Sunday, September 26, 2010
Ahhhh Theater How I Need Thee
I was really looking forward to this weekend, and it lived up to my hopes! After being asked to audition for two plays in IL while here, I quickly missed being involved in theater. The staff play last night was exciting! A run-thru two hours before curtain was disastrous.We were all so nervous that lines kept getting dropped. An hour of hanging out, eating banana bread, and ad lib speed-thru's really relaxed us, and when the audience arrived everything instantly gelled! The cast party was a celebration of people from different parts of campus, with very different backgrounds, getting to bask for that small moment in team success.
Tonight I saw the off-Broadway touring Pilobolus company's show "Shadowland." If you get the chance, go see them! This show premiered in Madrid, which I learned while spending time on-stage/backstage with the cast and then over dinner at their hotel. I cannot imagine a nicer, more down-to-earth group of highly talented dancers. Beth is an exceptionally nice personal trainer from Atlanta who country-hops. Derek is helping create the Broadway production of James and the Giant Peach. Weekends like this always make me question why I'm not doing something full time with theater.
Heading to the hotel, our taxi driver was playing Guns N' Roses "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" when he momentarily missed his exit from the autopista. He put on his blinkers, smiled wryly, and gradually backed up on the highway to take the correct exit. Other motorists simply accepted this practice. Good times!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tick Tock
20:00 Last night I had Italian food at Giuseppi Verdi...yum! 60,000 pesos = salad, meat/pasta, bottle of Argentinian Cab-Sauv
5:45 Awoke before alarm from traffic.
6:50 Relayed my name and address into the 3-111111 taxi system
7:20 Processed paperwork for new cedula with the help of school-hired Aviatura
8:00 Found a second taxi to school after the first one kicked me out "No Puedo Ir al Colegio" due to pico placa (i.e. there's a lot of traffic here so not everyone can drive on every road every day)
8:45 Proctored MAP testing and got to planning geometry
11:00 Early lunch with friends I don't usually see at school... BTW now I need the geometry teacher's edition
12:30 Barbecuing (not really, but it's a West Wing joke)
12:40 Started a class as a substitute, one-hour parent-student-counselor-vice principal meeting, finished a class as a substitute for five minutes
14:15 A student from Washington DC came in to catch up from moving here, another came in after three weeks to finally earn a 4 (highest grade), and another told me his Mom is in hospital (just diagnosed with MS) and he has been taking care of his 8 year old sister because Dad is in Panama
15:30 Walking to the bus:
16:30 Ironing. Refusing to get a maid... for now... but it's really inexpensive...
17:00 Radio station 103.9 has a mix of afternoon talk, Aerosmith, and jazz... Farmville and online chats.... laundry... snacking on peanuts
19:00 Eggs with ham and liberally applied Tabasco!
20:00 Arromatica, arrepa con queso topped with more cheese!
21:30 Zzzzzzz
5:45 Awoke before alarm from traffic.
6:50 Relayed my name and address into the 3-111111 taxi system
7:20 Processed paperwork for new cedula with the help of school-hired Aviatura
8:00 Found a second taxi to school after the first one kicked me out "No Puedo Ir al Colegio" due to pico placa (i.e. there's a lot of traffic here so not everyone can drive on every road every day)
8:45 Proctored MAP testing and got to planning geometry
11:00 Early lunch with friends I don't usually see at school... BTW now I need the geometry teacher's edition
12:30 Barbecuing (not really, but it's a West Wing joke)
12:40 Started a class as a substitute, one-hour parent-student-counselor-vice principal meeting, finished a class as a substitute for five minutes
14:15 A student from Washington DC came in to catch up from moving here, another came in after three weeks to finally earn a 4 (highest grade), and another told me his Mom is in hospital (just diagnosed with MS) and he has been taking care of his 8 year old sister because Dad is in Panama
15:30 Walking to the bus:
ME: Hey, I found your book for you [that you lost two weeks ago]!
HER: I told you it was in the room!
ME: How about, "Hey Mr. Rumack, thanks for finding my book?"
HER: No, I told you it was there!
ME: Wow, do you talk to your Mom like that?
HER: Yes.16:00 Rehearsed lines on the bus for Friday's staff play
16:30 Ironing. Refusing to get a maid... for now... but it's really inexpensive...
17:00 Radio station 103.9 has a mix of afternoon talk, Aerosmith, and jazz... Farmville and online chats.... laundry... snacking on peanuts
19:00 Eggs with ham and liberally applied Tabasco!
20:00 Arromatica, arrepa con queso topped with more cheese!
21:30 Zzzzzzz
Monday, September 20, 2010
May You Live in Interesting Times
On Saturday I went to Yom Kippur services and someone's home to break the fast. Keep in mind that I'm far more spiritual than religious, so the sense of warmth and welcoming that I felt (post security check) were remarkable. At the end of the night I discovered ESPN 3 is one of the few sites that streams sports nicely here, so I got to watch the Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan State (but not Northwestern) games while playing chess with Guillo. Having not played chess against a live opponent in many years, the first three games were very quick losses. I was able to stick around long enough in the fourth game to come out the victor.
This was a very challenging week. For the record, the first thing I commented about Bogota following my visit in June was the uneven, dangerous condition of the sidewalks which necessitate a lot of walking while looking down. On Sunday I was headed to a Tim's apartment (he's a math teacher) to watch the Bears game on the NFL network. Momentarily distracted by not looking down, I all but sprained my ankle heading down Calle 61 toward the Septima. Writhing in pain, and nearly passing out, two taxis and a girl in the park across the street apparently didn't think it would be a good idea to help out. They were probably afraid I was faking it to rob them. So I was lying on the sidewalk thinking, "I don't even have my brand new insurance card in my wallet." I finally made my way home -- I was only four to eight buildings away -- and was eventually able to see the second half of the Bears technical victory over Detroit. Anyway now my foot is a beautiful rainbow of healing colors!
