Early Childhood Conference in Athens brought thoughts like, "I never thought I would be here." There was something about sitting in a theater with teachers from all over the world-- A group of teachers had come from China and presenters from Reggio Emilia in Italy. One of the school buzz words you hear often is, "be internationally minded." Sitting in this conference did push me to think more outside myself.
One of the perks of international teaching-- the professional development. The school arranged for hotel, airfare, and a bit of cash for meals. I went with three others from my school: the vice principal Anne van Dam from Holland, Ann Hamilton a preK teacher from Scotland, and Katie Hugen a Kindergarten teacher from Australia.
Katie and I shared a room but the beds reminded us of two twin IKEA beds pushed together. I felt like I was 12 again having a sleepover. At night we chatted and laughed about all that went on during the day. Our hotel wasn't in the greatest of areas. We know this because the cab driver asked us to lock our doors every time he got closer to our neighborhood. I loved the walks and shopping through the city at night. I really haven't traveled that much in my life but I find that being in new places and experiencing the language and culture somehow helps me walk in someone else's shoes. We could feel the struggle the country was experiencing by the look in many people's eyes which left me with a feeling of the need to rebuild a city and economy much more urgently than when I read about it in a newspaper.
We enjoyed good food and outside of Switzerland everything seems so cheap! Shopping in busy markets for sandals, purses, new jeans... Katie and I were shopping enablers, "Oh yea you need that!"
The last day of the conference in a taxi on the way to the school my friends asked questions about my religion-- They had never heard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints and were curious. It was overwhelming to begin but I wouldn't have known how it made me feel to share with someone what I believed and have them respond with such respect.
The questions would weave in and out of our conversations all day and continued on the plane ride home. Again, one of those moments where I never thought I would be-- in a taxi on the way to see the Acropolis sharing the Joseph Smith story.
It's funny to me sometimes how everyday life can help me connect to spiritual understandings. I sat in this conference and thought about the people from all over the world here and how we all come together to understand what is best for children. Stepping outside my classroom and remembering what matters most--- How much more I have appreciated General Conference for those same reasons-- Centering me again!
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