Wednesday, July 16, 2003

It's Official After eight years of working at Eagle Pass High School, teaching in the neighborhood of a thousand students over these past eight years, I resigned my teaching position this afternoon.  I no longer work for the Eagle Pass Independent School District.  I'll admit it feels strange writing that. What feels awfully good is that I have accepted a position teaching English at Baumholder American High School in Baumholder, Germany as a Department of Defense Education Activity teacher.  I've already spoken with my new principal, assistant principal, and been in contact with someone who will be teaching in the same department as me, and all of them assure me that I'll love living in Germany.  The town of Baumholder is situated southwest of Frankfurt near the French border.  From what I've gathered, it is located right smack in the middle of everything in Europe and it is very easy to travel just about anyplace I'd like to go from there.  Paris is a three to four hour drive away.  Belgium just as far.  London is a short flight from Frankfurt.  So is Rome.  Yes, I'll be doing lots of traveling.  I plan on being very familiar with the airlines and train systems. I've agreed to teach at Baumholder for a minimum of two years, though I'm hoping to stay within the DoDEA for the rest of my career, either at Baumholder or elsewhere.  Part of my employment is my agreement to be moved anywhere in the world if the need arises.  This is sure to be an adventure which I can't wait to begin. Speaking of beginning, I'm not quite sure when I leave.  That's one of the dozens of details I have to take care of, though I'm almost sure to leave in about two weeks.  The sooner I can get there, the sooner I can find a place to live, a new automobile, and just get settled into living overseas.  Plus Franklin will have to learn to enjoy German cat food. So there you have it.  I know I've mentioned a few times over the last month that I had a big annoucement, but I've been waiting until I got my final confirmation.  I know I'll be upsetting a few people who really didn't want me to leave, either because they wanted me to be their teacher next year (or for their sisters or brothers), or they wanted me to set-up another trip to London.  But I was never totally comfortable living in Eagle Pass and I think this is a great opportunity for me personally to enable me to live the life I've always wanted.  I will of course keep this site going, though when I move it is sure to get interupted for awhile.  After that I'll keep everyone posted on my new school, students, home, and what it's like to live in Germany. Related links: Department of Defense Education Activity:  My new employers. Map of Germany:  I'll be in the Rhineland-Pfalz area in the lower west of Germany. The homepage of the base I'll be living on or near. Photo tour of the base. Notice they have a Taco Bell and Burger King.  What more could you ask for? Current weather in Frankfurt.  Can't wait to get away from this hot Texas weather. Official website of the town of Baumholder Tourism website for the area I'll live in. 5:04:54 PM     |

Things You Just Don't See Everyday The Internet is great for all sorts of things.  Entertainment, news, communicating, education, and so much more.  But as each day passes, I've come to realize that what the Internet is best at is making it painfully clear what a bizarre world it is we live in. Behold things you just don't see everyday found within all of five minutes of surfing online:  A meerkat warming itself under a heat lamp A 123 pound, four year old wrestler The x-ray of a woman who swallowed a fork A kid playing with his own heart that had been removed during transplant surgery A Japanese woman wearing a tiger bra A newlywed couple kissing during yesterday's hurricane Yoga for dogs A nine year old girl with her new husband:  a dog.  Seriously. I quit.  Once I realized I live in a world where girls are marrying dogs, I now know there's no hope for me. 11:45:48 AM     |

© Copyright 2005 Alex L. Mauldin.