twenty ten flashback

Since I'm way too much of a procrastinator to send Christmas cards, I thought a little year review on my blog would be more appropriate. Don't mind the fact that is the last day of 2010 and I am just now getting to this written recollection (even though I've been planning to write it for a weeks now). I work well under pressure. I'm just excited it's not 11:00 tonight and I'm not sitting here trying to type as fast as my little fingers will type. I'm way too cool for that....I obviously have NYE plans and they don't include being on the internet. :) Without further adieu, I present you:

MY YEAR

I started off the year by jumping out of a plane at 14,000 feet in Hawaii. Keith and I spent my winter break on the island of Oahu and soon after Christmas Keith’s brother, Marcus, and Marcus’ girlfriend, Chelsea, joined us for some tropical traveling. Marcus somehow convinced all of us to go skydiving. Keith was quite impartial to the idea since he had plunged out of a plane before but Chelsea and I were not on board AT ALL. I’m still not sure why I did it, but I did. And I am so glad I did. It was an awesome experience. But, I am also confident in saying that I won’t ever do it again.

after jumping out of the plane but before vomiting (it was a bit of a rough ride)

Other highlights of our Hawaiian adventure included hanging out with huge sea turtles, rock climbing, snorkeling, camping in a VW camper van, getting free tickets to the Aloha Bowl, seeing President Obama buy shaved ice at his favorite spot, kayaking in the ocean, and snorkeling for the first time. It was a great way to start off the year.

me, Keith, Chelsea, and Marcus bringing in the new year in Honolulu

February was busy with Keith, Cliff, and me winter camping, snowshoeing, and hiking.

lounging on our snow couch during my first winter camping experience

March brought me my first international trip (if you don’t count our neighbor friend, Canada). Keith has family that lives on the Baja Peninsula in Mexico and I joined him and his brothers down there for a week of spring break amazingness. I loved Mexico and I have so say that it is one place that I’ve visited that I cannot wait to go back to. We slept on a rooftop overlooking the Sea of Cortez, four-wheeled to waterfalls and a lagoon, ate amazing fish tacos, snorkeled with sea lions, took a bus to La Paz where our days consisted of hitting the local beaches, and we finished off the trip by visiting a few more beaches (and bars) and souvenir shopping in Cabo San Lucas.

me with the Benz boys (Marcus on my right, Keith on my left, and Jordan down below)

our entire group the last day in Cabo (friends Chris and Angelina, me, the Benz brothers posing as usual, and Chelsea)

April was full of work and great times in our normal day to day life.

May started out with me running Bloomsday, a local 12k race. It was the second time I participated in Bloomsday but the first time I ran it and I was extremely proud of myself for running 7+ miles without stopping. I like to refer to myself as a ¼ marathon finisher because I’m nerdy like that.

I finished my 4^th year of teaching 2^nd grade in June. The following 3 weeks consisted of preparing for our trip to Africa, which we departed for on June 30^th. I still can’t believe I went to Africa. It was the one place I have always wanted to go since I was small and it helped me realize that I can go anywhere my little heart desires. I can’t wait to tackle my 3^rd continent and eventually venture to all 7. I realized that anyone can travel if they want to badly enough. It all depends on where your priorities are. Sure, I sold a few personal possessions, settled on eating eggs for dinner a few too many times, and skipped out on a few weekend trips in order to save funds, but I made it to and from Africa all in one piece (without selling any organs on the black market). And I wouldn't have wanted to do it without my favorite traveling and life friend, Keith.

July (and much of August) was spent in Tanzania, as you know if you have read my blog before. Summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, hitting the safari trails, and backpacking through Zanzibar were the highlights. Oh, and Cliff turned 1 on July 7^th! While we weren’t here to celebrate with him, I’m sure he had a dandy time.

