Hello there…

I am an adventurous person who enjoys seeing as much of this big, beautiful world as I can.

I keep thinking about my upcoming travel plans. I vacillate between wanting to speed up time so I can be there already and savoring the build up that makes traveling so much more enjoyable when you actually get to go.

I wish I could be more motivated. Lately I’ve been slacking on things that I know I should do and those I want to do.

I love spending time alone and with others, listening to music that stirs my soul, eating delicious food, making plans and being spontaneous, traveling to new locations and revisiting places I’ve been before.

I dance when there’s a beat I can’t resist. I might not have much rhythm, but I bop along anyway.

I sing often when listening to my favorite playlists, but most of the time I lip sync, since I’m usually listening at the gym, while walking, or when riding on the back of a Go-Jek.

I think often about where I see myself in the next few years. I have some ideas, but I’m not really sure. Part of that scares me and part of it excites me.

I really wish I had one more day this weekend. Finding the balance of relaxing and catching up on work/getting ahead is something I struggle with often.

I need to clean out my inbox. If I don’t stay on top of it, it becomes so unruly that I don’t know where to start (like now!).

I should get to the gym more often. My goal is four times per week, but lately I’ve only made it three times a week. I’m going to go today!

I can be silly or serious, sarcastic or straightforward. It all depends on my mood, the situation, and my relationship with the person to whom I’m talking.

I make playlists to match my moods, pancakes on the weekend, plans and lists.

I always request the window seat, pack too much, have lots of snacks, and bring my iPad filled with music, movies and books when I go on a flight.

I really like this format for a slice, especially when I’m not really sure what to write about (like today). This is my fourth attempt at Hello There (see versions one, two, and three), and I like how they are all different, yet contain some of the same themes.

Hello there… #sol18

Hello there…

I am drawn to people who have high energy, are positive, and love to share ideas and stories.

I keep coming up with ideas for how to improve my school, but I don’t take the time to write them down or prioritize them, thus overwhelming me. I intend to gain some focus and clarity around this over the weekend.

I wish I could pause time and just sleep for hours and hours, waking up with boundless energy to tackle my massive to-do list full of exciting projects.

I love waking up without an alarm clock, easing into my day by reading my comments and other slicers’ slices, all the while sitting on my couch looking through the windows at the lush greenery outside while I sip on a cup of hot English Breakfast tea.

I dance along with the students after assemblies as we jam out to really fun music like Kool and the Gang’s Celebration or This is Me from the Greatest Showman soundtrack.

I sing along to almost all of the top hits from the 90’s! Some of my favorites are Ironic by Alanis Morissette, Waterfalls by TLC, Zombie by The Cranberries, Wonderwall by Oasis, and Mambo No. 5 by Lou Bega.

I think about my productivity (or lack thereof) often and continue to reflect on ways to improve it.

I really wonder what it would be like to go back into the classroom after being out for so long. Would I enjoy it or miss my current role? Would I be rusty, or would it all come back like riding a bike? Would I be a better teacher now that I have learned many more teaching strategies and ideas?

I need to decide on my Spring Break plans, seeing as I am leaving in two weeks! Eeek!

I should celebrate my victories more often.

I can see myself as an expat for the foreseeable future. This life suits me and I don’t have any plans to return to the states any time soon.

I make a mean bagel sandwich, which I did for dinner tonight. I wanted to make another, not because I was hungry, but because it was just that good!

I always have more on my to-do list than I have the time or energy to do.

I really like this format for a slice. This is the third time I’ve tried it over the years (click here for my first and second attempts), and I love how different each one is depending on the point in my life and what I’m feeling at the moment. Today I did it without overthinking. Literally the first thing that came into my head was what I wrote down.

Hello There…

Hello There…

I am learning to love me again, to embrace the very me-ness I possess inside, and express myself freely.

I keep secrets, a writer’s notebook, and memories of my travels.

I wish I could travel anywhere and everywhere for a year, with no regard for money (Who wants to sponsor me? haha).

I love mango sticky rice, iced chai tea lattes, pomelo, new books, blogging, sleeping in, goat cheese, dragonfruit, sharing stories, laughing, and filling my passport with stamps.

I dance ridiculously when I’m excited about something, usually making my friends laugh in the process.

I sing along with most songs, regardless of where I am and regardless of my mostly off-key voice. I have this innate gift of being able to pick up a song after hearing it a couple of times. I can’t promise you the lyrics are exactly right, but they’re close enough!

I think often about going back to school for another Master’s, possibly in school counseling or early childhood education. I’m in the research phase at the moment.

I really would like to be able to walk right now without the aide of crutches- hoping my ankle heals quickly!

I need less stuff than I thought I needed a year ago.

I should exercise more than I do, which is something I intend on starting once my ankle is healed.

I can teach preschool, despite thinking that it was something I could never do. And I’m actually pretty good at it, too.

I make a difference in the lives of my students, and they do in mine.

I always put others first; I’m working on that.