Follow my blog with bloglovin

here's looking at you, kid

If you've visited my life list page, you may have stumbled upon #32: Repeat a line from the movie Casablanca in Casablanca, Morocco. 

Something about Morocco has always appealed to me. The breezy Bedouin style, the sunshine streaming through gauzy curtains, the juxtaposition of palm trees and geometric designs...I want to go to there.

Ever since I saw the movie Casablanca in high school, I knew I had to make a pilgrimage to that desert paradise. Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart made it look so glamorous! I'll land in Spain, work my way down from Madrid to the Straight of Gibraltar, and take a ferry from Tarifa to Tangier, where I'll wander my way down to Casablanca. Here are some images that are keeping me dreaming about Morocco.

via

Moroccan Style! I want this head scarf so badly. I heart turbans.

asian porch design by showroom Anticmistic - Old Europe Lifestyle

asian patio design by showroom Anticmistic - Old Europe Lifestyle

If there's one thing in the world I love, it's a good market. {via}

I really want to ride a came!!! {via}

How can I make this trip happen, pronto?


What is your dream destination?

Keep dreaming, dreamers! Salud!

adventures

You guys.

I love adventures.

Me sitting in an open window way up high! La Basilia - Quito, Ecuador

Biking in Baños, Ecuador

Panama Canal - the real adventure was taking the bus to get there!

The only place I've been visiting lately is the Doldrums. Seriously though, I cannot get motivated for this last month of school. Knowing that I am starting a new job in a few months, I have been less than enthusiastic about preparing lesson plans. It seems much more appealing to fold laundry, Swiffer the kitchen, or take a nap. (Sound like paper-writing procrastination, anyone?) So needless to say, I have not been having many adventures lately. Unless you count Justin and I seeing how long we can go without grocery shopping.

One bright spot on the horizon is the trip to Costa Rica I am chaperoning in July. At our parent meeting today, we decided to add the Canopy Tour (zip lining) and scuba diving/sea kayaking to our trip. The parents' reasoning was, "if we're going to send our kids all that way and pay all that money anyway, why don't we add these unforgettable adventures?" I wholeheartedly agree! Go parents!

I guess you could saying dreaming about the future is one way of getting myself out of the Doldrums. I know not to wish my life away, or live in the future, but it sure makes this MN "spring" a lot more bearable. (Really? Snow again?)

Making lists and doing something creative are some other ways to get myself moving.

What are your tricks for getting out of a rut?

this joyful eastertide

What a blessed Easter weekend it has been. Time for a lil' recap before diving head-first into this week.

Let me preface by saying that the social and commercial aspects of Easter are enjoyable and make great memories, the best part of this holiday is the comfort of forgiveness, God's grace, and a living Redeemer. The church services at Salem Lutheran were a beautiful reminder, not to mention they were graced by amazing music, the Lord's Supper, and powerful sermons.

Husband and I hosted my sisters Maggie and Molly, and family friend Brittany, who are all college students in MN.

Brit, Maggie, Molly - lovely ladies

Friday night after church we made a delicious Tex-Mex themed dinner of tacos and margaritas, followed by our attempt at making tie-dyed Easter eggs, or "spring spheres."

Should the tie-dye Easter egg kit really be that complicated for a college graduate and three college students?

We shared a relaxing Saturday brunch with the in-laws of yummy banana bread, pancakes, grapes, and mimosas, followed by some light shopping and cooking fettuccine alfredo and garlic bread for dinner.

The weekend culminated with Easter Sunday. We got dolled up for church and Easter brunch in Stillwater, then headed back home to find the baskets that Justin and I the Easter Bunny had hidden. He found some really sneaky spots to hide our goodies, but thankfully I was not the last to find mine. (Mom: we didn't break the Easter rules...I just happened to be in the room when Molly stumbled upon mine.)

Hope everyone else felt as blessed and content this weekend as I did!

spring spheres

After reading this article, I can't help but wonder if our country has taken political correctness a bit too far. In summary, the article is about a teen volunteer at an elementary school in Seattle who wanted to hand out Easter eggs to the students. When she ran it by the teacher, who checked with the administration, she was told that she could hand them out, but she had to call them "spring spheres."

I had to take a few moments to get my giggles out, and wipe the incredulous look off my face before I could respond to this. The concept is so ridiculous it's funny! Spring spheres??? Everyone knows they're called Easter eggs! Who do they think they're fooling?

As a teacher with a strong view on religion, this topic is very interesting to me. I am thankful for my job in a Lutheran school where I can freely express and share my faith with the students. But what if I eventually end up teaching in a public school? What about the religious teachers who already do? Are they not allowed to even say the word Easter?!?! Does political correctness mean pretending that religion doesn't exist?

Sorry for the excessive rhetorical questions. But in all seriousness, where do we draw the line? It started a few years ago with Happy Holidays. As a Christian, I now feel like I'm in the minority. Every other religion and non-religion is allowed recognition, but if I say Merry Christmas, and now apparently Happy Easter, it's offensive? I would not be offended if someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah, or even a Happy Weed Day on 4/20. Just because I don't celebrate something, that doesn't mean you can't.

