I forgot to mention! This particular excursion with Azteca Tours was a walking tour of the town Iztacalco. Addiitionally, the walking tour was accompanied by singing of songs that celebrated the history as well as the culture of events signified with various buildings.
Here is a great link to the Utube video, you will snag some pics of my taking photos, stuffing my face, and learning about the interesting practices and religions!
Additionally, some great pictures can be had at here as well of the trip!
Future tours also can be seen here, as Peter Winckers and his wife do a really nice job or organizing excursions through Azteca Tours!
I have to say, it was a great evening to hear the music, see sights unknown, and just relish in the history!
WOW – I looked in our mailbox for the literary magazine, over 30 new submissions! EXCITING! Also, remember, if you are not in Mexico, you would be an international submission for us!
A colleague of our literary magazine, Aerie International is looking for international submissions! If interested please check out the info here:
Of course transition is the word of the day! 🙂 I placed the word test in there just to experiment with the layout of the wordpress and working through some changes to make thing more accessible to everyone reading.
Questions – when I post a new restaurant review, would you like to see the newest blog at the top rather than the bottom? I put them on condescending order from top to bottom, but that does mean some scrolling! 🙂
Check out the new reviews of restaurants visited over the Christmas holiday as well as last night! 🙂 Yummmm 🙂 I will begin a category called Museums soon and I think make it a separate category it does not get lost in the mix of other attractions!
This is exciting, on P2PU.org, thanks to Karen Fasimpaur we are starting a new class that will also be fueled by former, current, and present PAVE students. This will involve grant writing, and help teachers. THe description is as follows:
Student Grant Writing
A student collaborative project with high school teachers and students to write grants for selected school projects, driven by students. We would like some teachers and students to be involved! 🙂
Also, NCTE is coming for the Fall, and I hope to involve organizations like the Clarice Smith Initiative from the Smithsonian American Museum, as well as implement my Library / Technology courses into projects this year.
I am excited for the Literary Magazine that the students are putting together adding an international component to the magazine. If you know of adults,students, retired, that write poetry and a chance at having their writing represented in our literary magazine, we would love it! asflitmag@gmail.com or to me! We will cut off submissions March 01, 2012.
I think there will exciting developments in education in 2012! Regards to regarding, The Game of Thrones series I am on, third book, is by far deep and plot exciting. I just have to say, when the author gets graphic, he does not need to, the plot carries itself without the need for useless details with relationships, etc, that is disappointing. 🙂
Every once in awhile you come across a song that stirs you. I couldn’t sleep, and honestly, I think it was just going to bed too early, but the luxury or weekends is you can do that, get up early and sleep in later…Love it.
I came across Jewel’s “Hands” and found an acoustic version of “Hands” by Jewel with Chris Isaak and found how this song came back and impacted her and this just was earth shattering hearing her plan and the reaction she had to her own song in light of 9 -1 -1, you need to see that link:
I like to put everything in retrospect and try to apply that to my own life, it helps me understand myself and my destiny if you will much better.
I heard this song and had talked to some close friends today that were going through a very hard or difficult time. I realized how lucky I was to have those friends and former students, as well as family, to have to keep close despite, whether I am in Mexico or whether I am right in the same town, we all have this one similarity, we at one time did something we each remember, that we did, that made us smile or helped us see the strength in another, then turned that belief back on ourselves and helped us go on.
I also think of the countless trips we made to New York with students that had, maybe some slight nervousness about going to New York, but jumped in and did interviews and interviewed individuals off the street and came back with same pretty amazing results. I never have quite forgotten that and believe it or not, I have saved all those records and cd’s and plan to repackage those interviews and pictures and help each of you remember how cool a thing that was that you did.
I also think of the all things we go through, and how we are still so connected whether it is just a kind word, or a smile, or a chance to cheer someone up or ask them how they are doing with the drop of a button and a computer, amazing the power, and yes, the negativity that technology has.
Yet, with so many positive possibilities, I think this is the best option and challenge, for 2012 – think of just ONE nice thing you can say, mail, email, skype, tweet, text, or call – and do once a week. I think despite all the negative things that occur in one week, if the minimum of one kind act is done a week, then it is enough to have 52 weeks be pretty spectacular. I love the fact that the United States has given me the opportunity to experience an education that has some pretty amazing students come across my path, and be able to maintain some solid friendships with them over a lifetime. They are amazing, as I continue to say and I am excited as they go into the future, yes, there are those that scare me and make me never want to go to certain stores if I knew they worked there, LOL, but for that many, there are a handful that are amazing and can and will change the world.
