Happy Valentine's Day!

Ah, Valentine's day. Hallmark holiday? Christian holiday? American holiday? Well, I'll tell you what... I don't really care WHOSE holiday it is- I think it's nice to be reminded (especially in this fast paced world where often we DON'T take the time to really be with our special someone) to spend a day, or an evening, with the one you love. I'm not saying it has to be expensive, it's more about time to me.

Earlier this week, or maybe it was last week, Joel was thinking about booking a bus to get to the clinic on Sat the 14th, because he had another check up for his broken hand. Last time he went to the clinic, he got there around 2, and left at nearly 8. So he put it to me, that if I was willing to go with him to the clinic on that day and sit with him all the hours that he would probably end up being there, then we could go out for Chinese that night, for Valentine's Day. I was impressed that he came up with this plan (points for him!) and agreed to it.

But then, it turns out, he actually had an appointment time - at 8:30 am! So he ended up getting up early on a Saturday (for that matter so did I!)- he left school at 7:30, got to the clinic at just past 8, saw the doctor at 12, went to get an x-ray, another hour before he got that, at 1:30 the x-ray was ready, and then YAY! He got his cast off. He was home by 3. If you're interested I got up early to go for a run- 7k! (and I did it- running the whole way!) and then went into town to go shopping at a store called Jumbo. I still got home way earlier than he did.

Anyway, so then we were both home in the afternoon, took naps (I was really tired after the middle of the night blogging and the long run that morning!), and then finally got dressed for the big night out! There was one small problem though- even though he had really tried his best, Joel had not ever been able to find the phone number for the Chinese restaurant that we wanted to go to. Not even the locals could find it for him. So, when we showed up at the Chinese place all decked out, we got turned away at the door. Darn. It really stunk because, we had even talked during the ride into town about what we were going to eat, etc. We were both pretty excited about it, I'd say!

So, after being turned away, we got back in the van, and told the driver to drive further along the Ilha until we found a restaurant. We knew there were a couple Indian restaurants in the same area, and thought it would be good to try to find one of those (Indian and Chinese can be counted on for vegetarian food- other, especially Angolan/Portueguese restaurants, not so much). We finally did spot the one and Joel ran inside to ask if they had any available tables.

He came out laughing to himself and with a big smile on his face. He opened the door and said that yes, there are still tables, but, the restaurant was having a "Valentine's Dinner and Dance" for a set price of 8,500 Kwanza (or $110) a head. We thought about it, and then said, "Eh, f-it. We might not find anything else- let's just do it!" So we told the driver to "stand by" and headed inside.

Lordy, lordy- the red, the white, the gold, the hearts, the balloons, the strobe lights, the lasers, the cheesy, cheesy, bad music, the flower arrangements, the peacock feather arrangements (!)- it was all VERY over the top!

When we walked in the floor was littered with heart shaped balloons that said, "I love you", the lights were dim, and as Joel forked over the ridiculous amount of money, the maitre d' handed me a rose (yes the one pictured above). I have to say that was a nice surprise, because aside from a few flowering bush type things, you don't see flowers in Luanda. You can't buy flowers. It's almost like they don't exist here. But I got a red rose on Valentine's Day. :)

So then we sat down, and ordered drinks. I wanted white wine, Joel (trying to do it up right for such a night out, skipped the coke and) asked for red. Next thing we know, they bring us whole bottles each- one for me, one for him. They say, "Sorry, we only have bottles tonight." We were like,"Uh, but is it expensive?" And they said, "No, you already paid for everything!" Well, ok then!

We sat for a long time, and our tummies started to rumble...finally we saw some people getting up and going to the buffet- and just then, our waiter came and told us to help ourselves, so we went. I won't go into details about the food- it was Indian, had a good spread of both veg and meat items, and we both stuffed ourselves. I also had dessert, although Joel just had one cracker with cheese. It was all very good.

