Away We Go

Folks, the semester has a few stray threads to tie up as I finish grading and an ocean of administrative reporting, but it's safe at this point to say that I've survived my first [and, they tell me, NOT only] year of teaching. Teaching an 8-7 course load, as I insist on pointing out to anybody who knows what that means, because the panic in their eyes helps me know I'm right to feel the way I do!

Anyhow, this means I'm finishing the process of throwing my belongings into storage and vacating my apartment for the summer in between rounds of paper-grading and responding to the inevitable "I haven't turned in any assignments this semester, what would I have to do to get a C" emails. But the end is very much in sight, and the heavy lift of the teaching and showcase work is at an end, and I am ALMOST ready to breathe a sigh of relief. Coming up next? After the jump...

First things first: I'm running a marathon this Sunday, which means a glorious quick Northern California trek to see my brother and poke around the Bay a little bit; then back here to finish tossing my things into storage, see my wonderful friend Allison on her way through town to Kalamazoo, make the rounds with the Michigan pals I've made this wild year, and hook up some meetings designed to make next year less.... chaotic?

Then, as soon as May hits, I'm preparing to roll out for a post-commencement road trip to see beloved pals in nearby less-flying-friendly locales, a decent little Chicago stint for friend and family soul-feeding, and then - O heartbreak, O mercy, O hope of days to come - I'm Europe-bound!

The current plan is: back half of May in Greece, June/July in Sicily and mainland Italy, with a quick little week in Switzerland before I bounce up to friends in the UK for the bulk of August. I've got a few pals meeting me along the way, a few pals I'm crashing with, and a lot of glorious solo travel time that I plan to use for course prep, assessment design, lesson planning... as well as, y'know, travel fun like people watching from cafe tables, hours-long wanders around cities/towns/wild untrammeled landscapes, cooking classes, conversations with strangers, and... and... well, whatever sparks my fancy, I guess! I absolutely cannot wait for the breath of fresh air that this all represents, nor for the chance it gives me to reset and prepare for next year more mindfully than this past one.

And... I guess that is mostly where I am these days. Optimistic and hopeful in the midst of chaos and insanity, putting one foot in front of the other as I increasingly learn how to navigate uncertainty and unpredictability. I am mindful that these are rare chapters I'm getting to live. And I am excited to see what they turn to next. Tag along, folks!

(Coming up next... photos and video from FRANCE? Because I was in France over spring break and forgot to do a thing about it here! Lyon and Marseille, babes! We'll TALK about them!)