Tradition

Our current boss started a new going away tradition this year and had colleagues write poems about each other as a sending off. We read them aloud and laughed at them before each of us opened our gifts. Most of them were humorous and definitely demonstrated a prolific use of rhyme.

But what do you say when someone who has known you for less than a year writes something like this about you?

A Juggling Act

As a mother she is always equipped
with barely-bald baby Harrison
hanging contently in her pouch
And crazy Calvin charming the masses
by impersonating a friendly doggy
while wearing his imaginary headphones
The matriarch of her pack
leading her boys
to their next adventure

As a friend she is considerate
constantly searching for the
excellence embedded in all of us
Giggling in appreciation at our
idiosyncracies
and embracing our individuality
A gatherer of strangers
Befriending all
who pass through her threshold

As a teacher she is on point
Breaking through language barriers
to inspire creativity and innovation
In the tongue-tied Turkish students
who grasp for the nuggets of knowledge
that she openly extends towards their reach
A natural-born teacher
Connecting content and culture
To equally access the students in her class

As a colleague she will be missed
Her chair will remain empty
Irreplaceable
Holding her place
and wishing her well in her future home.

I am thinking I should keep this person around in case I need a pep talk. This poem will keep my self-esteem running for at least 10 more months.

Poor Boy

Look at the loneliness in this photograph. Usually the tears are a bit of melodrama - like the boy who cried wolf - this time T. Cal had a cut on his hand that probably could have used a band aid.

I must be a "Bad Mother" by Ayelet Waldman.

Sprung

 

I love being outside when things look like this.

Happy Easter

Permissions

T. Cal will have his first field trip tomorrow. I got the notice on Monday when he came home from school. It is toy week at Kreş, so they are going to the Toy Museum.

I looked at the permission slip and signed it, but as I was signing it, it felt strange. Who am I to decide it is safe for him to go? Was I supposed to forge my mom's signature or ask someone if it was okay that he go?

I guess not. I guess I am that person now. I guess I should expect him to learn to forge my signature now.

I am still not sure, so I am going as a chaperon.

IS Beauty

The beauty of International Schools is the great travel advice right at our fingertips.

I went to a neighbor's house tonight and we stared at a huge google maps-like aerial photograph of Rome on his wall and he told me stories about walking his dog to the Trevi Fountain at 5 in the morning and walking to work past the Colloseum each day. He told me about the Trastevere neighborhood and that it is very quiet and tame during the day, but at night all the restaurants just open up and the best part of Italy is its people eating. He told me he thinks the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are overrated and that he would not go to them (don't worry, we are still going). He told me about thin crusted pizza that we might not like. I asked him if it was the kind you fold, he said yes, and I said -- we know that kind and we will fold it and consume it.

He lived in Italy for 8 yrs.

You cannot get better advice about travel than this. Thanks to great friends who have lived all over the world and who love to travel every break they get.