Teacher Lobbying

It's shocking to me how many people were at the capital this past Thursday. It was my first time experiencing political lobbying and engaging on the ground with my state representatives. As the legislative session comes to a close it seems others had the same idea.

The Georgia Association of Educators, the GA equivalent of a union (since we are a right-to-work state and this is the best we can do), tries to promote public education in a climate which is not always receptive. Working in education in the South is interesting and challenging as our state lags behind all of the New England states where I grew up. I think my day-to-day experience working in the classroom is very different than the experience of the policy wonks and politicians who perhaps very rarely set foot in a classroom. This is a common critique of educational policy makers and has especially become more prominent with the appointment of our new secretary of education Betsy school vouchers Devos.  

My experience at the capital with GAE was somehow was invigorating, frustrating, informative, and inefficient all at once. As I had never done something like this, it was a cool thing to do and perhaps, as a non-committed career teacher, a once-in-a-life-time opportunity. I came away from the day feeling like I probably did not accomplish much and I'm not sure I'll do it again. But that might just be the normal experience engaging in the democratic process as a minority citizen and the alternative of not doing anything and disengaging is a worse alternative. Most teachers are not part of the union, or I should association, in Georgia and my impression is most of them do not engage with the political side of things. It's not that we don't care, it's just that we are somewhat disconnected from the process and only when something truly big is happening do we care. The majority of us (especially non-activist types) are too busy to connect with the policy process on an ongoing basis even if it does effect our day-to-day classroom teaching experience. Mostly we just grumble and complain about the decline in education, lack of support and resources, and latest annoyance and frustration with our students. I would not call teaching a thankless task but we are part of a much larger system in which, to be a bit hackneyed, we are all just small cogs in the larger wheel.

Back the capital last Thursday, I assumed incorrectly that most of the other people at the capital would be lobbyists. One thing that seemed to make the day so busy was the number of people, who, unlike me, actually got to come to the capital on a somewhat regular basis as part of their job. The number of causes and people from different places was really surprising. G.A.E. gave us a big list of the current legislation of educational bills they were watching that we might want to take positions on before marching into the capital. 

I also experienced a very rude encounter with a man who accused me of "cheating" because I had jumped the line to speak with my senator. This is referred to as "working the ropes." But as far as the "cheating" accusation, I had no idea what was going on in all of the chaos and confusion of trying to speak to my representative. It turned out that you had to wait in a very long line to give a small piece of paper with the name of the senator or representative that you wanted to see. Once they register who you want to see (a secretary of sorts), they give your slip to a young girl or boy page who gets the person you want to see from out of the assembly. 

It was fun getting to speak to my senator although ironically I actually already knew who she was and she's very progressive. I found out that later that day the bill I was concerned about and in opposition to- the new Opportunity School Districts bill called the Chief Turnaround Officer plan, advanced that afternoon much to my chagrin. Again, I'm not sure how much this work does but I was glad to see so many citizens getting in on the ground floor of our democracy. Even Trump can't stop that.
Posing on the steps inside the Capital


Busy day at the capital


Working the ropes


Senator Nann Orroch and myself posing for a photo 
The Senate debate room

Mom visits ATL!

No time for writing these days, just a quick update here with a photo on our field trip to Roswell GA! Maya now 6 months preggers!

Winter Break, L.A., & Pregnancy

It's been awhile since my last update and with school returning technically tomorrow (teacher work day) I figure I'd do a life check-in, working backwards from Fall Break back and beyond since November. With New Years just passing I'm also posting a video from Maya's friend Priya and her mid-town apartment party so I can actually remember where I was and what I did for New Years - it was difficult counting back with Maya to think back on where we were and what we did for only the 4 New Years we've been together. Need to start remembering to remember better, although my one and only resolution this year was to get more sleep before the baby is born when I know that's over.

