"...With a Little Help from Our Friends"

Humans are a strange species. Yet they follow the habits of a variety of others. There are those, who like the bongos and bushbucks that live in the same forest their entire lives. Others tend to have the migratory habits as the Canada goose or the ruby-throated hummingbird. They leave for several months and then return to the area where they were hatched. Gorillas are nomadic, traveling as needed to find the necessities for survival. We have encountered people from all of the above categories throughout our lives and have always fallen into the migratory species.

Even before Mick and I met, we both had the wonder lust. There would be trips, but always to return home. Now the habitat is changing and I’m coming to the realization that those with the nomadic gene are to actually to be commended on their ability for traveling light and having the ability to detach themselves from “stuff”.

Packing has always been an ordeal. I’m one of those who chose to move as little as possible; therefore enabling the hoarding instinct that I strive to hide. Mick and I both had longevity with current and previous dwellings. As far as trips, luggage has always been massive. If you’re a pack rat, you always think “I might need that”.

Yesterday, we collected the things we want to take down this week. We’re taking extra to leave, less for the crate. With the weather being chilly, we’re trying to accommodate for that, yet with the temperature outside in Charlotte approaching the 100 mark with high humidity, you think, well it may get warmer. Mick said, “Pack it tomorrow. I’m leaving; get it done. I’m not participating.” He had to go to court in Lexington regarding the estate today, and the target date for closing is August 15. Good for you Mick for expediting the legalities.

Denis and her sister, Centhia, came to help today. I don’t know what I would have done without them. It had to be done today and they came through for us, as usual. Their folding expertise was extraordinary. The shirts looked as they did in the store. They folded, packed, lifted luggage, weighed luggage, everything, in addition to the usual tasks of the house. Denis and Centhia, I thank you so very much and Mick especially thanks you for keeping me on task.

Everything is packed and we’re ready. Tomorrow, last minute things will be done. The next day, Nick goes to camp and we go to the airport. We’ll be in Quito around 10 PM. We’ll be looking at apartments next week. Once again, we so greatly appreciate the Goodwill Ambassadors of Cuenca, Brian and Shelley for their help, contacts, and suggestions. The excitement continues to build!

Until next time,

Mick and Kathy

Ahh, Retirement!

When you teach, the official start of summer is when you turn in your room key. I turned mine in yesterday. There was the last staff meeting with the usual kudos for the great job, and “this is not for everyone, if you’re not suited for this it’s time to move on”. I was suited for this, for a while, but it is time to move on, to move into something that is for the long haul.

This has been my assignment for the past 3 years. It was a middle school converted to an alternative education program.

The desks were neat and the floor swept, ready for a respite until fall.

The room was empty as I turned out the lights. All the books were packed away on the shelves. The board was cleaned for the last time. The posters had been not taken down and rolled up for storage this time, but thrown in the recycling bin. You leave with no regrets. You know that through the year you have encountered some lost souls. There are those who have entered the doorway that will not have that opportunity in the fall because they will be either deceased or incarcerated. Yet, in the next vein, there are six students that will be starting new phases of their lives, either college, or job, because without our program, they would not be graduating. You have to focus on the positive.

This is Dr. Jo W. whose room was across the hall from mine. She was always calm and smiling.

There was a lot of laughter between us.

I’ve always told Mick that home is where ever he is. For the moment and for a few more months, it’s still Charlotte. This weekend, we’re relaxing and reiterating the fact to each other that we are RETIRED. To use the current catch word, it’s “amazing”. We’ll shop, go to dinner, have coffee, sit on the deck and talk about Cuenca. There’s always the next phase of the journey.

Until next time,

Mick and Kathy

After Tomorrow

When you work in the school system, time is inconsistent. January goes quickly there are holidays, exams, teacher workdays, and the beginning of the next semester. February and March drag themselves out because winters can be bleak and frigid and they’re also our snow months. Snow in Charlotte seems to cyclical, more snow every 3 or 4 years, perhaps the effect of El Nino.

