This Never Gets Old...EVER~!

Kristina Roic

this is a SHOUT OUT TO YOU!

Why?

Cuz you need a little more PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION.

Cheers to that.

(and us getting older together)

SCHOOLS BACK - Blast Off With Drawing on the Tables????

So...why not?

A little drawing on the tables to make connections between

objects and the IB Learner Profile?

WHY NOT!?!

Red is one of the hardest colours to get off...but it DOES (eventually) come off!

Why not also draw concept maps on tables???

Perhaps a concept map of LOOOOOVEEEEE?

I wonder what we can draw on our tables, next week?

Family Time? My Cup NEVER Runneth Over (a.k.a. Not Enough Time)

When living abroad and coming home for the summer... 

It's hard to say good-bye to family when you've 

missed almost a year of their lives.

But it's even HARDER to explain

how much it hurts to see them living their lives without you... 

(And getting on, just fine for that matter)

How many times can you really say "I miss you"

before it starts to lose it's value?

Or even the words "I love you?"

Some moments are never to be forgotten...

While others, definitely are.

Whenever I travel home from overseas, 

I struggle with the idea of 

"coming home" or "moving back to Canada"

to be closer to family.

But when given the chance,

most people take for granted the proximity of family and 

suddenly you don't appreciate 

being home for dinner every Sunday night.

That doesn't happen when living abroad.

Why can't the grass be green on BOTH sides of the fence?

Sigh*

After all this time, 

I still don't know what to do.

So...yeah.

I am still percolating on this matter.

Can Nature Really Hurt or Heal You?

Only two weeks back in Hanoi and 
already I am feeling a difference 
in my body when I run.

This was the view of one of my many runs in Nanaimo this past summer.

Beautiful scenery, 

warm sun (but not too hot),

slight breeze and soft-forest floors for natural padding.

Ahhhhh - life was good.

I felt like running was time where I could 

think,

breath,

and just find some inner peace.

It made running 17 km somewhat enjoyable.

Okay, maybe not that much...

But now?

I face this kind of thick brush, 

jungle life,

and 

overwhelming HEAT! 

Don't believe me?

Although my legs are NOT in the best shape,

those spandex were dry before I started running.

No only are they shiny after 20 minutes 

BUT

those baby's were DRENCHED by the end of the run.

The kind of "uncomfortable" to "impossibly" wet.

Water was absolutely spilling everywhere

which really means I was a red hot mess of sweat.

Ew.

On average, 

the temperature in Vietnam during the month of August is 

around mid to high 30 Celsius.

Add the humidity 

(the humidity is the amount of water in the air)

and it feels closer to 40 degrees.

A wet, hot, hard to breath air = sweaty mess if you ask me. 

So what to do?

Especially when running is a major component to my workout

regime at the moment?

AND

Decided to do this again this year.

So again, what to do?

Some studies now suggest that running in the heat can almost be 

like training at higher altitudes.

Although not the exact same, the effort of running in the heat is

more challenging than no heat at all.

Either way, 

I am trying to be smart and not 

fretting TOO MUCH about just how bloody slow&sluggish 

I feel.

Sigh*

Although I do miss the mountains and the sea breeze of

my Nanaimo runs...my Hanoi sunsets will have to do.

For now.

This Guy - So OLD!!!

Everett Robert Wells, it's your birthday.

Which kinda means, I gotta embarrass you a little?

No?!?

You were my little "Evie" from the beginning.

Which you didn't always love 

because that meant you had to play games like

 "horsie" and "dress-up"

But despite all that trauma, you still grew up loving your older, wiser, gorgeous, etc., sister...

And even came to VISIT her in the Desh!!!

Coffee tasting in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Why?

WHY NOT!?!

And nothing really says "I love you" like a good memory of 

Go-Cart riding with your sister.

Bangladeshi go carts are SUPER safe.

(Only three people were lost that day on the track, including Peter's pride!)

No matter what, you have always been gifted little brother.

Gifted because you were NEVER actually little.

Gifted because whatever you did?

