Beginnings

The Basics….

For the last eleven years, I have worked in the public schools of North Carolina, mostly as a special education preschool teacher, but also as a regular 2nd grade teacher for one brutal year. At the end of year ten, I felt a little burned out by the classroom experience, and wanted to take advantage of the world of opportunities that are out there for a 33 year old special educator, with no mortgage, kids, or other compelling reason to stay in North Carolina. Thus…the Peace Corps.
I’ve known since I was a teenager that I wanted to work in some sort of public service, leading me eventually from music education, to elementary education, to early intervention and special education with preschoolers. It’s what I do, but not necessarily ever who I AM. I’ve always felt more than a little out of place – as the first male grad from the Child Development Program at UNC, or the only male teacher at every workplace I’ve been in over the past 11 years. The lack of compelling reasons to stay in North Carolina made the Peace Corps an attractive outlet. I get to continue doing what I do - service and education - but with the adventures and experiences of living abroad to go with it.
In 15 days, I’ll be heading to Washington, DC, and from there to Yerevan, Armenia. This blog will be my best attempt to share some pics, some stories, and some tall tales with the folks I’m leaving behind. Thanks for reading.