Last Monday night Tim and I took Peter Bagnall, a new math teacher here, to the airport for a 1:30 a.m. flight. He had to return to Canada because his sister and her boyfriend disappeared mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies. Unfortunately after two weeks now they haven't been found, and a memorial service is being scheduled for the lake where they would've camped out.
Back to my wallet, it fell out in the dark back seat of a taxi on the way home from visiting Tim in the hospital due to kidney cancer surgery. He is doing well, most importantly, and as a bonus there wasn't much in my wallet. The bank and credit cards were at home and there was little cash. I do have to replace my cedula (identification card). So, I have earned a trip to the notary tomorrow and a return to the Dept of Administrative Security on Wednesday morning. I suppose I've also earned a trip to Calle 60 where I hear there's a leather district so I can get another wallet.
As for good news, I enjoyed a few games of Bunco with friends. Earlier that day we served lunch to the general service workers. It was very poignant. (Keep in mind labor down here ain't expensive.) My classroom management has started to improve as well. It's a process of spending time getting to know kids one on one. That's a good thing of course, though it was a real adjustment on my part to spend so much time not on mathematics. It has definitely been worth it so far. This Friday I'll be performing in the TMLMTBGB style staff play -- I should really learn those lines soon. Saturday night Pilobolus is touring from NYC, and my friend who's going actually has an acquaintance in the cast. Go figure!
This was a very challenging week. For the record, the first thing I commented about Bogota following my visit in June was the uneven, dangerous condition of the sidewalks which necessitate a lot of walking while looking down. On Sunday I was headed to a Tim's apartment (he's a math teacher) to watch the Bears game on the NFL network. Momentarily distracted by not looking down, I all but sprained my ankle heading down Calle 61 toward the Septima. Writhing in pain, and nearly passing out, two taxis and a girl in the park across the street apparently didn't think it would be a good idea to help out. They were probably afraid I was faking it to rob them. So I was lying on the sidewalk thinking, "I don't even have my brand new insurance card in my wallet." I finally made my way home -- I was only four to eight buildings away -- and was eventually able to see the second half of the Bears technical victory over Detroit. Anyway now my foot is a beautiful rainbow of healing colors!
Last Monday night Tim and I took Peter Bagnall, a new math teacher here, to the airport for a 1:30 a.m. flight. He had to return to Canada because his sister and her boyfriend disappeared mountaineering in the Canadian Rockies. Unfortunately after two weeks now they haven't been found, and a memorial service is being scheduled for the lake where they would've camped out.
Back to my wallet, it fell out in the dark back seat of a taxi on the way home from visiting Tim in the hospital due to kidney cancer surgery. He is doing well, most importantly, and as a bonus there wasn't much in my wallet. The bank and credit cards were at home and there was little cash. I do have to replace my cedula (identification card). So, I have earned a trip to the notary tomorrow and a return to the Dept of Administrative Security on Wednesday morning. I suppose I've also earned a trip to Calle 60 where I hear there's a leather district so I can get another wallet.
As for good news, I enjoyed a few games of Bunco with friends. Earlier that day we served lunch to the general service workers. It was very poignant. (Keep in mind labor down here ain't expensive.) My classroom management has started to improve as well. It's a process of spending time getting to know kids one on one. That's a good thing of course, though it was a real adjustment on my part to spend so much time not on mathematics. It has definitely been worth it so far. This Friday I'll be performing in the TMLMTBGB style staff play -- I should really learn those lines soon. Saturday night Pilobolus is touring from NYC, and my friend who's going actually has an acquaintance in the cast. Go figure!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Alejandro's Finca
On Saturday we took a bus a little over an hour to experience a working dairy and beef ranch. The Angus beef is fed pound cake paper and is only sold to the restaurant Armadillo. The owner, Alejandro, and his son, Andy, are very welcoming. We enjoyed a surprisingly warm, sunny day with a picnic and a tour of their 6 sq km farm. It's got a 100+ year family history. Oh, and I'm glad the Frisbee I overthrew didn't break any windows... Below are pictures from today. There is another video from the first week of school around August 17.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Time Zones
Aha! The map on http://www.worldtimezone.com/ helped make sense out of the time zone difference between Chicago and Bogotá. It turns out that really I'm in the same time zone as Florida, geographically. So, calling Bogotá from Chicago should be like calling Florida from Chicago.
When Chicago went to "Spring Forward" on March 14, 2010, the times became the same. When Chicago goes to "Fall back" on November 7, 2010, I'll be one hour ahead. Now, if only Bogotá also had Florida weather!
When Chicago went to "Spring Forward" on March 14, 2010, the times became the same. When Chicago goes to "Fall back" on November 7, 2010, I'll be one hour ahead. Now, if only Bogotá also had Florida weather!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Thanks for the Timely Repair (submitted August, 2009)
The following work request was completed on 09/03/2010:
Requestor: Aaron Rumack Phone: 847-945-8430 E-Mail: arumack@dps109.org
Service Requested For:
Building: Caruso Middle Location: E - 1 Problem Description:Please extend the cork strips toward the window and onto the red brick wall toward the bulletin boards as well.
Thank you
Please do not reply to this message. This is an automatically generated message.
Requestor: Aaron Rumack Phone: 847-945-8430 E-Mail: arumack@dps109.org
Service Requested For:
Building: Caruso Middle Location: E - 1 Problem Description:Please extend the cork strips toward the window and onto the red brick wall toward the bulletin boards as well.
Thank you
Please do not reply to this message. This is an automatically generated message.
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