"Thank you for letting me be myself."

One gift I'm thankful for today:

having a job that lets me be who I am.

I've not yet reached the end of my first ten years as a professional, and already I've spent more than enough time working jobs that involved putting on a face that wasn't natural for me...performing roles that didn't come naturally at all.

There is great value in environments (and also relationships) that allow you to be yourself.

Do You Like Parades?

Marching practice for a parade is not one of my favorite things. But plenty of practice is necessary in order to prepare our students to represent the school in the town's annual parade later this month.

Students and staff make their way through the streets of Copan in the parade every year as part of the country's Independence Day celebration.

A moment captured during last year's parade.

There are definitely worse things, so I try to keep a good attitude no matter what.

It's kinda funny to think about the fact that for an introvert who doesn't care to be the center of attention, a parade is probably the last place he'd like to find himself obligated to appear each September!

Striking Gold!

As a Language Arts teacher, there are times when I stumble across a nice grammar game somewhere - one that gives students an opportunity for play while also compelling them to correct or fill in the errors or gaps in their understanding.

"Whose Line Is It Anyway" and other games can boost the enjoyment AND the effectiveness of grammar practice in classrooms. For this reason, they are like gold to me.

Here's To You, Diana

Getting a new school year underway makes my thoughts to turn to educators I received instruction from during my days as a student.

It seems appropriate to say a word about one living legend in the world of education - a teacher called Diana Mayhall. She was the one back in high school who taught me to hold both the beauty of the past and the awareness that the future will bring beauty of its own.

Here's to you, Ms. Mayhall!

The Real Thing

I have spent several years working in education - an environment that involves emergency situations and hazards sometimes.

For most of my career, I have served on teams where I was to be the first responder in the event of an emergency. People working alongside me during mental health crises or potential campus violence situations have remarked about my ability to remain cool in the face of perilous incidents.

What happened in the school's outdoor cafeteria today could have blemished my record.

Not a toy.

That's When You Know You've Got It Good

Thankful today for a life so satisfying that though penniless, it makes Americans here say things like, "The money that could be made by returning to working in the U.S. is irrelevant to me.”

Creative Space

A favorite spot in town for me is this poolside bar area where I'm known to sip Coke with cherry flavoring while spending quality time with my writing notebook and iPod.