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A purse is a purse is a purse
We've all had a moment like it. That moment where, as you lean back in your chair laughing, the pit falls out of your stomach and you blurt out, "Guys...where's my purse!?" (And then lots of...
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No more pencils, no more books...
No more teacher's dirty looks! Though that would be me in this scenario, wouldn't it...?  Ohmygoodnesswesurvived! Six exhausted, elated 'CELTees' and our tutors. From the left: Justice, James, Yours...
View ArticleComfort Level
Today was my fourth day of work. There are four different exit stairways at my subway stop downtown. And today-- for the very first time-- I walked up the right one. Yeah. I got this.When I first...
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Small World, New Friends
Sure it's a bit hackneyed, but everyone so loves to proclaim, 'What a small world!' we live in nowadays. Bemoan or embrace the social media technology as you will-- it truly is crazy easy to get in...
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Working, 'day by day'
Let's get to the reason I really came to Argentina, to eat-- errrr, work! I've been teaching for a few weeks now and have started to get into an everyday (or as my students would say, 'day by day')...
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Dia de la Memoria
One of the things I enjoy most about living in another country (other than food) is a chance to learn about a place's history and politics first hand. It's one thing to read about Korea or Argentina in...
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Home, Sweet Temporary Home....Again.
I'm all moved in...again. In the process of this most recent move, I realized that this is my 6th apartment in the last two years!! Not to mention three countries and a whole slew of different...
View ArticleNext Steps, or: Why my Parents were Pretty Much Right about Everything. Damn it.
It was a frigid January day in Chicago, and I was curled up in Mans' cozy studio apartment drinking tea and watching The West Wing, as usual. We were discussing our fast approaching 25th birthdays, and...
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Same Faces, Different Places
People often question why I keep picking up and moving across the globe. As a friend recently teased, "You kind of take it to the extreme, Kerk. You do know that you're allowed to go to other countries...
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What's up, Montevideo, what's up?
Here's an important (read: vital) fact about teaching in Argentina-- unless you possess a highly costly, highly difficult to obtain teaching visa, you generally work under the table as a 'tourist.'...
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What's up, Colonia, what's up?
If you were to ask any of my former travel companions, they might warn you that I'm fairly predictable company. I'll assuredly stop for ice cream at least once a day, regardless of season. I'll...
View ArticleChivalry: or, a Modern Chica Flummoxed by Politeness on the Bus
All of Buenos Aires takes lunch at the exact same time. From 1pm-2pm, downtown becomes a blur of loosened ties, catch-up errands, and "ejecutivo" specials. Most of my students take classes at lunchtime...
View ArticleJob Description
Every language teacher I know starts class with the same question: "Hi, everyone- how are you today?" With my kiddos, the response is usually, "Teacher, I am fine!" with the occasional, "I am very,...
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What's up, Iguazu, what's up?
Note: In reality, I'm no longer living in Argentina. But, I've been told the ethereal realm of 'blog time' exists and I'm rolling with that. Besides, if I was writing about my current day-to-day life...
View ArticleElection Edition Part 1: American-ness
With the presidential election looming and dominating our news, we hear opinions (oh, so many opinions) about, "Who Americans are and what they need/want/care about." And while I have political...
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Election Edition, Part 2: Absentee-ness
Disclaimer: the following contains educated young women engaging in the political process and may actively excite or threaten you. Tea Partiers advised to exercise extreme caution.One of the things...
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Aventuras de las Primas: Parte Uno
One of the great things about going back to grad school this year is that I've not only been on the same continent as my family, but close enough to actually spend time with them-- I'm talking...
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Aventuras de las Primas: Parte Dos
When I think of quality cousin bonding time, wine country sure seems like a perfect setting for it. Jen and I decided to spend the end of our time in Argentina in Mendoza to see if all those malbecs...
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Aventuras de las Primas: Parte Tres
Ahhh, horseback riding. It always seems like an inspired idea-- fresh air, exhilaration, exploring that unspoken connection between animal and man...until you remember that you are not athletic and...
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What's up, Costa Rica, what's up?
A dear friend of mine recently phrased it perfectly when she stated, "In grad school, time is unbalanced. The days take forever, but the months are short." During my first semester of coursework, most...
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Compassionate Communication Course
Classroom Management, Compassionate Communication, Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Resolution for Educators. This is what we studied in our first days as interns at Centro Espiral Mana in Costa...
View ArticleIn Defense of Teachers
"Those who can't do, teach."I get it. I heard this often in the theater world-- usually about those teachers who tried to 'make it' in New York or Hollywood for years and ended up back in the Midwest...
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In Defense of Grad School
As I write, I am on an Amtrak train chugging through Brattleboro, Vermont (heck yeah, free wi-fi!). I can't help but remember how I was feeling at this exact time one year ago, two months into graduate...
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A Traveler's Alphabet: A to E
Every time I leave to travel or live abroad I promise friends and family two things: that I will take more pictures and write more posts. But, inevitably, people and places go by faster than I can...
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A Traveler's Alphabet: F to I
As promised:A Traveler's Alphabet ContinuedF for FestivalsIt's never hard to find a reason to celebrate! Plus participating in local festivals always helps to make me feel a part of new...
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