Into the Education world

So because of my curry obsession and because I have never had a more frustrating experience ordering food over the phone, a few weeks ago I found myself sitting in the Indian take-away restaurant waiting for my curry order. And I love that even though I live in a foreign country, I bumped into someone I knew when I happened to sit down next to one of our previous tenants. We had leased a flat to him and his wife who delivered their first baby in the flat! He casually asked me about work & life and I started to tell him about my studies. I started into my excited "this is what I'm studying," "this is how I want to change the world" speal ... and he said, "You should watch this TED talk I just saw. It's this guy Ken Robinson." My heart skipped a beat and I couldn't believe it. Ken Robinson's TED talk was the one I had just watched and then had to go out and get his book the same day and read it right away.

And of course Justin decided to read Ken's book after I talked about it so much. So a few weeks ago he sits down on the bus and starts to talk to one of his regular bus buddies who is a big tough rugby guy and somehow they get onto a conversation about school. People love telling you about their school experiences. Justin tells him about some of what we've been talking about & about Ken's talk and the man says, "Yeah that's awesome, that's what we need."

Every conversation I've been in lately & the books & articles I'm reading spur me onto wanting to be a part of the education world. Now I'm reading a book about education reform in China and the US and every time I pick it up I think, "how did I even get a hold of this book?" And then I remember the path of conversations and classes and experiences which put the book into my world. I am getting more interested in how we train teachers, how we teach creativity, and how we lead someone to have an ah-ha moment for themselves.

I am so grateful to have this time to learn. But my excitement also brings fear: fear that I won't be able to change anything or make it better for others; fear that I don't have enough experience; and fear that I won't have the opportunities to step into the person I want to become. And then I am reminded about the journey I've already been on to get this far, and I'm grateful again. All my hopes, excitement & fears ... bring gratitude.

I miss all of you back in the States very much. But I pray that you are also experiencing your own hopes, fears, and excitment. Much love- Lacey

ps. I think this is well worth a watch! http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html