Ahhh the perfect topic for my blog this week.  I packed up my classroom and said goodbye to my class yesterday. An hour ago I was packing and shopping for a camping trip. The sun came out and I could see people outside enjoying it as I drove into town. Summertime has officially begun.

                             This is one of the joys of being a teacher ten weeks off to do as I wish. This is my time to relax, reflect, catch up, and rejuvenate.  I also like to travel and see friends. Whatever it is I am doing everything seems sweeter because I am using my own time to do what I want to do with it. I always feel filled up with a new kind of energy.

                             The past few summers I got the opportunity to travel with one of my best friends, Brie,  and help out in a community. We’ve been to Mexico helping out in an orphanage, New Orleans gutting out houses, and Costa Rica taking care of animals at a sanctuary. All these experiences have been very positive and uplifting for me. I’ve met new people, learned about different cultures, given back to a community, and had a new appreciation for the things I have. These experiences are part of my most treasured memories.

                 I also use the free time I have to catch up on things I didn’t have time to do before like fixing small repairs on my car, writing letters or visiting a friend I haven’t seen in awhile. I love going to eat with friends at a restaurant that has outdoor seating near water, like in Newburyport or Portsmouth. These are places where you can watch the people go by. In New England, in the summertime, people seem to come alive after being cooped up for so long.

                         In future summers I would like to continue exactly what I have been doing. I would like to continue traveling to new places (Europe, baby here I come!), catching up on unfinished things, and spending time with friends. I feel like the summertime is my opportunity for adventure and fun! I hope I always feel that way.