Reggio Emilia, Italy

As a part of this lifestyle of teaching abroad, we are given money to go to professional development. There is an amazing approach to teaching preschool that started in Reggio Emilia, Italy. A week or so ago, my teammate and I headed there to learn this approach and visit many schools who use this approach. It was a week long conference but it was amazing! I look at teaching preschool in a whole new light and am grateful for the experience I had. Not only did I learn how to better teach my students, I also go to see Italy and eat amazing food! It was a great opportunity I am grateful for!

Rym and I traveled by plane, bus and train to get there! We were happy to finally arrive!

My dinner our first night there

Rym and her yummy pizza

 Our gorgeous walk to the center

One of the preschool visits (we were only allowed to take pictures outside)

Their experience places a huge emphasis on nature

Our tour of the infant/toddler center

After a long day of learning, we went shopping! I love Minnie and I love Christmas!

Beautiful fountain

Loved all the Christmas decorations

Amazing seafood dinner

Look there is a Target in Italy!!! (Not the same but still pretty cool!)

A collage of our first day of training

Our view out of our hotel room (a Radcliff family tradition)

Loved the leaves changing

Reggio used a lot of light tables... too cool!

Amazing long awaited pasta

Never got tired of the fall views

I love European towns

Now there's a Christmas sweater... ha!

Fabulous homemade ravioli 

My favorite pasta dish of the week!

Our final walk to the center (loved this walk daily)

More fun buildings

Final night dinner... veggie pizza

Had to bring Italy back to Tunis... my dinner back in Tunis

Making a Decision

So this a blog that is long overdo! I have written this 20 times in my head over the past 3 months but have told few people so here goes!

In August, we found out a lot of changes will be happening at my school for the 2016-2017 school year. This caused me to start pondering about moving earlier than I had planned and to start looking for a new job for the 16-17 school year (international schools hire super early!). For the past three months, my heart has been torn over whether to stay or whether to go and it has been the hardest decision I have ever had to make (well... make that second hardest... choosing which valve for my heart was the hardest). There were pros and cons to both with no clear sign. We had to tell our school by November 15th if we were staying or going for the following school year. So I finally decided that I would only apply to school in Sub-Saharan Africa and if I was offered a job before November 15th, then I would go. Otherwise, I would stay. I prayed and prayed for God to give me a sign on what to do (knowing that he does not have to give us signs and I may not get one). I also starting panicking and applying to schools all over (even after a dear and wise friend advised me to stick to my plan). Four days before I had to tell my school, I got an email from a school in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia wanting to interview me. I was floored and over the moon! God had given me a sign! If I got this job, I would go. But if not, I would stay. Well the only thing was they could not interview me until 4 days after my school's deadline of Nov. 15. But my director gave me an extension so I could interview and then make my decision. So I interviewed. And I will be honest, it did not go well. I did not do well and I honestly believe it is because my heart was not into it. I did not realize this until I was interviewing. I was also not getting a good feeling from the school. So two days after my interview, I emailed my principal and director to tell them I would be staying at ACST! So after 3 months of turmoil, God gave me a sign and I will be teaching at ACST for the 16-17 school year! What a relief and I am looking forward to the adventure that lies ahead!

To those of you who prayed for me and listened to me as I tried to decide what to do, thank you! You mean the world to me!

The Marine Ball

While our school has nothing to do with the military or the Embassy, we are always invited to the Marine Ball each year. This year a group of decided to go and it was a lot of fun! I must say though, I had just as much fun getting ready with the girls as I did going to the ball. A night full of great memories for sure!

Zeniab came and did make-up for our all of us!

My make-up almost complete and Susan waiting for her turn

These two are a hoot to watch in action!

Kathy kindly worked with my crazy curls!

Katie and I got our dresses made together and it was such a fun adventure! Hers turned out just magnificent! 

Susan had a gorgeous designer dress

The boys all dressed up waiting on us ladies!

James, John, Mark

me and James

The ladies with Zeniab who made us beautiful!

Kathy, Katie, Zeniab, Karen, me, Susan

My dress all complete! (it is a cobalt blue color but appears darker in this picture)

Kathy and Susan

The three of us had our dresses made by the same designer

Karen, Katie, me

All the ladies dressed up ready to go!

Karen, Kathy, Elise, Katie, Susan

James and Katie

We finally made it to the ball! There was a ceremony before dinner which was quite cool to watch.

This table is set aside for all the fallen soldiers 

It was the Marine's 240th Birthday and the cake was amazing!

Mark and Kathy

me and Katie

John and Karen

The girls and the flags

We had way too much fun taking pictures with the Marines in their uniforms!