live fabulous Archives - Page 4 of 12 - Rhymes with Fabulous

January 18, 2018

Thai Massage: How To Relax and Enjoy

This past weekend, I went for my first Thai massage (Kenika Thai Massage for those of you who are interested). Thai massage is fabulous! Here’s what you need to know: 1. The lady at the desk procured me a little bowl of water on a flower-covered serving tray. The provision of water is, without a doubt, one of my favorite parts of a body treatment service. Finally, someone concerned about my hydration. This is how dogs must feel all the time! 2. I was led into my little Thai massage room and given pajamas! Yes, I love spa robes. But I don’t love anything as much as I love pajamas….

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

January 10, 2018

New Year, New Me

Happy 2018! In the spirit of a true ‘New Year, New Me’ attitude, I’ve been busy these first few days of January. New Year, New Me Activities: 1. Purchased a large pile of books in a country I don’t live in (one of my favorite activities and makes packing a dream come true! I once moved to New Zealand for 10 months and brought 1 pair of pants and 10 pounds of books with me)2. Seen a Rangers game (they lost)3. Been stranded in the bomb cyclone back-up at JFK airport (I do NOT recommend this)4. Completed (almost) my first Coursera course (I HIGHLY recommend this–very interesting!)5. Woken up at 2 AM…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

December 29, 2017

Expat Return to the USA

When I return to the USA for the holidays, there are always some surprises in store. Expat Return to the USA Observations First, I continually forget how desensitized I am to background conversation. In Spain, I need to really concentrate to eavesdrop, on the streets of New York it is as easy as hailing a cab. And I LOVE eavesdropping! No Susan, you shouldn’t call him again before he calls you back; yes little 22-year-old Morgan Stanley intern, your boss does think you’re a total idiot; no bro-bra-bro, those girls from Whiskey Ward are definitely not going to call you even though you spent ‘like $200’. It’s so nice to…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

June 24, 2017

End of School Questions

The end of school was yesterday in Madrid. Each year this generates procrastination and despair over grading creative inspiration and time to consider blog fodder. (For notes from a previous year, click here) This year, as I cleaned out my desk, I found myself avoiding grading my finals asking some important self-knowledge questions: Important End Of School Questions 1. Do people in other professions love office supplies the way teachers do? My favorite are binder clips!! I have them in all my drawers at school, small recycled glass jars full of a multi-sized rainbow of binder clips. They also accumulate in my purses and my kitchen (for when I grade…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

June 19, 2017

Getting Old(er)

There are a few moments in my life when I know without a doubt that I am getting older. In no particular order: Moments of Getting Older 1. I’m excited to have a coffee Friday after work. 2. I realize that the bartender/waitress/DOCTOR is younger than me. 3. I have no idea what emoticons mean (or text abbreviations). 4. I relish bringing my lunch to work. And the most recent addition to the list…. 5. I buy travel insurance. Old People (Me) and Travel Insurance I noticed the travel insurance this spring. I tend to purchase large quantities of airline tickets all at one time (not that weird for some…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

June 4, 2017

Ex-Pat Problems: Medical Grade Spanish

As an American living in Spain, I deal with a variety of ex-pat problems. Lack of familiar food. Different cultural customs. And of course, everything is rooted in ex-pat problem numero uno: the tremendous language barrier. I try not to let it bother me. Instead, I consider it an engaging challenge. It’s like talking to people is a puzzle with lots of moving parts that don’t fit together. I get to smile and laugh helplessly. Fun! (See vaguely related post here. And here.) But after some stupid attempts at Spanish hospital visits during my first year in Spain, I realized something. I draw the line at my medical appointments….

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

May 28, 2017

The Problem with To Do Lists

As a consummate planner, it may surprise you that I found a problem with ‘to-do’ lists. I know! I hear you gasping in surprise. Yes, ‘to-do’ lists are GREAT in many ways. My to-do list each day includes items from “drink coffee” to “plan summer” (the latter obvious must be broken down into several obsessive compulsive sub-categories including plane tickets, hotel reservations, and Facetime conversations with friends so I can beg to sleep on their floors. Love you guys!) In these to-do lists, I have been able to manage some significant accomplishments: Example 1: Getting hired at my current job. The to-do list stretched out over almost 6 months and…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

May 20, 2017

The Big Questions: What Color Were the Walls?

With my students gone into their IB exams, spring is a time for exploring the big questions. The first one: Why do I spend so much time on minutia? I go through whole days focused on small moments: “Where are my keys?”“Did I turn off the stove?”“How many rides do I have left on my train pass?”“What is my password for the Iberia Miles program?”“Do I have enough money for coffee?”“Do I have a lesson plan for class tomorrow?”“Where are my keys?” (This comes up a lot) The answers to these questions are relatively simple. -My keys are in my bag. (They always are.) -Yes, I turned off the stove….

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

May 12, 2017

The Joy of Visitors

Is there any greater joy than the joy of visitors? I know house guests get a bad rap, but this week I fall firmly on the pro side. Why, you ask? This week, my dad and his girlfriend have been visiting me in Madrid. (Hi, Dad!) While they’ve been here, I’ve been thinking about the issue of houseguests. It’s a complicated question. Sometimes, it’s difficult to host people. When done correctly, it requires revising a regular schedule, creating interesting diversions and a lot of talking. However, for the right company it’s 100% worth it. Here’s a short list of the things I did this week while I normally would have…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

April 28, 2017

Changing Routines

Changing routines have been on my mind this week. Why? You are dying to know! Here it is: My seniors start their IB exams today. For them that means a three-week period of tests more difficult than most they will take in college, with an open door into of the next step of their young adult life on the other side. For me it means…..they have stopped coming to my class!! As a high school science teacher at an international school, I had 2 sections of 12th grade students. I have been with them for the past 2 years, working through a 400 page environmental science textbook (“IB Environmental Systems and…

written by carolineschley@gmail.com - Posted in live fabulous

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