Teaching Stuff

So this past week I went to a training on the new curriculum that I will be teaching. It's totally different than what I have gotten used to teaching in Texas in lots of ways. I like it b/c it is very student centered and has lots of activities that students can do to find meaning and engage in learning. I don't like it b/c it does not allow the students to master basic mechanical skills needed to solve math problems. I think it's going to take an awful lot of planning time on my part, but I am hoping my fellow colleagues will be nice and guide me through this first year. I only have about 2 weeks left this summer. It has definitely flown by and I feel like summer has just begun. Although I enjoy having time off from work, I am looking forward to the fall and winter. I can't wait to experience 4 seasons. I think that the fall here is going to be gorgeous and the winter, well, I like to ski. We have been close to record breaking heat b/c of the consecutive days over 90 degrees. I laugh at that. I thought it was normal to be in the 90's everyday. But, all is well here and I am loving it. I was just thinking the other day about how this is probably the easiest move I have ever made. I attribute this to the fact that I already had a network of friends when I got here through my church. So I haven't had to put much effort into meeting people so far.

Well that's it for me right now. Talk to you soon!

Sunday

So I finally got to do what I have wanted to do for a very long time. On Sunday morning, I hiked up a mountain, found a really big rock, and sat and read my Bible. It is so peaceful being able to sit atop a mountain, and get still and quiet in God's beautiful creation. The church here does not meet on Sunday mornings, but instead on Sunday evenings. It's a way to try to cater to the culture here and give people who normally don't go to church on Sunday mornings another alternative. So this past Sunday morning I got to have church with just me and God. I hope to do this quite often.

Pictures

The view from my balcony

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods - Balanced Rock

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods - Siamese Twins

Top of Pikes Peak

Top of Pikes Peak

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain - Mills Lake

Hiking through snow in July!

Rocky Mountain National Park

More Snow!

Rocky Mountain - Odessa Lake

Hello! I have made it to Colorado. I am all moved in, and for the most part, all unpacked. I've had a lot of fun so far. Jennifer was here for a week to help me get unpacked. We went hiking a lot of the days that she was here. I am loving the mountains. We went to Eldorado Canyon, Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, and Rocky Mountain National Park. My friends Jana and James were here this past weekend and we went back to Rocky Mountain National Park. We first hiked to Andrews Glacier and then the next day, well... We were thinking we would go on a 5 hour loop, but it definitely turned into 7.5 hours! We were beat by the end. But, everything was really pretty. We hiked through snow on both days. Snow in July! I've uploaded a few pictures that you can check out. I miss my Texas friends, but I am enjoying it up here so far.