Schools out

 Time is a funny thing, sometimes it moves so fast, leaving behind a year of your life, which indeed you were hoping would past quickly. I am trying to remember back to my preconceived ideas of this adventure and I am instantly flooded with my memories of last summer’s dread.

The truth is I didn’t want to go, and when I say ‘go’ what I mean is I really didn’t want to go to work. I REALLY didn’t want to go. And, if you followed the beginning of the blog, you know it was a rough transition into a highly professional and rigorous work place in a shiny city, over flowing with wealth and highly driven, career-oriented, type A personalities.  My dread was a bit of a premonition.

But now 10 months later, somewhere above the Atlantic with summer holiday ahead it didn’t seem so bad. I suppose there were some major saving graces.

Yes, the school is the same. Not our style. But we adjusted slowly and it doesn’t seem as crazy as we first thought, but don’t get me wrong it is still insane. The kids are a great melting pot of nationalities and despite their different Birth County, mother tongue and religious beliefs, they all have one thing in common- highly driven, educated parents who have very grandiose expectations of their children.  Pressure.

I didn’t want to do this but, I constantly found myself comparing our situation to our experience in Colombia, especially school. Our school in Colombia was by nature a community and while our school here actually has the word ‘community’ in it`s name, it is far from it. I am not sure why. More transition, leadership, personalities, money…who knows? My second grade team composed of an Indian, South African, Italian, Arab and Colombian (the one I was probably the closest too) was manageable but not a hooting good time. I really missed the easy-going nature of my co-workers in Colombia (especially you Kelsi) and I can honestly count on my hand the number of non work-related conversations I had with colleagues at work.  

I have mentioned this before on this blog and, although I hate to need someone else’s misfortune to justify my happiness but the world’s inequality has been on constant display for us here. It is a bit grotesque.  And, it served as a daily reminder how freaken lucky we are. Not only to be here and have this opportunity, but mostly to have the choice; all because of where we were born. I have never in my travels nor all the places I’ve lived, seen such an overt caste system of races and people’s value. I have never felt so appreciative to have been born into freedom. It goes with out saying, that although this has been on my mind and in my heart all year, I still did my fair share of bitching (especially in the morning.) Just ask Aaron.

But work aside, we have found living in this desert easier than anticipated. Camping was our saving grace, we had amazing travel experiences and the over all safety and ability to recreate was a welcomed change from Colombia. And, besides the unbearable heat during 4 months, the weather was surprisingly, well, great.

So work is work and the weather was mostly good and with a fair amount to do, we were content. But that couldn’t have been so with out a strange make shift international community.  Moving internationally forces you to socialize with unlikely people. You are new and open to meeting new people. It shall come as no surprise that we have very little in common with the dedicated professional teachers at our school and so we were delighted when we crossed paths with a Syrian family and Pacific Northwest woman. They have become our surrogate family, which we all need overseas. And while planning Raph’s show, we met another girl who is now a mainstay in our life too. Having these people make it so much easier to go back in August, but it is that need for community that will in the end, put an end to our time here.

Aaron has finally, after years, found a sport he can do with out snow or waves. He is 100% into kite surfing, and I am sure it is not a shocker to learn that he pretty much rips after very few tries. I mean who watches a video on youtube on ‘how to jump’ and then just goes and does it the next day? Aaron does. Me, well I am more like 66% in, a few fears to overcome but I am up and riding- well a few feet anyway.

So yeah school is out, and unlike the ceremonious, heart-wrenching, sobbing student good-byes we were use to in Colombia the students just kind of said good-bye and we snuck out with very few good-byes from staff. Weird. And gifts, well there were a few, but shit, those Colombian’s had us spoiled! My best gift was a Camis- a traditional dress from Pakistan. One of the mothers had one made for me and the next day when she asked if it had fit, I answered yes (lie, I hadn’t even tried it on!) And, she said (in Pakistani accent similar to Indian with a formal British touch,) “Great, I would really like to see you in it. Wear it tomorrow (this was more of a command than a suggestions.) I will bring my camera.” Shit. Not that I don’t like it, it is beautiful, but it is just very….ummmm  ethnic. But I did and it was fine, until I went to the grocery and realized I looked like a total poser. I mean I was dressed up as a Pakistani. I felt weird, especially since everyone else in the store was pretty much wearing the same thing…but I am white. Awkward.

Here we are on our last day of school.

So that is that, time revealed much to us and we have changed in many ways but still we, unlike many on the international scene (especially here), will be ready to return to our soil soon. Return to some normalcy. Yet, with that said, I am REALLY going to miss having a maid and free housing.

Our trip home has been an adventure, leaving a new dark corner in my heart  full of hatred for American Airlines. A half day at the London airport, an evening at a London hotel and all with a flight full of Bostonians; between the accents, loud voices and the sarcasm, I feel like I am already home.

I hope everyone has a great summer and more than anything I hope time drips by slowly, letting us all to enjoy every second with our family and friends. I get to spend father’s day with my dad and hug my mom!

How do you make time slow down?

We will try and while doing so, we will be happily fishing in Alaska. And, Thanks for everyone who shared our link. We have had more new customers this year than ever, all recommendations from you!

Stay tune for next year’s blog where we hope to make the best of our year there by seeing new countries like Jordan, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka and checking out my roots in Sicilia.  We are pretty fortunate and very grateful.

Be in touch.