I always said that if I gathered a handful of my favorite and most qualified, friends, family, and students together, can you imagine the school we could come up with and run? A school that would reach out to individuals every day, and the goals of the school would be to create a spark, that would result in a chain reaction that would benefit the community by the end of every 9 weeks, in every discipline. The school would be assesses bu the number of impacting projects it created and finished that helped the local communities out every 9 weeks, in every discipline! Could you imagine the progress and impact that school of thought would have? 🙂 I know the talents of the students, friends, family, I have in mind, so it is not hard to imagine…:)
If you get a chance, one more small challenge, take one person, one person that you know of that is going through a difficult time, and write down a memory you have of them, here, as a comment, that would encourage them to push on and smile, and remember they have enough strength to keep on making it through anything will come. I am assured your confidence in them will make a difference, even if for 15 minutes, let alone a whole day. Or do this on your own, but just try that. I would love to see this come full circle after a long trip of traveling and have my blog me a source of not just what goes on in Mexico, but what can occur in and among yourselves each day! 🙂 Imagine, all that from a song? If teachers would take that approach with every lesson they taught, and interacted that way every day, wow, we might have school yet we dreamed of!
So here is my first memory – Deanni Sigai – one of the three triplets,
came back across path with an awesome gift, a Christmas card they sent seen in the previous blog. I recall the moments when I was growing into becoming an assistant coach and learning from Coach Morris, Coach Perciful, Coach Doakes. Here came these three TRIPLETS, started out at two, then ended as three, onto the running scene.
Sure, were complaints, yet, they were the very things I wanted to say and that I did not as coach, and when the Sigai’s mentioned them, they well, became a diary yet a challenge for all to keep moving on. Rain, cold, even hot days often faced the runners, and yet, there were the constants. Despite all the crazy whirlwind events occurring in life, they would always show to the start and finish line. Making a statement about how you finish rather than how you started, this three became a spirit that enveloped the team and set the tone for doing your best, setting a face amid grim and sometimes even hurting times, and finishing with pride, and not settling for less. When one of them would be hurting, or one of us, we would always lend an ear, hand, or smile. I am sure each of you know someone just like that.
Who can you recall, that demonstrated a memory that they could use to keep pushing on? Use the comments in this blog to write that, and let the person know they are actually mentioned in a blog, and then when they go here to see what was said, they will see a message that will give them the power to stop, take in what they have done well in the past, and keep moving forward. I think it would be great to see this get the highest number of views and comments in regards to lifting others up! 🙂 🙂
Angel Standing By – Isn’t it amazing that this song was dedicated at one point to a little girl in Children’s Hospital?
Hola! Happy King’s Day! TODAY is the traditional day to give gifts and celebrate Christmas in Mexico! I attached what that means here too, I think this is soooo cool!
I love the idea of the baby being baked into this dough and the person who gets it hosts a party! WAY COOL! Also, the tradition of placing the Kings in the Nativity on January 5th is way cool too!
There are so many cool things happening! I began tutoring last night for some interesting students, lol They are 7th and 9th grade going into next year, and my goal is to ready them for the 7th and 9th grade. We meet 7 times in January, and created a Wiki for them to use exclusively for their work. The funny thing is the first night, last night, I learned about Snow Patrol, Dave Guetta, and they love Zeppelin, U2, Aerosmith, ACDC, Coldplay. are the students great or what?! AnaPaula is going into 9th grade and Andres is going into 7th, they already have great musical tastes!
I like the tutoring gig, it is fun and pays my rent and I can actually put alot into it via a Wiki to save for future info! 🙂
I plan to finish off my Museum List for the Zocolo today, and then a walking tour I am going to on Saturday – to Iztacalco – I am excited!
This is called A Callejoneada which could be called a “walking serenade”. A group of 8 or more students (these groups are known as “estudiantinas”), sing and stroll around the narrow streets of Barrio Mágico Izacalco. The band sings popular songs and tells the people about the history and legends of Iztacalco.
Overall, things are A-ok and Monday is back to school! AGH! lol…I have done mega amounts around the house preparing for my Master’s classes in the Spring, so that I will have a clear plate for that! 🙂
Look forward to seeing King’s Day through! (I thought it was cool that instead of Santa in the mall here, they had the three wis emen taking children! Awesome awesome awesome! I should have taken a picture!)
I received money (always good) and a great CD from My Mom for Christmas – Andrea Bocelli “My Christmas!” It’s awesome!
I received letters from the Sigai’s! Way Cool!
Triple the Christmas Cheer!
I skyped Daiuske today, he is hard at it studying for exams for NEXT YEAR! 🙂
Art is amazing, isn’t it? I wanted to show how things become full circle if you let them. After being honored in being part of the Clarice Smith American Art Education Initiative, I brought back Art into my curriculum of 10 Grade English, and the student were all of a sudden excited. Language became visual for them, and this was exciting foe me too!