Spring break is always welcomed and needed; after which, the brake is taken of the calendar and exams and EOC get closer. May flies. Exam week arrives and the rush is on. Staff have their checklists of things that must be completed, and in the midst of closing tasks, there are retests, retests, and more retests.

Today was the first day that I had no students, no retests. I actually worked on packing and cleaning my room. The staff lunch was planned by the Sunshine Committee, which unfortunately I chair. Mick graciously agreed to pick up the fried chicken and macaroni and cheese, from two different establishments. Naturally Murphy had a hand in it all and the orders for both which were confirmed on Tuesday, had been lost. Mick had to wait for the mac and cheese and then the chicken to be prepared. He was livid, but did make it with the food by the appointed hour.

We switched vehicles, leaving me with the truck to carry my personal, non-instructional belongings home for disposal at the auction. I managed to get everything home with the one load. I left the instructional materials that I’ve collected for the past five years there for my predecessor. Tomorrow is taking care of all the finalities, turning in keys, meetings, discussing next year.

After I had packed the truck, I stood in the doorway, glancing around the room. It was quite a journey, a difficult one at times, that brought me here and it’s almost over. The wisp of sadness was just a fleeting moment, because there is an aspect of our lives that is suspected by some, but yet unknown. No one actually knows that this is my last year. No one even knows about our blog. I will resign at the end of the summer, after all the loose ends have been tied.

After tomorrow, there will be no more daily waking at 5AM, no more beginning the workday at 7:30, no more staff meetings, no more waking Mick 5AM. Although Mick sold his practice and is retired, he has not felt retired since he’s up so early with me. After tomorrow, we will be concentrating on the move.

This weekend we will begin packing for our trip to Cuenca. We’re planning to each bring an extra piece of luggage. The plan is to find an apartment that we can rent and leave the things that we take down for our return in September. Mick has worked diligently on Bob’s estate to have it completed by August 15th. Since I have the summer off, it will be easier for us to dispose of most of our possessions and be totally ready to make our final move in September.

Our excitement is truly beyond words. Our dream is actually becoming a reality. Gabriella has already received our marriage certificate with the consular stamps. We arrive in Quito Wednesday night and meet with Gabriella on Thursday morning; our cedula will be in the works. A van must be hired to take us and all the luggage to Cuenca on Friday morning, June 18th. Graciella is meeting us at the apartment we’ve rented for our stay around 4PM.

We have struck up an internet friendship with three other couples whose blogs we regularly read and avidly follow each new post. We would like to thank Brian and Shelley especially for all the help they have given us with every question we have had. We feel very fortunate to have found their blog, which by the way is always real, down to earth and blatantly honest, plus they have Freddy with which we can identify since we have Nick. By reading their blog we were able to answer our many questions and the ones we could not answer we would just write and ask and they were always so helpful in giving us a straight forward answer. Chuck and Nancy and Rich and Nancy have also been kind and willing to assist. Thanks so much to all of you. We are looking forward to sitting down with you, face to face.

Until next time,
Mick and Kathy

A Taste of Charlotte

Every region, regardless of the country has some type of food that is synonymous with the area. Sao Paulo state is renowned for its pizza and also its Arabic influenced salgados. Valladolid, Quintana Roo has its lime soup. Lexington has barbecue. What does Charlotte have? Charlotte has nabs.
In the Southeast, every convenience store, every supermarket, every grocery store, without exception has Lance snacks. The Lance brand has been around since the early 1900’s, originally, roasted peanuts, but then, in 1915, the crème de la crème was born…Lance crackers. Lance crackers are truly the king of snack foods. There are those who immolate, those who imitate, but none can surpass that common little morsel that is so pleasing and satisfying to the palate.

Having grown up in the Carolinas, we’ve experienced the pleasure all our lives. The best of the Lance line is the Toastchee. The bright orange little squares covered in salt and held together by just the right amount of peanut butter goes well with every beverage. As a child, it was Coke, but for the more adult taste, they’re great with coffee.