Speaking of baby, Maya is blowing up and most people think she must be ready to give birth any idea. Two and a half months approximately more to go though. The special treatment we (and mostly her) get is kind of fun but sometimes annoying. It's been fun feeling the kicks and getting excited about this thing that I have no idea how to do. I keep feeling like I should probably read a book or something, but it seems like everywhere I go these days I'm talking to new (and older) parents about it and getting advice anyways. The main relief is that we have a daycare set up and a good 5 months collectively where one of us will be home with the baby.

Another reoccurring theme with these discussions is marriage and parenthood and how marriage changes once you have a kid. I am a bit nervous about that too and how everyone say's your life just becomes about your kid and it becomes harder to connect with your partner. I think this must be true when you are exhausted all the time, especially earlier on. I guess it's just another one of life's stages and like entering the working world or getting married I'll figure it out when I get there. Both Maya and I are pretty cool with not going out as much anymore and leaving the bar scene behind, it's not like we go there that much now anyways. Having a baby will be hard but I imagine rewarding and life changing.

We spent the last few weeks in CA on a really fun trip with our friend's Dave and Eric Leiberman and their girlfriends. We only did a day and a half in L.A., our arrival and departure port, but it was actually pretty fun and it helped having a car which really is necessary and I have not had in years past. One thing that was funny though was how very few people around seemed to know about the amazing nature right in their backyards. We hiked Topanga Canyon, a gorgeous mountain area right inside L.A. with beautiful pacific and canyon views everywhere. A few locals we asked commented, "oh yeah, I think I've heard of that, it's near the 101 right?" Because that's how everyone refers to things there, which highway or mall something is near. That fact and how spread out L.A. is previously turned me off from the city but there are some cool neighborhoods and unique features of the city. I can see why some people love it in the same way people love NYC.

We also spent 4 days on a travel writing story to Morro Bay and the Highway 1 Discovery Route (link to be added here when it comes out). That was a ton of fun and we really got the hook up with this one. Ate amazing and fresh seafood the whole time while jumping around from whale watching (still not fun and still no whales :( ), e-biking (very fun), kayaking in an nature preserve and estuary, wine tours (I have a new appreciation even if I still don't love wine), elephant seals and sunsets, Hearst Castle, mineral hot springing, and more. We spent Christmas in Joshua Tree, a national park that's long been near the top of my list to visit. Like Acadia and other places I've been, it was incredibly distinct and beautiful and I wished I had at least a week to explore it. I'll have to come back in the warmer months to camp there at some point. Maybe with a family next time.  

This trip felt like one of my international adventures and whenever I do really cool stuff like this in the U.S. I do feel some pride in my own country. And I remember that there's so much more to explore right here at home.

Other events include the disastrous 2016 election, legitimate Shabbat with conservative Orthodox Jews in Dunwoody (a very interesting and different experience), trip to Boston for the ACTFL language conference (which was a lot of fun), Thanksgiving with the whole family for the first time in probably over a decade (it was a huge group!), 1st time curling experience, candle making, and many holiday parties, which circling back to the beginning of this update, I'll probably forget about in due time.

Palm Springs free hiking

Desert Springs Hot Springs in the Cold pool praying for not being freezing

Bouldering in Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree pano

Wish we had gotten there at daybreak and had even a whole day for this amazingness 

Cactus garden near end of the attraction side of park

Laini and Maya enjoying the writer's lunch in front of the iconic Morro Rock in Morro Bay

Sunset from Heart's Castle

Battle (?) of the elephant seals

Dave kayaking in the estuary in Morro Bay

One of just many amazing seafood meals on the SLO coast of CA

Hello Rocky!

E-Biking the Bob Jones trail in Avila Beach, turn on your nitros!

Friendly seal at San Luis Port near Avila Beach where we biked to for lunch

Hiking the Topanga Canyon pregnant

Fall 2016

Last weekend was an amazing weekend. Zach Morris, from my Guatemala trip, was in town for some job interviews, the weather was amazing, and it was a busy weekend. I played my annual game of horrible bowling with some minor improvements, just enough to break 100. After the annual Stomp and Chomp event in Cabbagetown and seeing friends in the neighborhood, the band had a house party Saturday night. It wasn't well attended but the bonfire outside was nice and it was good to play for a crowd again. 

