Let The Blogging Begin....

Way too long….

Administrator — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:17:35 +0000

Wow, it has been awhile since I wrote anything on here… don’t know why I took such a long break. One reason might be that there wasn’t much to post on in the past while. Since the last post I finished off my fourth year teaching in China, went home for the summer where I did my usual routine of drinking coffee’s every morning and hanging out with Jillian in her mom’s backyard, and then returned to China at for year five.

I am thinking this might be my last year of teaching at this school and am looking for places to go next. Top of the list right now is somewhere in Europe… which makes the list quite long actually. I am looking for a little guidance/suggestions as to where my next place of residence should be… any thoughts?

I will try to keep this blog somewhat updated from now on… just need to make it part of my routine again.

If there is anyone out there who is still checking this blog with the faint hope that one day I might post again… thank you for that.

The After Party

Administrator — Mon, 25 May 2009 22:33:28 +0000

Every year the students and male teachers finish off the Dong Bei tournament on a Friday and that night everyone and anyone is welcome to go to the after party. It was good times as usual… and a little more tame than usual too… which was good. I was not really in a condition to take any pics that were A. all that good or B. appropriate to post (haha) so here are a few that made the cut for, being deemed appropriate for all audiences ;)

Another year down…

Administrator — Sat, 23 May 2009 01:46:17 +0000

I mentioned the hockey tournament at our school in a previous post known as Dong Bei. We just had the final games this week and the big party last night to close out another year of this fantastic hockey tournament.

For the women’s side of things it was The Blu Renegades pitted against The Red Scarlets.

I wasn’t too sure about the match up initially, but it proved to be a great battle. The blue team came out on top after 3 games: 4-2, 5-5, and 4-3.

I don’t think we could have asked for a better three games. The weather was perfect, the intensity was high, and the skill level was at its best. Every year the skill increases making it a better game… I am thankful that there are so many women here who love the game as much as I do and that we are able to have this tournament… it is something to look forward to at the beginning of each year.

I am so proud of the progress and teamwork that my team displayed over the course of the past month in practicing, preparing, and playing. I had so much fun with them and although we didn’t win the tournament, we definitely made team blue work for it.

It is ridiculous how much I love playing this game…

The Pre-Game talk…

“The Wall” - Susan Colorado… I peppered her with shots all tournament and she only gave up 4… I thought maybe with our friendship and all she would let a few more sneak through… but when you got this kind of skill, it is hard not to use it…

The count down continues…

Administrator — Sat, 23 May 2009 00:44:39 +0000

As time winds down in the school year there is a mixture of feelings: a healthy helping of excitement, a good dose of anticipation and a little dollop of sadness on top.

At this time of year there is ALWAYS something to do… and every weekend there is something going on… whether it be grad, dong bei, a birthday party… there is certainly never a shortage to choose from. These activities serve a dual purpose… they help time pass faster, but they also allow for some good quality time to be spent with the people you work with day in and day out.

It is actually surprising to me how we coexist all year round in such tight quarters; we work together, compete against each other, party together and hang out with each other… it is definitely not happy times everyday… we all have our moments… but on the whole we manage to bring out the best in each other whether that be in work or play.

With time moving faster there is the knowledge that our flight home gets that much closer with every day that passes… and although this is a great day in our lives here… there is also the knowledge that some of those who we have become so close to, do not return on the flight back.

One of the people not returning on the flight this year is Bobbi. Although we didn’t really get off to the best start in my first year at Maple Leaf, I slowly wore her down and after four years here I am thankful to call her a friend. She motivates me not only in work but also in life in general. She is that tiny voice that helps me make smarter choices, she is that guiding influence that has made me a better teacher and she is that friend who has made me a better person.

I will miss her energy, smile, laughter, and advice next year.

Love you tons.

Newest photo shop project…

Administrator — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:36:02 +0000

My sister sent me some pics the other day asking if I would photo shop them a bit so that I could put her and her friends face onto the picture below. So I fiddled around a bit and here is the finished product. Anyone know who they were before?!

