6 Reasons Why I Love Being a Teacher

If you would like to read this post on my new, updated site, please click here

Recently, I felt like there is a lot of negativity surrounding teaching or.. maybe it's me and I am just so super stressed that I feel like there is a ton of negativity and really, everyone is doing just fine! Whatever the case may be, I felt the need to write a list of reasons why I love teaching. I want this year of mine to be better than all the rest and this seems like a good place to start. On the night before Day 1 of Year 13.

Creativity

When I first decided to become a teacher almost many, many years ago, I made that decision based on the fact that I could be creative. I was excited to make lessons and activities that would create a fun learning environment and also be fun for me! Even when I was teaching at schools that did not allow for too much flexibility, I always found a way to bend the rules or found time to implement a fun, hands-on leaning activity for the content I needed to teach. Within a few years (and some experience under my belt), I was able to find schools that really valued my creativity and now I am at a school where I get to write my own curriculum! Teaching allows for the creativity side of me to flourish and I really love that about my job!

Make a Difference

Teaching allows me to come home everyday and know that something I did within those 7 hours made a positive difference in someone's life, even if I am unaware of it. Whether it was teaching a new concept, giving good advice or facilitating a conversation between 30 kids where they were able to learn from each other, I know something good happened and I was a part of it. I got into teaching because I wanted to be creative and I think what keeps me in the classroom is the fulfillment I get from being a positive person in the lives' of children. Last year was a really rough year. I thought since it was my 12th year in the classroom, I wouldn't have some of the same feelings I had my very first year of teaching, but I did! I was worn down by abnormal circumstances. I got down on myself because I thought I wasn't being the best teacher I could be for my kids and coming to school somedays felt like a chore rather than the privilege that it  is. I decided that at the end of the school year, I would write a letter to my students telling them about how amazing they are and what a wonderful year it was that we had together. Some of them had tears in their eyes when I read it out loud to everyone. There was a 5th grade graduation that day and the love and appreciation I felt from my students and their parents was a feeling I will never forget. Sometimes we need validation in what we are doing and that is okay. We will not always get it and that is okay, too, but we need to always remind ourselves that we are making a difference.

It's Fun!

How many people can go to work each day and say it's fun? Not many that I know of. People are always saying "Love what you do and you will not work a day in your life". Even though teaching is a TON of work, it's also something I love to do and so it does not feel like a regular job. I get to laugh with the kids and be reminded on a daily basis of what it means to be young and excited about the silliest things. There are so many examples of this in my career, and some that stand out are: when the scholastic book box was delivered and my entire class gave it a standing ovation to it (see my IG account for that one!), when I returned after being sick for a few days, I got an applause for coming back, celebrating a book character's birthday and singing the "Happy Birthday" song to a nonexistent person, traveling to Washington, DC and experiencing the memorials and museums through the eyes of 10 year olds, an applause when I finish a really amazing read aloud, fidget spinner challenges the last week of school, coloring and pasting fun activities together - and the list goes on! Being a teacher brings out the inner child in you!

Vacations

I read a Facebook post from a friend and I absolutely loved it. She was talking with someone and the person was going on and on about how unfair it is that teachers only work part of the year, have summers off and all these breaks, great hours, etc. She turned to him and said, "Yeah, it is. Sucks you didn't choose a profession with the same benefits." Another teacher had a similar conversation and simply stated that he was collecting overtime throughout the summer. We work hard throughout the school year and only a teacher can really understand the absolute need for a spring break and summer break. The kids need a break from us and each other! And to our benefit, we still get to collect a check while sleeping in, reading our favorite novel, basking in the sun, traveling around the world, or walking around the malls when the crowds are all at their jobs. Heck, I even get excited about being able to schedule a dentist appointment! So as much as we get crap for this, I LOVE that we get so much time off. For a long time, I spent it making more money and adding to my income. And granted, for the first 8-10 years, I put in my time and worked in my classroom during most breaks, but now, I am living it up! This summer I traveled throughout Asia, I am going to Colombia to practice Spanish during Thanksgiving and next summer I hope to plan a cycling trip through France and visit a friend in England. Because I am a teacher, I am doing all of this on a teacher's budget, but that is what adds to the adventures. We put in our time to enjoy our summers off and holiday breaks. I will never let anyone make me feel guilty for that. When people tell me how great it is that teachers get so many days off, I smile and say, "I know!"

