Melton Mowbray, England Summer 2024 – The English Countryside Appeals to Many Teachers As a member of Generation X, I have never completely understood the concept of getting “locked out.” As a ten year old latch-key-kid, I was consistently “breaking in” to my family’s two-story condo using a cast iron porch chair I would toss onto the roof of our carport and position across a massive gap between it and the bathroom wall. I would then balance on the chair’s arm rests while getting my hands...
2 months ago • 3 min read
Homer, Alaska Summer 2025 For all those teachers out there that are wanting an adventure and a cultural experience, but aren’t quite ready to leave America and brave another system of government, then perhaps teaching in Alaska is the break from routine that you are seeking. Teaching in Alaska provides a teacher the opportunity to make a difference in children’s lives while also allowing you to experience the rugged beauty of our most northern American state and to find remoteness if being...
2 months ago • 4 min read
Cocoa Across Continents Headshot Debacle - Bobble Head vs. Winged Warrior by Colleen Wilson Published on December 5, 2024 While updating my professional profiles in order to havegreater success getting the job of my dreams, I decided to try out the awesome new AI functions my favorite app, Photo Director, offers. The results were far from what I had hoped to receive. First of all, never ever, even in my wildest dreams, had I expected to see a version of myself represented as Bobble Head, but...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Morro Bay Marina 2025 – Possible Stunning Summer Retreat Before Going Abroad 🚢 Every teacher begins to delight once May rolls around as it typically indicates that the school year is wrapping up (at least for most northern hemisphere teachers), and summer vacation is so close you can almost taste the umbrella drinks and feel the salt air on your face. However, if you have yet to land your dream job abroad for the next school year, May also becomes synonymous with an emergency situation, hence...
7 months ago • 2 min read
Arch of Dignity, Equality, and Justice at San Jose State University Where Sean Attends School 🏈 When the 1996 movie, Jerry Maguire, came out, I never would have imagined that almost thirty years later I, as a teacher, would have the power to negotiate my own salary (albeit at a much smaller scale than an NFL draft pick, of course). Throughout my twenty-seven years, I have signed over eleven teaching contracts, and yet never did I once consider asking for greater pay or bigger perks than what...
8 months ago • 3 min read
Santa Cruz Channel Island View After a 2 Mile Hike 🚛 I am constantly being asked, “Isn’t van life hard?” Though the fact that more things in the van are held together with wood glue and velcro than I care to admit, the reality of my experience in the van is one full of incredible and awe-inspiring views which far outweigh any hardships I face living in the van full time. Island Fox and Island Scrub Jay at Santa Cruz Channel Island 🐬 Currently my view is atop a wildflower and grass covered...
8 months ago • 3 min read
Zander Sniffing the Wildflowers in the Horse Corral at Hallcrest Vineyards Today marks the first time when I have been able to try out Zander’s trail savviness safely away from too many dogs or humans. Van Zander Cat rose to the challenge enthusiastically demonstrating a fervor for exploring that caused me to burst with pride. Zander Climbing Up Trees at Hallcrest Vineyards Getting Zander accustomed to the leash has been an ongoing process. When I first adopted him at four months old, I tried...
8 months ago • 4 min read
Hot Tubbing in Hermanus, South Africa While Whale Watching from the Rooftop in 2012 🐋 One might think that leaving your home country would cause ties to community to be severed, but in fact they are often enhanced when you go abroad. The biggest difference is that your sense of who is in your community expands when living overseas allowing you discover friendships that become timeless. Celebrating Sean’s 20th in Pacific Grove, California 2025 with Friends Made in South Africa 🐈⬛ For my son’s...
8 months ago • 3 min read
Spring Rains Have Brought a Carpet of Green and Wildflowers to Sniff at Half Moon Bay One of the biggest perks of working in the Bay Area is its closeness to several beaches. In less than an hour, Zander and I can be enjoying an ocean view from the warmth of our cozy home on wheels. Now that he has grown more accustomed to being on a leash, his daily adventures are getting us both excited to explore the sights. Exploring the Wood Outcroppings Near the Half Moon Bay Campground Damp Beach Sand...
9 months ago • 1 min read
