Happy days

.. Call for happy songs!

A touch of fresh pearls

How I love this place... I could eat there every week without getting tired of it. Such a fascinating combination of healthy flavors that one simply can not help to try them all. From Left top to bottom right: Epic Egg Burger; Bowl Chicken Curry (Bombay Chicken I believe); Grilled Dorado Wrap with Falafel and Green Glow Smoothie.

Lovely lunch with my good friends Jina and Michelle, before heading to POP for an afternoon of 20's style details. The feathers, the gloves, the sparkling and of course, the pearls. Oh the pears. It wasn't for me and I  still had to try them on! ahaha  What do you think? A little too much?

Valentine's day - The Bake Sale

          And what is a Valentine's day without a sweet sugary Bake Sale made by my amazing 9th Grade bakers? They really are the most talent kids that I ever had the pleasure to meet! And their baking skills are completely of the scale! The chocolate cake that you can see here, takes to me heaven in every single bite. I had have some really good brownies, but nothing compares to this one. 

What a delight to the palate and to the soul. 

          And they don't bake just for this little sales you know? They started taking on special requests and making a business out of it. They sold a passion fruit cheesecake to one teacher, a chocolate cake to other, a "Tres leches" to me and they even bake for the 12th grades bake sale. That’s a future on the making, or maybe just a really good hobby. The point is, their incredible. 

Teachers friendship notes

Remember about what I said about teachers writing friendship notes to one another?

I have the most amazing colleagues and they also wrote me some beautiful words that I want to share here with you.

The Beauty of the unexpected things

And I can't say this too much. The unexpected is so much better. 

Don't you just love those days when anything can happen? Well I love them. 

And this Saturday was just one of the few examples of those days. Days that happen always in the company of the most amazing people on the planet - Eric and Khristiane. With them, you never know what to expect, what they will do, what the future will bring. 

Well this Saturday it started out with an invitation for waffles at Cabarete in a sweet little place called Vagamundo. 

Pictures from Tripadvisor

In here you can have your coffee with delicious waffles, play a few games or just bring your computer and work, because it's such a relaxing and light place that you just feel good there. You can just enjoy it for a while and be at peace.

And we did. We played Checkers and then Citadels which we can't get enough. We love this game! Ed joined the group and we had a lovely afternoon.

And then the unexpected (well, in our case, is actually very expected this next part)! What did we do after? If you're thinking in Mojitos, you are correct. We are starting to get a little predictable. I need to find another drink  (another drink, not another habit)!

Me and the boys made our way to the beach to hit the happy hour at Mojitos while Khris got a little delay on her way. She found free wine. So she met us later for hers who know what number drink. 

Sunset, mojitos, beach. Really... What more can you ask?

Every day... The perks of living here.

And if weren't having an amazing day, the best fish tacos on the world got us there for sure! Ai Gorditos, if I could order to Sosúa, I would be having fish tacos for dinner every night! Such a sin! Too good to stop at one, or two, or argh! They're just too good! Point!

We had some good laughs, a glass of sangria and just talked and talked and talked. Olive met us there and from there we continued our night (by then was like 9 pm) heading down the road to the next Mojito place - La Bocata - to keep on rolling the happy hour. Eventually we will come up with a happy hour schedule for the different bars, but for now, the two best mojitos work just fine.

This was already a pretty good saturday night! But with all the drinking we had to finish it in the dance floor! And my dear friends, we did it! We danced our asses of! And it was so funny and freeing and hot! Loved it! Saw Eric dancing a lot, even Ed was showing of some moves! And I got to meet up with Doug too! A friend that I haven't seen since last year when he came to my house and Cipe's for a drink! It was really good see him again and have fun!

What a good Saturday it was. Indeed, the beauty of the unexpected things.

Valentine's almost here

... and with him so does poetry in our school.

They have been asking us to write a few words of appreciation and friendship to our fellow coworkers and today, finally, I decided to do so.

Teacher Alida wrote me such a beautiful poem that inspired me to make my own, dedicated to all of them. My friends, my family in the DR, my joy.

To you,

A mis compañeros

Me gustaría escribir poemas

A todos mis compañeros y amigos

Dejar-les una pequeña notita

Con mis deseos sinceros y queridos

Sin saber rimar como poeta

Voy hacer lo mejor que pueda

Pero perdonen los errores

Sin Portugués solo Portunhol se queda

Empiezo por mi querida Jina

Que tanto amor me hay mostrado

Desde que llegue al País,

Mi familia se hay tornado.

