Recharging

Thursday afternoon yoga was hard. Each pose seemed especially difficult. I thought my two week absence was getting the better of me (and it probably was). My breathing was all off, I couldn't make any sequences flow together and any transition felt haphazard and frustrating.

Friday at school was difficult. My students' most recent test on properties of real numbers, the Distributive Property and combining like terms did not go well. In fact, in one class the average was 60.53%. The best average was a bit more normal, about 74%, but still - had they learned nothing in the last three weeks? We spent all day on Friday going over their exams and re-learning/re-teaching. I had two prep periods and I don't even know what I did during them because I felt like I needed to be doing 100 things at once.

This is probably about the time that the 20-year-old Kristin self-induced mono and had to take a major break from the hectic lifestyle she was living. The 23-year-old me isn't about to let that happen again, so instead I just shut down.

The last two weeks have been pretty intense - filled with a curriculum workshop at our school (that included working on a Saturday), activities after school, grading exams, socializing with friends, birthdays, cultural events in Cali, etc. while the whole time there is a little voice in my head reminding me that I still have no idea what I am doing next year.

I just need a break. Our October getaway to a quiet eco-lodge in the Andes Mountains near Quito, Ecuador is not arriving quite soon enough, so for now lots of tea, Jack Johnson music, and a few good books are on the radar for me.

What do you do when you just need a break from it all?

Emails, Ellipticals and ESPN Baseball Today

So...today I was at the gym, running, listening to today's edition of ESPN Baseball Today. Nothing out of the normal, since this is pretty much the definition of my standard Monday night. I have been listening to this podcast almost everyday of the baseball season since I moved to Colombia. There really isn't a better way to keep up on baseball news from around Major League Baseball short of reading every article on ESPN.com.

Therefore, I listen to this podcast, hosted by ESPN New York's Seth Everett and Senior Writer Eric Karabell. I pretty much listen to them banter back and forth about umpire accountability and the league leaders, and - up until recently - waiting with baited breath for any small mention of the underdogs from Minnesota. Sometimes they get in heated debates and every now and then I write into the show with comments, thoughts or questions.

Then this week on Twitter, the stats guy who guest stars on Wednesdays on the show, Mark Simon noticed I was a follower of the show and commented how I am probably the only one in Colombia. He told me to send in my email and he would get it on the show. So...I figured maybe if I was lucky they might read a snip-it of my email on Wednesday.

This is the part where I am at the gym tonight running and I get to minute 22 of today's show

and they say "Next up from Kristin in Cali, Colombia" and I almost fall off the elliptical in my jump for joy. YESSSSSSSS. It was all I could do to contain myself from running over to Kelsi as she was mid-spin class and explaining how awesome this was. (I did however make her listen to it within 30 seconds of walking in the door)

My email was about the Twins postseason - should we be resting players now or aiming for the best record in baseball (i.e. home field advantage). They read the whole thing and made comments! Eric even said I made good points. And Seth commented on how I am friends with him on Twitter. :) My email definitely included some BS-ing....cause you have to be nice if you want your stuff to get read aloud....but overall I am pretty excited about the whole situation!!

If this whole teaching gig doesn't work out in the long run maybe I have a future in sports blogging. (I did win the NFL pool at work last week too!) Who knows?

Until then...I will just be loving the Twins' chances in the postseason and hoping Joe Mauer listens to ESPN and decides he must meet this well-informed fan from Minnesota.

What a fabulous Monday!!

Love & Friendship: Dia de Amor y Amistad

Saturday, September 18 is El Dia de Amor y Amistad, or the Day of Love and Friendship here in Colombia. Basically the equivalent of Valentine's Day, this is a day to celebrate the love and friendship you have with friends or significant others.

We celebrated by going out to dinner and dancing for my friend Hana's birthday, which happens to fall on the same day! We started the night at Carambolo, an Italian and Latin restaurant in the Granada neighborhood of Cali. I had a fabulous chicken stuffed with asparagus in a mustard vodka sauce and of course we shared a pitcher of sangria. Despite taking a really long time to get our food, the place was a great choice for a birthday celebration.

The whole crew at dinner!

Sangria = delicious :)

After that we headed out to Kukaramakara (tongue twister, I know) for some dancing. While the place ended up being more live music and crowded tables than dancing, it was still a fabulous day with friends.

Kelsi, Catie and I

The Birthday Girl (Hana) and me!

To all of my fabulous friends wherever you may be - Feliz Dia de Amor y Amistad!!!