We Get 2 New Years

The start of every school year is a new beginning and I love it because it's a new opportunity for me to plan fresh goals and check in on ones I made January 1st. Tomorrow is my first day of school and I have my outfit laid out, fresh, healthy food in the fridge, a morning workout planned and workout clothes ready to go for 5am. I have my planner ready for Day 1 written with a fresh set of flair pens and it's a new start for 27 kids that are entering our classroom tomorrow. There is something invigorating about fresh starts! I love that I get to also start over as a teacher again! I get to do what I didn't do so well last year better this year! I get to reinvent ideas that I was not so excited about and I get to look forward to the ones that were super fun! I get to also look forward to rereading my favorite books to the class and wait to see their responses, I get to share thoughtful quotes with them and teach them all the important things I taught previous classes and witness their attitudes and opinions. I get to be a part of a whole new group of kids' learning and achievements. With every new school year, I am given the opportunity to become a better teacher than I was the previous year and I am given the time before school starts to plan and prepare for how that is going to happen.

I Get to Live Out My Passion

Very often, I speak with people who are trying to fulfill a passion after work or when they have time. Their jobs are not fulfilling and sadly, they know it. As teachers, we are so incredibly lucky to be able to know what our purpose is in life and go for it. I don't think many teachers realize how few people get to spend their entire day living out a passion. There are plenty of reassuring moments. When a student ran out of the room crying because a handful of kids laughed at her and I stopped the math lesson to discuss why that is not an acceptable way to behave in our classroom or in society and 20 minutes later, long after I have stopped talking and the kids are having their own conversation about it, I can tell that they get it. And then months later, I stopped and realized that they had all shown compassion, empathy and consideration towards that student since the conversation and tears were brought to my eyes, I knew that this is where I am supposed to be and without a question, this is what I am supposed to be doing. I am so sure that all of you have had plenty of moments like this one I describe. It's what our job is about. We can teach the standards, we can teach the math facts, we can teach kids how to read, but it's in the moments where we teach them how to be good people that the true hard work has been accomplished.

In conclusion, if you are ever down about teaching and aren't sure why you got into the profession in the first place and your hundredth Google search of "What else can you do with a teaching degree besides teach" comes up dry, or, if you are being inundated with negativity about the profession, please stop and think about why you love what you do. And if anything on my list rings true to you, stop by and have another read. Here's to you and me and our next new school year together!

Magic Exists in our World and it's in Ubud, Bali

I chose to stay on a family compound and had breakfast out on my private porch one morning. 

My final destination was Bali and as I sit here at the airport waiting to start my 30 hour trek back to San Diego, I am sad to leave a place that has so much magic, paradise and what I imagine to be a form of heaven. From Tokyo, to Saigon to Hanoi to Bali, this has been an experience unlike any I have ever had before. The people that came into my life throughout my travels, the places I experienced and the challenges I faced all contributed to my feeling of nothing but gratefulness, joy and laughter.

The people, the food, the landscape, culture and the environment in Ubud, Bali was more than I expected. As soon as I stepped into my room on a family compound, I felt like I was at home. My plan for this part of the trip was to relax, write and read and do some deep work with personal reflection and healing. But, my time in Ubud did not exactly go as planned in all ways and I am perfectly fine with that. Allowing my days to just “come as they are” was part of what made each day perfectly amazing. A typical day consisted of me waking up, walking 1km to the gym, showering, then stopping by a local juice cafe to order a fresh pressed juice (usually papaya and lime or a green detox of some sort). Next, I would walk about halfway  back to the area I was staying and find a really great place to eat breakfast. I would then relax with a book and eat and read. Afterwards, I would explore the area. I might go shopping, take a painting class, stop and hang out with some friends I made or walk throughout the town and see where it  leads me. Most of the time, it led me to a spa where I would get a foot massage, full body massage, body scrub, manicure or my hair done. There is something to be said about getting a massage everyday, I have to say! I always had my camera ready because capturing the beauty of Ubud was also a big part of the fun. I had no schedule and nowhere to be and that feeling of freedom is beyond the best feeling in the world!

I met Dewa when I saw a sign for an art lesson while walking around town. He shared with me his art and we became instant friends! 