Before this, having been, a member of The Endless Mountains Writing Project at Mansfield, then going to Kent State University and being part of the ASNE Reynold’s Institute Fellowship on Journalism, then being able to be a part of the Holocaust Educators’ Workshop, Kristol Center for Jewish Life, University of Delaware, so, what does it all mean? Taking these opportunities, and then implementing them sometimes is the hardest thing to do, for anyone. The demands of Standards, State testing, and more like to limit the opportunities of expanding the workshops and experiences you acquire past the immediate experience.
In May of 2011 I felt I had enough – and wanted to do more with these above experiences I had been lucky enough to be a part of. It was not merely attending, I needed to actually do something with these experiences! After a series of letdowns and coming to a dead end with trying to rise above discipline, state testing, and further restrictions, I decided, I needed to make a major change for myself, and to implement these experiences. I applied to ISS (International School Services) and took a position with ASF (American School Foundation) in Mexico City. This was not thought through, this WAS an unplanned reaction to the fact that I felt I was not using my talents to their full potential. I simply wanted to do more for students that meet their expectations on a test. Up to this point I had been able to do this, but in a very stressful environment trying to juggle standards, state testing, and relying on administration to back my discipline issues and when any one of these factors seem to be unbalanced, as an educator, you spend most of you time filling in that space to remedy situations. What would happen if 60% of that time could be devoted to meeting the needs of students? I wanted to find out. I wanted to go back and pursue my degree in Library Science to disprove the stereotypes of what Media Specialists do, expected to do, and are limited to do. This time, I wanted to incorporate art.
Now, As I look back, I see after starting my blog (please check it out at https://harrybrake.wordpress.com) that these experiences, wrapped into one, provide a powerful punch to curriculum and challenges to students. The blog I created documents my start here, and shows how the amazing achievements of students can be a reciprocal event for educators. I look back and see all my achievements tied to some dynamic students, that just wanted some creativity, challenge, and excitement in their learning. As I wander from Museum to museum in Mexico City, I am in we of the beauty and wonder of the sites I visit. I am pulled back to the moments at the Clarice Smith Opportunity that brought Art alive in all realms of critical and social literacy. I recall how the Holocaust and ASNE Initiative allowed me to put a voice to these opportunities. I praise the Writing Institute for giving me the ability to write grants to empower students. It seems being the advisor of the Literary Magazine in Mexico City, and serving as the Assistant Librarian, has allowed to to take these previous experiences, and filter them out to the very educators that desire assistance to reach their goals of empowering students.
The power to rise above restrictions is there, sometimes is involves some radical decision, but I am most afraid of looking back on my life, and having regretted not standing up for my students, for the opportunities to grow better for future students, and the chances to lead students to do the same. Mexico City is just the tip of thew iceberg, and the list of accomplishments could be 20 pages long, and not mean a thing if it does not take your students, and yourself, anywhere but within the confines of your mind. it is so vital in this age of technology, impersonal experiences and interactions, to step back, and recreate what education is all about – a very personal experience, that will remain with you forever. You can decide if you want that experience to be meaningful or not. I have been lucky enough to be involved in the mentioned initiatives that have continued to let me plan, create, and give these gifts back to future generations to do the same. I still think Art is amazing, but now for a hundred more reasons!
Whew…we made it to a new year, I think all of us can say WHEW confidently! 🙂 Overall, I did sleep through the New Year, but I have slept better the last few months than I have in my life, that I can remember? So that is good right? 🙂 I have to say this – The New Year is a chance for you not to erase the past, if you try to wipe it away, then you have nothing to improve on – embracing it and improving on it will be your best bet, lol. I hope in 2012 I can be more open, more giving, better able to be more open-minded, and widen my opportunities more!
I heard on NRP from the weekend edition that a group of people still make original diaries made out of old type setting like they used in old printers. I think it is amazing to be able to look back at any given year and see the things you might have forgotten, and it is all there, a living history of your thoughts, reactions, and day in and day dealings with this thing we call life. I love that I started a blog so I can look back and see where I have come and gone, and continue to move towards. That should be a basic goal of everyone, to leave a trail of improvements for the New Year. I will try to make 2012 about ME instead of others all the time but I keep going back to the others, you make me ME, so it is a cycle!
I see myself being a part of education in at least 4 other countries before really deciding to find my way in the U.S, the international scene has so many things to offer that I haven’t figured out yet! Ultimately, I would love to work in a Museum being a part of the educational programs, I think that could wrap alot of my interests in one package – but I have so many things I want to do before that!
What four countries? Australia – Japan – somewhere in Europe – and Africa. I am excited as Alyssa Casey is now in China, and hope to hear her adventures. 🙂 I urge each of you to keep a record of the 2012 before it goes too much further, I think you will be very glad to have when you look back!
