Taking a Break to Big Sur

During orientation, I thought a group trip to Big Sur, California was in order. Friends were invited, we met at my house, then carpooled about an hour down the coast. Driving down scenic Highway One, we stopped at a beautiful bridge before arriving at our destination. We took a hike up a hill to see a small waterfall, and I was surprised to learn that there were multiple state parks in the Big Sur area. The hike was delightful, and then afterwards we drove down to see the famous waterfall that empties onto a beach right on the Pacific Ocean. It was a great day to meet new friends!

Orientation at MIIS

After a great breakfast on Samson Patio new friends walked down to the theater to hear the official greeting from our Provost and then from President Sunder Ramaswamy, who is an economist. It was an inspiring day!!

Language Teaching

After living in Sri Lanka, I returned to work as a 1st grade teaching assistant at dual language(Spanish and English) immersion school in Santa Barbara. I applied to Peace Corps and, inspired by Kathy Bailey and Brandy Barter, applied to the MA Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages at the Monterey Institute of International Studies. After a quick application cycle, I was happy to be admitted.

Now in Monterey, my upcoming blogs will include my experiences and thoughts as a TESOL student.

Laughing at my progress

Well, I guess you can say that I know my goals. I AM taking classes at UCSB, albeit a year after I planned to.

I did not end up leading a service trip to Sri Lanka. It would have been fun, but the economy went down and other commitments came up in my life. I also learned that I am more of a big picture thinker than a detailed planner, and that gets in the way of me achieving big things.

However, I am moving along in life, and hope to be able to start writing about it again.

For those of you who visit, welcome!

Next Chapter

Hello! It is with great happiness, excitement and confidence that I begin the next stage of life.

I will be saving money, working, and studying to prepare for the next service trip. It looks like I will be leading a group trip to Sri Lanka summer 2010. Stay tuned for more information, but most importantly, know its coming and email me if you are interested!

I will be living in Carpenteria, California, which is about 5 minutes away from Santa Barbara. Why am I living in Carpenteria? The organization that provides the support to Sri Lanka is based nearby, and it allows me to be an active member of the board of directors. Something that is hugely important to me is the community and people I met while I went to Westmont College. Also, having worked there after I graduated, I already have the contacts and support necessary to work there.

Where will I be working?

Beginning in August 2009 I will return to Cesar Chavez Charter School, where I will be a teacher's assistant in a first grade classroom. Cesar Chavez is a bilingual education public charter school, with loads of dedicated staff. I am eager to return to work there.

I have already applied to work another job in the afternoon, so this should allow for a full schedule and me to meet my goals.

In the mean time, I am applying for summer session at UCSB in order to get some econ classes to prepare for graduate school.

I hope you all keep in touch, and maybe some of you will join me for a one month service trip to Sri Lanka in summer 2010.

Thank you for all your love and support.

Jeremy

Homecoming

Hello! I am in Santa Barabara ! It is good to be home !

I came into Los Angeles and after seeing a good friend I came back to Santa Barbara via the Airbus.

While I am jet lagged, it is actually not so bad because I have been sleeping at night, so now its just finding energy. I would love to go exercising with someone. Anyone up for a jog or bike ride?

I hope you all are well.

Let's hang out, but pLEASE don't ask me to tell you all about it. I want to hear about your year, hang out with you and relearn being friends as we all have new experiences and changes. I want to share slowly, and hope to hear about what you have been up to as well.

Jeremy

Poverty Sucks

After living in a developing country, I can truly say poverty sucks.

During one's first experience with poverty (mine was Mexico house building trips) poverty may be romanticized. "They are so poor, but they are so happy," Is a characteristic line of this sentiment. Bull.

Maybe the people have greater perserverance, maybe they are more grateful, but exisiting in insecurity is poor.

Imagine:
Having to stand in a bus to ride to work every day, because 1. There are not enough buses and 2. Private vehicles are beyond your reach.

Having to carry with you a hankie, which you cover your face with as you walk by the raw sewage passing right by the povement.

An adult working for 3-4 dollars a day, while the cost of food for that day is approximately 2 dollars per person. How to support the children? How to prepare them for school?

Insecurity provides these questions.

What to do if you get hurt and cannot afford decent care?