain and try to ride out the effects. Lights and electricity went out as I walked Kinah about 20 minutes after it was amazing to see the multitudes of people gathered in the street and lights out everywhere, after the shock of this earthquake, the evening was a perfect type of calm. (Ironic, huh?!)
As I face my LAST week of school as a librarian, I already have felt the smoothness of waking up late, the sunny days, the calmness before and after the rains, and realize slowly, after my second year at ASF, working my way around things here have slowly slipped into place and hope my third year proves to be a little less active so I can go back to enjoying the area here in the city and beyond. Ironically (again that word), my first year exposed me to many more scenic areas and I hope to pick up where I left off in my third year.
The last week has been slightly uneventful, with helping teachers check out, seeing good, good friends on their way to other countries, and getting together at WINGS on Condesa Friday was a nice way to relax, sit back, and realize how lucky I have been to have these individuals around me.
Funny, I have been getting to know others better right before they leave, which has been the case in some of my past as well, strange. Thanks to Michelle Westholm, I was able to hang two of my hangings, 
one thanks to Michelle’s talent and the other thanks to a painting I picked up and hung onto from our Shakespeare class in Canada, 
when I attended Slippery Rock University. I still managed to see Natalia and Miguel picking up their graduation pictures, and that was exciting to see as well. Depsite the fact they are travelling on with their futures, I feel we will be connected someway in the future thanks to the experiences we shared.
I have been burning through the Young Adult literature that I promised to make my way though, and finally see the end in close and near. It is rewarding to see all the new Young Adult Lit that came out last year and experience what issues and elements that make up this genre in 2012-2013. I am sure those that have reviewed and read YA lit see constant patterns and form a bit of excitement when they see a common theme written about and then stumble across something familiar yet packaged in a different way.
I find myself approved and traveling to Chicago June 26th to July 3rd for the ALA Conference, and plan to create a site, blog and wiki, that produces materials, resources, and ideas for educators that will help them reshape the traditional ways they present topics in and out of the classroom. I attended Chicago for NCTE 2 years ago and it feels like a friend coming back to a city I found exciting in the dead of winter 2 years ago. I remember staying in the Palmer House and wonder if this will be the same this year, yet I am excited because for those days it will be warmer.
I finally was able to get my refrigerator repaired and warrantied for 3 months after a series of bumps and misses, but the final effect was perfect, they were professional when they did come this last time, and they were quick and courteous. Servico Plus, despite the miss we had early on with appointments, proved to be worth not having to buy a new refrigerator and figure out four stories up and four stories down….:)
Sunday – as I look a Sunday down facing my last week of school, I see a few options, but my main one is go walking and try to grab some pictures celebrating the fact that summer is at my doorstep, and even though I will be staying here this summer, I hope to get back to Delaware before the summer is out to visit my favorite places, Chapel Branch, Soroptomist Park Garden, as well as the calmness of being near the beach and tide I wait every year to see. I also go into the decisions of creating a staff from an amazing pool of candidates for the 2013-2014 year. Even though you find yourself on days where you are banging your head against the wall and things do not go your way at all, (a friend of mine experienced that Friday and I usually find myself in that seat), I find the days that make you glad to be right where you are at, make it worth the hard days. It is much easier to remember the days you had that you smiled and kept walking opposed to the ones that stop you in your tracks. Kudos to summertime!
…about Mexico. As individuals that study and work here, we often laugh about the stereotypes we had, and our friends have, that are not from Mexico. I say this as I know what I was thinking when I entered Mexico for the first time, and looking back, now, seeing how easy and relaxing I have it, we always say, “If only people would know…” and some of us are glad may people do NOT know, else we would be losing the best kept secret about being here…:) However, thanks to friends I came across this slideshow,
Worse places than Mexico for violence
as well as these quotes that help understand the oxymorons that make up Mexico, as well as any other country…In this case the statement was made about Italy, yet we see parallels:
“In every aspect of Italian life, one of the key characteristics to get to grips with is that this is a nation at ease with the distance between ideal and real,” he writes.
“They are beyond what we call hypocrisy. Quite simply they do not register the contradiction between rhetoric and behavior. It’s an enviable mind-set.”
– writer Tim Parks in today’s NYT.
