Non-teaching Related Joys

As most of my family and some observant people on facebook know, this month has been kind of ridiculously awful in many different ways. Rather than publishing terribly disparaging rampages about my frustrations, I’ve just been voicing them safely to my closest friends and family and trying to rejoice in the other aspects of my life:

I potted 2 spider plants. I am up to 4 plants now. My African violet is blooming all over the place. I have an oregano plant that is a few inches high now and thanks to Dad’s advice – is starting to grow both out and up. The spider plants were babies that I clipped from school – we’ll see if they can withstand the intense sunshine my apartment gets. (I’m not kidding. My room is frequently the temperature of the sun. Toasty.)

I’ve kept a decent schedule of waking up early to exercise and going to bed at a decent hour. Except when I accidentally fell asleep at 8:30 one night and woke up at 7:30 the next day.

I covered the chairs in my apartment. The fabric was red and embroidered with something so ugly that I can’t remember it and the stuffing was falling out. Now, they’re leopard print. This is spectacular because for some reason, I really like it when a room has as many patterns and colors at once. I mean, I like well-themed rooms with tasteful decor as much as the next person, but ideally, I prefer my living space to be an immaculately clean mess of colors, patterns, ideas, and themes. When it comes to visual stimulation, I can’t get enough.

This isn’t a victory, but I keep up with TV shows more now that I ever did in America and I find it delightful. I watch Glee, America’s Next Top Model, and Grey’s Anatomy. I adore Kurt, I think Tyra is ridiculous, and my annoyance with Meredith has disappeared.

I baked my mom’s cinnamon-sugar cookies and they were successful. My Australian friend, Ben, had a birthday a few weeks ago, and I promised him a baked masterpiece. I’m not sure these were a masterpiece, but they were tasty. And I got my fix of raw dough for a while. (You’d think after being hospitalized with an unknown intestinal issue that maybe I would steer clear of raw eggs. You’d be wrong.)

Last weekend a bunch of other volunteers gathered in Donetsk for a meeting. We talked about work and discussed projects and were wildly productive for a while. Then we went out. To my mind (ha), the best part of the evening was singing (screaming) “Bohemian Rhapsody” while a table of rich Ukrainians looked on in amusement. I love Queen. And I love my friends.

Dad sent me a package. I’ve had 2 bowls of Velveeta Mac & Cheese, and each time, it’s so good that I want to cry. I love Velveeta. (Hint). It had lots of other tasty food items, that make me super pumped every time I walk into my kitchen. I’m looking forward to baking (even if I never get my oven fixed).

Christmas music. When my job makes me want to explode, the joy of the Christmas season overtakes me and I forget my sorrows.

Okay, and since at the end of the day I really do love teaching, here is a recent joy of my job: children who give me things. I like stuff. This week I got two beaded animals and a friendship bracelet, and my collection of stickers has doubled.