Hello out there in blog-reader-land! I know it’s been a while. Frankly, I’m shocked that WordPress hasn’t canceled my blog. But it still exists, so I may as well use it! Here’s the latest in the chronicles of my adventures.
My last couple posts were written when I had just started working at the military school in the Oregon town I grew up in. I meant to write at least a Christmas newsletter last year, but settled for posting photos from the whole year on my Facebook page. I’ll probably do that again, because I don’t want to share very personal photos for the whole world to see. But I’ll also try to catch everyone up here today.
As for work (school), I decided to stay at the military academy. That first spring, I taught remedial 9th grade math and English. The next school year, I taught 9th/10th grade social studies, remedial 9th grade math, and a journalism elective class. Sadly, this school year’s schedule didn’t allow me to keep the journalism class. But I’m still teaching 9th, 10th, and now 11th grade social studies, as well as a credit recovery class in the computer lab which allows me to tutor the students in math and other subjects from their online recovery courses. It’s been neat to watch the students grow up from squirrely freshmen and sophomores to (somewhat!) mature juniors and seniors. I’ve learned a lot about military lifestyle and experiences from the school and my coworkers. I can safely say I appreciate the service and sacrifice of veterans more now. And there are some fun experiences I wouldn’t have in other schools, like learning to march correctly to a cadence for local parades, and FTX (our military-style version of outdoors school). I love FTX! We hold it in the late spring at a Boy Scout camp, and I’ve had a great time camping out with the 9th grade girls both years. This fall, I got to see my students in action as we volunteered at the local Highland Games. It rained on us, but the kids had great attitudes, and got accolades from all the vendors and festival organizers! I feel very blessed to get to know the students and grow in friendships with my coworkers at this school. I will always miss my ISK (my school in Central Asia) coworkers and students, but I’m thankful for Facebook and email to keep in touch with most of them.
Of course, I’ve done a bit of traveling since I last wrote, too. After seeing my ISK coworkers (and my awesome Uncle Gary and Aunt Kathy and friend Jas) in Pennsylvania in February 2015, I used my airline miles and credit to attend weddings of my coworkers from overseas. The first was in Florida in May, for my friends Kristin and Nathan, who now teach in SE Asia. The next two weddings were in Michigan in June. It was a blessing to see all of them get married, and get to catch up with my ISK family each time! And fun to sightsee with them, like beach time on Lake Michigan and shopping in Amish country with my 2nd ISK principal. My other big trip that year was a drive to Seattle to visit my grad school friend Mimi, with a side trip to Vancouver BC to see a friend I had known from the expat community in Central Asia.
This year (2016) has also brought some fun journeys. In the spring, I got to visit my ISK friend Cindy in Colorado, although it was still winter there! Beautiful, though. We saw Garden of the Gods and some mountain towns near Boulder. For spring break and again after school ended for the summer, I got to house-sit for and visit friends Tracey and her husband Jay, who worked at my current school my first year, and who live in lovely Central Oregon. Together we hiked in the snow on Mt. Hood, drove up the Deschutes River, and hunted for geodes (aka Thundereggs; round rocks filled inside with crystal) at Richardson Rock Ranch. On my own, I used their house as a base camp to go see the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. I hiked all three sites in one day. Breathtaking vistas, ancient fossils, and amazing rock formations made the drive so worth it! Later this last summer, I drove to California to meet up with a Czech friend that I met in Prague. She had never been to Yosemite, and I happily agreed to take her there. The last time I had gone was in winter, which was beautiful, but limited the places to go. So Keri and I got to hike to Vernal Fall, and drive to Glacier Point, which was probably one of the most epic views I have ever seen. And that says a lot, because I’ve been blessed to see some amazing ones in this world. I’ll try to include photos. I also got to visit my friend Elly in San Francisco (she’s much closer than the first time I visited her in her home country of Germany!), and drive back through Napa Valley and the Redwoods coast. Later in the summer, Jas came out from Pennsylvania for her family reunion, and I got to go up to Central Washington state for it with her and her aunt and uncle. I love summer!
As far as writing goes, I haven’t done any of my own (unless lesson plans count). But I have had some of my students participate in National Novel Writing Month, so at least I’m helping pass on a literary tradition. One of my writer friends is now publishing a novel for the first time, so be sure to watch for Calliope Jones books on Amazon soon! They’re great!
I’ve had some fun times with family this year, too. My mom and I met up with my stepsister and her teenage daughter to enjoy the crowds, I mean the tulips, at the Woodburn Wooden Shoe Festival. My brother made me an epic wall decor piece in the shape of a medallion from a cartoon we watched as kids. I’ve also enjoyed spending time with one set of cousins while I lived with her mother-in-law (and now have my own cute apartment! Many thanks to the wonderful people who let me live with them before that!), and am attending a church now where another set goes. In sadder news, I had three aunts pass away this least year or so, and one cousin just two days ago. I’m grateful that I had gotten to see two of them not too long before they died. Before my mom left to be with her brother, she and my stepdad had an impromptu Christmas breakfast/coffee with my brother and me. We’ll get to have a fun dinner on Christmas Eve with my dad and my stepmom, too. I’m so thankful for the family I have. And friends in this community that I grew up in but hadn’t lived in as an adult (old friends, friends from my new school, new friends from the church I went to last year, and new friends from my new church). And for my thoughtful boyfriend, too. (Just had to slip that in there to leave you all wondering!)
Well, I think that about sums up a lot, at least what I’m willing to share publicly. Thank you all for your friendship and support over the years! I hope you all are doing well and enjoying the holidays.
Merry Christmas!
The Compass Rose Queen 