The Latest

So here we are… nestled amongst the clouds, 4,500 feet high in the Tilarán mountain range of Northwestern Costa Rica. More specifically, we are living in the cloud forests of Monteverde (green mountain) and find ourselves surrounded by shapeshifting clouds, an open air zoo of creatures, a perpetual cover of mist, and more shades of green than Pantone ever imagined.      The gist of it all, is that we traded our busy lives in the United States for a change of perspective, a lowering of velocity, and a desire to live a different way for a year. 
     Cleo (grade 7) and Imogene (grade 3) are attending the Centro de Educación Creative (Cloud Forest School) up in the hills of Monteverde. It is an international school that for the past 30 years has provided bilingual instruction with a strong emphasis on environmental education. It is located on a 106 acre forest preserve of its own that the students will explore through the school year. The classes are mostly taught in English with the exception of mathematics and physical education. The girls are receiving daily Spanish lessons as well at their school and all four of us will be taking Spanish lessons with a private tutor.
     The impetus that allowed us to make this dream happen was both Elise and I getting our sabbaticals approved for this current school year. Elise, a biology professor at Farleigh Dickson University, will be doing field work related to hummingbirds (colibríes) and the effects of varied availability related to resources. As for me, I will be spending my year doing research and work in a variety of avenues to help recharge, recalibrate, and ultimately return a better educator at the South Shore Charter Public School. After 27 consecutive years of teaching, I feel blessed to have this space and time to try to find a better way to live while also having a year of adventures with the people I love dearly. 
     I am creating this blog, “Cloudy with a Chance of Awesome,” as a way to follow along with our adventures if you are interested in doing so. I have also created pages for the girls to post their own thoughts and photos along the way. And away we go…