I can't be sure that this state of mind is not of my own design.

After a year and half in Colombia, the day-to-day of my life is much the same as any other 20-something with a full time teaching job. The everything-is-new-everyday feeling wears off eventually and it doesn't leave me with much to blog about on a daily basis. Yes, I could tell you about the new music I am listening to (Lori McKenna, new Matt Nathanson, Peter Bradley Adams, Trent Dabbs) how I am {embarrassingly} re-watching season one of One Tree Hill, how my students are stinking it up at learning geometry, how someone needs to take away my ability to online shop pronto and more... However, none of that seems particularly blog-worthy.

But this? This definitely does. One of my favorite bloggers (and fellow Minnesotan!) asked the question this week, what does it mean to be independent?

Short answer: To me, everything.

I want to do it by myself is pretty much my life theme. I want to plan the next vacation. I want to be financially independent. I don't want to spend my time delegating when I could just do it myself. I want to decide on the rules and have everyone else just follow them blindly. I don't want to lose myself in another person, relationship or experience. I want to go out there and work for my dreams. I want to accomplish something that means something. I want to be self-sufficient. I am fiercely protective of my heart. I want to think of all the reasons why perfectly lonely is perfectly happy. And I don't really want to ask for help along the way.

The thing is though...

Going at it all by yourself isn't really a great plan. At the end of the day, hard as it is {for me} to admit, we're human and that means we need each other A LOT. Actually, scratch that.

I need other people A LOT.

I need people to come home to at the end of the day. I need people who don't judge me for sassiness or a snarky attitude at the end of a long Monday at work. I need people who check to see if I got home safe at the end of the night. I need people to bounce ideas off of. To inspire me. To see something in me that I cannot even see for myself. I need people to remind me what I was like when I was young and nothing mattered more than going outside to play. I need people who can see the person I can be, the person I want to be, and help me get there. I need people to go to concerts with so we can sing at the top of our lungs and feel that rush of truly living. I need people {roommates} to sit on the couch with and watch Gossip Girl with. I need people to laugh until I cry with. I need people to travel with, to adventure with, to experience with. I need people to remind me that I need all these things. I need people to tell me it's okay to need all these things.

I need people to be brutally honest with me and tell me that independence isn't worth a damn thing if you aren't moving forward.

So I guess what I am saying is this: thank goodness I have people in my life who do all those things and so many more for me. Now I just need to get out of my own way more often.

Three Words for Japan

Some of you may have heard about the Three Words for Japan project discussed on ABC News. This project basically came about as a way to show support and encouragement for the people of Japan. We heard about the project from our friend Hana, who teaches second grade and has family in Japan right now. The idea was that the supplies, the food, the clothing, etc., while completely necessary, will not really be an immediate fix to the devastation of this natural disaster. However, something we can do to stand with Japan right here and now is to document our support.

Thus, Three Words for Japan videos have been springing up all over YouTube, and this is just the latest installment. You see a lot and hear a lot about my 8th grade students on this blog, but this will give you a sneak peek into Kelsi's 3rd grade classroom. She did this project with her students last week and this is the resulting video of their Three Words for Japan.

Enjoy!

Summer Plans

{picture here - LOVE this!!}

Happy St. Patrick's Day friends!

I hope you are finding a way to celebrate all things green, the start of March Madness and (almost) the end of another work week! This week has been super easy here at school because about half of the 8th grade (50 students) is away at a sports tournament in another city. Therefore, with fewer students and a condensed schedule I am more caught up on lesson planning, organizing my room, emailing parents, etc. than ever before.

With all this extra free time my mind definitely wanders to my favorite free-time activity >>> future trip/adventure planning! This morning I read this from two of my favorite travel bloggers and got the itch to plan new things. Also, one of my best friends from home just got back from a week long trip to the Pacific Northwest of the United States and her pictures look fabulous.

This spring will be filled with new adventures, including a spring break trip with Kelsi to Medellin and Rio Claro. We will spend a few days at a nature reserve by the river sleeping in a tree house type structure with only three walls before spending some time enjoying the sleek city life of Medellin. After that there are only a few shorts weeks until Anna visits from Wyoming for two weeks in Colombia! She will get to see a snapshot of my life in Cali before we travel a bit to the Pacific Coast and coffee region of Colombia.

And then and then and then it's SUMMER IN MINNESOTA!!! Ah I cannot adequately express my excitement for Minnesota summers; they are just seriously so fantastic! Something about being cooped up all winter long (okay not me exactly, but you know, people who actually live in Minnesota year-round) and then having all the snow melt away to the glorious sunshine is a serious three-month-long reason to celebrate. And celebrate we do - Minnesota style. With afternoons at the lakes, roller-blading along the river, happy hours on all your favorite patios, Cities 97 Oake on the Water, Grand Old Days, outdoor music, driving with the windows all the way down, Jamba Juice to beat the heat, bonfires, Twins games, grill-outs, my day of birth, etc, etc.

In addition to all the Midwestern summer-lovin' adventures I will be making a few trips around the US to see various friends and family. I definitely have a few days planned in Wisconsin, Wyoming and Washington state. Follow that up with two trips back to Minnesota in early fall for weddings and I will pretty much be a regular at MSP International Airport.

To answer your question, yes I love birthday presents in the form of plane tickets, thanks. :)

So >>> where is your next adventure leading you???