I’ve always referred to them as “square cheese crackers”. Mick has asked me repeatedly as to my reference? I really don’t have an answer, but at our house, they were square cheese crackers. Every vending machine had them. In my mid teens I worked in a sewing factory in the summers. At that time, the “nabs” as some call them were only 10 cents. I gladly spent that dime twice daily for my pack of crackers. In the ‘60’s there were 4 in a pack and the cost was a nickel, then the price crept up. As the price continued to increase, the quantity went to 6. Currently, most vending machines require from 50 or 60 cents. But it is so worth the cost!

When Mick and I travel, we always take the Toastchees in the back pack. For a boost of energy, a break in boredom, or just a taste of home, those little orange squares are capable of solving any problem. We’ve taken them all over the world and shared them with many who have never encountered such a delightful blend of flavors. Perhaps some of the most interesting creatures to enjoy them were a colony of ants on the Amazon in Peru. The tiny insects made their way into the packs and devoured them, without even making a hole

When we travel to Ecuador next week, the backpack will have a supply of the nabs to once again, a taste of home away from home, searching for a new home. We always have enough to share. For us, the crackers are a part of our growing up, spawning memories of simple times. After the move, the snacks won’t last forever, but the memories will. We will find other tidbits to compensate, not a replacement, but something to build new memories and fill that little void that is sometimes felt in the stomach and the soul.

Until next time,

Mick and Kathy

Greetings from Nick

Hola! Soy Nikolas, la mayoría de la gente me llama Nick. I’m Nick. My Mommy and Daddy say that I have to learn what things mean in this other language, the one that Denis speaks. Mommy will say things like, “vienen aqui”, and I know that she wants me.

Life is really good with my family. Every day that we have to get up early and Mommy goes to school, Daddy takes me to daycare. I go there and play with my friends, Piglet, Barkley, Cici, Gracie, Pugsley, they’re little like me. The big ones, we try to stay away from because they’ll step on us. We have a pool and the girls that work there are crazy about me. They think I’m cute and want to carry me around all the time. Somehow, when that happens, my parents always know when I get home. I hear them talking about it.

I hear them talking about how things are going to be different, too. Well, first, they’re trying to talk like Denis. Then, part of our things are disappearing. Now there’s all these boxes out, and bags of people clothes that we put in the truck and take to a place and leave.
Soon, I’m going to camp, again. They use to tell me they were going to someplace that starts with a B, but this time that I’m at camp, they’re going someplace called Ecuador. They’re pretty excited; I’m not. Camp’s OK, but, they’re not my family. Last time, I went to camp, I got sick and had to see one of the white coats.

Anyway, Daddy talks to me a lot and tells me about this Ecuador. He says that we’ll take a special road trip soon and we’ll have a new home, with an elevator. I really like elevators; they’re a lot of fun. He told me that I’d have new friends and a new Denis and I’d have to see a new white coat if I get sick. They talk like it’s going to be pretty neat. They’re buying me all kinds of new clothes to take, a new bed, a back pack for me to sit up high. They promised that I’ll take all my toys, cookies, and liver treats. If I’ve got all that stuff and Mommy and Daddy, it’ll all be OK.

Later,

Nick

The Last Year

I’m sure that some of you surmise by previous comments that I teach. As I’ve said before, it was my midlife crisis. Not only did I survive the change, but so did Mick. He has put up with and has forgiven all the insanity that goes in preparing to become a teacher, as well as, the increased madness of the job. For the past five years, I have taught high school science, initially the physical sciences, chemistry, physical science and then for the past three years, I had biology added after I made the move from a traditional school to an alternative setting; I also had a class of physics this year. The last three years have been interesting and challenging; however, this last semester has been extremely difficult.

In the previous years and even last semester, the students were interested in graduating; however, the classes that I’ve encountered this semester have been completely lacking in focus and motivation towards an education. It is extremely disconcerting to see young people lacking in goals and to think that where they are is the best they’ll ever do. Most of the kids that I have taught have histories of all types of criminal behavior. Many are on probation, some even wear monitored ankle bracelets. There is a significant amount of gang activity; gang life is a substitute for the missing family structure. I’ve encountered Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, MS-13, Vice Lords, plus local gangs.