The waiter kept coming back and filling up our glasses when they were not nearly empty, and we both got close to drinking a whole bottle of wine. Finally, we decided to leave- Joel was getting antsy, although, it was only nearing 11, and people weren't even dancing yet- actually because Angola has the Portuguese influence, people often start their dining experience somwhere between 10 and 11- maybe even later! So, as we were leaving, there were people just still coming in. And I'm sure the bad dj eventually got some people out on the dance floor, to boogie down to the awful music.

Anyway- if you're wondering about the "I love you" heart with the two monkeys in the picture with the rose- well, that is what *I* got Joel for Valentine's Day. When I was at the store that morning, there was a variety of totally crappy stuff like that, but no nice boxes of chocolates or anything like that, so I decided, "when in Rome..." :) I told Joel he should take the heart to his classroom so he can remember how much I love him every day- and maybe so that we don't have to see it every day in our house. :)

Hope your Valentine's Day was happy too! :)

Another accomplishment

I have not kept up a regular yoga practice in quite some time- years in fact. Long gone are the days, in China, when my regular routine was leave work at 5:15, catch a cab (and a nap) to the bumper to bumper car packed corner of Fuxing Xi Lu and Huashan Lu, where I would jump out of the cab, run inside, and make a 6:00 Flow class every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (I went on Saturdays or Sundays too, but that was a different routine). I have not since experienced the commitment, the zen, the flexibility or the yoga butt that I had at that time. Lord do I miss all four. In Latvia I went to several different classes and studios, but never found a place where I really felt at home, and therefore, never found a regular practice.

Since being in Angola, I have pulled out a yoga dvd (and done it!) a handful of times- not a lot. But, since I started going to the gym more regularly, I also added in one of my very favorite asanas (poses). The good ole headstand, as pictured above (and yes, I do my headstands close to a wall, in case I need the support, but, the whole time I am up in the headstand, I am unsupported by the wall- I am freely standing on my head/arms). It's good for lots of things- including but not limited to (according to yogajournal.com):

• Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
• Stimulates the pituitary and pineal glands
• Strengthens the arms, legs, and spine
• Strengthens the lungs
• Tones the abdominal organs
• Improves digestion
• Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
• Therapeutic for asthma, infertility, insomnia, and sinusitis

When I read the list of benefits, it's crystal clear to me right away, why I like the pose so much. Relieves my depression, aids my weak guts, and helps me have babies? I'm in love!

I read recently in one of the daily (or weekly?) yoga emails I receive that in order to receive the benefits of headstand, you must stay in it for 3 minutes. Since I go to the gym alone, I don't have a watch with a timer, nor a clock that I can see when I stand on my head, I don't know how long I stay up there.

Luckily, recently, I have been in the gym at the same time as the colleague of mine who's been supportive of my running. So I've asked her to time me. She lets me know each minute that passes, and then I come out of headstand at 3 minutes.

Today though, I felt strong, and after my 5k on Sunday (and 4k yesterday), I was ready to push for more. So, when my colleague told me three minutes had passed, I told her I was just going to see how much longer I could go. I actually muttered some incomplete phrase at her, using some of the words I wanted- because when you're as focused as you need to be to be safely in a headstand, talking is not a thing you want to do. Anyway, next I knew she was telling me it was 4 minutes, and then it was 5. My legs were starting to sway at that point (a sign of fatigue, when you can no longer hold yourself steady), so I decided to lower myself down.

I'm doing good with 5's these days.... 5k run on the treadmill, 5 minutes in headstand...hmm...5 um, ok, well, that's all. But I think both are cool.

10 minute headstands, here I come!

For the record...

I got up this morning, ON A SUNDAY MORNING, at 6am, to go for a run! And I ran....wait for it, wait for it....

5k!

We're going to the beach today, and I knew that if I didn't go run before, it wouldn't happen today...but I already didn't run Friday and Saturday, so I really wanted to go today. So I did it.

Now I have to get Joel out of bed and get us ready for the beach, because the boy ain't getting up!

