Do You Peru?

This is a trip I have been wanting to do for years.  Three years ago, I had it all planned out, where I wanted to go, how I would get there.  I decided to spend the money on college hours instead to increase my paycheck.  I don't regret that decision since now the school district is no longer paying people more to get college hours.  Two years ago the opportunity to participate in the Japan World Taigi Competition came up and Peru plans were again put on hold.  Last year, I moved into my house, and that took care of any extra money I might have had for travel.  

Fooling around on the internet, I found a GAP tour that had my EXACT same itinerary that I had planned two years ago.  Hike into Colca Canyon to see the condors, fly over the Nazca lines, and finally hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.  The trip is full-on adventure, and it will require me to get into shape for 8-hour trekking at over 10,000 feet.  One thing I have learned about myself is that I am a sea-level dweller, a flatlander.  I don't do well at high altitudes.  I will need all the help I can get acclimating.  

I am usually all about doing it all myself.  The idea of joining an arranged tour takes a bit away from the experience of immersing myself into a new culture.  The advantage of group travel is that all the arrangements are taken care of and all I need to do is show up.  Usually the group is composed of interesting people from all over the world, like Europe and the UK.  I am totally leaning toward the group experience.  In fact, I came pretty close to booking it tonight, but I never jump at the first chance.  I need to ruminate a bit.  I can always arrange to show up in the country a few days early or stay later if I really want the cultural immersion experience.  I totally need to put my Spanish back to good use.  Sure, I use it every day teaching it, but it is not the same as using it for survival and navigation in a foreign country.  

Spanish 1 is the Wash, Spanish 2 is the Dry

I have been writing my lessons this way since the start of my career many years ago.  I would tote my teacher editions and folders in my laundry basket along with the week's laundry.  The first laundromat I enjoyed this way was Duds 'n' Suds.  I really missed them after they went away.  At any rate, Spanish 1 was the wash cycle, Spanish 2 was the dry.  I have done this at the laundry facilities at my apartment complex, as well.  I began to prefer the machines at the laundromat by Conroy's.  I could bring my laptop, not having to tote teacher's editions anymore.  With their free wifi, I could even log onto the school's network and access my grade book if I so desired.  

Today while doing laundry at home, it is still Spanish 1 for the wash, Spanish 2 for the dry.  Of course, I do spend more time than just this preparing lessons throughout the week, but writing the basic plan has worked like this for me.  

Turns out my Department Chair was serious about giving me a Spanish 4 class for next year.  She says she wants to go back and teach Spanish 1.  A part of me wonders why she wants to unload it.  There is more challenge, to be sure, and TONS more to grade.  The expectations are higher and the class is taught mostly in Spanish.  The tradeoff is that the students WANT to be there!  I have not had a class of students who really want to learn the language, like, ever!

I am really starting to feel comfortable in my Spanish 1 and 2 mode.  It's all I have done for years except for the 3-4 years I got to teach Spanish 3.  I love working with the other Spanish 1 and 2 teachers.  We are really good at trading ideas and enhancing the ones we get from each other.  Plus, it is getting easier to open a folder (on my computer now, not so much in the file cabinet) and know just what to do with the material that is coming up. 

This change in levels requires more thought.  Travel to a Spanish-speaking country is practically required now.  It's funny, now that the opportunity is staring me in the face, I am not so sure I want it anymore.  I suppose I could try it for a year and see.  I don't know.  Dry cycle is almost over.