"In the Zone"

Greek Architecture project and a project about daily life in ancient Sparta from two of my 6th graders.

Co-worker (and good friend) and I at our first restaurant stop on our blog-quest for "100 adventures in our corner of paradise".

One of the rocky islands near where I went diving last weekend for my 17th and 18th dives since arriving.

I am in the middle of my second quarter at CIPLC. The first quarter was filled with adjustments to my new home and to a new work environment with teaching duties thrown in on top of all that. This quarter I have hit my stride and I finally feel like I am "in the zone".

The kick off moment for this feeling was the halloween haunted house that was created for the PTO Carnival by my the 6th graders and their moms in a mere 7 hours. After that day, we were a team and we were proud of it. Since that weekend, the 6th grade "hypers", as they have named themselves, have been diving into learning and achieving academic success. It is not enough for one of them to get an A on a test, the more hypers who get A's the louder they cheer. Their first concern is for the "hyper team". Often, after I teach my lesson, the floors become littered with sprawling bodies, huddled heads, excited whispers....as they consult and guide each other on their educational journey. It's such a a proud moment for me as a teacher to see their thirst for knowledge grow and become contagious.

In addition to settling into the zone in the classroom, I am settling into the zone as a mentor outside my classroom. Last week I volunteered to take on the yearbook after the previous team of sponsors dispersed for various reasons. Even though I tackled a project that was already 100 days behind schedule, the high school students I know from the fitness class I teach, rallied behind me with manpower and positive energy. After just one week of meetings we have editors, sub editors, a plan, a theme, and ...a goal. It's very rewarding to collaborate on projects like this with students of all ages. Just like my little cheer squad-they continue to make me smile with their pure joy over wearing their uniforms, making up new chants, practicing old chants...and all but two of them are elementary aged. I love it that my "zone" at CIPLC reaches from grades 4-12.

During my spare time, I have found my zone as well. Although I always knew I was a water girl, I never knew how much peace my soul could glean from diving to 40, 50, 60, 70 feet and immersing myself in an underwater world. I have found a new passion in scuba diving. What's more, my dive instructor has become a friend of mine and she has introduced me to other Venezuelan friends of hers who have also become my friends. I have friends....that is the zone I have been longing for to make this really feel like home. These new friends help me with Spanish, hang out with me on weekends, and show me the parts of the city that I have missed.

As soon as our blog "100 adventures in our corner of paradise"is up, I will let you know. That way you can see even more aspects of the this place I call home. Until then.....I hope you enjoy the adventure of life in your corner of paradise!