Category Archive

I’m going to begin writing and producing a documentary; my first one in fact. It will be about one of the most important issues in any country.  It will be about EDUCATION.  And I know it sounds a tad bit arrogant to say that, since I’m a teacher and all.  It’s kind of like saying English, or the teaching of languages, is the most important subject since it’s the subject I teach, but this is different. If you look at any society and the way its people are, you can trace it back to the way in which they became educated. How we behave, how we come to view ourselves, the people we interact with, the facts and information we gain about the world, and what we’re able to do, or not do, all comes back to our education. To our parents’ educations. To their parents’.  And, of course, to our teachers’ educations.

So here’s the rub: I want…no I will…and I’m going to create a documentary about the different educational systems around the world. The objective is simple: I’m going to compare and contrast the way different countries on different continents educate their children and then explain how this impacts their society.

For example, in the U.S. there is an insane amount of emphasis placed on testing and accountability; not so much on creativity and analytical thinking. This, in turn, does impact the society. You create people who don’t question things as freely; people who feel as though they’re constantly being “watched over” by someone; people who, at the end of the day, comply to your demands. Sit in your seat and work, or I’ll fail you. Sit in your cubicle and work, or I’ll fire you. The teacher is in charge, do what he says. The boss is in charge, do what she says. “BUY THIS PRODUCT IF YOU WANT TO BE BEAUTIFUL,” the ads say as the children obey without question or criticism.

This is far different than the philosophy of Thailand where emphasis is placed on self-discovery. The teacher is merely a guide, and the students are encouraged to find things out on their own. They stress the ability to come up with answers on their own, think for themselves, and to see the inter-connectedness of all things. Once again though, the teacher is merely a facilitator and a guide. Imagine what this does to a population of people who truly learn in this environment. It would be much more difficult to send these people to Iraq, or make them buy a plasma screen TV, or force them to sit at a desk ALL DAY and punch numbers or make telemarketing calls.

But words are one thing, images are another. Through the documentary, I would be able to SHOW these education systems along with the societies and people in which they’ve created.

Now…all I need is funding. Anyone out there have a few thousand dollars lying around? If you do, call me.

As if traveling to California, Oregon, Washington, and Iowa weren’t enough for the holidays, American Airlines has decided that I should stop for a night in Texas as well. It must be one of their frequent flier rewards programs. “At American Airlines, we know you have very little desire to see your family on Christmas, so if you fly with us, we promise to delay most of our flights so that you end up in random cities like Dallas, Texas. Here you’ll enjoy such attractions as continental breakfast and an unforgettable view of the airport. Fly American, and live the dream!”

So tonight, instead of making it home to Iowa, instead of seeing my family, I will be lodging alone with my books and my laptop. Since the plane I was scheduled to be on malfunctioned, not in the air at least, they had to switch planes which has caused a two hour delay. And, as a result of the two hour delay, I will miss my connecting flight which leaves an hour before I get there. Maybe I’ll get there in time to watch it take off though.

But it could be worse I suppose. It could be a lot worse. Like the men and women last night who were standing outside of the Salvation Army here in Portland. There must have been more than 50 people waiting outside in the cold and the rain, trying to find somewhere to stay for the night. And how ridiculous it would be for me to complain about a night’s stay in a hotel, paid for by someone else.

I suppose I could allow myself to get irate. Let my emotions take over and become furious because things aren’t working out EXACTLY as I had planned them! Or…I could relax, go with the flow, and remind myself that even though I’m coming down with a cold, even though I’ve been sitting in the Portland airport for three hours, and even though I’ll be spending the night before Christmas Eve in Dallas, alone in a hotel, I actually have it pretty damn good.

Oh…here are some pictures from Oregon and Washington.

Surrounded by two volcanoes, and a series of small towns, sits the most beautiful lake I’ve ever seen. This weekend my friend Amanda and I went to Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, and we were both in awe of its size and the amount of breathtaking views it possesses.  The more I see of Guatemala, the more I’m amazed that this country still has such a violent and dangerous stereotype.  Throughout my first three months here I’ve continued to fall in love with the people and the geography of Guatemala.

