It's crunch time

It's definitely crunch time over here in the "Bound for Brasilia" household. We only have a few days left and are not ready to walk out the door at this time, though we're pretty darn close. Our upstairs is cleaned, vacuumed, and ready to vacate with the exception of our mattress/box spring that we're selling in a couple of days; we're also still using that bathroom since it has the shower. Sebastian's "stuff" has been moved from the downstairs bathroom (so I could clean it and shut it off) and moved upstairs. So I'm sharing a bathroom with two boys during our last few days in this apartment. We brought down one piece (our last piece) of furniture from the upstairs which we're about to sell in a couple of hours, and the rest of our clothes - those that are out because we'll either be wearing them the next couple days or the day of our trip. As I look around the first floor I want to say that there's still a lot in it, but that's because we're taking most of it with us. We're at 8 large suitcases, 2 carry-ons, 2 personal items, 1 trophy (that's too big to put anywhere), and 1 cat. The rest will be sold/donated/disposed of over the weekend.


I think, and hope, that I've taken care of all of the paperwork that it takes to move. I know it may seem that I'm organized and I believe that I am, but it's a lot to do. I'm VERY glad that I have my mom's support as far as her helping us with our mail. We're also very blessed to have such amazing friends that will take us to the airport and help us out once we sell our car. And now that we have a MagicJack we'll have a US phone number so we can make any calls to/from the US at no extra cost. 


Honestly, I'm afraid that putting into words all that I'm thinking and worrying about is just going to stress me out, so maybe I shouldn't. We've gotten everything done and will be ready to leave in a few days. I'm not going to stress out over things that are out of my control, and everything else we'll work itself out in the end. If we have any issues then we'll just cross that bridge when we get there. Moving itself is stressful enough; I don't need to worry myself. 


For now I just need to enjoy my last few days in the States and prepare for the fun adventure ahead of me. I love to be abroad more than anyone else I know (or close to it) so I need to feel excited and not worry because really, I can't wait to be in Brazil! [Oh yeah...and a special thanks to my new friend (really a friend of Renata's and now mine) who is going to take us all around Brasilia once we arrive. Yeah!!!]

Goodbye May. You were swell.

Ahhhhh! 40 something days left until we leave. I remember when we had 4 months left. I can't believe that it's already the last day of May. This month FLEW BY. 


I'm not just ending a stressful school year, but I'm realizing that I won't have much of a summer vacation this year. Turns out I only have about a month. I finish teaching this week, have final exams next week, and then 2 teacher work days to tie up my loose ends and move out of my classroom by the end of the week next week. That means a lot of grading, putting the finishing touches on my students' final exam, grading the exam (but I'm smart - it's multiple choice on scantron), and saying goodbye to my co-workers and students. Then we know what's next....


Once school's out I can focus on our moving preparations "full time" for a month before we leave. I've made my appointments to cancel our services, take care of the cat's business, and we've sold most of what we advertised on-line. That's what takes most of the time and energy and is not fun. Packing and sorting is not a big pain because I get to walk down memory lane as I do it. We also need to take yet another trip to the consulate in Miami and we have a 5-day vacation, if you will, to New York to spend time with my family and friends.


I want to be careful that this post doesn't just turn into a list of what I have to do before we leave. I  was just thinking about how time flew. Maybe it's because it's the last official month of school. I think that's it. My job was tough this year and part of me can't believe that I survived the school. Makes me really think about what my experience will be at a private, international school in Brazil. I've been working at poor, public schools for years and that's what I'm used to. Leaves me wondering how my experience will change in Brazil....how will I cope with teaching students who are more dedicated? Who come from education parents? Who have educated parents? Who really do want to go to college? It makes me anxious. I'm just going to have to be very observant and learn what I can about the school, the students, and the parents beforehand to try and prepare myself. I just know that if I can survive in an environment like where I'm working now, I can make it anywhere. 


It seems simple making the transition from students who fight you when you try to teach to teaching compliant students. I hope that it'll be easy and that I'll be able to modify all of my lesson plans to accommodate my students' needs and the school's expectations. Somehow I believe I will.


Right now I need to get back to grading papers on "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet", Act II, Scene I.

There is no grad school in Brazil

Don't believe everything you read. For example, the title of this post. There are graduate schools and programs in Brazil. A lot. But none for me! I am beyond excited that I will be graduating this semester and that I will never have to do this again - grad school + a stressful job. It's hard. Really hard. (But it was worth it).

It's taking me 2.5 years to finish my Master's since I work full time. I've taken 2 classes a semester and even a class over the summer (for 2 summers) in order to complete my program in the shortest time possible. I was aiming for 2 years, but what's one more semester?

I am feeling a little bit of relief as I begin my final semester at UCF, but at the same time, I have to take my comprehensive exams in April so that means a lot of studying and added pressure because I HAVE to pass them. Which I will. I'm taking a semester long class to prepare me to succeed and I have a number of resources to help me study. And of course, wonderful classmates.

But you see, it's not just graduate school that stresses me out. It's my job. In fact, E called me today after work and when I answered the phone he asked me what was wrong. What was my response? "A mesma merda" (the same sh*t). Different day. It's not necessarily the school or my job, but working in general. You all know. You have a job. Maybe even a stressful job. But in my case I can talk to my husband and we can remind each other that we only have 5 months left. We can put up with our jobs for 5 more months. Can't we? (we ask ourselves)

Don't get me wrong. I love being a teacher. LOVE it. But it's stressful. Public school teaching, especially in Title 1 schools, is not for the faint of heart. I'm strict, and I can be fun (and funny), and my students generally like me, so it does work itself out in the end. But I'm ready for a change, and on that note, I am looking forward to working at a small, private school where education is valued in the homes of the students. I don't want to have to deal with the state dictating every move I make or every decision either.

I am also really looking forward to having some freedom as to what (novels) I can teach and to have smaller classes so I can do more with my students. I'm especially interested in the bilingual aspect of the school, even if I will only be teaching in English. As an Anthropologist (even if just in my mind and on my undergraduate diploma), working at an international school should be fun and I am excited about that.  

Only 5 more months of work and 6 more months in the United States and I'll be there.