Soul Searching

Early this fall, my friend Sarah and her mother introduced me to some art therapy of sorts. The specific method is called Soul Collage. I really recommend it to darn near everyone. For one thing, it's just fun. For another, it reveals a lot about yourself, that you may, or may not, have known. It's a relatively easy and painless process. All you need are tons of magazine pictures (no words), some mat board, scissors, and glue. Once you have materials, you basically just pick out a few pictures that "call to you." You may not really know why you grab the pictures you do, but all will be revealed through the process. Once you have your pictures, you start cutting out, maybe even tearing, and arranging your pieces on your mat board as you see fit. It's strange how it all just sort of "comes together." It's a great process for me, because it let's me stop thinking about how things "should" be and just let's things be. It's quite mindless, and therefore, really relaxing! Once your pictures are arranged, then comes the gluing. The final step is reflecting on your piece, and letting it "speak to you" in a way. You get to ask your card questions and just see what comes up for you. This for me, typically means, lots of tears and giggles. I have not completed nearly as many as I want to, and am working on dedicating at least one time per month to work on more. So far, here's what I've come up with... Enjoy! I wish there was a way that I could add captions, and such but I really don't want to take the time to figure it out right now. Titles: Top Left - Catholic Guilt Top Right - Worry Middle Left - Washing Away Middle Right - Sin in the City Bottom Left - Balance If anyone of you readers has an interest in participating, or trying your hand at Soul Collage, please let me know! I'd be happy to help you get started!

From Costa Rica to the Classroom

I think six months is sufficient duration for me to pick up the blogging again. The thing is, life in Eugene, typically isn't that exciting. I guess I could really write about anything, and I definitely have some very funny stories from San Francisco and my birthday to share. Of course, that would mean that I'd have to get permission from the innocent parties that were involved. One thing I don't need permission, for, however, is telling stories about my hilarious and eclectic students. This week has been hard, which I feel ridiculous saying because I have 3 students. It should be the easiest job in the world, and quite, honestly, it probably is easier than most other teaching jobs because of all the support I have. However, this week my students have said a couple of things that have really caused me to laugh. I don't laugh in the moment, of course, I jot it down, and wait 'til they leave to really get my giggles. Anyway, here are some highlights from the week... The kids were playing the Positive Thinking Game with their social skills teacher a couple of days ago. In the game, the kids draw situation cards and then have to come up with a "positive" way of looking at the situation, or a "positive" thing to say in response to the situation. So, the other day, one of my students drew the situation that he had gone to the dentist and found out he had to have three cavities filled. How could he positively respond? He exclaimed, "Well, I'd tell him he'd better seduce me because that would hurt!" That is no typo. That's honestly how he thinks that word should be used. His other favorite exclamation of this week is, "Oh my, frickin' out loud!" Again, makes no sense. Another one of our students likes to shout, "What the FLIM FLAM!?" when he is upset about something. Today, another one of my students told me a great story, and I wouldn't feel right if I deprived others from hearing it. Title: How To Make Turtle Soup "Okay, first, you have to find a turtle. If you see one walking by, pick it up, and pull off it's shell. Then, let it walk away. Then, you take the shell pour some soup in it, and pop it in the microwave. Let it cook for three or four minutes in there, and when the microwave beeps, that means it's done. Then you can eat it, but DO NOT eat the shell. That'd be bad." The end. These stories actually make my students sound really charming. They can be, but this week they have been anything but! So, I have to find the little redeeming pieces and cling to them for dear life. Clinging on... Judy