Sunday we embarked on a Tiny Doors Atlanta hunt and a project I dreamed up a few weeks back. It took some time to convince Maya to bike pregnant but I think it was safe enough. We biked about 15 miles around Atlanta and visited about 10 of the doors where we made short video clips to someday show our newborn. It's easy to forget to record your life and to actually make and create sometimes but it's very satisfying. 

The pregnancy is going fine. I'm getting used to the idea of being a father and more excited everyday. Visiting some day cares recently made it very real. I've had my adventures going out and living my 20's and at this point this feels more like a good meaningful change. I don't know that I'll ever be more ready either than I am now. We have some ideas for names but tough to narrow it down to just 1-2. I'm not excited about the lack of sleep but having a baby will be life changing in good ways I think. Furthermore, something has to break with work and this will force me to live differently. I don't know that I can give up JV tennis coaching but I might have to at least next semester.

Despite being in my third year of teaching I'm still finding the workload super challenging to manage. I was so tired Wednesday after the election of trump and just stunned all day feeling pretty depressed. Amazing how I went from happy and awesome this weekend to this. It's pretty low. And it's also fall showcase time which is stressful and tiring as well. Seems like every morning these days I have to come in early and then stay late at night. Perhaps the annual "crawl" towards Thanksgiving is unavoidable if you want to be a good teacher that grades for accuracy (and not just completion), differentiates, calls home for failing students, and creates engaging/fun lesson plans.

The Strolling Bones November 5th, 2016

Tiny Door Hunt on a beautiful and unseasonably warm Saturday

Friend and colleague Mike Sopko dresses up for Halloween at Dunwoody

Hiking Mt. Yonah with Ethan, Charlie, and the dogs

The beautiful North Georgia mountains

Pregnant!

It's been a wild ride the last few months, or really continuously since the wedding. I remember getting a frantic skype call from Maya in New Zealand assuming I had done something wrong only to be told the great news: Maya was pregnant!

We are now about four months in and the anticipation is building. I cannot believe I am going to be a father. With Rosh Hashanah happening right now I've had some time to reflect on everything and the past year has been truly monumental. I am a nervous about fatherhood but excited at the same time. It feels so adult and weird. It feels like just yesterday I was finishing high school and embarking on my own journey to manhood and now it's almost time to help another being start on their own journey.

It's been exciting sharing the news with others and most people do not seem all that surprised. I mean, this is what you do I guess at 31 after getting married. We aren't getting any younger and I'd like to be around for more of my child's life.

Besides that big news, I've been traveling a bit lately with a trip to Asheville and camping with teacher friend's for my first ever teacher Fall Break. I also took off for the high holidays and had a 5 day weekend last week where Maya and I traveled to Savannah (see video below of hibachi grilling experience) to meet up with her parents who are considering retiring there. We saw Amos Lee which was fun, met up with some new friends, volunteered with Concrete Jungle, gone up to the North Georgia cabin (again with teacher friends), and met up with Maya's friends in Nashville.

The other big news and change in our lives has been welcoming Haig from Cameroon to our house. Haig is a newly arrived immigrant who is paraplegic and learning English, not an easy recipe for success finding work and moving to a new country. But he's a sweet guy and he seems pretty intelligent. It has been an adjustment though having some one full time in the guest room who needs our help getting around, eating, and surviving here.

The placeholder name is "Shmuel"

Savannah family dolphin hunting

Titus comes to visit ATL but no one is home

Looking after our friends' dog Luca 

VT friends visiting ATL!

Lake Hiawassee with the crew!

Vale and Tray's wedding

We've been enjoying our year's supply of Fair Trade chocolate courtesy of Theo and the World Fair Trade Day contest I won last May. Fantastic!