One night, I caught a traditional Kecak Fire and Dance show steps from where I was staying, but most nights, I would have a late dinner after meandering around town and then go to bed. Most of Ubud is dark and quiet by 11pm which also made it a perfect place for me!

What I Love Most about Ubud

Offerings. Waking up and walking throughout town with the smell of incense burning and the reminder with every offering I pass that I have so much to be thankful for. Everyday, the Balinese give offerings of thanks and hope for prosperity. It’s a small square made from palm leaves with flowers, candy, food and maybe a hand rolled cigarette. Placed on top is a stick of incense that is burned on a regular basis throughout the day. These offerings are placed outside of homes and businesses. I never knew I needed the scent of incense so much in my life. I think I bought at least a thousand sticks to burn when I get home!

The food was absolutely amazing! Literally every single meal I ate was fresh, tasty and made of whole foods. Each morning, there is a local market that opens from 4am – 9am. It’s there that the restaurant owners will stock up on fresh produce, meats, fish, eggs, coffee beans, breads and spices. The food sold at the market is always harvested and sold within 24 hours. Ubud values gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarianism, vegan foods, organic produce and fresh juice. Basically, any healthy food option you like to indulge in, Ubud’s restaurants will have it for you. One night, I ordered lobster and spinach gluten-free raviolis with a ginger tea and a gluten-free brownie made from organic dark Balinese chocolate oh, and fresh Vietnamese spring rolls because I was missing Vietnam that night.

Fresh pressed juices deserve a category all their own. Ubud’s residences make freshest and most interesting and yummy concoctions out of fresh fruit and veggies. I had detox mixes, super hydrating mixes, stomach soothers, energizing juices, calming juices and cleansing juices. They all were created for me on the spot and were never pre-made. Everyday, I would have 2-3 different juices in attempts to keep a feeling of cleanliness throughout my body. Part of wanting to somewhat cleanse myself spiritually, I also wanted to cleanse my body and eating and drinking in Ubud, well that’s the perfect place for it !

The people in Ubud are some of the most sweetest, kindest and genuine people I have met throughout the world. There is a sense of trust and I think their belief in karma plays a big role. One day, I took a painting class with a artist named Dewa. We spoke and got to know each other during the 2-hour session in his studio. He talked about a time when he was really sick and the doctors couldn’t tell him what it was, so he went to see a spiritual healer as a last resort. He told me that she said someone was jealous of him. Throughout bouts of laughter, he explained that he was so surprised to hear this from her because he always tries to do good and think about good things, so having someone be jealous of him didn’t make sense.  The healer gave him oils to drink and different oil to rub on his body as way to rid the negative energy being sent his way. He said within a week he was feeling better. I told him about my chronic back pain that I have been trying to fix for close to 13 years and how I would love to have someone help me with that. Right away, he offered to take me to his healer. He said it would be 20 minutes away on his motorbike and we would have to stop to grab an offering for her on the way, but he wouldn’t mind taking me, if that’s what I wanted. We continued to talk and after the 2 hours and a completed painting of Buddha, we were on our way to his healer. Throughout the rest of my time in Ubud, Dewa took me to his healer three times. We became friends and I learned a lot about Balinese culture and what it’s like to live in Ubud.

Ibudessa is a beautiful soul and woman. She performed healing sessions for me a few times while I was in Bali. Although we don't speak the same language, we were able to communicate in other ways. Her generous spirit helped me to cleanse my aura and keep grounded while I experienced another part of our beautiful world. 

The architecture in Ubud had me fascinated the moment I stepped outside. From the brick roads and mosaic lotus lined with green moss to the family compounds that still remain exactly as they were built many, many years ago. Several generations of families reside in these compounds, karangs, and each structure within is built and placed in a specific part of the compound. To enter, you will see a beautifully carved, small door to walk through and immediately notice a small shrine that is honored with flowers, incense and/or rice. The small door and shrine are to help ward off any spirits that would be unwanted. The family compound reflects the human body and each building within is placed in a specific manner. For example, the family temple is built facing east as it will be the first to see the light of day. I couldn’t help but stop and notice these beautiful homes and I was very lucky to be invited into some and also stay within a compound through Airbnb (highly recommended you do this if ever you visit Ubud!).