P.S. Mere, I know that they say that the intervals are more effective for calorie burn- here is my problem. When I run on a treadmill, it doesn't count my real calories, it counts only according to its own gadgets. So, when I run, I don't see as big a number at the end of the interval run as I do at the end of the straight runs. Also, I will say that the interval runs feel easier than the straight runs. So, right now, everything is conspiring against me to make me think that straight running is more work, and therefore more calories. Clearly, what I need is a good heart-rate monitor, so I can actually know what I am doing calorie wise. Maybe a certain someone who told me last night that he doesn't know what to get me for Christmas, *coughJoelcough*, might read this, and surprise me with one. :)

Learning to run...

I've gotten back on the exercise wagon- my sticker chart is up to 35 stickers now- 20 of which have yet to be redeemed. I think I'll be getting a mani/pedi in Oz; maybe just before our party. :)

Anyway- last week, when I decided to head back to the gym, something got me on the treadmill, running, not walking. Don't know what it was, and I don't know why- but I found myself running, and enjoying it!

I started that first day setting the timer for 20 minutes- and I warmed up for 5 of those and cooled down for 2. I used a "run 2 minutes/walk 1" pattern to get started. That first day, those first 20 minutes seemed ok. It wasn't too hard, but felt like exercise that was actually accomplishing something.

I went back the next day and tried again. I ran a little faster, but kept to the 2/1 intervals.

On the weekend, I went back to gym again, and decided to push myself. I upped my time to 25 minutes. I did it again the next day.

I had heard of a program called "Couch to 5K"- a running guide to get basically anyone off the couch, and eventually, running a 5km distance. Sounded good. After enjoying the few previous runs, I started thinking about doing a program like the C25K one. I also mentioned my interest to a fellow teacher, who is a real runner (one marathon in her past, she's training for the next). I also started to, for the first time, watch the distance counter on the treadmill (instead of the time, or the calories burned).

My previously mentioned colleague stopped by on Monday and handed me some papers- a beginners running program that she had printed for me. I glanced at the first week, and saw that in the first week a couple 3K runs and at least one 5k run were included! I thanked her, but also said that I thought I might need a beginner beginners program if this one included 3 and 5ks in the first week!

But then I went to the gym. I decided to push myself some more. Still using the 2/1 intervals, I selected 25 minutes again, and upped my speeds. I surprised the crap out of myself that day by running 3.3km. Who knew I could do that?!?

All of a sudden, that 5k didn't seem that far off!

Over the last two days, I upped my time to 30 minutes on the treadmill, and upped my speeds. Yesterday I ran 3.9km, and today, 4.1km. Oh, and, today, I didn't run/walk in intervals. I just kept running, telling myself that if I felt pain, got a cramp, felt too out of breath, I would walk. I ran for 25 minutes only taking one 1-minute walking interval in that time.

I'll do a 5k next week.

I'm not really sure what I'm doing when it comes to this running thing. I'm not following a program, and maybe I should. Maybe I should do some reading on the Internet and just take note of some pointers.

The thing I am doing is listening to my body. I'm not pushing myself further or faster than I can go. But, at the same time, I am pushing myself when it feels easy, when it feels like I can do more- and look, turns out I can do more!

What surprises me is that before, any time I tried to run, it was always the breathing that got me. I would have to stop because I would get a cramp in my side, because I couldn't breathe. My legs never felt that tired, they always felt like I could keep going, but I couldn't breathe. This time, I'm not having this problem. I mean, the 25 minutes today blew me away, because that was a long time running, without any problem breathing! I found myself wondering if possibly, I'm not just that much further from the abuse I used to inflict on my lungs (it's been nearly a year and a half since I quit smoking now).

So, I'm learning to run. I'm enjoying it. I'm still aware that I am running measly distances compared to most real "runners". I remember my brother heading out for a run in high school- I think he'd head out and do 10 miles in an afternoon. Yeah, I'm still a ways off that! And, I am running 1-2 kph slower than my running colleague. But she even said that for a beginner, I'm moving at a good pace.

I've started tracking my runs- because I think it'll be fun to watch my progress. So far, the progress is pretty impressive. I'm excited to keep going, and see what I can achieve.

