Another Ending

Today was my last day of teaching violin here in Canada after 10 years. It was a day of mixed emotions that stirred many meories from two years ago.

Two years ago I was twirling around on a swing in a park after year end violin recital picnic with my violin students and their families. Everyone had left so I was all alone with my thoughts. I remember feeling deep sadness. I loved teaching violin. All the families I taught were fantastic but it was time to move into the next part of life-finishing my teaching degree. Even though I was excited to go back to school I questioned if this was the right decision. Music was my life. I had been teaching some of these violin students since they were little ones and now they were entering their teen years. I had poured my heart and soul into these students and now it was time to let go of many of them. While sitting on that swing I learned that letting go can be really really hard.

During my teaching practicums I was positive that it wouldn't be hard at all to leave and let go. I told myself that it would get easier every time but at the end of the practicum I would realize it's still not getting any easier. I still feel sad. Sometimes I am envious of people who are able to separate themselves and not get attached to their students but in other ways I know that I won't be like that no matter how hard I try. That's why today is hard for me.

I am so glad I get to live out my dream and teach. My job is the best in the world as I have the privilege of watching little people grow and learn. But they are not the only ones learning. Even though I am the one teaching I still learn from every one of my students. I have learned so much from every single one of them.

And for that I must say 'Thank you'. Thank you to all my violin students. You are all amazing and you have helped me become a better teacher. And it must be said as well thank you parents. Without you none of this would be possible. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you...

Grad & Goals

In my grade 7 Grad writeup I penned one Future Goal: to graduate from university. I decided that I would be a teacher when I was 10 and had already looked into what I would have to do to become one, so this is where this goal was born.

Seven years after starting into the post-secondary world it is finished! I graduated with my B.Ed in hand today at 3:00. While walking into the gym where they have the ceremony I felt a tear trickle from the corner of eye because I had finally made it. I could have finished my degree sooner but I took a year off after high school to be sure of what I wanted to do. Then once I entered university I decided to only take 4 classes instead of the normal 5 per semester so I could continue to teach violin on the side while going to school. It was a good choice for me that led to me taking a year off in between my arts courses and the education program. This is why 7 years later I am finally finished.

I have learned much both in school and out but am looking forward to the next chapter in life where I get to teach in my own classroom...

Here are a few things I have learned from university
-All-nighters are not fun especially when spent on English papers due at 8:30 the next morning
-Profs can make or break an interest in a certain subject
-Taking a three hour class in the evening after a full day of classes from someone who is extremely monotone should be considered a form of torture
-When taking classes that are exceptionally boring remember to file the experience away in the how not to teach category in my brain
-Having an excellent proof reader is a HUGE asset during essay season (Thank you Daniel, Dad and Lenna)
-Waiting to do projects or papers until the last minute stresses out me AND the proofreader
-The library has DVD's you can rent when your brain feels to overwhelmed to study
-It is not wise to rent more than 5 DVD's a day before a final exam worth more than 60% of your mark
-Park at the mall and take the bus to school. You will save tons on parking!
-When riding the bus to school read your text book right before class. It will help you during class discussions and make you sound really knowledgeable
-Popcorn can make for a great dinner if projects are due at midnight
-The best way to learn a language is through immersion
-Too much stress will cause you to get sick more often
-I won't get sick during school usually but almost always get sick during holiday time or long weekends :P
-A strong support group makes all the difference!

Things that I am looking Forward too

So with the last post ending on a bit of sad note I am going to pick things up by talking about things I am looking forward too when arriving in Africa.

-The excitement that comes with bartering
-Conversing in French (meaning my speaking skills would have to improve)
-Learning how to drive a Moto
-Finding postcards to send home to family and friends
-The warm weather (average 32 degress Celsius)
-Living near the ocean
-Eating lobster and crab on a regular basis
-Getting to teach in a classroom
-Eating ripened papayas right off the tree
-Getting to teach music
-Exploring a different place every few weekends or during the holidays
-Meeting new people & making new friends
-The long growing season which will enable us to get into gardening
-The slower pace of life
-Getting to go to a village (or 10) again
-Kids being everywhere
-Spending time with D (here because of work it seems we have very different schedules quite often)
-The smell (some people can't stand it but there is something familiar about it)
-Learning how to play the drums better
-Getting to wear bright coloured clothing all the time (I know I could do that here but its not quite the same)
-The potential for traveling
-Having a 3 bedroom villa to call home
-Getting care packages in the mail :)
-Seeing all the amazing projects D will get to be a part of
-Wearing my new clothes that have been packed away in my suitcase until I get to Togo

Those are just a few I can think of right now. I will add more as time goes on.