Igual con Johan mi hermano

De mil sonrisas y melodías

Nunca me deja quedar mal

Siempre a mi lado todos los días

Y mucho tengo que agradecer

A la persona que escribo en seguida

Me inspira y ensena desde que llegue

Cosas que llevo para toda la vida.

De Alida hablo con el corazón lleno de amor

Gracias por todos sus consejos y

Nuestros momentos de humor.

Y sin Delvira mi amiga

Nada sería tan divertido

Es la alegría de todos los maestros

Con ella ningún día es aburrido.

Ahora que está esperando una persona más

Solo le deseo felicidades sin fin

Que su vida sea siempre llena de amor

Entre mil colores y olor de alecrín.

To Michelle I’ll write in English

Would be fool to do it otherwise

After that I’ll continue in Spanish

To the rest of my friends with words of apprize

My dear friend I just want to tell you

Many adventures and good moments we spent

Laughing after a glass of wine or two

Let’s keep it that way from here till the end

May our journey flourish some more

To ease the work we still have to endure.

A mi compañero Joel

Todas las palabras son pocas

Siempre listo a ayudar-me

Y hacer me reír con cosas locas

Junta-se Orlando al grupo y continua la diversión

Que ricos momentos tenemos pasado

Gracias mis compañeros por los amigos que son.

Y Sara mi querida

Te quiero mucho aunque no estés aquí

 Espero que te pongas buena pronto

Yo estaré orando por ti

Y no piensen que me olvide

De quien siempre se sienta en el canto

Elizabeth se queda en silencio hasta que oigamos su canto

Ya oportunidades tuvimos

De convivir fuera de aquí

Me encantó conocer-te

Que tengamos más aventuras así.

Termino diciendo-les a todos

Lo cuanto son importantes para mí

Me tomaran de brazos abiertos

Cuando llegue perdida hasta aquí

Hoy me veo como una mujer nueva

Cambiada por enseñanzas y una cultura diferente

Para Portugal llevo mil memorias

Y historias maravillosas para contar a mi gente.

My Valentine students

And inspired by the week of love, I wrote a few words to my homeroom class. 

To you, my class

This is a poem to you,

my class, my students, my smile.

To remember the moments we’ve been through,

worth flying the extra mile.

I want to express one by one,

what simple awards won’t suffice.

The appreciation of a teacher

to her students has no price.

Starting with our tiny Sun and Light,

Paula’s a joy to us all.

Jumping and laughing all the time,

Always keep on standing tall.

Europe gave the school a bunch of students,

And in my class we have a few.

Flying to Italy we meet Isabella,

a fearless dancer and kind heart too.

She is always ready to learn

and never afraid to ask.

No wonder her last name is Forte,

she is always up to the task.

From France we greet Diane

The first in the morning to say Bonjour

Tender heart and the sweetest soul

Always kind with a smile so pure.

This year she brought a new friend

And what a breath of fresh air it has been

He keeps surprising me every day

Like no one I ever seen.

By now you know who I’m talking about

Our only boy is Emile

Always cheerful, funny and sweet

He learned so fast it was surreal!

At last but not the least

The sweetest as sweet can be

Maitena your heart is made of pure gold

Hidden in secret so no one can see

Always graceful and always kind

Revealing the tenderness inside of her soul

Incredible hard worker and always on time

No doubt she will succeed in achieving her goal.

And let’s not forget the inseparable two.

The feistiest girls I’ve ever met

One is Jakaira the other is Melissa

Nothing will tear apart this incredible duet.

They’re not an open book as others

Many secrets these two share

But little by little I came to know them

And big things for them lie ahead

My story is almost complete

With the last duo I’ll get to the end

And I’ll start with the brave Daniela

Who’s wisdom I have to commend.

Her incredible brilliance can’t be compared

Always focused from start until the end

An Aspiring star with a great path ahead

Sharing the happiness wherever she goes

And speaking Korean as only she knows.

And my dear darling Divanni

What to say that wasn’t mentioned before

Besides the dedication that we can’t ignore

And being a sweetheart I’ve always adored.

Always helpful and respectful of others

Shining in secret waiting to open her wings

And fly far away to meet her hopes and dreams

This class story will have a beautiful end

Maybe Science, Literature or baking who knows?

The important is that I’m here to guide you all

From DR, Portugal or wherever the wind blows.

Hope you know how proud I am to be your teacher

Proud of every single one of you

It has been lovely to go through this journey together

And being here to celebrate Valentine’s with you.

T. Maria