An unexpected and truly wonderful surprise

The following email just popped up in my inbox a second ago... unexpected, and truly wonderful... (details have been changed to preserve anonymity)

Dear Mara,
Mitch is in Advanced Language Arts this year. As an assignment they needed to write a letter to a person who has influenced them. Naturally, YOU were selected!!! ...I have to admit, I am a tad bit JEALOUS!!! (hee hee).

I will type you what Mitchell wrote...

"Dear Mrs. Putelis, (yes, MRS....)

You will be a teacher that I will remember for a long time. You are important to me because you were my first teacher. I was nervous on the first day of school but when you said my name, I felt better. After that day I wasn't nervous at all.

I'll never forget when we danced in the class to the Numa Numa song. You would play the song from the internet and we would dance all around the classroom. I told the other class and they danced, too. It was a fun time.

I especially liked when you let us have inside recess. The room that we got to play in was fun because it had a ball pit. We also played in the tubes that you can climb in. I had a fun time and I'm glad you took us there.

I'm in the fourth grade in Small Town, Ohio. I still remember my kindergarten class in China.

I just want to thank you for being a great kindergarten teacher.

Sincerely,
Mitchell"


...They had to write this letter in cursive. I must admit he has great penmanship!! He wanted to mail it to you, but then thought that this would be the best way for you to get it!

I KNOW he would LOVE to hear from you, if you have time to drop him an email!!! We think of you every time we see your name on MSN pop up. Mitch is too scared to type to you on it... Hope you are well and will enjoy the letter and upcoming Holidays!!!

Fondly,
Mitch's Mom and Mitch


One of the kids in the following picture may be Mitchell as I remember him- but I won't tell you which one. ;)


Some school years are tougher than others. I have to admit, I've had a run of pretty trying ones since I left Shanghai. The two classes I had there were really spectacular, and while I loved every single one of my students as individuals, as far as classes go, the ones I had in Latvia really made me work for my money. This year is tough for all sorts of reasons- but of course, there are still plenty of kids I'd like to stuff in my pocket and take home with me.

It's nice to know, sometimes even long after the fact, that you've touched a life; that you're remembered. My time in Shanghai was all kinds of things- but generally speaking, at school it was good. I'll remember Mitch and his classmates for a long time too. :)

Oh, and if you're wondering what the Numa Numa song is... have a listen and a watch here.

On working out...

I've been working out... what feels like a lot. To the left you can see my sticker chart (yes, I *am* an EC teacher!). As you can see, for every time I work out, I get a sticker. Once I get 10 stickers, I get a reward, which I choose before I start earning stickers.

So, as you can see, since I started (about a month ago?) I've worked out 20 times. The first 5 or 6 stickers took me almost two weeks to earn, but the second 10 only took a week and a half, as I adjusted to working out so much, that I started going almost every day. My first prize was a pan, and my second (yet to be redeemed) is a manicure. I'm considering making the third prize a pedicure, and going for two prizes at once.

So I feel good that I am working out. When I go, I do at least 40 minutes of working out. I do 4 different machines for 10 minutes each- stair master, rowing machine, elliptical and treadmill. I always do the treadmill last because I do my ten minutes at a high pace carrying hand weights, and then I cool down on there for 5 minutes or so at a slower pace. I also stop at some point and do a headstand. I hate doing sit ups or crunches or any other direct ab exercises. Standing on your head might not seem like a direct route to strong abs, but, if you do it right, it takes A LOT of power in your core- so I do it. For some reason (there probably is one) I really like being upside down. Headstands are my favorite.

I chose to do 4 machines for 10 minutes each because a super-fit and into learning and reading about being fit colleague of mine told me that your body burns the most calories in the first 5 minutes of a particular exercise. Since my aim is definitely to burn calories and take off the pounds, I was happy to do this "keeping my body on it's toes" kind of exercise. (I think that is the idea behind the switching it up thing... your body doesn't know what is happening, and keeps having to adjust for a new exercise, therefore exerting big effort.) But I also choose to do weight bearing cardio (like the rowing machine, and carrying weights while walking) to add in some extra muscle work.

