Elise and I are back in Abu Dhabi after what feels like a complete whirlwind of a month. Don’t get me wrong, it was wonderful to be home, but it was also exhausting! And, after being home in the frigid temps for a few days, I have to say, I was ready to come back to Abu Dhabi ASAP! In fact, I was feeling like such a wimp that I almost changed my plane ticket to fly back early. But, there were a couple of things that kept me in Colorado, one of which was a visit I was looking forward to on my last day in town!
So, let me backtrack. In January of 2007 I started the Initial Professional Teacher Education (IPTE) Program at CU Denver. I wanted to be a science teacher! The IPTE Program, or just “The Program” as we so lovingly called it, could last 12 or 18 months depending on which “track” you were on. Which one you signed up for depended on the requirements you needed to fulfill and also determined your “cohort” – or, who you would be going through The Program with. I was lucky to be in The Program with a pretty amazing cohort. Not long after we all started, it was decided that we needed some after hours support sessions, and by that I mean Thursday afternoon HAPPY HOUR! For the duration of The Program and also for most of our first years teaching, a group of us all went out for happy hour at various locations in Denver after school on Thursdays. It was just what we needed!
Fast forward to 2011. Many of us are no longer teaching and a lot of us have moved away from Colorado. It’s rare to get the whole group back together, but whenever I’m home I try to see whoever I can. This time I was lucky that my old pal Katie, who is now working at a charter school in Arizona, was going to be in Colorado Springs for a wedding that last weekend I was home. She and I, along with our friend Kari (who is also still teaching) decided to get together for breakfast. It was awesome and just what I needed to wrap up my visit home. The thing I love about these two is that whenever we finally get to see each other, it’s like no time has passed. It’s hard to believe that it’s been years since we were down at Proto’s Pizzeria in the Highlands talking about … well, we won’t talk about that, but anyway. I just love those two ladies and think that they are both so amazing. And I’m incredibly grateful to have friends that don’t hold it against me that I’m living so far away, and that I’m so terrible at keeping in touch. I miss you guys!
Kari, Katie, me, and Elise
Katie
That’s so cool you were all able to get together again…what are the chances?! Glad you’re back to warmer temps, too – send some our way!