While we were in Santa Catarina (a small town next to Panahachel on Lake Atitlan) Amanda and I stayed at a bed and breakfast called Nimajay.  The owners, Joe and Kerry, not only guided us into town late at night over the phone, but they completely took care of us the entire time we were there.  We went on a boat tour around the lake, ate at some great restaurants, and relaxed.

Below are some pictures of the bed and breakfast and the lake.

I am grateful.

All throughout the world there are different types of people. Some who are optimistic, who see life as a blessing, and who view it as a giant cup that’s perpetually half full. These people wake up in the morning, take a deep breath, and thank whichever god they believe in for the opportunity to be who they are, and where they are.

Then there are others. People who are afraid to embrace life because they are internally unhappy. Maybe they’re disappointed with a relationship they’re in, or with the profession they’ve chosen. And because of this, their world is not a beautiful place. Each day they wake up, and ever so slowly prepare themselves for another mediocre, disappointing day.

But I’m grateful. I’m grateful because I have met people along my life’s path that continue to inspire me. Their positivity and perspective on life pushes me to, in some way, mimic them. Today I received an e-mail from two of my closest and dearest friends, Nick and Erin, who are currently teaching in Cartagena, Colombia. They’ve begun a newsletter of their experiences, and as I was reading it I couldn’t help but become inspired. They are truly loving life, loving each other, and spreading that love as they go.

And it just forced me to reflect about how fortunate I am to have friendships like these. I’ve posted a picture of them at the bottom, along with a link to their site with the hope that they’re love, energy, and positivity continues to inspire others as well, as it inspires me.

The Glab Gazette!!

One of my favorite books I’ve ever read is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. The main idea of the story is that each one of us has the opportunity in life to follow our dreams and our destiny. The sad thing though, is that most of us don’t. We give up on our dreams, we lose ambition as we get older, and we settle. Whether it’s a career or even a significant other, we settle for what’s convenient, average, or “okay.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked a friend how his job is going and he’ll say, “Oh, it’s okay” or “It pays the bills” or my favorite: “It sucks, but it’s a job, it’s not supposed to be fun.”

This is settling. This is giving up. And in my opinion, this is sad and pathetic.

So why do people give up on their dreams or their Personal Legends as Paulo Coelho refers to them? Because pursuing a passion is terribly difficult and requires so much sacrifice. Right now I’m seeing this happen. My dream has always been to teach internationally, but in order to achieve this dream I’ve had to sacrifice so much. I gave up a job I loved in California. I’ve said goodbye to students and friends I’ve loved as well. And in less than two weeks I will have to leave my family and even a young woman I am becoming more intimate with to go live in a country for two years where I know virtually no one.

But I’m doing it despite the challenges and obstacles because it feels right. The more I reflect, and the more I question what it is I’m doing, the more confident I feel about my decision. And the people who truly believe in me and care about me, will support me regardless of where I end up in this world, whether it’s Guatemala, France, California, or anywhere else.

If you follow your Personal Legend, if you pursue your dreams, not only will you be happier and more fulfilled, but the world will be far better off as well!

I feel terrible for people who never visit another state or country or continent. Nothing limits your perspective on things, and nothing keeps you from being open-minded more than staying in one place forever.

Traveling changes things. It opens my eyes to food, music, people, and especially perspectives. It makes me more creative but it also makes me more caring. Every time I go to a new city or country, I’m always exposed to something new.

And that was true on the last trip I took to the East Coast. After a total of one week in Boston, New York, and Washington D.C. I know so much more and am no longer intimidated by the thought of these huge important cities. We fear what we don’t know, which is why it’s crucial to visit other places and learn about other people. Because if we know them, and understand them, we won’t be so afraid.

Once again, without traveling, without exploring, and without experiencing different cultures, we can never truly understand our own.

After 1600 miles and more than 24 hours in the car, I’m home. After driving from Rancho Cucamonga, California to Sioux City, Iowa, I’m home. And after driving through California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, and Iowa, I am home.

Here’s the trip in pictures.

The majority of these pictures were taken in Utah and Colorado.  The other states should not try to take credit for the beauty in these two states.  For instance, Nebraska is a very boring, ugly state…much like Nevada, and it would be ethically wrong for either of these states to claim that they have mountainous beauty the likes of Utah and Colorado.  Don’t be jealous either Iowa…you’ve been hit with the ugly stick a few times as well.