So yes, the idiosyncrasies reign, yet, we realize that they exist in so many more extreme forms outside of Mexico, most of us are happy with the ones that exist here. Looking back, I look to see how extremely hard I worked to make a change, and have many of those actions go nowhere. I have to say, at least in Mexico, I am able to work extremely hard, and have changes occur while having opportunities to relax and also see the fruits of that hard work actually develop in some form. I’ll take it…;) And it’s okay if people think I live in a war-torn area plagued by drugs, violence and constant frightening events. Knowing what I know now, I will continue to stick up for what it is really like here, but glad that everyone does think that as it will keep the flooding of people who realize that is NOT the case as bay and wary – which allows those of us experiencing this amazing area to enjoy it, lol.
On a separate note, I have to say, maybe the best day I have ever spent was yesterday amid graduated students, family and friends of one of my hardest working and energetic students per an invitation from their family for comida at their casa. 
It was a 
beautiful day, and honestly, I have never dined at the same table with celebrities, a famous orchestra conductor, a famous actor/artist, and overall, a family devoted to making a change, it was perhaps one of the best days of my life, and discussing as well the simple things that are necessary despite roadblocks that come up. I relished the time I have been able to spend with these students and the perks of being let in to share the experiences of their family. 
I am not sure it gets any better than this, and I will be able to retain those memories in my heart to carry me onto the next obstacle…:) 
And finally, Kudos long overdue to a former colleague, Rita Salisbury who was accepted in the Teacher at Sea Program. Earlier this year Rita joined NOAA on a seagoing vessel Oscar Elton Sette, from April 18th – April 29th, and her blog started here. I am so proud of Rita and she is one of MANY stories of how students, tied to projects through learning, grab their education and walk away with activities and education that is applicable to life the purpose of education and not state tests, supporting their school (as their school is there to support the students) and what an experience ! Exciting… 🙂
After recovering from my Second Master’s this December, I look forward to the Marine Biology experience that will lead me into my retirement, and this is one of many experiences I’d dream of doing. Very Very exciting…:)
I have been reluctant to describe my feelings this month of June, as so much has kept crashing against my memory bank – I should say emotional bank as the number of experiences I have tried to come to terms with is beyond any words. Graduation on such a beautiful day, and an amazing ceremony, with so many hugs, 
smiles, 
and a Maraichi 
to end it in style, the day was PERFECT. An amazing bunch of students in seeing my first ASF graduation class and being so attached to them, more than I ever realized. I know I am in the right place. Just after recovering from that experience, we went into Junior, Sophomore, and freshmen awards. VERY exciting again to see some major individuals ranging from grades, to club activities (YES Repentino.) 
! – all amazing victories and amazing accomplishments, and yes, we get to see these students next year 🙂
Seeing a new staff, standing room only of 35+ students interested in being new Repentino. 
staff this year, a rush of emotions take over in seeing the fact that we have come so far in 2 years, so incredibly far…the new year will bring so much sooooo much!
Also TODAY, Seaford High students graduate, 
and I see myself putting the last remnants of my Delaware past well, in the past as these students I knew during my time there, moving forward into the future. Yes, the whole experience is bitter sweet, yet, part of how we change for the better. So much to say how amazing this all has been yet, so excited to see what will become of these amazing individuals in the future 🙂
I keep thinking how amazing it would be to have everyone sit down together, Mexico ASF, Seaford High, for a huge summer picnic, that would be one amazing experience! I am so lucky to be here, and have these amazing people surrounding me. Now we get to say goodbye to staff that will be leaving to other international waters, and while sad, it will be exciting to see them start new adventures!
Tomorrow I get to spend my afternoon with two wonderful graduated ladies, and well, since it is a SECRET, I can say no more until tomorrow….EXCITED! June has been one of the best I can remember, yes, bittersweet but great.
Don’t forget to check out the new additions to the book review page and restaurant page, always goodness found on those pages. 🙂
Heres to June! 🙂
Middle English jun(e)
Old French juin
Old English junius
Latin Junius “of Juno”
Latin Junius mensis “month of Juno”
Junius had 30 days, until Numa when it had 29 days, until Julius when it became 30 days long.
Juno is the principle goddess of the Roman Pantheon. She is the goddess of marriage and the well-being of women. She is the wife and sister of Jupiter. She is identified with the Greek goddess Hera.
PAVEing a Blog 