Not yellow ice I hope! 
There was a little gentle melting of the ice yesterday and I expect by this afternoon it will be all gone.
See the change in the colours when a shaft of sun fights its way through. (Below) It was reasonable yesterday. No damning wind. When it is calm any amount of cold can be tolerated. 
Though it was not even too cold. When the day is a little warmer Jude comes rocketing screeching out of his corner to follow us about. He is very easily sidetracked and Ton is driven quite mad trying to keep up with him.
When it is very cold he pokes his head out and shakes it, curls his body up in disgust and retreats back into his hot box. Not stupid!
I have enrolled in a twelve week course of study to qualify as a teacher of English as a Second Language. TEFL. (Americans love to use letters instead of words). Teaching English as a Foreign Language. As you all know I love to teach and have been haunted by a need to help the refugees who are arriving here with nothing – not even words. Then confronted with such a negative environment.
I hope this qualification may enable me to help out a little in the immigration communities of Chicago. I am not sure exactly where this pathway will lead but I can also teach online and this will help the family finances with John stopping work.
I feel good about this. The courses themselves are not cheap but this one is with a Chicago school ( brick and mortar) and is certified, accredited and recognized, with good teachers and support. I have done a lot of research on this, trying to find my way to involving myself in helping the children.
Winter is the perfect time for study. The Airbnb closes for the winter and siesta time can be study time. Much of the course can be completed online. And I love to learn. And I love to teach. I feel this is a good step forward as I feel my way into getting involved. Just gasping in horror at the tent cities of imprisoned South American children is not enough.
I did my final telephone follow up with the school yesterday and the next course had one spot come available so not wanting to wait for next years enrollment I put everything on my credit card and I start Monday!
I hope you have a lovely day – we have a few warm days ahead which makes everyone’s lives easier ( and wetter but never mind).
Love celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
55 responses to “JUDE EATS ICE”
ESL – English as second language. I applied for that position once when I was teaching but due to layoffs at the time I didn’t get the position or a job any longer. Jude looks like he is screaming “Ahhhhhhhhhh!” from brain freeze. Morning miss c… t
Well – that is discouraging.
It turned out for the best in the end but there are times when I think about trying again.
You’re a good soul with your wanting to teach/help. The one picture of Jude looks like the see pig is laughing…Priceless
Wee pig. Darn spell check
He is quite a cheerful wee pig, as soon as it goes above freezing I am going to turn his heat lamp off for a few hours. He needs to learn to burrow!!
Celi you never stop adding to your already full plate. Will you consider getting a full time farm manager? Look how big Jude has grown in the last week! Madly getting ready for visiting family here. Good luck with your new venture. Laura
With John retiring I hope he can take over the day to day – or at least half of that. Possibly. Hopefully
Well maybe not day to day but certainly he will lend a hand when he has time –
Wow, Celi, that’s a fantastic thing to do. I’m very concerned about the world wide refugee situation and always trying to find means to help. But putting such a huge effort into it… I’m overawed
Yes, it is worldwide and I am not adverse to traveling so we will see where this all takes me. I think I can combine my skills in drama teaching with the English. This is my germ of an idea anyway
Thank you for being you, Celi! We have a program here (several, really) designed to help immigrants find their place in our community – taking them to appointments to get kids enrolled in school, help moving when they find housing, etc. A couple of years ago, one of our local restaurants held a fundraiser. From 5-9pm, all proceeds at his restaurant would go to helping settle Syrian refugees in our city. The line stretched around several blocks, and people waited three hours for their food because we are in support of a diverse community. I am so proud of my city. We welcome immigrants, and I am aghast at the treatment they are receiving at the border.
I love your community – it sounds rich and upward moving. The border tension has been manufactured by crushing all the immigrants into one place – closing other entrances and points of applications to them. I fear it will only become worse in Tijuana.
All the best on your new course! Always good to keep learning.
I agree! I love to learn and as most of the course is on HOW to teach ( and I used to run a popular summer course at Massey University in New Zealand called “teaching teachers how to teach drama” – my goal is to do extremely well at this course.
I am sure you will.
Love the sound of that and bet it was a great course.
After reading this, I can see you are a “Ringer”; a real “shoe-in” for teaching ESL, and wherever else it may take you: )
What a wonderful, kind, positive thing to do. I hope you love the courses and that the study enriches you too. I’m also glad you’ll have some physical down time while you study. LOVE the pics of Jude eating ice!!! What a cute, plump little pig he is becoming. Hope today goes well.
There will be sitting and you know I only sit when there is a purpose !
Thank you for doing what you are doing. I live in Canada but so disheartened by what I see happening at the border.
I’m amazed at how you invest yourself thoroughly in all you do.
Again, I am grateful that you are doing your part to help this crisis.
If everyone does a little – we cannot help but save a few. These people are not running away from their homes because they have a good life there. Every one of them is an individual in crisis
Super excited about you getting your TEFL certificate Celi!!! You will love the courses and then the opportunities it will open up!!!! 😘
Yes! I am feeling very positive about it!
Oh June looks to be gleeful just like me at the thought of you teaching! It sounds like a wonderful path to follow!!!!!
I loved my career as a teacher so once all the pieces fell into place the path was obvious
There is as always a lot here to comment on though I usually don’t. I absolutely think what you are doing to get your teaching certificate for ESL is a wonderful idea! There was no such thing when I came to this country so I was teased a lot for my lack of English language skills in school. I think this will also feed your soul as you had commented about something missing a while back. The world is changing and it needs to in many ways. You can create your own job and if you KNOW there is one out there for you, it will show up. Don’t second guess yourself. Trust your instincts. They keep leading you forward. You’ve got this.
So very well said! Seconding: )
What a fantastic thing to do! Good luck with it. 😁
That will be a good brain exercise for the winter. And of such valuable assistance to immigrants. Honestly I cannot fathom moving somewhere without understanding the language. I imagine it is a constant state of uncertainty and confusion. I think it adds a level of bravery to immigrants that people don’t really stop to think about in this country.
you are a wonderful soul- not just fretting about things but actually doing something! Bravo! Good for you and splendid for the people you will help!
Way to take action and make a real difference! You are my She-ro! Lucky people getting you as a teacher!