Haig might have to move to Canada if Donald Trump wins

Dragon Con '16

Dragon Con, according to its home page, is the "the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction & fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the universe." 70,000 people flock to Atlanta for this annual event that's been going on since 1987. In my three years of living in Atlanta I had been meaning to go but for whatever reason it hadn't worked out. One of the first people I knew in Atlanta, or even before I moved here, Holly Blaine from Sevananda Food Co-op, used to rave about it. She sadly died very young from breast cancer a few years ago.

So I biked my way over downtown this morning to see the famous parade that takes place alongside the convention and it was a pretty interesting site. Lots of people from the crowd also dress up and there's lot of fun, general weirdness and nerdiness. Actually, the best way I could describe the parade was "crowded and nerdy."

At one point, in trying to find some friends, I got stuck in a particularly bad area where too many people were trying to get through too tight a space and the result was ugly. For most of the one block passage I had people on all sides of me so uncomfortably close I couldn't move my arms or hands. I hate how some people react in this situation by pushing the person in front of them (as if that person wasn't also trying to move forward). For a claustrophobe it was a nightmare. I actually had to turn around and give up on trying to meet my friends it was so bad. One very busty girl in costume with green hair was cupping her mouth as she tried to prevent herself from vomiting on every one. Another large heavy set black woman kept yelling frantically: "I need to get to work. I work over there, just right there," as she pointed down the block. One woman with her baby crying said needed everyone to let her pass, but it wasn't a matter of permission, it was just an impossibility. Another woman started flailing her arms wildly as she lost it and spurted out: "everybody has to keep moving." But that was the problem, most people in the passage were trying to move, they just couldn't. I don't think it was the onlooker phenomenon but rather just the sheer numbers packed into such small, normally fairly open, downtown streets. In these situations I guess the bad side of humanity can rear it's ugly head.

I eventually found a parking garage with better overhead views and much more space to breath. I snapped a few photos from there.

Silver Bikers coming through

Hilary and Bill Lizard Clintons holding sign "Make America reptilian again" 

The Crowd begins to disperse 

Final WWOOFING and NZ thoughts

My trip to New Zealand was unique and the WWOOFing experience was valuable. WWOOFing makes you appreciate your regular job if your normal work doesn’t involve exceedingly hard labor. I enjoyed the cultural exchange of meeting Kiwi families and would recommend it to others. “This is our WWOOFer” they would each tell their friends and communities when they introduced us (as if that was the first thing about my identity). On the other hand, I don’t know that I’ll do it again in the future without having more of a specific idea of the type of work I wanted to gain experience in. For instance, although it wasn’t really my experience, a lot of hosts give pretty crappy repetitive jobs to WWOOFers and some even exploit the labor (see this recent article in the Christchurch Press on the topic).

One hostel offered me the chance to WWOOF in exchange for accommodation and I thought that was kind a stretch from the farm volunteering. Then again I worked construction so it’s unclear where the lined should be drawn for volunteer vs. free labor and what’s fair. The other thing I don’t like about WWOOFing is that it can establish a relationship that may be overly defined by the fundamental exchange of labor and food/accommodation. In some cases, especially I’m guessing for younger travelers on a budget, this makes sense. While some hosts may be friendlier and more welcoming, both parties know in the back of their minds why you’re there and it may prevent more of an authentic exchange from happening. But if you didn’t WWOOF, study abroad, work, write, or have some other real reason to be in New Zealand (or already know a Kiwi person) then you wouldn’t have much of an authentic reason to get any closer to the culture anyways.

Towards the end of my stay in Hokatika I saw the famous pancake rocks of Punkaiki on a marvelously bad weather day. I say marvelously because this is the best time to visit the rocks as the huge swells made the blow wholes (actually as far as I could tell it was really “a” blow hole) blow which was really cool to watch and hear. I also some glow worms, these little worms that light up at night like green little stars to attract their pray. I also had the chance to ride the Tranz Alpine train from Greymouth to Christchurch. The 4.5 hour ride cuts through the Southern Alps at Arthur’s Pass and is stunning. I wish that trains, like nice trains, were a more common feature in the U.S.