David (our guide), me, Keith, and our assistant guide at the summit of Kili

with a group of kids on a beach in Zanzibar (before they attacked me when I tried to give them stickers)

August in the United States meant trying to cram a Coeur d'Alene summer into a few short weeks. We met my family for a few days of camping in central Idaho. It was fun to catch up and get at least one camping trip in (it's a bit different spending 7 weeks of your summer in a sleeping bag compared to actual camping in the coniferous forest). We also decided that we needed a new mode of transportation. When we flew back across the pond in mid August, we were convinced from our travels that investing in a scooter was necessary. So, we bought the cutest little Yamaha scooter with red flames. Thank you craigslist. It doesn’t go above 30 and it sounds like a weed eater going down the street but I love it.

my fam on the steps of our cabin we camped in

We went on our annual raft trip with Keith’s shift from the fire department over Labor Day weekend. Every year they go to Riggins to raft the Salmon River and I have been lucky enough to have been invited for the last two years. It is a great time had by all and I can attest that the Riggins night life is more exciting than it looks. September also meant the beginning of another school year was upon me. I am very lucky to work with a great staff and I truly love my job. As I've mentioned, I have a great class this year and they make me happy every day. These little guys are a great little bunch.

me with my friend Kim rafting the Salmon

In October, Keith and I decided to start lightly remodeling the house. Keith has lived in this house for 8 years with many different 20 something men and when I moved in last year we were both ready for a bit of the bachelor pad to leave (some of us may have been more ready than others *cough*). With a house full of white walls and 10 year old carpet, we got busy adding our own bit of character. We removed the carpet from all three bedrooms and added wood laminate flooring. Then Keith made one of the spare rooms his “adventure” room to store all of his (and a bit of my) gear in: mountaineering gear, climbing gear, skiis, sleeping bags, tents, backpacks, et cetera. He painted the walls slate grey and one accent wall is brick red. I decorated the other spare room and I painted the walls chocolate brown (it looks good for those doubters out there) and have plans to add white and green accents and a light tan/cream sofa bed. Right now, it’s just our cute brown pup sleeping in his cute brown room. Our bedroom has darker laminate floors and we painted 3 walls khaki and one wall dark teal. We were going for an ocean idea and I think we succeeded. Even if it wasn’t a success, it’s staying that way for a bit. Painting is overrated. Next on our list this spring will be tiling the dining room and kitchen, new carpet in the living room, and painting the living room, dining room, and kitchen. We may be hiring out for the paint job….

I welcomed turning 28 in November and successfully threw myself 3 birthday parties. What can I say, I love holidays. We spent Thanksgiving at Keith’s parents’ house since the roads were too crummy to travel to see my family in Kamiah. Kevin and Maureen are great about welcoming me to all of the family holidays and I’m very lucky to have such great boyfriend-in-laws.

I finished my 2^nd to last semester of graduate school in December and am preparing to graduate in May with my Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. I was very ready for my winter break. Keith and I spent time with both families and have been putting our season passes to use and skiing as much as we can (he more than I since he only works 10 days a month...). My winter break has also been full of spending time with good friends, sleeping in, and training for my 1/2 marathon coming up.

my mom, sister, and I with over Christmas with our new shirts :)

I’m excited for 2011 and what it has to throw my way. I have 50 days until my ½ marathon in Austin, Texas, only 5 months until I graduate, and a summer full of semi-local travel plans is on the horizon. It will be a great year.

my next adventure

Never fear, blog fans....I'm back! I figured since this is essentially my diary, I better take better care of her and update her more often.

So, what has been going on in my life since we left off in Africa? Well, see the post below for some of my thoughts post-Africa. It is very difficult to explain my thoughts but I know that I must write them down before I forget them all together. I just wish that I could explain the affect that my African trip had on me to those outside of my brain. Ho hum...maybe someday.

A recap of my few months... Keith and I returned from Africa to quickly depart again on a raft trip on the Salmon River near Riggins, Idaho. I don't know why I feel the need to add 'Idaho'. As if anyone reading this isn't familiar. Maybe I have some fans out there besides my mum and pops. Anyway, it is an annual trip taken by Keith's shift at work and their significant others. Good times, for sure!


