Hi friends!

Welcome to our first bi-weekly post! There were many reasons why I decided to tone-down the blog, the main reason being there’s a lot of repetition happening as we approach year 2 in Chile.

These past two weeks have been great. We went on our first field trip to Kidzania. Most of the teachers don’t like Kidzania, but I actually love it! I think it’s the coolest thing ever! Here’s an explanation of the genius behind Kidzania in a blog post from last year. This year, I was a pro. The second those doors opened, my group RAN to the fire station, because everybody knows, that’s the best one.

I will say that this year they’ve added a new attraction called “The Labyrinth of Mirrors”. Yes, it’s as terrifying as it sounds. This is also the one attraction the adults are allowed to go inside, so naturally my students dragged me inside… They make you wear gloves because the entire thing is mirrors. You’re supposed to be in there for maybe 15 minutes, I swear my group was in there for like 45 minutes and Miss Kim was on the verge of a panic attack. Finally, we found the glorious exit and I noticed I only had 3 out of my 4 kids. I have to admit, for a split second I wanted to leave him; I mean 3 out of 4 isn't bad. But being the good Miss that I am, I went back into that hell-hole and found him. Never. Again. Never. Again

Things in school have been full-force lately; I’ve barely had the strength to come up for air. This past week was killer –we’ve really been scrambling to fit in all the content we’re required in such a short amount of time plus we've had to stay super late. Remember in Cinderella when the stepsisters forced the footman to make the tiny glass slipper fit on their abnormally large feet? That’s what it’s been like lately, too many things and not enough time, yet we have to make it work.

So needless to say, I’ve been very stressed. My left-eye twitch is ever-present, and I’ve got rocks residing inside of my shoulders. But I’ll get through it, I always do.

We’re headed into fall here in the Southern hemisphere. It’s been pretty rainy and dark outside. I’m beyond jealous of all the beautiful pre-summer pics on my newsfeed.

Next time we see each other, I’ll have gone to Chiloé, a lovely fisherman town in the South of Chile. We have an extra long (and much needed) weekend at the end of May, so obviously I’m not sticking around.

^^1C's Mother's Day gifts

Wishing a very happy mother's day to this hero, billboard occupant, animal-loving, Nightingale Award Recipient, world traveler, friend, grandmother and mother. She's the best out there, and I'm so lucky to be her daughter.

Laughable Moments:

• The children from other schools always have something to say when they encounter me at Kidzania, this time? “Woah, why do you have a weird accent?”

• During Writer’s Workshop this week, we spent significant time introducing the concept of a “watermelon moment” (big moment) and a “seed moment” (small moment). We asked for examples of a watermelon moment and every story started “A watermelon went to the beach”, “a watermelon went to the park with his mom” –we had to clarify, your watermelon moment isn’t about a watermelon

• This week I literally had to say out loud “Felipe, please stop licking your desk!!”, Felipe always licks his desk!

• My friend had surgery on her chin and I told her she looked “chincredible” –I’m still laughing…

• I asked said friend if she could eat anything post-surgery and she replied “all I can eat is soap” (soap =soup)

• My co-worker was raving about Massage-Envy back in the states, “yeah they got all the noodles in my back and shoulders!” (noodles =knots)

^^ The first and second grade teachers did a dance performance for "Students Day"

^^One man's trash is another's treasure

^^Flo made a delicious Mother's Day meal and then we all took naps afterwards -I've found my people.

^^León on neighborhood watch

See y'all in a few weeks!