In the state of North Carolina, several of the courses are required to take an EOC, end of course test, not merely an exam, but a state test that must be passed in order to graduate. Biology students must achieve a score of 3 or 4 in order to graduate. Physical science has an EOC, but the passing test score is not required for graduation; it’s merely used as a standardized final exam. Last year, my pass rate for biology was 50%. First semester of this year, the pass rate for both physical science and biology EOC’s was 67%. I was elated because these kids are low achieving, at-risk students.

The biology EOC was today. I hate to even see the scores, which will be back tomorrow. In a class of 32 students, only 16 even showed up. Of those 16, 1 slept, some answered only 4 or 5, insisting that they did not know it, that they had not had that before. It is difficult to keep up if you are continuously suspended. Some were creative in bubbling their scantron sheets by making designs. Once, I had a student to bubble a giant “G” on his answer sheet. However, at some point you must take responsibility for your actions and also take responsibility for your education,. These kids have been given multiple chances and many don’t accept them. The opportunities are thrown away like a discarded “blount”. The only escape from poverty is through education.

Some of the students that have entered our doorways are good kids, they’ve made a mistake; however, the majority of them are repeat offenders, they simply can’t function in a traditional middle class school environment. Many of them are respectful and are planning for college; for the others, profanity, disrespect, and ignorance is their norm and they are complacent in their environment.

Regardless of the category in which these young people fall, for those who survive, they are our future. They will either eventually pay our social security, some with their minimum wage jobs, or they will be supported as part of the prison system.

I am not a teacher, I am a chemist that became a teacher with the idea that I could possibly give something back and make a difference in the life of a youth. When you do make a difference, you don’t necessarily know that you have, you just have to believe in your heart that at some point you have made a difference. I have encountered many brilliant students in my brief teaching career. Some are pursuing careers in science, others in fields that are non-science related. Irrelevant of career path, they are successful; I like to think that I played a small part in their success.

This is the last year of what was labeled my “midlife crisis”. Some people get a motorcycle or sports car; perhaps that would have been easier, but there would have still been something lacking. The past five years have been an adventure. Every day has been different and a true learning experience. I’m certain that I have learned more than my students because with maturity, you realize the things that you don’t know and truly appreciate the process of obtaining the knowledge. Moving to Ecuador will be a continuous learning experience for both of us. We will relish every aspect of this adventure and savor it!

"Cuenca Wanna-Be's"

As newbie bloggers, we have been pleasantly received by the followers of Cuenca blogs. There have been a number of e-mails; some containing sweet comments, others were answers to questions from those who have gone before us. Last week, we were extremely surprised in that we were contacted by a couple in our own city of Charlotte that had been reading our collection of thoughts and essays. We met them last night for dinner.

I had fully intended to take the camera however, with the “half-heimers” that I sometimes have, I forgot it. We met them at a little restaurant, Cabo Fish Taco, in the NoDa section of Charlotte. We found the couple, Richard and Amy Griffin, to be congenial and pleasant company. Amy is an interior designer and Richard has a company that custom blends spices for the food service industry. This is the link to the company website, www.carolinaspices.com. He referred to them as “Cuenca wanna-be’s”. They’ve never been to Ecuador, but from their research feel that it might be just the place for them to retire in 3 to 4 years. They think that it might be fun to offer cooking classes to interested expats. Richard and Amy are anticipating a visit to Cuenca in the early fall.

We leave in two weeks for Quito and then, on to Cuenca on the 18th. Our plan is to rent an apartment for our visit in Cuenca for the period of two weeks to 1 month. We have had little success with the rental. Bob and Rox suggested contacting Cuenca Realty; however, there seems to be little desire on the realtor’s part to respond. Mick has sent enumerable e-mails, with little success. If anyone knows of a lovely apartment with elevator, terrace, in a good section of the city, please let us know. These "Cuenca wanna-be's" need to finalize plans very soon.

Again, we want to thank all those who have been following our writings. In shortly over two weeks we’ll be in Cuenca as our journey continues.

Until next time,
Mick and Kathy