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Tag: tefl

February 19, 2019February 20, 2019 Blog by Brosh

I’m Quitting My 9-To-5 to Teach Abroad and Travel the World

November 30, 2018January 1, 2019 Blog by Brosh

How I Became a Runner at 300 Pounds

August 30, 2018February 8, 2019 Blog by Brosh

Climbing The Great Wall of China

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Visiting The Art Institute as an adult was such a humanizing experience. I always loved art as a child, but life has given me layers over the years and as I stood in front of several familiar priceless pieces to admire them once again, they took on an entirely new meaning for me. One of the canvases hanging in the museum was practically blank and I was very skeptical about why it was in such a prestigious museum with so many other works that included various mediums, materials, precious metals, thick brush strokes, etc. This canvas had nearly nothing on it. Who decided that this was art? It’s a nearly naked canvas. Then, I came across a handful of wall hangings in different shades of brown with a black interior. They didn’t appear overly impressive compared to so many other works in the museum, but they resonated with me. They made me think of the number of times black and white people had discounted me for my race because I was too dark or too light even though on the inside I am just as human as anyone else regardless of the outside. All of the canvases had the same interior even though their exteriors were slightly different skin tones. I came across The Old Guitarist by Picasso and possessed a more sympathetic approach as he portrayed the miseries of the poor and the downtrodden. Picasso was practically penniless throughout several years of his life, but his work sits in the most famous museums and sells for millions of dollars. This caused me to reflect on my own fear of failure and my fear of never having enough money, time, experiences, etc. I looked at so many pieces and reflected on my own emotions toward them and how they related to numerous aspects in my life. I wonder how many other people do the same? I didn’t understand the blank canvas, but I know there are people who will look at the works of art that elicited an emotional response from me and wonder how. Perhaps some people do that with the blank canvas, too. And who am I to judge that? Even if so many other don’t understand, sometimes we need a reminder that we are not entirely alone in how we feel. 🎨

Tacos dressed in their Sunday best 🍒

🇮🇪🍀✌️

floating into the Chi weekend like 🍀

The ultimate stairclimber 🏃🏽‍♀️

3.14 • It’s Pi Day! My office is holding its annual Pi Day celebration where everyone brings in a pie to share and then you eat pie basically all day long. 🥧 If you’re trying to stay in control, the Pi Day event is not an ideal celebration if you’re wild for baked goods. Long story short, it’s me — I’m wild about baked goods. 🤷🏽‍♀️ I didn’t bring a pie to share; therefore, I won’t spend the day eating pie with everyone who brought one. Instead of entirely missing out on Pi Day, I stopped into Stan’s Donuts and picked up one of their handheld pies. I tracked it as 19SP and adjusted the rest of my day around my Pi Day breakfast choice. I’ve been eating a lot of simple healthy foods this week, and I stopped buying snacks at the grocery store (because I kept snacking on the snacks😅), so I don’t feel guilty about eating pie for the first time since Thanksgiving. I’m still trying to create a balance that works for me. One that involves participating in fun events around Chicago without derailing myself. I’ve found that not depriving myself entirely is a great way to feel included while staying in my lane. The trick is to eat a serving for pie day, not make pie an entire category in my diet for the day. Anyway, Happy Pi Day! 🥧✌️

Happy 312 Day, Chicago! Kayaking on the river, buildings that touch the sky, delicious food, cultural neighborhoods, professional sports, paddle-boarding Lake Michigan, museums on everything from dinosaurs to outer space, festivals, rooftop bars, hidden coffee shops, ghost tours, the family-owned restaurants that make you feel like part of the family, concerts, street fairs — this city was made for adventure and it’ll always feel like home to me. 🌃

Last night I was reading about eating disorders among people who live abroad. The articles focused on people who had eating disorders prior to moving abroad and when they arrive in their new country, their “safety foods” aren’t always available; therefore, they struggle and the effects are detrimental. It got me thinking to last time I lived abroad and how I stopped eating a lot of processed foods because they didn’t come in the flavors or textures that I liked (chips, etc.). I was also doing Weight Watchers and was cautious about wasting points on foods that weren’t absolutely worth it. I’ve noticed a lot of Americans on Weight Watchers find success because of little tweaks in foods. Making baked goods out of protein powders, putting frosting and sprinkles on fruit and calling it something else, using bars as meals, etc. I’ll admit, I enjoy low-point items like Trader Joe’s Reduced Guilt Greek Yogurt Guacamole, Reduced Guilt Wheat Crackers, and I’ll eat a protein bar as a snack every so often; but I don’t want my success to be location based. I’m trying to eat more foods that are internationally available. It helps to adjust to a new country a lot easier and the culture shock regarding food won’t be as extreme. Foods like vegetables, fruits, bread, cereal, etc. are available where I’ll be moving in a few months and I’m really trying to get back into the swing of Asia availability regarding foods I’m familiar with. This morning I ate toast with regular guacamole and an egg sprinkled with Everything But The Bagel Seasoning (I’m bringing two little jars of the seasoning.) After a weekend of birthdays, Portillo’s and treats at work, I’m glad to have the simplicity back. Now I just need to stick with it. Perhaps once per week have a meal that isn’t available abroad. After all, this is America and I need to enjoy some of this stuff while I can. 💁🏽‍♀️

It’s 43° outside and in Chicago we call that “car windows down” weather. 😉🌞

I’m not going to be posting a photo each day for the #ProjectWW365 Photography Project on Instagram anymore. I’ll still be posting daily pictures on the WW app, so if you’re on there feel free to keep following along. ✌️

Halo Top Blueberry Crumble + 90210 episodes for the afternoon. Dylan McKay is the definition of early 90s cool.

3.1.19 • Lunch was shrimp stir fry, cauliflower rice, and a vegetable spring roll from Trader Joe’s (3SP and so delicious that I’m obsessed). This is my favorite meal right now. 🥦🥕🍤🌽 #ProjectWW365