This street led to where I was staying

The atmosphere in Ubud is literally breathtaking! One day, I got up early and visited the rice terraces before all of the crowds and before farmers harvested crops for the day. It  was absolutely stunning with lush greens and quiet creeks running between the palm trees and flower bushes. Besides the rice terraces, the town of Ubud is also unique in it’s lush greens lining each street and random statues and shrines outside of homes and businesses.

I feel so incredibly lucky to experience such a magical and unbelievable place. I think Ubud, Bali was the perfect last stop in my trip throughout Asia this summer. It was a great place to reflect on my gratitude for having so much in my life and to cleanse my mind and body before returning back home and start my 13th year teaching!

The Value of Experience in Vietnam

Having now arrived to my third and final country this summer, I am noticing a pattern of how each of these explorations begin. At first, there is trepidation because I have no clue about the area, where to go or what to do, but as soon as I immerse myself into it (which is always just to hit the streets and start walking), that wall crumbles and I feel completely confident in becoming a part of the community in my own, small way. There is no judgment as to what I choose to do because I am alone and no one around me really cares what I am doing. I also make sure to embrace the opportunities as they offer themselves to me. Today, I was walking down a street and saw a sign for art classes. The owner of the art studio came outside and we spoke briefly. He asked if I would like to learn how to paint and of course, I said YES! Tomorrow I have my first lesson.

Suddenly, I started to feel more connected with people and places as I am striving to get that feeling of overwhelming beauty or awe (my ultimate goal every time I go somewhere). Walking around, talking with people, or just observing what is happening around me, I begin to tap into the ideas within me that aren't yet  fully formulated, but soon construct themselves through exploration, questioning and thinking. The more I expose myself to the new people and places, the more I feel like I am not only learning about them, but I am also learning more about myself.

The challenges where I know I am in charge of building my own safety net in the midst of it all happening are the kinds of situations I sometimes hate while they are happening, but when I look back on them, I am so incredibly grateful. I continue to learn that the second I say I am ready to quit, if I just keep going, what's on the other side is beautiful, beneficial and worth more than I could have ever imagined.

"Okay everybody, how are you feeling? Are you done?" The tour guide asked us this question after we cycled about 20km in a heat index that was well over 110 degrees. I looked him dead in the eyes."Yeah, I am done." I said it, but I must not have actually meant it because I kept going. My head was spinning, I was well past a "runners high", my water was empty and I barely remember that stretch of ride. Even in the shade, I felt like there was no escape. At that point, I wantedto give up but, not enough, because I didn't. The energy from the group and the fact that I would have been the only one who actually stopped, helped me to keep going. And I am so glad that I did because if I had given up, I would not have experienced sitting in a basket boat on a river with an old Vietnamese tour guide making rings for me out of palm leaves and I wouldn't have experienced listening to CCR on the ride back through the rice paddies thinking about what it  was like for the people of Vietnam in the 1960's.

If I had given up after an 11 hour train ride, 3 hour bus ride in (still) 100-something degree weather with a stomach ache, no sleep and no food and no traditional bathroom to use, I would not have experienced the life of people in a village where the first hospital was built in 2015 and they were given electricity in 1995. I would have missed out on looking up at a house built on stilts and seeing two children screaming "hello!" and waving frantically at me. If I had given up after finally rinsing the sweat off while standing next to a toilet only to be covered in mosquitoes and more sweat, I would have missed the home cooked meal the family was so proud to make and serve for us. I wouldn't have experienced freshly squeezed sugarcane juice or learned how 4 generations of families live in a one-room home. I would have missed out on the first hand experience of seeing how happiness can come from simplicity at its most basic definition. 

There are so many things I learned while spending time in Vietnam, but one for sure, is to never give up when times get tough. These are just some fun examples and don't compare at all to life's most toughest of times, but today they are serving me as a good reminder.

Life can suck, but if we give up or take the easy road, what are we missing? If you stop when it gets difficult, you know what the ending will be and it involves you surrendering. But if you keep going, the possibilities are endless and who doesn't like a good surprise?!

Below are some of the highlights of the trek through Vietnam. I hope you enjoy!

Art combined with nature

His motor bike wasn't making it, so another man helped him over the bridge.

Woman making rice paper

Pagoda

Year of the Monkey

Hand stitching with silk

Boats on the river in Hoi An

Many couples come to this setting to get pictures taken the day before the wedding.

