moving!

I have officially moved my blog to: http://cookcolleen.wordpress.com.

Check it out there!

nerves

I learned a new appreciation for teachers today. On my first day here in Monterrey, Samuel suggested that I teach an English class while I'm here to get some practice and some experience. I was a little hesitant because I can be pretty socially awkward if I'm nervous and teaching a class to a bunch of people I've never met makes me nervous. So, yesterday, we planned out a lesson for me to do -- saludos (greetings), questions like where are you from, etc., and body parts (for which Samuel created the body of man, that looked more like a monkey with dagger arms, on Microsoft Word). Today, I stood in front of about 25 students and taught the class. And it was actually pretty fun! I wanted to throw up beforehand, but as soon as I started talking, I became more comfortable. I just realized when I was up there how hard it must be for teachers, especially substitute teachers, to try to gain the approval of the class, while also teaching them something valuable.

5 days until I'm headed home to North Carolina! I think this may be the first (perhaps, only) time that I've ever been excited about going home from Mexico. Not that I want to leave necessarily, but I think my "travel time" for this year is running out, and I'm ready to be settled and catch up with my friends and family.