AlishaMarie

Okay, so I admit… I haven’t written in a while mainly because I’ve been in a bit of a funk and didn’t feel like passing it on to you all. But the canned-soup version includes things like my country coordinator Heidi leaving for a new job, people I care about struggling with alcohol, feeling like an enabler rather than an empowering figure, and other more selfish things like missing snow, food, people, cancelled vacation plans, and other things that go along with the Christmas season. Then of course with me, there’s ALWAYS the other larger things that get me riled up… the realities of water and food scarcity, corruption and inaction in government (both at home as well as right here in Cuernavaca), and most recently Obama’s not-so-subtle wink to Big Ag when he picked Vilsack ... read more

When I was student teaching in Germany, Papa Burcham always reminded me that EVERYONE has a story…. But it’s not enough to simply know that a story exists. We have to make a deliberate effort to understand and appreciate each person’s unique history, because in doing so, we will inevitably love them as well. When I worried about “How do I be a good and effective teacher?” the only advice Papa B. would ever give was, “Love them. Each and every day, love each and every one. Once they know that, everything else just happens.” I can’t emphasize how much that advice has been ringing true again and again these past few weeks here at ALEM. Most recently, the ALEM team just finished up a 4-day course in human relations. The goal was to help everyone ... read more

First off, I’ll answer the question I get asked most often… No, I’m not “officially” working for the Obama Campaign. I learned earlier this month that had I been hired as paid staff, I would have been placed in another county and I would have had to move in order to take a position. Also, since field organizers get almost no time off, I wouldn’t have been able to spend any time with my family. I figured that since the whole reason I’m spending a year at home in the first place is to spend time with them before (hopefully) moving off to Mexico… it wouldn’t really make sense for me to take a job where that wouldn’t be able to happen. So, long story short… I’m substitute teaching in the Bellevue area and volunteering with ... read more

Wow. Looking back, I realize that it’s been about a full month since I’ve posted last…yet it feels like just yesterday! Scary. But anyway…Big news first. SCOTLAND! Since we had a long weekend for Thanksgiving, Heather, Grace and I flew into Scotland to visit my old friend Melanie. (She’s doing really well by the way, and is studying international politics and French at Stirling University. Eventually, she hopes to become a college professor or work for the European Union.) Before we flew out on Thursday afternoon the girls and I actually had our own little Thanksgiving here at the apartment. We even cooked our very first turkey all by ourselves! (we’re felt like such grown ups!) Scotland was great though! The weather was gorgeous, and we pretty much just hung around Stirling with Melanie….the main sights ... read more

Columbus day weekend = one kickass trip to London! It was especially great because I got to see my cousin Diana and great aunt Dorothy to boot! Heather and I flew in Friday night and crashed with them in Windsor. (Diana and her husband Rob live literally a stone's throw away from Windsor Castle, and just about a 5 minute walk from where Elton John got married...how crazy is that?!) Anyway, we all had a little pow-wow Friday night and it was great to finally meet Rob. He's an absolute sweetheart! Dorothy was there visiting as well, so us girls all went into Downtown London on Saturday morning to see the Tower of London. We saw the Crown Jewels with diamonds as big as my face, and took a boat ride along the river (under THE ... read more