May 12, 2017

The Joy of Visitors

 four people toasting with wine glasses

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…

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

April 28, 2017

Changing Routines

 desks in an empty classroom

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…

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

March 5, 2016

Casa De Campo

 dirt path with green trees on either side

This morning I went for a run in the Casa De Campo.  Casa De Campo is a 7-mile stretch of park west of downtown Madrid that used to be the royal hunting ground.  It is across town from where I live and where I usually go running (Parque de Buen Retiro). This little change in location felt empowering.  First, it forced me to get on public transit for a run, something I usually consider to be a total waste of time.  But it was nice to review the metro map, examining the stops I don’t usually get off at (Madrid has three metro stops in Casa De Campo, a phenomenal…

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

February 12, 2016

Adaptability

I’ve had a lot of time recently to consider the body’s adaptability. That is to say, I haven’t been getting very much sleep this week. Pathetically enough, I think it’s time to cut out afternoon caffeine. Sunday I had a late coffee and didn’t close my eyes until 4 AM.  Yesterday, I had a cinnamon tea at 6 PM and was up staring at the wall for the next 8 hours (actually, I took a break to go jogging.  Because, you know–tea energy).  Tonight, I went to an 8 PM dinner but in true Spanish-dinner style, walked back into my apartment at 12:28 AM.  It’s good tomorrow is Friday because…

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

May 19, 2015

How To Change the Morning Routine

 Coffee is a part of the morning routine

Lately, I’ve been questioning how to change my morning routine at work. My current customs may sound familiar: Current Morning Routine 1: Arrive to “office building” (for me: high school)2: Sit down and open computer (for me: Dell, circa 1988)3: Log into Outlook (for me: don’t get me STARTED on Outlook.  Gross)4: Waste 20 minutes on Outlook (for me: read forgettable e-mail and half-draft responses)5: Migrate to Google Chrome browser for continued “work” (for me: meme research) 6: Bell rings for the beginning of “work” (for me: “first period”)   Today I realized:  Opening my computer obliterates my morning.  Because when I get to my first period class, do you know…

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