Car Sickness and Leprosy (Greek Adventures Vacation Journal! Day 3 - A.M.)

Alright, so the first Great Greek Adventure was GETTING OUT OF BED.  Jet lag is a thing.  Although, I was running a little on adrenaline and fueled by excitement to be in GREECE that it wasn't too hard.

Headed downstairs for a lovely breakfast.  My favorite part, which has been a staple of all hotels that provide breakfast is the automatic/espresso/coffee/hot water machine!  yay.  Because i needed all the coffee, and filled up my water bottle with hot water for tea.  Swiped my first tea bag of chamomile, which I was excited about because Greece reportedly has outstanding chamomile.  And I don't disagree.

Eggs w/ peppers!

 The street outside our balcony.

Nectar of life (tea)

Photo credit: Chris

wikipedia map

After filling up on food and blowing a kiss goodbye to Agios Nikolaus (which we barely got to see.  It is reportedly a beautiful, artsy, sleepy but bustling town.  It is next to the Gulf of Mirabello, which means "beautiful sight" in Italian.  Legend has it that the water is bottomless and that the goddess Athena used to bathe in it.  Also, during WW2, the retreating Germans dumped all their tanks there and nobody has seen them since.  hmmmmm.....), we hopped in the car and I excitedly started taking pictures of all the charming grecian things along the road, and immediately felt really really gross.  Like car sick.  

what?

So, thankfully I had preventative provisions intended for the ferries in my purse.   I had no idea if seasickness might be a problem, so I was prepared.  I took some ginger tablets, and put on my seabands <--- bracelets that put pressure on acupuncture points on your wrists.  I did notice a difference right away, but I was already so far gone, that there was no turning back.  We arrived at our destination, the dock for the boat to take us on our 10 minute ride to Spinalonga.  I sat on a bench for a few minutes and was not feeling better so I took some Dramamine from Julia.  Due to my experience with BPPV last summer (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo - long story short: vertigo and inner ear issues that I received physical therapy for.  Which by the way, several of the women in my cancer support group have also had inner ear issues.  So I think chemo permanently screwed up my vestibular system.  YAY!), I also had prescription dramamine in my luggage, plus another big-guns-nausea prescription (which I never did take on the trip, yay!)  Turns out the dramamine rx came in VERY HANDY this trip.  I ended up taking it for most car trips.  The roads in Crete are extremely windy/curvy and European drivers be CrAzY.  Then in cities, all the turning and buildings moving rapidly across my vision, I just COULD NOT DO IT.  So every time we were in the car, I put on my seabands, usually took a dramamine pill (which rx dramamine is a smaller dose so that you can take it repeatedly as needed thru the day), and closed my eyes.  Often times, I wrapped my travel pillow around my neck (you guys, this is the BEST TRAVEL PILLOW), and Chris made jokes the entire trip about my "vegetable mode".   Well, I'm glad I figured out what I needed to do to not be car sick, because that would've put a huge damper on the trip.  Whew!

So anyways, Julia's lifesaver Dramamine started working in about 10 minutes and then it was time to get on the boat for Spinalonga.   (You guys, my brain continued to live on Spinalonga for about 4 weeks after this moment, because I was reading "The Island" by Victoria Hislop, which is all about Spinalonga.)

And here's the part where I start to upload a BILLION pictures.  And if you don't like it, THIS ISN'T THE BLOG FOR YOU.  Byeeeeeeeeeeee

wikipedia map

wikipedia pic:  panoramic view from the mountain.  That little island is Spinalonga

THIS CAT!!!!!  (I think this is my favorite picture from the entire trip)

photo credit: Chris

So what is this beautiful paradise called Spinalonga.  Well, its a little tiny island off the coast of Crete, which is an old venetian fortress (1578), then occupied by the Ottoman Turks (1715).  But most recently in the 1950's it was a leper colony, one of the last active ones in Europe.  (<--- that's what Victoria Hislop's book is about.  And its super fascinating, and spoiler alert: they CURE leprosy on this island.)  And now, its a tourist attraction.

Yep.

So after Spinalonga, we headed for a stop in Matala for lunch.

internet map pic

Matala is a quiet fishing hippie village, with impressive formations of sandstone rock cliffs with their famous caves.  Too bad we didn't stay longer here.  It wasn't a fave spot, and the lunch was inferior to almost every lunch we had in this delicious country (Greek salads =  I discovered I have a limit of how many tomatoes I enjoy eating.  So much lycopene!).  However, I'm realizing now as I read this, it was a missed snorkeling opportunity.  The clear waters of Messara Bay are said to have ancient ruins to be seen in the depths.  Its also the location of the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece.  We couldn't possibly DO IT ALL.  But in hindsight, I wish we had allowed for more time here.  (And I could say that for about every location in this beautiful delicious country.)

 photo credit: Brent

photo credit: Chris

tentacles!

Also, Matala was mentioned in this Joni Mitchell song, Carey.