Soon after, a new school year began for me and life has been pretty busy and normal since then. I love my class this year. Some years they are just good, other years they are great. This is a great year. I am ready to graduate with my Master's in the spring...well, technically, I'm not ready as I have mmmmuch still to do. But, I will be ready by then. Keith and I went camping with my family in September and took a family photo. :)


In other news, I turned 28 last week! I LOVE my birthday and am oh so lucky to be celebrating a 28th one. Yay life!

As for my next adventure, I'm officially signed up to run a 1/2 marathon in Austin, Texas on February 20th. Yikes. I'm excited for the challenge but nervous as I've never ran more than 7 consecutive miles. I was so proud of myself when I finished Bloomsday last year (a local 12k, for those of my fans not from these parts) that I decided that I could do a 1/2. I'll let you know how great of an idea this is say, February 19th. With a little less than 12 weeks to train and a good month of enjoying eggnog and not running, I definitely have my work cut out for me. Thanks to a boyfriend that bought me a new pair of running kicks, I'm ready to get back onto the running wagon......yeehaw.


For those of you wanting to join me under that little yellow star in a few months, I am currently accepting applications. Apply within.

life in America, post-Africa

A summary of my thoughts in life post-Africa....

*not a Leach creation

So, we've been back now for almost 4 months. When I really think about it, it seems crazy that I was in Africa 4 months ago. Life is just chugging along here in Idaho. I think about Africa more than I thought I would. I often feel grateful for my luxuries and feel guilty for them, as well. I can't wait to share all of my knowledge and artifacts with my students. I have told them about how I traveled there but I haven't delved into it as much as I would like. I am busy (!!!) at work and with my Master's so I haven't had the time to organize photos and plan any lessons. I can't wait to show them my pictures. The town where I teach is tiny and has a large poverty population (in America's standards). Many of my students have not been out of the area or experienced anything but rural-Idaho. If anything, I hope I can teach my students about the world and the people of the world, even if they don't have the ability to experience it first hand. More education, less ignorance. That's my goal.

Speaking of ignorance, there is a house a few blocks from where we live inhabited by proud Aryan Nation supporters. Their garage door is always open with white power flags, confederate flags, etc. The other day Keith drove by to see a snowman in their front yard with a pointed head resembling a KKK hood. I kid you not. It disgusts me, enrages me, and saddens me. I so badly want to instantly transplant them to Tanzania and see how life would change for them. Too bad I don't have the power to do so. I understand how people have different beliefs, but really? How can people be so ignorant and hateful? The lack of diversity and the few Aryan Nation supporters that live in North Idaho are my main complaint about living here. I love living in Coeur d'Alene, otherwise. These people make me even more grateful that I have had the experience to travel nationally and internationally and experience cultures outside of the Pacific Northwest.

I think often about what life is like outside of the United States. I have an even stronger desire to travel now. Americans are often in a delusional bubble. The current headlines are complaints of being patted down inappropriately in airports. Aren't there larger concerns going on? We fight over TSA security, but complain that nothing was done when terrorists slip through the cracks. It confuses me. It exhausts me. Don't get me wrong, I love America. But, I also love the freedom and education that traveling has given me. My one international trip has teased me and I can't wait to travel internationally again. Too bad I have to work 9 months out of the year. :)

So, what's next you might ask? Well, this summer will be full of traveling nationally. Since Keith and I missed the entire summer here last year, I can't wait to take small trips around the area in 2011. My next international trip? Maybe Europe. Maybe Asia. I'm unsure. That will probably happen in twenty-twelve. For now, I'm living vicariously through Keith who will be traveling to Australia this coming spring. No one told me I should be a firefighter instead of a teacher. The dude works only 10 days a month.

I leave you with a picture of a school in Tanzania. All the schools looked exactly like this...no windows, no books, minimal furniture, chickens roaming. I am thankful for where I teach and the resources I have, but I also am envious of the simplicity of these schools at the same time. Is that weird? Probably.



I soon realized how the teachers in Tanzania deal with the minimal resources, lack of funds, and roosters roaming their classrooms:



And it all makes sense...