Adios, Ohio. Hello, Honduras.

Well today is the day! The day that I leave my comfy little town of Chardon, Ohio to embark on my newest adventure to Honduras. I cannot believe all of the different emotions that I am experiencing right now-- nervous, excited, scared, anxious, elated.

I cannot WAIT to see my friends and my dear, sweet Vilma again, but goodness gracious, am I actually old enough to be a teacher!?!

Besos, Ohio.  I can't wait to see you and all your wonderful people again in December.

Meet Your Teacher: Miss Casavecchia

Throughout the past school year and summer, I have acquired many different ideas for things that I just had to have in my classroom. Thanks a lot, Pinterest. One of these things that I absolutely couldn't live without was a "Meet Your Teacher" book. I got the idea from a first year teacher who had posted on Pinterest, but then tailored it to fit my needs and personality. I highlighted each of my years in elementary school, then briefly talked about middle school, high school, and college. The last couple pages are pictures of my family, my travels, my favorite things, and some books that I just adore. I haven't exactly decided what to do with it yet, but I'm toying with the idea of reading it on the first day of school and then doing some get to know you activity. We'll see.

And there you have it. Mees Casa summed up in a three ring big book.

One Week.

One week from today I will be getting settled in Siguatepeque. I have no idea what my calendar includes for my first couples of hours/ days/ weeks there, but I'm excited to find out. I've been chit-chatting with some of the friends I made when I was down there in 2008 and cannot believe that I will actually be seeing them again. Not only will I be seeing them again, I will be with them for an entire year. I am blessed, so blessed.

Throughout the summer I've created a long list of things that I need to do/ buy/ pack before leaving. I've had all summer to do it, yet I'm just now making a dent in that list. This includes saying good-bye to people which is not, nor has it ever been, one of my strong points.

I had a small little get-together at Mentor Headlands last weekend to say good-bye to some of my friends from school and from church. It was so, so wonderful.

It's so easy to get caught up in everything that that has to be done before I leave instead of focusing on the people I want to see. These are the people who have been with me throughout so many different changes in my life and who have supported me throughout everything. These relationships are the ones that are going to withstand time-- despite that fact that I am thousands of miles away. Again.

While leaving the beach on Sunday, I found myself thinking (again) of how lucky I am to have so many people in my life that I have such a hard time saying good-bye to.

Drumroll Please.

I received pictures of my classroom the other day. After seeing these pictures, I am so stinkin' excited to be down there. So here you have it, my home away from home for the next year.

So. Stinkin'. Precious.

The Never-Ending Countdown.

I feel like my life has been a never-ending countdown since about November of last year. Counting down the days until I left for Rio, counting down until I came home and saw my friends again, counting down until graduation, counting down until I leave for Honduras. I like to think that I have a pretty good handle on living in the present, seizing the day, carpe diem-ing, but it always seems like I have something big and exciting ahead of me.

That being said-- I officially have one month until my arrival in Honduras! I've purchased my plane ticket and will be arriving in Honduras a little before noon on August 10. I will remain in Central America until mid-December when I will be returning to the States to spend a lovely Christmas holiday with my family and friends.

I've spent the past couple of days/weeks preparing myself for my latest adventure. Which strangely enough isn't going to Honduras, but actually having my own classroom. I'm slowly, and I mean sloooooowly, getting things ready for my classroom and have kind of, sort of, not really thought about lesson plans. I know that I just need to jump in and do it, but looking at the year plan makes me a little sick to my stomach. It's a little late in the game to be questioning my career choice, but sometimes I just don't feel like I'm able/ old enough to have my own class!

Thirty days. Wow.

The Decision.

Not to mirror Lebron in the heat of the NBA Finals (see what I did there?), but I have to say, I'm taking my talents to Honduras.

Yes, it's true. As of yesterday,  I am the 1st and 2nd grade English teacher at Siguatepeque Bilingual Christian School in Siguatepeque, Honduras. I am incredibly excited and blessed to be given this opportunity and cannot wait to get started! That isn't to say that I'm not nervous because I really don't feel old enough to be a teacher!!

As far as the logistics go, I'm employed on a year to year basis. So next summer I can decide that I want to stay for longer and, assuming that the school likes me, I can sign up for another year. If not, I'll be in Honduras until June. I leave the States on August 10 and school begins at the end of August. I will be in Honduras from August- mid December. I'll be able to spend Christmas and New Years at home and will the return to Honduras at the beginning of January. After that, I'll be home in June to enjoy the summer with my family and friends.

And when I get to Siguatepeque, I have this little gem waiting to see me.

Miss Vilma, I'm coming for you! <3