The wind is in from Africa
Last night I couldn't sleep
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here Carey
But it's really not my home
My fingernails are filthy
I've got beach tar on my feet
And I miss my clean white linen and my fancy French cologne

Oh Carey get out your cane (Carey get out your cane)
And I'll put on some silver (I'll put on some silver)
Oh you're a mean old Daddy, but I like you fine

Come on down to the Mermaid Cafe 
And I will buy you a bottle of wine
And we'll laugh and toast to nothing and 
Smash our empty glasses down
Let's have a round for these freaks and these soldiers
A round for these friends of mine
Let's have another round for the bright red devil, who
Keeps me in this tourist town

Come on Carey get out your cane (Carey get out your cane)
And I'll put on some silver (I'll put on some silver)
Oh you're a mean old Daddy, but I like you
I like you, I like you, I like you

Maybe I'll go to Amsterdam
Or maybe I'll go to Rome
And rent me a grand piano and put some flowers 'round my room
But let's not talk about fare-thee-wells now
The night is a starry dome
And they're playin' that scratchy rock and roll
Beneath the Matalla Moon

Come on Carey get out your cane (Carey get out your cane)
And I'll put on some silver (I'll put on some silver)
You're a mean old Daddy, but I like you

The wind is in from Africa
Last night I couldn't sleep
Oh, you know it sure is hard to leave here, but it's 
Really not my home
Maybe it's been too long a timesince I was 
Scramblin' down in the street
Now they got me used to that clean white linenand that 
Fancy French cologne

Oh Carey, get out your cane(Carey get out your cane)
I'll put on my finest silver(I'll put on some silver)
We'll go to the Mermaid Cafe, have fun tonight
I said, oh, you're a mean old Daddy, but you're out of sight

The cats!!  Gosh, you guys.

We hadn't even been in Greece for 24 hrs at this point.  Behold this wonderful adventure!  (Its going to take me all summer to document this trip, ya'll.)

Greek Adventures Vacation Journal! Day 1/2 - outgoing travel

So, we returned a couple weeks ago from a whirlwind amazing trip to Greece.  We documented with a TON of pictures, and I kinda just want to re-process everything we saw!  We looked at so much historical ancient amazing important things, which I know very very little about.

I'm just going to do a vacation journal, and research things more as I go thru it.

Warning:  Tons of Pictures and Rambling coming ahead.  Stop reading now if you find that completely uninteresting!!

(photo credit: Chris)

 This was when we were still perky excited energetic travelers after just one flight to Dallas.

(photo credit: Chris)

A short visit to the USO in Dallas (the 1st time).  Name patches on the USO wall.  Also Hello to Gary Sinese-On-The-Wall!  Fun things on the walls.  And weird sculptures in the terminal.

After a significant delay, and then sitting on the tarmac for 2 hours, I was beyond grumpy to not be in the air to London yet.

(photo credit: Chris)

(photo credit: Chris)

(photo credit: Chris)

Finally made it to London!!!  After the 4.5 hour delay in Dallas, and then only having a planned 5 hour layover in London, we RAN across the airport to find that they had given OUR seats away because we hadn't checked in.  WHAT?!??!?  But thank goodness they had two seats available, pending that we didn't have any luggage to check.  The airline counter worker got on her cell phone to her supervisor to get special permission to let us board with only our carry-on luggage.  Yay!  One point for carry on luggage!

 I love tea.  Chamomile to calm my tension after running through the London Heathrow.

 The BEST airline meal I've ever had!!  Aegean Airlines = good job.  This was only the beginning of amazing Greek food.  I was doing sparkle-fingers while eating.  Claudia, the greek woman sitting next to me that we later befriended, I'm sure thought I was crazy.

Claudia, after asking where we were from, told us about her experience in an international ambassadors trip/internship with Governor Bill Graves in Topeka!  She was currently flying home so she could vote in the European election.  I don't understand European politics, but this was evidently a very important election that was going to affect the future Greek election.  They are not too pleased with the Greek Prime Minister (who happened to be on Brent & Julia's flight to Crete a couple days ago!) and are eager to get rid of him.  (sounds familiar)    They do voting on Sundays, so that people can go home to vote, because they don't do absentee ballots....?  At this point, I was too tired to hang on to much information.  But she was super nice, and excited about all the places we were going to visit on our trip.

No pictures taken upon arriving in Athens.  We were personally collected by a Greek airline worker (and anyone else traveling to Crete) upon disembarking from the plane and whisked away thru winding hallways and check points.  This man was FAST.  He didn't wait around.  He just walked and expected all of us little ducklings to follow him.  These Greeks are efficient.  I like it.  And before we knew it, we were on our 50 minute plane ride to Crete.  Brent and Julia picked us up and drove to Agios Nikolaus (we flew into Heraklion) while exchanging stories of our travel adventures thus far.  (Brent & Julia arrived a few days before we did.)

(photo credit: Chris)

FINALLY!!!! We made it to a bed in Agios Nikolaus!!!!!  WOOT!!!!!
Up and at 'em tomorrow morning for Greek Adventures!

Reactions to Undercover High, ep 1

Hello!  I haven't written in this blog for awhile.