Things that will be Missed

D started making a photo album on facebook called 'Reminders.' The album is full of a series of pictures that remind us of what we are going to miss from here in Canada. I won't attach the pictures here but will just list off a few of the big ones:

-Meeting up with friends
-Long chat with Opa
-Visiting various coffee shops the small town ones and the bigger names too
-Certain fruit/veggies- cherries, plums, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, nectarines, peaches, apricots, apples, asparagus
-Being a pretty close drive away from family
-Cheeseburgers
-Small group meetings on Thursday
-Sub sandwiches
-German Potlucks at church
-Symphony concerts
-Libraries full of English books
-Tea with the omas
-Family birthday parties
-Teacher resource stores or the 50% off Scholastic days
-The beautiful beaches with water that is swim-able
-Red licorice
-Tobey the dog
-Tommy the cat
-The little black Honda
-My Chevy cavalier
-Purdy's cream eggs (only available during Easter)
-Ice cream sundaes from DQ
-Fast & steady internet connections
-The times spent at the cabin on the lake
-2nd hand stores
-Weekend getaways with the brothers and sisters
-Snowshoeing
-Drinking water straight from a tap or water fountain
-Garage sales
-Birthday dinners at Kelly O's

Lists

Right now on our fridge sits a large poster paper detailing all the things that need to be done before we leave. The list grows longer by the day and a part of me worries about finding time to get everything done.

I came across a website online that broke down week to week of what should happen if you are planning an international move. Right now looks something like this:

• Organize, sort, sell, pack or throw out items that you will not be taking overseas.

We had a garage sale last weekend to sell most of our furniture and items we were not using or going to be needing for much longer. The house looks like a hurricane went through it a now we are sorting everything from inside out. It is a long arduous process. We need to have everything organized by June 10 as we have a Goodbye/Grad Party here on the 12.

• Give the house a good thorough cleaning so that when D moves out it isn't as tedious a chore.
  

• Take care of all the necessary paperwork (passports, banking, billing, cellphones, cars, etc.)
  

• Spend as much time with family and friends as possible before leaving. Get those family projects done and clean out room at the parents house.

• Purchase items needed for time away. Get packing materials together.
  

• Observe various teacher teaching to get ideas to bring to Togo.
  

This is a sample of the list. It looks quite short as all of it appears quite vague in reality it is taking up an entire poster board and then some. I love checking things off and will admit that if I do something for Togo that is not on the list I will add it to the list just so I can see another check mark and feel slightly more at ease.

Blogs and Books

Just finished reading a book called Letters from Togo even though it was written back in 1983-1984 reading it brought me back to Africa. I enjoyed the descriptions of life in Lome from the perspectives of an expat university professor from North America. The whole book can be found at this link below. I didn't find out if the author ever returned to Togo after 1991 as she passed away last year.
Letters from Togo

I have been reading quite a bit these days trying to glean as much information as I can on Lome and the rest of Togo. I have also been following a number of bloggers all around Togo. Some are working with missions organizations, others are working for NGO's, a few from the peace corp and several international teachers. I was talking with D about having a blog party once we get to Togo. The party would sort of be a thank you for those people out there who blog about daily life and living that I can read up on before I get there.

Lome, Togo

Here are two maps to help answer the questions where on earth is Togo and what city are you moving to again?

The purple rectangle outline where Togo is located on the African continent. The red star shows you what city we will be residing in during out time in Togo.

And the answer is...

Yes!

We accepted the position in Lome, Togo. I just signed the paperwork on Thursday. Did you know that there is only 104 days before I need to be on the ground in Lome, Togo? That is very soon. Just over 3 months to completely pack up life, get paperwork in order, visit with people, observe other teachers teach, have a garage sale, say goodbye etc. Crazy!

What I don't get done D will be able to finish as he will be staying until the beginning of October to wrap up things with work.

Togo here we come!