I don't think a teenager handing out Easter eggs is considered pushing her beliefs on the students. I don't believe it means the school is officially sanctioning Christianity as the religion of choice. I think it just means that those objects are known nation-wide as "Easter eggs."

Some sites are questioning the validity of this story, since there is no proof that it happened, and the source was the 16-year-old girl calling into a radio station to tell the story. Whether or not it's true, it brings up an important issue that needs to be addressed in our nation. With Christmas breaks becoming winter breaks, and Easter egg hunts becoming spring egg hunts, it seems that schools and communities are reluctant to call a spade a spade for fear of offending someone.

Ha...spring spheres...*shakes head and laughs* What will they think of next?

What do you think about the politically correct terms inundating our culture?

joy

Happy Good Friday everyone!

A brief note about altruism and WWJD:

One of the readings at last night's Maundy Thursday services was the account of Jesus washing the disciples' feet. The creator of the universe was performing the most unwanted of jobs to serve his creation. His entire life and ministry on earth was dedicated to service and giving his life as a ransom.

When I came home, I spent some time working on my blog, and created the About Me page. As I hit "publish page," it dawned on me how incredibly selfish I felt. I had just heard in church about how Christ gave his body and blood for me, and then I turn around and focus on none other than myself.

As we meditate this weekend on Christ's ultimate sacrifice and then triumph over sin, death, and the devil, I feel that it is the perfect time to launch project JOY. Does anyone else remember this acronym from grade school/Sunday School/church? The thoughts and actions of a Christian will focus first on Jesus, second on Others, and finally on Yourself. During my week of Project JOY, I will seek out ways to serve Christ and those around me.

Tonight, let us thank God that he suffered and died so don't have to. Let us thank him for taking each of our sins upon himself and removing them from us as far as the east is from the west.

"Surely he took up our infirmities
   and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
   smitten by him, and afflicted.
 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
   he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
   and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
   each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
   the iniquity of us all."

~Isaiah 53:4-6

What are some ways you have found to serve others?

going after inspiration

Some days you wake up and just want to create something. So instead of dusting, vacuuming, and doing laundry in preparation of my sisters arriving this weekend, I decided to focus my creative energy on my inspiration board. I've had the materials sitting on my kitchen table for about 2 weeks now, so it's about time!

I have 4 square cork boards, and each one will have a theme to reflect my life goals. The point of this board is to motivate me when I'm feeling lazy or lose sight of the end result. Today I completed the travel one:

Some of my creative supplies

The war zone that was my living room when I was done.

Some of my visual inspiration!

Part of the final result.

It's surprisingly tough to get that "carelessly thrown together" look that makes a collage look good.

Still to come: Financial Inspiration Board, Creativity Inspiration Board (work/home/learning), and Fitness Inspiration Board.

Having satiated my desire to create, I went to work, and had a laid back, work-on-your-project day for my students. With Juanes playing in the background, they each planned their trip to a Spanish-speaking country of their choice. What a fun project, huh?

Normally I accomplish my workouts before school on Mondays and Wednesdays, so today I went straight from school to the gym. Reading a few fitness blogs before working out did wonders for the intensity of my time at the gym. I even got a fist bump from a random guy who noticed my domination on the elliptical!

Sister #4 of 6 (Maggie) arrived at our teacherage right as I pulled into the driveway. Let the Easter festivities begin! In honor of having a "guest," I decided to make a real dinner instead of just cereal or smoothies. I chose one of our favorites: Mexican chicken...yum!

Start with 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts and chopped green peppers. Heat until the chicken is fully cooked.  Add salsa and chicken broth - bring to a boil, throw in some brown rice - cover and let sit for 5 minutes, top with cheddar cheese, and you've got yourself a nutritious and delicious meal!

Final result. We all had seconds!

Ingredients: Mexican Chicken
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Chopped green pepper
1 can chicken broth
1 cup mild salsa
1.5 cups brown rice
sprinkle of shredded cheddar cheese.

Having the next two days off of school will be the perfect opportunity to catch up on some house work, continue my awesome workout routine, and run with this creative streak by finishing my inspiration boards! I am also looking forward to some of my favorite worship services of the year: Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

What do you do when you're feeling creative?

sunshine on a cloudy day

Part of the process of attaining my life goals involves making some dinero. I can't pay off my student loans, or save money for a car, or even plant a garden without a little extra money. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the only reason I am still substitute teaching. (I teach part time, sub part time).

So every Tuesday and Thursday, I begrudgingly wake up and get ready to go with an awful pit in my stomach. I sit through traffic (which I normally wouldn't mind) to get to a location I don't want to reach. I fight for parking in the often-miniature parking lots. (I even got a ticket once because the lot was filled and double parked, so I had to park on the street during a snow emergency). As a normally chipper and positive person, it bothers me to be so negative. But that's what substitute teaching does... it eats your soul.

