HAPPY FEBRUARY!!!
Here we are in February already. You'd think that now that I'm retired I would have more time to get that Happy January out in January . But no... I've tried to change the format of the information into a blog and it's taken awhile to work through these changes.
Last year, 2009, was a seminal year. I taught my last six months of a 37 year teaching career. I had started teaching in Malawi in 1972. One of my first students, Collin Kamalizeni, talked to me and suggested we raise money for mosquito nets for the students of that first high school in Nsanje. My last World Issues class created a Youtube video for raising the money and the result was about $1500.00. Collin then took the money, bought the nets and gave them to the school. It felt great giving back....
There was an outdoor barbeque for my retirement party instead of the usual indoor fete. There were lots of friends, food, drinks, a band, and singing and playing guitar around the campfire. A good way to leave teaching.
Next, we flew to Mexico to celebrate Mauricio's 50th birthday in Cuernavaca. The venue was a mansion with history and personality. The family and friends from Canada, Mexico and the U.S., tacos, the gardens and swimming pool with lion head fountains, the mariachi band all combined fora fine evening - that was even chronicled in a full page in the local newspaper!
On we went to Buenos Aires, and our new home in Estanzuela, Uruguay. The stately century old home needed work to make it liveable.New electricity, windows, paint, furniture, an upgraded bathroom and a brand new kitchen make it our new international getaway. I've posted a picture of it on this page. There is Colonia, a World Heritage site, half an hour away and four different beaches on the River Plata just as close by. Buenos Aires is only an hour's ferry ride away. We'll be back there again in February and March. It's an exciting project; my Spanish has improved; we've made new friends and our life directions have changed.
I've desperately tried to keep in touch in a timely manner. Hopefully this will be a good start. Happy February and 2010!!!
Last year, 2009, was a seminal year. I taught my last six months of a 37 year teaching career. I had started teaching in Malawi in 1972. One of my first students, Collin Kamalizeni, talked to me and suggested we raise money for mosquito nets for the students of that first high school in Nsanje. My last World Issues class created a Youtube video for raising the money and the result was about $1500.00. Collin then took the money, bought the nets and gave them to the school. It felt great giving back....
There was an outdoor barbeque for my retirement party instead of the usual indoor fete. There were lots of friends, food, drinks, a band, and singing and playing guitar around the campfire. A good way to leave teaching.
Next, we flew to Mexico to celebrate Mauricio's 50th birthday in Cuernavaca. The venue was a mansion with history and personality. The family and friends from Canada, Mexico and the U.S., tacos, the gardens and swimming pool with lion head fountains, the mariachi band all combined fora fine evening - that was even chronicled in a full page in the local newspaper!
On we went to Buenos Aires, and our new home in Estanzuela, Uruguay. The stately century old home needed work to make it liveable.New electricity, windows, paint, furniture, an upgraded bathroom and a brand new kitchen make it our new international getaway. I've posted a picture of it on this page. There is Colonia, a World Heritage site, half an hour away and four different beaches on the River Plata just as close by. Buenos Aires is only an hour's ferry ride away. We'll be back there again in February and March. It's an exciting project; my Spanish has improved; we've made new friends and our life directions have changed.
I've desperately tried to keep in touch in a timely manner. Hopefully this will be a good start. Happy February and 2010!!!