I have 7 days left before the return, and hope to make some headway on editing the novel I wrote for Nano, the course I am taking called 21st Century Pathways for NCTE, as well as getting ready for my classes to finish up my Library Science Master’s – I am nervous but excited! On top of all of that, I am on book three of the Thrones 4 book series, 🙂 I hope to finish this third book, Storm of Swords and work on the 4th before I go back! 🙂 My museum quest is good, I have hit over 8 museums, and will finish my list of all the top Museums to see before break is over, then I can start with the ones NOT on the list! As I have said, I have learned more about Mexico lately from the museums than anything else….:)
I miss and love the fact I have so many close gifts in friends and family – so that will fuel any goals I have for 2012! Thanks for being followers of my blog, I look forward to sharing the countless photos I have of the last few days – and may 2012 bring many more gifts for all of you! It has to be better than 2011 I am thinking! 🙂 Happy New YEAR!
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,500 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 25 trips to carry that many people.
Note: People with alot of money have the following:
Way over ego syndrome – trying to compensate for um, well, I guess having alot of money and little personality or generosity towards others.
Complain way more about things that should not matter, but matter to them.
Way more social problems thanks to the money problem.
Are actually kind of boring, after all the things that money can buy, what is left? Sugarcoating life with money well, great at first, but um, I will still to the creative out of way ideas I have invented that do not need the almighty dollar
Have really creepy conversations, or on the other side of that coin – have boring conversation that always, seem to go back to money
Are very competitive and protective of seemingly to be better than alot of others
Usually are snotty and mean to their parents
Are the essence of the song – “End of the Innocence” by Don Henley
Have no regard for those that do not compare to those that work sweat, and strain under the burden of living from paycheck to paycheck
Now, here is the good news, not everyone fits this mold, (whew!) – I tend to like the people that do have money, but do not flaunt it, do not act as if they have alot of money – there are SOME that are like this, and still are generous in spirit and action, but they are in the minority…
The funny thing? I noticed and thought of this walking through the park tonight, and seeing a few people in the flashy cars, burning rubber at a stoplight, singing a little too loud as if they were Casanova, and realized…
“God, thank you for not giving me alot of money and when you did, thank you for letting me share it, not taking for granted the fact that there is not enough to go around to everyone, that showing it should be shared, the more you give the richer you are without a raising bank account, and thank you for letting me walk tonight and let me realize how valuable things are without money clouding them.” Funny how deep thoughts come an go….and all about money, lol….
Hola! I am sorry I have been lazing on my posts, but but by now I hope everyone has caught up with reading! 🙂 Merry Belated Christmas! And a Happy New Year to come! Okay, here is the fastest update you will ever see, but it will keep you updated! 🙂
Christmas was great – I mean, I was here, and did not hang out with anyone, but some realizations – not being around alot of materialistic things, and motivations, and seeing children, families, and others that really just were happy to have something to eat – I needed a holiday like this to realize how grateful I was for the family I have. The gifts I received from my Secret Santa were amazing, authentic portraits glazed from her studio, an airplane made out of tin, the licorice from Australia, the gift I received that represented Mexican handicrafts, and I can hardly wait to bring the cultural gifts that have deep meaning home, so overall, the holiday was a success for many reasons. I mastered getting someone to come and turn on a specific internet instead of periodically as of January 8th thanks to Karen! I am watching her awesome dog Maggie while she is away – and thanks to Karen I mastered the Eco Bici program, and I love riding bikes all over the D.F!
I am tutoring two kids in the Spring for 1 month, which will pay for me rent for one month and will give me extra too!
I am catching up on all my bills, thanks to Mrs Duryea, Sandra, Mrs. Vaughn, Brissa, Mom, and others, the “Dream team” I will be saving alot of money per month too!
I am finally finishing my 2nd Master’s in Library Science, so this will put me at 2 Master’s Plus 13 credits after Fall 2012! Yeah!
I am teaching in various classes periodically to keep my teaching experience current.
I am chaperoning the MUN trip to Dublin in April.
I hopefully plan to come back and work the Blades Summer Instructional class over the summer, and looking for a summer place to rent.
Dewey is growing very large!
I am getting my braces and teeth finally finished! 🙂
New restaurants, Chopperia and VIPS! 🙂 ALSO, Karma Bagel, I will be writing reviews for these soon!
FInished Book one – Game of Thrones, awesome, working on the remaining three books before break is over, my George R .R. Martin, they are good!
Finished Hunger Games, loved them!
There is more I am sure, but my main goals are by summer, have money saved in the bank, help Mom with getting her ahead in the next year, being ahead of my education so I can do multiple tasks and have choices with jobs, be more international qualified….these are some early New Year’s resolutions! 🙂
I took some great pictures of Mexico in Christmas time and will be forwarding those over! 🙂
PAVEing a Blog 