Category: Travel

Friday Photo: At the Center

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Jennifer Wolfe

It’s a strange feeling being here right now, at the center. There’s a certain kind of energy in the air here, right now, where it all began, where it’s all about to happen again. So many stories to hear, so many stories still yet to unfold. I stood on the rooftop tonight, looked out at the lights reflected on the Potomac and wondered. How many have been here and questioned what comes next, worried, what if. I gazed at the Lincoln, the Jefferson, the Washington, and imagined a world at once so very different from today, but yet so eerily similar. I thought of those that have come before and died at the hands of those who disagreed. I dreamed of what I could do, here right now, at the center, then turned, and walked back down.

Jennifer Wolfe

Jennifer Wolfe, a writer-teacher-mom, is dedicated to finding the extraordinary in the ordinary moments of life by thinking deeply, loving fiercely, and teaching audaciously. Jennifer is a Google Certified Educator, Hyperdoc fanatic, and a voracious reader. Read her stories on her blog, mamawolfe, and grab free copies of her teaching and parenting resources.

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Friday Photo: A Last Gasp of Summer

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Jennifer Wolfe

A quick bike ride down the lake led us to one of our favorite gazing spots. We parked and climbed out onto the rocks. The sun, rising quickly, warmed our faces and beckoned us with possibilities. The wind whistled through the pines, and the waves lapped gently against the granite. The hum of a boat radio drifted in the air, breaking the silence. We sat, transfixed with the the horizon. Crystal clear, icy cold water rippled and went still. My breathing slowed and my heart expanded. Gratitude for all we have had together, and all that is before us, led us back to our bikes, eager to go home.

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Jennifer Wolfe

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Taking Time To Relax Along The Road Trip of Life

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Jennifer Wolfe

“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop”

– Ovid, Roman Poet (43 BC – 17 AD)

What Ovid said thousands of years ago really rings true to me today. I have to think about, plan, and prepare for relaxation. It doesn’t just happen for me. It takes work, but it’s worth it.

When we stop to relax, we realign ourselves. Suddenly we aren’t the passengers in our life anymore – we are in control of the car. We get to decide where we want to go in life, and we create new openings for things to happen.

Think of your life right now as a road trip. Are you jumping on the highway, car loaded down with everything you think you might possibly need? Do you have reservations for each leg of the journey, each night and every waking moment?

And then you get a flat tire. Or an engine that just quits. Maybe even a fender bender.

And then what? Road trip disrupted. Detour.
It’s the start of the school year. For most parents, that is something to look forward to – life gets a bit easier when the kids are out of the house, we’re not twisting our brains to come up with an exciting adventure for the day, and the nagging of teenagers who would rather sleep in than do their chores is a thing of the past.

For teacher parents, though, it’s a double edged sword. We don’t get to enjoy quiet moments anymore – when the kids are home, we’re rushing back from our classrooms, trying to get a fabulous meal prepared while simultaneously driving kids to sports, walking the dog (who is the most excited family member to see you), switching laundry, unloading the dishwasher and answering emails. Exhausting.

The way to survive, I’ve learned, is to plan some fun. Sometimes it’s something easy – taking an evening walk with a good friend or sharing a cup of coffee downtown. Laughter and snacks with a good glass of Sonoma biodynamic wine gives me something to look forward to after a long day of teaching middle school; if I’m lucky, I’ll squeeze a weekend trip to Sonoma, Sutter Creek, or Santa Cruz, even. I’ve been thrown by that ‘lack of AAA Roadside Life Service’ way too many times. I’m a natural born planner, I live by a schedule, and spend most of my day following a lesson plan – I can even tell you what the plans are for the entire week ahead. But that’s only at school.

I’m back on the treadmill. It’s not a bad workout – I kind of like it, actually. As long as I can train myself to stop once in awhile, jump off, get into the driver’s seat, and take off. Take a rest. No plans, just looking for a friend, some fun, and a great glass of wine.

images courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

Santa Cruz on Dwellable

Jennifer Wolfe

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Friday Photo: Night at the Museum

Posted on August 11, 2012 by Jennifer Wolfe

Out of the myriad of activities we’ve engaged in this week in Los Angeles, I have to say that tonight at the museum was one of my favorites…the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena is small, quiet, and exquisite. These images calmed me down and spoke to my soul. What do they say to you?

Pasadena on Dwellable

Jennifer Wolfe

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It’s Good To Be Home…Kind Of

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Jennifer Wolfe

I’m still processing my trip to Indonesia…over 8,000 miles one way is a long distance to travel. Leaving everything that is known, for everything that is unknown, felt terribly unsettling. The 14 hour time change, living in a country that exists around a religion I was very unfamiliar with, and having to think and wonder and guess about nearly every move I made left me feeling worn out and ready for home.

I’d like to say that the trip was easy, that everything went smoothly and all my encounters were pleasant, but that wouldn’t be honest. I’d like to say that every bite I took, every car ride I took, and every breath I took was pleasant, but that wasn’t exactly the way it went.

I wish I could say that I was brave enough to try every food presented to me, that I learned to speak the language, and that I experienced every island and ethnic group in Indonesia, but I didn’t. I did pet a Komodo dragon, cross Jakarta traffic on foot, eat Durian fruit and board a sailing ship via a precarious gangplank over nasty water.

I can say that the plane ride from L.A. to Hong Kong wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected, and that all the teachers and students I worked with were absolutely welcoming and made me feel like a queen. I can also say that Indonesian Starbucks is eerily like California’s, and that nasi goreng might just be one of my new favorite foods.

from Obama’s elementary school in Jakarta

But most of all, what carried me through fourteen days of fatigue, over-stimulation, sweat and language barriers was what waited for me at home. Knowing that what I was doing as a global ambassador, teacher and woman was teaching not only me, but my own children, that the world is a much smaller place than we know, and that when they grow up, my small contribution may make a big difference in their lives.

To read more about my day to day adventures, click over to travels with mamawolfe.

Jennifer Wolfe

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