I've been highly anticipating the release of "Undercover High", being aired starting this month on A&E.  Not only do I have multiple personal connections to the city and school, its also a subject very near and dear, and with much conflict in my heart:  The current state of public education.  I didn't realize the expansive emotional response I was going to have to it.  Amusement, pride, screaming (my husband appeared TWICE in the opening credits), shock (but not surprise), and tears.

First of all, I was very nervous at how HP was going to be portrayed:  how much of this was going to be fabricated.  However, I was very pleased with the first episode.

My first concern was for the staff.  We live in a world where teachers are often blamed for problems in school.  I know, from first hand knowledge, that the HP staff, like other school's across America, is full of competent adults who truly care about students, and are working their tails off everyday at it.  The show reinforced that.  One point for Undercover High.

My second concern was for the students.  HP has a history of getting the short end of the stick when it comes to positive press in Topeka.  As a student from that city, I know it has been decades of false appearances.  But, the show's first episode highlighted truly amazing kids, with a promise to see more in future episodes.  I am excited about this.  Another point for Undercover High.

My third concern was the spin they are going to take.  It appears as if the show has put forth considerable effort to see the truth in these classrooms.  But that's yet to be determined.

The conflict in my heart, which bubbled to the surface while watching, revolves around my decision to leave my classroom a few years ago.  My life as a teacher was a constant emotional rollercoaster.  Extreme highs and extreme lows.  The truly amazing students and moments I shared with them fed me the precious nutrients I needed to get through another day.  The stressful situations would send me home in great conflict and sometimes tears.  There was rarely a day that I didn't see fireworks behind my eyeballs at an outrageous choice of a student that caused a problem in the classroom.  There are so many hidden gems of kids that are overlooked because the riffraff of other students controlling the school.  My biggest struggle was keeping myself separated from these stressful events and remembering that I'm the adult and they are a child needing the guidance of a caring adult to help them through this hard time of adolescence.

This first episode touched on many of the overwhelming obstacles I faced everyday.
1.  Cell phones.  OMG.
     I'm so glad this is being addressed.  I noticed a considerable change in student's willingness to learn about 5 years ago.  This was around the time that every student started having a mobile device, with unlimited network access, in their hands.  Coincidence?  Teaching became that much more exhausting, because I had to entertain them, or endure the sighs and eyerolls and constant complaining from the general student population.   But I will never be more entertaining than their mobile games and group chats.  Additionally, the show talked about cell phone addiction.  I have seen students get downright hostile over having access to their cell phone.

2.  Noncompliance to simple expectations
     There was the girl who said they aren't supposed to have cell phones in class and they do it anyway.  They just don't care about the rules.  The school I spend most of my time at, profanity, from my perception, has become such a large issue.  They know they aren't supposed to talk like that in the classroom, but they do anyway.   I heard a student defending his language by explaining that the young teachers don't mind when they cuss.   This very well may be their perception, but many are  just plain choosing not to comply.  In fact, a student said to me just last week "Why should I change my language?  It doesn't affect us.  Its only affecting you."  (*Fireworks behind the eyeballs*)

3.  Disrespect, subtle and outright, towards adults
     There's some uncomfortable footage of a teacher's classroom where the teacher is calmly trying to redirect student's attention to the lesson, away from their personal conversations and cell phones.  The teacher made a sarcastic remark, and so a student fired one back.  Shortly after, the student who was asked to turn down his music, and instead made it louder.  There are some teachers (magicians, if you asked me) that can handle these situations with grace, humor, and expertise.  Teachers who have THE THING.  I was never that teacher.  The murky waters of disengagement, apathy, and bad attitude stumped me every time.

4.  Ruthlessness of students towards each other
      On one hand, there were some truly heartwarming moments while the new students were making friends.  Such wonderful kids at HP.  Those hispanic girls looking out for each other and giving the new (undercover) students the lay of the land, made me feel encouraged by the existence of humanity in the world.   But I'm also astounded every day how mean young people are to each other.  The reveal of the group chat sexually objectifying the new girl was utterly shocking.  Not at all surprising, though.  In my job as piano accompanist, sometimes I feel a little like I'm undercover myself.   I'm not a teacher, technically, and rarely do I assert myself as an authority figure.  I tend to stay quiet and mind my own business at the piano.   Students have said absurdly awful things within my earshot.  Sometimes I speak up.  Most of the time, I don't.  Its a strange existence behind the piano sometimes.

The show also gave considerable effort, more so in the "extras" discussions with the psychologists, that what we saw at HP is happening in every school in America.  Another point for Undercover High.  Absolutely.  As a staff member in a school 50 miles east, I can proclaim with utter assurance that this is happening EVERYWHERE.  But I also think we would be lying to ourselves if we didn't acknowledge that these issues are happening at different degrees in different communities, and likely in connection to low SES classifications.

Despite the fact that this show is undoubtedly causing a distraction for the students, staff, and community of HP right now, I am optimistic about the conversations the show will create.  I have been utterly obsessed with reading reactions and comments on social media.  Some of them are short-sighted and hurtful.   I hope this will serve as a wake up call to many, most of all students, parents and leaders in education.