I spent two days in Christchurch looking at the earthquake torn city and reunited with my old Rwanda flat-mate Johanna. We had a great time together that went by way too fast and it was time to head back to the U.S. and very very soon new school year.

I knew New Zealand had crazy landscapes and would be amazing place to visit. However, there were other things I hadn’t known. Some of my biggest surprises about New Zealand for me were:

·      How sparse the population is: The South Island has less than a million people on it. I remember considering driving from Queenstown to Takaka in the North for a potential WWOOF farm and seeing the expected drive time to be over 12 hours!

·      Over 30% of New Zealand lives in Auckland. Everybody loves complaining about Auckland, the traffic, the housing crisis, the pricing, the South Pacific immigration crisis, etc. I’d be interested in actually exploring Auckland, as well as the North Island, next time.

·      It’s interesting how island nations can develop so differently because of their often unique climates and isolated geography. New Zealand has no squirrels, snakes, and many other common animals we know. This just seems weird to me and makes me wonder how life evolves. It also doesn’t really have dangerous animals when it’s nearby next door neighbor Australia has some of the most dangerous in the world. It also has a crazy pre-historic history of incredibly large flightless birds like the Moa (Man I would have liked to have seen one of those.

o   Also, Kiwis believe that it is a civic duty to kill the invasive rabbits or possums with any chance they get (especially using a car). Similarly, a nice small yellow looking flower that’s actually a terribly invasive weed called gorse from Scotland, is invading the country.

·      They don’t pay capital gains taxes. This is part of what’s driving the housing speculation and apparent bubble. Everybody knows it’s logical, but no politician has the balls to be the first to enact it.

·      How much people here pay attention to U.S. politics. This was less of a surprise than a reminder about how U.S. is “big brother” and whatever we are doing the whole world is always paying attention to. And I don’t mean watching like they know about Trump or Hilary, but they understand and pay attention to the details such as why Hilary should have picked Warren as her V.P.

Goals

When I first arrived in New Zealand I thought about some goals for this trip. Looking back:

·      Learn something with my hands I can take back to Atlanta -> I’d give myself a C on this one. Don’t really have something specific I can point to on this front but generally feel more willing to tinker and try doing things myself. One thing I did like about WWOOFing is that you can just dive right in from the moment you arrive somewhere and that is a good attitude to have about my own work and projects around the house. Just start.

·      Better understand Kiwi people -> Probably an A for how much you can learn in just 3 weeks about a people. The culture is similar and different to American and other Western cultures. The Maori history and culture is super important and I didn’t really get to learn as much about them as I would have liked.

·      Appreciate nature and see stuff I’ve never seen before -> A- With more time exploring the Sounds (Doubtful and Milford) and/or going to the North Island and seeing Taupo and the Tongiroro Crossing I’d probably get an A. But still, as I’ve commented on quite a bit, I feel like I did pretty well here.

Having satisfied my adventure itch for now I feel pretty good about returning to the States and the daily grind. School does start next Monday though, ahhhhhHH!

Panakaiki Blow Wholes

Lyttleton, a cool neighborhood in Christchurch where Johanna and I hiked

Christchurch has lots of container stores!

Reuniting with Johanna!

This seemed racist. One WWOOFer I met from Chili was looking for a job there

Leaving Franz Josef on a rainy day failing at hitchhiking

Mount Cook in the distance, on the way to Franz Josef

Working in Hokitika on the construction site

Enormous swells at Hokitika Beach

Od Fashioned Drying Method

At Derick and Diana's Christian Home

NZ Coastal Road

Construction Site - just starting with Peter, one of two son's of WWOOF Hosts

Tranz Alpine, stopping at Arthur's Pass 

Passing through the Southern Alps on the Tranz Alpine Train

Going to the other side of the Southern Alps on the train