You did it with your own style, your own way...even your OWN special nickname.

"SPI-Daaaah Wells"

Although there were time you copied me, naturally of course!!!

(Clearly you saw me as a hero thus why you copied the amazing-shaggy-mop look from older sis!)

So to sum up?

 Dear Everett,

Happy birthday, I hope you had a wonderful day.

Every year you get older and can't help but think

"Damn it, my little brother keeps getting older 

(which means I am old)

but also

he is gonna be one of those people, a man that I 

will really admire and eventually look up to...

But that is only when you get REALLY OLD!

Until  that day?

You are just my little baby brother.

(Who I might occasionally turn to for advice - BAH-HAHHA!)

Love you,

Lo

Lauren vs. Stress Is A Constant Battle That I Often Lose

I never knew just how stressed-out I could be until I started teaching...

Some would argue

(including myself)

that I have always had the "stress-ball" personality trait. 

Examples?

#1 
Not being able to sleep for months my first year at Tennessee because I was so worried 

about not performing to standards and losing my rowing scholarship.

(Of course, this did not happen. In fact, I was on a full ride after that 

very year because I HAD surpassed my own goals - good girl, Lo)

#2 
Living abroad and not having any money - hah! 

Now that WAS stressful!

I remember being able to only afford chocolate and bread 

for weeks...
And of course, my roommates would make these Suisse meals that
smelt  AMAZING - ugh!

But I had too much pride to ask for a small helping

or show just how hungry I was.

In the end, it all worked out.

I  found a job (my first teaching job actually)

and fell in love with work, which helped me stay overseas longer than expected!

(And it might have helped that I had an awesome man friend at the time

and an amazing rowing club that I adored!)

#3
 Rowing for the National Team. 
As FUN and EXCITING as it was, it stressed the HECK out of me.

From making weight to thinking about the hard workouts to come.

Of course, when you get on the water that all falls to the wayside 
and the thrill of the boat moving was enough for me 
(let alone the INCREDIBLE teammates and coaches that surrounded me)
but 

MAN - OH - MAN

the build up of STRESS that I created - Sheeeesh.

(And in truth, I was never very good at doing one thing at a time so I liked

to work on the side, or volunteer, or take courses at Uni...)

But those were all for GOOD reasons.

Why am I still such a stress-ball?
***
No kids.
No health issues.
No debt.
No rashes...yet.
***

I dunno.

Will get back to you when I know.

Until then...this might be insightful:

I went to the supermarket this morning. I was really hungry.

What do I want for breakfast? Salty? Sweet?

Something light and quick or something filling?

Eggs and toast, maybe with an avocado sliced on top? Bean tacos? A cup of coffee and a hearty cookie? A muffin? Maybe chai and fruit!

I really, really want something, but I don’t know what.

A woman is standing in front of me drinking a chocolate protein drink. I ask her if it’s good.

"It’s the most delicious protein shake I’ve ever had", she says.

I grab one, open it and take a big slug. As a food lover, I never would have thought “I want a protein shake” but it’s creamy and thick and satisfying and I feel like my whole body is thanking me for choosing just what I needed.

This is what life is like.

I don’t know what I want.

Instead of feeling angst about this, which makes me feel inadequate, nervous, fearful, stressed, closed off, I have learned that not knowing what I want is a gift, not a curse.

It keeps me receptive, open and ready to welcome the perfect thing.

Written by: Dushka Zapata

https://www.quora.com/What-is-your-most-memorable-cultural-shock/answer/Dushka-Zapata

To sum up?
(How do I continue to NOT feed this stress-ball personality trait?)

1. Drink coffee.

2. Colour more often.

3. Drink more PINK lemonade 

(both alcoholic and non-alcoholic - HAH!)

Remember to play ~ MUD is a great TOOL for play.

(Just saying)

Or...perhaps just play dress-up more?

(Clearly, I should have been a doctor!)

Did I mention drink a LOT of coffee?
That always helps my DE-stress.

GOOD PLAN LAUREN!

P.S.
Any suggestions, comments, advice, or complaints are welcome!