when i worked as an english teacher at scholastic in shanghai there was one video that the kids always asked for during their break called "changes changes". it featured an annoyingly chipper instrumental and a couple made of wooden blocks. throughout the 15min video this couple travels over land and sea rearranging the blocks to create different landscapes, modes of transportation and ultimately their own home. as annoying as that video was, i feel like our year has been pretty much just that: building, taking apart and remaking our lives. this time last year i was in vancouver, nannying for the most wonderful family, i had just finished my teacher training with no studio experience, i was staying with my parents, on the other side of the world from my husband.
i was so fortunate to start off our time in mexico right away with the opportunity to teach at shala ananda. it was such a blessing to have an income right after moving, since we had nothing lined up. the studio and its owners, brett and diana have been so encouraging and helpful and I've been able to rack up over 100 teaching hours! as opposed to our broken family, missing each other from afar last year, we've been together and even expanded the pack to include our little lupita. I've also been fortunate enough to find a job involving my other passion. the volcanes community education program has been a wonderful blessing in my life and I'm happy everyday that i go to work. to finish off the year we moved from a crowded neighborhood in the outskirts of the city to a beautiful little home only 15mins from school.
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| taking a packing break to practise bird of paradise |
from country to country and city to city and all the different houses and apartments in between, i relate to that wooden block couple, disassembling and rebuilding their surroundings. as stressful as moving is, i appreciate the work it makes you go through. it really makes you analyse whats necessary, what you need and what's important. in all our moves and rebuilding our lives i can see how the blocks may rearrange, but the pieces stay the same.