So, it's been a month or so- twenty good workouts at least. I have noticed progress. When I first started working out, I was running at a pace of 15.something on the elliptical. These days, I average a 16.5-17.something. On the rowing machine, I was rowing at a pace of 550 calories/min, and now, I row at a pace of 650-700+ calories/min (ha ha ha! Did you notice my typo? calories/MIN! I WISH I could burn 600 calories in a minute! That was supposed to say calories/hour- but I'm just going to leave the typo in, cause I think it's funny!). On the stair master, I have tried harder programs at higher levels and done well, where before, I about died on the random at level 2. So yeah, I see the progress. I LOVE glancing at my arms while I do the rowing machine. I love seeing the muscle definition as I pull back. And the way I feel all the muscles along my sides in that same motion is so cool. I picture slim, spare-tire free curves somewhere in the future.

But then, here is the thing, even though I have seen all this progress- the two times I have stepped on a scale, there has been absolutely no difference. My pants, shirts, swim suits, etc, fit no differently than they did a month ago. Naked, I don't see any difference.

I have calculated that I am burning at least 300 (but possibly as much as 400) calories per workout. 300 calories per workout- 5 workouts per week- that's 1500 calories. Surely, in a months time, I would have seen a pound come off at least, no?

So, here's the thing with working out and me... I don't really enjoy it. I don't despise it, but, yeah, it's not like I sit around during school hours daydreaming of being able to get into the gym. Once I get there, I generally get into it, and before I know it, I've been in the gym an hour (between changing machines, stretching and that head standing...). And I do it because I know that it is good for me. Because I know that when I am exercising regularly, I sleep better, feel better, even poop better (it's true!).

But why is it that the ONE result I would like to see, just doesn't come up? I suppose it really, really is true that weight loss has to include a change to your exercise and eating habits? I don't know... I keep trying not to be disheartened. It's fun earning rewards for working out. Sometimes when I come home from the gym and catch a glimpse of my same-looking-self in the mirror I say to Joel, "Tell me what I'm doing is making a difference. Tell me it's worth something." And he does. And he gives me a kiss, and as usual, he tells me to chill out. He tells me to stop thinking about it. Ahh... if only it were that easy. (He'll look good in his board shorts pool side for our wedding week regardless...)

So, in my last post, I ended with the question, "Why did you have em?" And now I end with, "What's it going to take?"

Happy Birthday to me! :)

It's not everyday a girl receives this many flowers- but on your birthday in Latvia, although you can kind of expect it, it's still an overwhelming joy. This picture shows all the flowers I received today from my students. I can't get over the pink roses- there must be over two dozen. (Um, ok, DS came in and counted- 50!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

It was also the last day of school today for kids- so we ended the day with our class party. It was fun. I used my magic wand to turn all the kids into first graders, which of course they got right into. There were a couple teary goodbyes at the end, because after all, this is it- I won't be seeing any of these kids anymore! I told them all that they (their parents) know my email and I will wait to hear from them!

Now, tomorrow us teachers will be back for another long work day of tying up loose ends and leaving our classrooms in some state of order- but for tonight- it's time to celebrate! We have our staff party- but of course, I'm going to make everyone celebrate extra hard for me! :)

Summery skin

The weather has been quite nice lately here in Riga mostly because it's been sunny. It's still pretty cold, only reaching 10-12 degrees, but with the sun so brilliant in a clear blue sky it feels like summer is on its way.

Today, when I was sitting inside near a window, bathed in the sunlight streaming through I was warm- bordering on hot even. Pretty soon (hopefully!) I will have that feeling sitting in the sunbeams OUTSIDE, and then we'll know it's time to hit the beer gardens- I've heard there is one already up in Dome Square, although I haven't seen it with my own eyes.

I have been keeping my students outside for extra playtime the last week enjoying this sunshine. Of course, it means I get to be outside too.

I'm sitting here now and my skin feels like summer- kind of grimy from all the dust and dirt that has blown onto it, and tight, dried out by the rays of the sun. It's the same feeling I used to get after spending the day bouncing around my neighborhood or summer camp in the summers of my childhood. It's nostalgic and nice.

Hmm. That's my happy moment for today! :)