Out of the archives…

Administrator — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 07:11:35 +0000

Was searching through/organizing some of my files the other night and came across this poem that I wrote in 2005 while I was traveling through Bangkok. Once in awhile I am inspired to write a poem… and this was one of those moments.

A Juxtaposed Culture

The movements show a lifetime of perfected efficiency;
A well seasoned goldenness invoking the essences of time
Few words are spoken for few are needed
A nod of the head; appreciation on both parts
Against the backdrop of western infiltration lays a simple smile;
A simple life
Amid the steady movement stands a silence tasted.

Across the street lies excess in all its grandeur
An abyss of visual stimulus displays rapture in its many forms
And one finds them self thrust deeper and deeper,
Flirting with the numerous levels of sin found within.
Alas, amongst the extravagance
A choice is made.

With expectations that will never be met
I watch while others search for contentment and satisfaction.
If it is found, there demeanor does not betray them
Once desire is consumed, they are left in a trance like state,
Only triggered back to reality after a few seconds
By the realization that it is all over.

And so, among the clashing of cultures
A courtship emerges;
Where the lasting impression of the foreplay,
Leads to a consummation of decadence.

Bangkok 01.05

7-UP

Administrator — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:13:45 +0000

The citrus soda 7-UP was created in 1929; “7″ was selected because the original containers were 7 ounces. “UP” indicated the direction of the bubbles.

Clans of long ago that wanted to get rid of unwanted people without killing them used to burn their houses down — hence the expression “to get fired”

It has begun…

Administrator — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:58:00 +0000

One of my favourite times of the year… the sun is starting to shine more brightly, the near death green colour of the trees is starting to see more life, and the hockey sticks make their out of the closets and onto the court. Dong Bei has begun. The weather has not been very kind (as it seems to be every year around this time) and prevents us from playing every now and again… but we have some hard core ladies here who are willing to head out on weekends and stay late after school to get a good run around in and play their hearts out.

This year we have The Red Scarlets captained by Shannon Hawkey pitted against The Blue Renegades with Susan Colorado at the helm. We have played one game already with team blue coming out on top 4-1. Our three game series starts on the 11th and I can’t wait…

Here are some pics from the draft night (when we found out whose team we were on) and the first game.

The Red Scarlets

Pre-game faces…

Dong Bei

Administrator — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:04:48 +0000

I remember in the spring of my first year at Maple Leaf School I started hearing the murmurs of a hockey tournament known simply as: “Dong Bei” (meaning North East - since that is where we are in China). I quickly became aware of the culture, dedication, determination, competition and passion that went into this tournament at our school. This competition takes over not only our school, but our community for a good half the year with talks of players and teams beginning sometime in October, if not earlier… and progressively builds in fervor until May when the tournament officially begins. Its originator is none other than Commission E himself, Craig Engleson… he has been the man behind the wheel of this endeavor and it has grown to include student and women’s teams as well.

Loving all things active and competitive, I knew that I had to be a part of it… in my first year here and year’s since, including the present one, two female teams battle it out for the bragging rights of champion. It is great being able to get out there and release some energy, rough it up a bit and just have some fun. It is definitely one of those things that I will miss when my time in Dalian comes to an end… (still have one more year in me here for those of you wondering).

Here are some pics of years previous… can’t wait to post up some new ones from this year’s showing…

Year One:

Year Two:

Susan practicing her positioning on the court… haha…

M.I.A

Administrator — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 14:47:18 +0000

I have been off the grid a little lately due to circumstances at work. Took on an extra class which has rendered me to a life of all work and no play… well, I do manage to still get in a little play, but not the kinda that would allow me to sit down, upload some pics, and type out a little blurb… until tonight that is…

This is kind of what I have felt like lately:

Okay, that might be a “bit” of an exaggeration, but you get my point… as my wise friend stated last night: “There is a reason you are not supposed to teach this many classes at once… ” I am not liking the teacher I am becoming right now, it has been two weeks of me progressively getting more impatient and snappy… it is not good for me or my students and it is getting out of control. One more week and then it will be back to my normal work day. I can’t wait!!!