Ride up the mountain

Mom making sticky rice

Sisters enjoy a game together

Rice Fields against Beautiful Mountains

You haven't had an adventure until you tried riding a bike through traffic in Vietnam![/caption]

I learned how to make rice noodles! A great cause that teaches kids English and hospitality. (Planterra)[/caption]

Silence as the Educator, my time in Tokyo

The eyes behind silence get a glimpse into the realities of the unknown 

- me  

As I was thinking about how to describe my (too short of a) time in Tokyo, I decided on peaceful observations. I feel it's quite fitting as I did not have much to say (giant language barrier) and the calm and mellowness of the people was contagious. I felt like I was walking on clouds the whole time without a care in the world. Surprisingly (or maybe not surprisingly), few people in Tokyo speak English. And, there is something to be said about keeping your mouth shut and simply taking in your surroundings. So not being able to communicate was not really that terrible. The city and metro is easiest enough to navigate and pictures really do speak a thousand words!

If you are in Tokyo anytime soon, you might want to check out the MORI Building Digital Art Exhibit. Definitely a little mind-blowing!

For me, being in Tokyo was like being in another world which is a feeling I haven't experienced before when traveling abroad. While in Costa Rica or Panama, for example, things were different, but I had a reference to the language and I could figure out menus, street signs, etc due to the fact that they use the same letters as English and a lot of the words are similar enough to figure things out. Generally, the people act the same as I am used to. You can look at a person and guess how s/he is feeling. In Tokyo, I had no clue what people were thinking or feeling. Pretty much everyone had no expression on their faces, were reserved and kept to themselves. However, they all were friendly, patient and helpful. As soon as someone realized I was trying to communicate with them, they were more than willing to try and work with me. They waited while I pulled out my phone to type in my translator app and then answered as best they could or took out their phone to let me read the Japanese they translated. Staying in a hotel that was outside of the traditional tourist areas was also a great (unplanned) idea. Where I was staying was the only hotel around. (I found it on Airbnb, but booked it through booking.com). I definitely was an outsider and could feel that with the curious stares both from adults and children. Except, I didn't feel that being an outsider was anything bad. People were just wondering what I was doing there.

If you go to Tokyo, I highly suggest getting some nail art. I also got hummingbirds on my toes! So fun and I met the nicest people![/caption]

Me and Mee! She was my toe nail artist!

One of my favorite things to do at the end of a long day and after the sun had fully set, was take the metro to Shinjuku station and then walk 45 minutes home. I loved it so much because this was when the streets became even more quieter than during the day. The weather was perfect and I could only hear my footsteps, the humming of a bicycle quietly riding by me or an elderly lady watering her plants. If any cars came down the street, they drove very slowly and cautiously around me. Occasionally, I would see a mom pushing her child in a stroller heading home or with her child strapped to the back of her bike. Every night, people were making their way home in a place that felt like the perfect world. Everyone follows the rules, is conscientious of each other and respectful of their environment. I have always been a rule-breaker of sorts and actually, when someone tells me notto do something, that's what I end up wanting to do most even if the thought never crossed my mind before. So I was surprised at how much I appreciated this aspect of the country. I guess I never really considered what it would be like to live in a place where the rules weren't questioned or generally broken because I grew up questioning all the rules and that was perfectly acceptable in a lot of ways. Hell, I teach my students to question everything though I like to call it critical thinking ;-) The last book I read with my class this school year wasA Wrinkle in Time, and I swear, this place felt like Camazotz (an awesome debate my students had was whether Camazotz is, in fact, the perfect place or not). Later in my trip, when I was at the home of a lady named Yuka, she was explaining to me that Airbnb had been outlawed in Japan starting June 15 and everyone was informed on June 1. She told me she  wondered why they didn't give more notice and then said to me "It's the rule so we have to follow it" and then shrugged her shoulders. 

Yuka taught me to play the Koto. She also lent me a kimono that her grandmother handmade. That's her awesome dog, Pooh!

Now she is applying for a license and putting her Airbnb overnight host plans on hold. There was no protest or outrage from the country. They were told that was the new law and complied.

I don't want to forget the relaxed, contented and calmness I felt the entire time I was there. I learned a lot in the short time and hope to make it back soon to do all the things I now have placed on my Tokyo To-Do list. 

Next is Vietnam! Something tells me it will be very different...