All posts by Rebecca Michelle

Educator, traveler, reader, blogger. Loves learning, black coffee, and friendly people.
On My Mind

Thanks for the Memories

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Mitch and I are now back in the US and we’re trying to figure out our next steps. In the meantime, I’ve been thinking a lot about the positive aspects of my experience in Malaysia. I have learned a lot, befriended inspiring people, expanded my taste buds, and stretched my mind. Along those lines, I am grateful for (in no particular order):

  • the people I met who kept me grounded, taught me about traveling, and were always up for trying something new
  • finding the courage within myself to seek out experiences I never imagined I could or would have
  • my family and friends from home who supported me through phone calls, emails, text messages, comments on this blog, and updates on Facebook
  • the friends I made in Malaysia for being there all hours of all days, bringing me out of my comfort zone, and helping me become wiser, stronger, and braver than I thought I could be
  • the travels that I had all over Southeast Asia
  • learning about different people, places, and cultures
  • the food I grew to love, like curry mee, laksa, Chinese vegetable curry, and Indian food of all varieties
  • learning to play badminton
  • my students for knowingly and unknowingly bringing a smile to my face every day with their inquisitiveness, curiosities, excitement for learning, and positive energy
  • my boyfriend, for supporting my desire to teach overseas, talking me off multiple cliffs, traveling all over with me, and never wavering in his affection (I love you, too)

Lesson learned: Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy. Ms. Frizzle was right all along.

On My Mind

Silence Explained

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It has been a couple weeks since I’ve written and I wanted to explain that.

I’m at a crossroads. Dante took the road less traveled, but I’m still trying to figure out which road is best for me. I have two choices right now. One is to move to Singapore and work there next school year (and yes, I have a teaching job waiting). The other is to move back home and look for a job there.

Upsides
The upside of moving to Singapore is that I’m already familiar with it, love it, and would be able to continue my Southeast Asian travels. The upside of moving home is that I’m already familiar with it, love it, and would be with friends and family.

Downsides
The downside of moving to Singapore is that Mitch is probably going to be working back in the US. The downside of moving home is that Mitch is probably not going to get a job in Rochester and I probably will . . . and that will probably happen before Mitch figures out where he’s going to be working and living.

I don’t know what to do. I’ve been thinking about it almost constantly and I haven’t done much else.

So, my silence explained. I’ll get back to you when I have a decision made and more to say!

Education, On My Mind

Thank a Teacher

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A pretty rose

Friday was Teachers Day at school and I walked away with 14 roses, a purse, a mug full of candy, several cards, and a slew of “thanks for everything” and “we love you” messages on my board.

My students, adorably, wanted to know if there’s a Students Day. I had to laugh when I told them that every day is Students Day.

Teachers Day, or Teacher Appreciation Day, always makes me think about what I’ve learned and from whom. Most people have had the honor and the pleasure of teaching someone else, formally or informally, recognized or unrecognized. Teachers aren’t always the people in our classrooms; often, they’re people in the “real world” of our lives. I truly believe that each person has something to offer and something to teach. As life-long learners, which I think everyone is and should strive to be, I hope we have the capacity to seek out individual strengths and learn from them.

For example, if you can read this, you are proving that your school teachers, home teachers, and world teachers taught you the most important of skills – how to read. It took more than one person, more than one day, and more than one experience for you to read your name, read a book, read a news article, read this post.

If you can read this, thank a teacher.

Another pretty rose