Part of the reason I chose teaching as a career was because I love forming a bond and connecting with kids. Even when those "kids" are only 5 years younger than me. As a substitute, I rarely get that opportunity, either because I'm too busy chasing or admonishing the unruly students, or because I don't see them for long enough.

I had a bright moment of sunshine "guest teaching" today. The high school math teacher I subbed for had worksheets for the students to do, which left them with a veritable study hall, especially once they finished their sheets. You can only walk around the room so many times peering over their shoulders, so I parked myself at the front of the room, took a seat, and made lists of things to do, or read my current book (The Last of the Mohicans - James Fennimore Cooper) if the students were especially diligent. To be honest, it was a pretty easy day, albeit super boring.

This is where the moment of sunshine comes in. During the last class of the day, 2 of the students sitting in the front row struck up a conversation with me.
"Substitute teaching must be really boring." observed one of the girls.
"It can be. That's why I'm glad I only do it part time." And from there, our conversation flourished to include topics such as: where they were from (both of Hispanic origin), bilingual homes, working at McDonalds, little siblings, and speaking Spanish when you think other people won't understand, but it turns out they also speak Spanish.

This brief conversation in the midst of a mind-numbing day reminded me why I love teaching so much. It is the prospect of making a difference in a student's life, along with watching them grow and mature as a person, and, oh yeah, guiding them to learn. *Note: this does not mean I like substitute teaching.

I am glad Tuesday is over. Looking forward to Easter weekend with my sisters!

How do you find sunshine on a bad day?

a night at the opera

Part of the draw of travel is the prospect of new experiences, meeting new people, and soaking in the culture. In reality, all of these things can be accomplished right in your own hometown. Too often we get stuck in our comfort zones and routines, then complain about how boring our city is. It's time to be proactive and seek out the culture in our own cities!

Thanks to my dear sister Molly, I had the opportunity to experience my very first opera! To be perfectly honest, when I pictured the opera, I imagined portly Italians with oily, slicked-back hair and bosoms spilling out of empire-waist floral gowns. Let me stress: I could not have been more mistaken.

The evening began at Sakura, a Japanese restaurant and bar in St. Paul. The Minnesota Opera invited a group of bloggers to preview Wuthering Heights for its penultimate rehearsal before opening night, and the group convened at Sakura for happy hour and appetizers beforehand.

All dressed up at Sakura!

 

 

 

At around 7pm we made our way over to the Ordway, the venue for the opera located in St. Paul.

The ambiance in the theater was charged with anticipation for the haunting love story by Emily Bronte set to music. I myself did not know what to expect, and could not wait for the lights to dim.

I was not disappointed! Having read Wuthering Heights in high school, I knew that the story line would be memorable, but I was not prepared for the incredible music and unforgettable voices of the performers. For 2 hours and 50 minutes I was transported to the English moors, yearning for Catherine and Heathcliff to figure out their relationship. The music was sung in English, and they thoughtfully included English subtitles above the stage for the viewers' convenience, so I could understand every word of the beautiful performance.

Image via

For those of you looking for a new and cultural experience, I encourage you to give opera a chance. For more information on the Minnesota Opera's Wuthering Heights visit their website.

Molly and I at the Opera!

What a classy night on the town! I am looking forward to find out what else the Twin Cities have to offer.

a whole new world

Thank you to those of you joining me here at my new url! For various reasons, I have decided to make the switch from Tumblr to Blogger. The decision was not an easy one, especially since I don't know if I will be able to move my previous posts from one website to another.

Despite the pitfalls of a scary new website, I am very excited to start afresh. Stay tuned for future posts on accomplishing items on my life list, experiences in traveling and teaching, and the occasional philosophical musing.

On the title of my blog: Lo Vivido it is Spanish for (loose translation): that which I have lived. As a Spanish teacher and lover of languages, I often find a loveliness in Spanish phrases that I feel cannot be expressed as completely, succinctly, or beautifully in English. The phrase Lo Vivido comes from a poem by Spanish poet Jorge Guillén entitled Resumen. It is basically a short verse in response to fellow Spanish poet Francisco de Quevedo whose view on life was that living is the process of dying. Guillén, on the other hand, believed that this was a cynical outlook, and chose to view life as a treasure; a series of opportunities, moments, and breaths to be fully taken advantage of.


Resumen
Me moriré, lo sé, Quevedo insoportable,
no me tiendas eléctrico tu cable.
(I will die, I know, unbearable Quevedo, but don't hand me your electric cable)
Amé, gocé, sufrí, compuse. Más no pido. 
En suma: que me quiten lo vivido. 
(I loved, I enjoyed, I suffered, I wrote. I ask nothing else
In summary, let them try to take away what I have lived)

In Bogotá, Colombia enjoying good company, good weather, and the joys of travel

For older posts, see my Tumblr - Wandering About